Chapter 2

The next day, I woke up in a haze.

I unexpectedly heard an argument outside my door.

"Caleb, Miss Anya's current condition isn't suitable for blood drawing. You can't do this." Our team's accompanying doctor said.

"She'll be fine, but Lila needs this blood to save her life! Hurry up and prepare, or you can say goodbye to your medical career."

Caleb's family was seriously loaded. They pretty much owned half the city.

But I never imagined he'd threaten someone like this for Lila.

Before, in my mind, he was always kind and dedicated to his work.

I stared silently at the door, my eyes hazy.

Just then, Caleb walked in.

He seemed startled to see me awake and said, "You heard everything?"

I nodded weakly.

"Anya, yesterday when Lila and I were out on the excavation, she got seriously injured and lost a lot of blood trying to protect me."

"She's already anemic, I have to save her."

"Your blood never spoils, it's perfect for a transfusion."

"You wouldn't just stand by and let her die, would you?" Caleb said, his voice soft and gentle.

He didn't seem to realize that I, too, was a severely injured patient lying in a hospital bed.

"What if I don't?"

At my words, Caleb's expression instantly hardened.

He stared at me coldly: "Anya, I don't know when you became so stingy."

"Yesterday, I let it slide when you refused to apologize. What more do you want?"

"You won't die anyway, so why not save her?"

"There's no discussing this. You *will* donate blood."

With that, he called two people in to hold me down, afraid I'd resist.

The doctor came to draw my blood.

He looked at me with a pained expression and sighed.

After he finished the first draw, Caleb stopped him.

"That's not enough. What if Lila's afraid of pain and moves, spilling some?"

"Keep drawing."

The doctor looked at Caleb in disbelief. "Caleb, if you draw any more from Miss Anya, she might die."

Caleb glanced at me, his voice firm. "Don't worry, she won't die."

The secret of me being an Immortal Kindred was known only to Caleb.

If others found out, I'd surely be captured for live research.

Two streams of tears silently ran down my face.

The doctor, left with no choice, continued to draw my blood.

Fortunately, he monitored my condition and didn't take a lethal amount.

After everyone left, Caleb saw my pale, bloodless face. He looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped himself.

"You'll heal quickly. It's fine."

With that, he hurried out.

Later, I overheard the little nurses chatting.

"Mr. Thorne and Miss Lila are so sweet together."

"I know, right? He stays by Lila's side day and night, afraid anything bad might happen to her."

"I saw Mr. Thorne at lunch today, he even blew on Lila's food to cool it down and fed it to her, just in case she burned herself."

"Truly childhood sweethearts, they're such a perfect match!"

"Shh, don't let Anya hear us. Let's go talk over there."

I lay alone in the empty hospital room, staring at the ceiling.

It had been almost a century. My heart hadn't ached like this in so long.