Right then, the silent ward echoed with my desperate sobs.
After a long time, my sobs slowly weakened and finally stopped. I felt like a marionette whose soul had been stripped away. My eyes were empty, while my face gradually returned to a terrifying calm.
The last tear slid down my cheek and brushed against my lips, its bitterness spreading deep into my chest.
I lowered my gaze, now the last of my defiance slipping away, leaving only a hollow surrender behind.
Soon, the blinding lights of the operating room burned my eyes. My vision blurred and my consciousness began to completely fade away.
I eventually fell into unconsciousness, as if plunging into an endless darkness—cold, terrifying.
Christian's stern features greeted me when I awoke.
That man sat at my bedside, exuding a cold and terrifying aura. His deep, dark eyes, like a desolate shore, stared coldly at my deathly pale face.
When he saw I was awake, Christian gestured to the bodyguard beside him. Afterwards, an open gift box was presented to me.
His face remained expressionless as he spoke, "This is a gift Jocelyn specially chosen for you."
I didn't move. My silence was frighteningly calm.
The gift he claimed was "specially chosen" was nothing more than an old, slightly yellowed pearl necklace that Jocelyn had already grown tired of wearing.
In the early days of our marriage, Christian would spare no expense, showering me with luxurious jewelry every day. He had even clumsily designed unique pieces exclusively for me.
He used to say that I deserved the best and most expensive jewelry in the world. Now, it seemed utterly ridiculous.
Seeing that I remained silent, refusing to take it for a long time, Christian's half-raised arm looked incredibly awkward.
He frowned, his voice tinged with irritation as he warned again, "Serena Clarke, don't be ungrateful. Don't forget your brother is still in the hospital. Without my family, he would have died long ago."
The mention of my brother sent shivers through my body, my voice suddenly cracking. "What do you want?"
I struggled to sit up. My eyes were bloodshot, while my hands were clutching the hem of my clothes tightly.
I had planned to take my brother away the moment I was discharged. What I didn't expect was that just as I regained consciousness, Christian would already be using my brother to threaten me.
My brother was one of the few family members I have left in this world. So, I would fight with all my life to keep him alive.
Christian rose with disdain, a cold laugh escaping his lips. "Tomorrow night is Jocelyn's celebratory party. I want you to publicly apologize to her and transfer ownership of that island under your name to her."
"Jocelyn said there might be rich mineral resources on that island. It's a waste to leave such a valuable place to someone ignorant like you."
My eyes widened sharply. That island was the extravagant engagement gift he had once lavishly bestowed upon me. It was even named after both our names and my parents' ashes were buried there.
Christian had sworn before my parents' graves that he would never betray me, that he would protect me for the rest of his life. Yet now, he was giving away the island that bore witness to our love to another woman.
Under his relentless pressure, I gritted my teeth and finally agreed. "Fine, I agree. Just don't hurt my brother."
Having secured the answer he sought, Christian turned and walked away without waiting for me to finish speaking. With a thud, the ward plunged back into deathly silence.
My face was ashen, like a flower that had instantly withered.
It turned out that Christian's love hadn't vanished, but had simply shifted.
At that time, my phone buzzed repeatedly with notifications from the immigration bureau. It showed that my paperwork was complete. Once Christian signed the divorce agreement, I could finally leave this hellhole forever with my brother.
Accidentally, my finger brushed the screen and the first thing on my social media feed was a video of Jocelyn showing off their affection.
In the video, Christian's face was clearly visible as the two of them kissed passionately beneath the dazzling fireworks.
Meanwhile, I was lying in a hospital bed, enduring all the pain alone. That was the moment my heart died completely.
