Chapter 2

When I pushed open the hospital room door, Lyra was leaning in Ethan's arms, taking small sips of medicine brewed from my heart's blood.

They both stared at me in shock.

"Vesper, what are you doing here?"

Ethan frowned, but his hand gently pressed on Lyra's back, helping her breathe easier.

Lyra licked the blood-colored residue from the corner of her mouth and laughed: "Sorry, my body is too weak.

I borrowed Ethan for a bit, and borrowed some of your blood too. You don't mind, do you?"

I clutched the pregnancy test report I'd just gotten from the hospital, my mind exploding with a buzzing sound.

"Ethan, didn't you promise me that if I donated blood once, you'd send her abroad?"

Ethan looked up at me, his tone calm:

"Vesper, Lyra has genetic defects. Sending her abroad would be like killing her. I can't do something so heartless."

"So you were heartless enough to drain half my heart's blood on our tenth anniversary to be with your first love?"

I grabbed the fruit basket from the table and hurled it. Apples rolled everywhere.

I roared my questions:

"Ethan, when you were dirt poor and being stepped on by everyone, who supported you? Don't forget that you got where you are today because of whose tears and scales!"

Mentioning the past, all the grievances came flooding back like a torrent.

Back then, I was the hottest elite mate in the underground black market. All the powerful families in the capital wanted to claim me.

After following Ethan, I spent six full years in a narrow, damp basement.

When he made his comeback, many people bullied him for his past bankruptcy, deliberately forcing drinks on him at business dinners, even making him kneel.

I blocked for him time and time again, shielding him from malicious provocations, lowering myself, using my mermaid song to win him investments.

The young man's eyes reddened with emotion back then. In an era when mates had no human rights, he defied everyone's opinions to build me the city's most luxurious temperature-controlled pool.

He solemnly promised: "From now on, this is our secret love base. Only you have the privilege to enter! My life, Ethan Hunt's life, belongs to Vesper for all eternity!"

His eyes were so sincere and passionate then.

But now when I looked up, I saw only Ethan's annoyed expression:

"What's the point of rehashing old stories over and over? Lyra's body is weak, she can't be without me. And it's just a little blood. You have such strong recovery ability — when did you become so selfish?"

I was selfish?

Tears welled up in my eyes, but because of extreme anger, I forced them back, refusing to let them turn into pearls.

Ethan froze, seeming to realize his words were too harsh. He sighed helplessly and walked over, reaching out to touch my hair.

"How could I possibly not want you? But Lyra is my first love. I can't bear to see her suffer."

"If you really don't like her, I promise that after she recovers, she'll never appear in front of you again, okay?"

His expression was sincere.

Exactly like the young man ten years ago when he begged me to save him.

My dormant heart wavered slightly. Just as I was about to speak, I inadvertently glimpsed the bright red contract totem beneath his shirt collar, at his collarbone.

It was a soul-binding mate contract.

Identical to the one showing on Lyra's neck.

I shoved Ethan away, asking in disbelief: "You signed a soul contract with her?"

Ethan froze, his brow furrowing slightly, but he still nodded.

Lyra suddenly threw off the covers crying and rushed to kneel before me: "Blame me if you want! I was the one who begged Mr. Hunt to sign it! I can't survive without a contract!"