Far Apart, Safe at Last

"To ensure the purity of tomorrow's stem cell extraction, we need to perform a bone marrow puncture tonight as preparation."

The head nurse's cold voice echoed through the empty hospital room.

My blood seemed to run cold as I stared at the thick puncture needle, more than ten centimeters long.

"I just had surgery. My body can't handle this! You're trying to kill me!"

I desperately shrank toward the corner of the bed, trying to avoid the hands reaching for me.

The head nurse remained unmoved and signaled to the two male orderlies beside her.

They immediately pinned my shoulders and legs down from both sides.

"Miss Hart, please cooperate. Mr. Crowe made it clear that if we didn't use some force, you wouldn't cooperate."

I struggled in sheer desperation.

"Call Julian here! I want to see him!"

The head nurse let out a cold laugh as she picked up the thick needle.

"Mr. Crowe is busy helping Miss Vale try on her birthday dress for next month. He doesn't have time for you. Oh, and Mr. Crowe specifically instructed us that in order not to affect the stem cells' activity, this puncture will be done without anesthesia."

My mind exploded in shock.

No anesthesia?

They were going to drive that needle straight into my pelvic bone?

"Has he lost his mind?" I screamed hysterically.

The head nurse didn't give me a chance to resist and lifted my hospital gown.

Cold disinfectant was spread across my lower back.

The next second, a searing pain shot straight through my bone marrow.

I screamed in agony.

My body jerked violently like a fish thrown onto dry land.

The orderlies held me down firmly, not letting me move even an inch.

The pain felt like someone was dragging a dull saw back and forth across my bones.

My nails dug into the bedsheet until they snapped, blood staining the fabric.

"Hold her tighter. If she moves and the needle breaks inside, we'll have a real problem." The head nurse gave orders coldly, her hands never pausing.

Pain darkened my vision as cold sweat and tears soaked my face.

Julian...

How could his heart be so cruel?

For Serena's sake, he wouldn't even allow me anesthesia.

I had no idea how long the torture lasted.

By the time the needle was finally pulled out, I had already blacked out from the pain.

When I woke again, the surroundings had changed.

The air was thick with the sour smell of mold mixed with disinfectant.

The soft hospital bed was gone. I was lying on a hard military cot.

Above me hung a dim bulb that flickered weakly.

This was the hospital's basement storage room.

I turned my neck with difficulty and saw piles of discarded medical equipment nearby.

The sound of high heels echoed outside the door.

The door opened, and Serena walked in wearing a tailored suit.

She covered her nose in disgust and nudged my cot with her foot.

"Well, well. The once-proud Mrs. Crowe is now lying here like a piece of trash. How pathetic."

I looked at her coldly and said nothing.

Serena looked down at me from above, her eyes gleaming with vicious satisfaction.

"Don't look at me like that. The VIP room is full, and there's nowhere to put all my supplements. Julian said you're basically useless now anyway. It doesn't matter where you sleep, so they moved you down here."

As she spoke, she pulled a delicate invitation card from her bag and tossed it onto my face.

"My birthday banquet is next week. Julian said that to celebrate my new life, he'll announce our engagement at the party."

I stared at the bright red invitation, my heart turning cold and empty.

"So you came here just to show off?"

Serena covered her mouth and giggled softly.

"Of course not. Julian ordered that you must attend next week's party. After all, without your blood, how could I stand beside him looking so radiant?"

She suddenly leaned down, her lips close to my ear.

The sound of leather shoes stepping across the concrete floor echoed outside the door.