Redeemed in Blood

Hatred flashed in Natalie's eyes. She let out a mocking laugh. "Why? I met Cristian when I was fourteen. I became his woman at seventeen. If it weren't for you, the one who married him might have been me!" Amelia's eyes widened. She always knew Natalie held Cristian's deep trust. She assumed it came from life-and-death bonds that gave them extra understanding. She never knew about that kind of relationship. Yet Cristian had clearly said Natalie was just a sister. Natalie watched Amelia's expression and threw her head back in loud laughter. "Not just in the past. These years too." She saw Amelia's pupils shake bit by bit. She watched her face crack little by little. Natalie's mood lifted. "Do you know how many bosses want Cristian dead? How many women want to climb into his bed? No matter how careful he is, he sometimes eats the wrong thing. The drug was too strong and long-lasting. Cristian feared scaring you. He could only turn to me. Amelia, only in front of me does Cristian fully become himself." Amelia trembled as she backed away step by step until her back hit the wall. She had nowhere left to retreat. Only then did she break down and speak. "No. It's impossible." Cristian would never betray her. He had clearly said he loved only her. Pain flickered in Natalie's eyes. She knew too well that Cristian would never let Amelia find out. He couldn't bear to cause her even the slightest heartache. But things were different now. Though Cristian planned to retire with Amelia, cracks had already formed in his heart. If she didn't seize this chance, she would truly lose him forever. Natalie pulled out her phone and played a surveillance video. It showed Cristian and Natalie tangled and rolling in bed. "This was the first time. Someone used the video to demand a hundred million dollars. Cristian paid on the spot. But he still worried it would leak. He sent me to eliminate the person while he took you on a month-long vacation abroad. There were many more times after that. Do you want to see them?" Tears covered Amelia's face. She certainly remembered that vacation. It was the happiest month since she met Cristian. He chose a remote village in Northern Eldoria where no one knew them. They could act like a normal couple—holding hands, strolling, kissing on the street. Yet now someone told her that her happiest time came because Natalie handled his affair back home. Amelia laughed through her tears. She took the divorce certificate from her bag and handed it to Natalie. "Keep those videos for yourself. I don't want to watch them. I have no interest. Give this to him yourself when he wakes up. Natalie, even without this, I had already decided to leave Cristian. We were never meant to walk the same path. I've had enough of living in fear." Natalie barely heard her words. She stared blankly at the divorce certificate in her hands. An unreal sense of happiness washed over her. She had finally waited for the chance to have Cristian again. Amelia looked at her and sighed. "Natalie, Cristian belongs to neither of us. The person he cares about most, from beginning to end, is only himself." But Natalie couldn't take it in. Her mind filled with fantasies of a happy future with Cristian. "How do you plan to leave?" Amelia blinked calmly. "While Cristian is unconscious, use the private jet he arranged. Send my mom and me away within the scheduled time. Once we land, we'll handle the rest ourselves. If he wakes too early, you'll have to make him sleep a bit longer." Natalie narrowed her eyes and studied her up and down. "You can really bring yourself to walk away? Cristian has money and power. He spoils you endlessly. You're truly willing to let it go?" Amelia met Natalie's gaze. Pity for a fellow woman flashed in her eyes. She said nothing and turned to leave. Amelia returned home. She and Ellen double-checked their luggage. Then they waited quietly for news from Natalie. On the morning of the agreed day, Natalie sent a car to pick them up. As soon as they got in, Natalie's call came through. "After all, you were husband and wife. Won't you come to the hospital to see him?" Amelia smiled lightly but stayed silent. Natalie continued on her own. "So this is how it feels to wait by the side of the one you love until he wakes. Amelia, you were really happy before." Natalie hung up. She traced Cristian's features with her finger again. She clearly remembered the night they first slept together. She had traced his face the same way. Back then he was young and inexperienced. His movements were clumsy and unskilled. Unlike now, when he was practiced and considerate of her feelings. His whole face had grown more mature and resolute with age. Cristian's brows suddenly furrowed. Pain twisted his expression. Natalie jumped in fright and ran out to call the doctor. So she missed the murmur from his lips. "Amelia, where are you?" Cristian had a dream. In the dream, for some reason he kept searching for Amelia. But darkness surrounded him everywhere. He couldn't find any direction. He reached a cliff with no path forward. Only then did he spot her. Amelia stood on the opposite cliff, facing him. When she saw him, she smiled. "Cristian, goodbye." The next second, she jumped off the cliff. At the same moment, high above the airport, a private jet that had just taken off exploded in midair. It plummeted rapidly. "Amelia!" Cristian opened his eyes and woke up.