Chapter 1 For My Sake, Donate Your Bone Marrow

Annie Steward was sleeping soundly at 2:00 am when the mattress dipped slightly beside her. A cool breath brushed over her skin before she could even open her eyes.

A faint scent of disinfectant lingered in the air, mixed with a trace of bitterness from medication. It was the unmistakable scent belonging to Sean Frost.

Annie's body relaxed instantly. Still half-asleep, she burrowed into his arms and asked drowsily, "What took you so long?"

"I got called in for an emergency surgery." Sean's voice was rough with fatigue, yet his actions remained gentle. He leaned down to plant kisses on her forehead and cheek gently, as if he was handling a precious gem.

Annie felt her heart soften as she basked in the familiar warmth, and drowsiness washed over her once again.

Just as she was about to drift back to sleep, Sean's deep voice cut through the quiet night. "Cecilia isn't doing too well, Annie. You should follow me to the hospital tomorrow. Come and donate bone marrow again."

Cecilia Lambert was one of his leukemia patients. She had an extremely rare blood type—RH negative.

For two years, no match could be found in the whole of Jynston. Annie was the only one who could save her, so she'd gone anonymously every time.

She thought it was worth it if her small sacrifice could help someone else live. Besides, with her husband as the attending physician, she couldn't bear to watch her loved one be worried sick over a patient.

A few days ago, Annie would've agreed without hesitation. But now, she subconsciously reached for her still-flat stomach and rested her hand there.

Her cheeks warmed as she said, "Sean, I don't think I'm fit for it with my current condition."

Annie's words had barely left her mouth when Sean sat up abruptly. Startled by his sudden movement, she looked up in a daze and met his eyes.

Gone was the tenderness from moments ago. His usually warm gaze had turned sharp and icy. "Why aren't you fit for it?"

Annie had never seen Sean like this. For a moment, she was at a loss of words.

His tone hardened further when she didn't answer. "Now isn't the time to throw childish tantrums, Annie. Cecilia is in a critical condition right now. All the pre-operative preparations are ready now. Can you take responsibility for it if anything happens just because you pulled out suddenly?"

Grievance surged in Annie's chest as she faced his accusations. Her eyes turned misty, and she clenched her fists tight. She said in a trembling voice, "I'm just an ordinary person. I have no obligation to save anyone. It's my choice whether I wish to donate or not, so why should I be the one held responsible?"

Sean's expression turned colder with every word she spoke. Eventually, an unfamiliar look of disappointment was all that was left on his face. "I never thought you could be so selfish and cruel, Annie."

He took in a deep breath and massaged his temples. "There's a lot riding on Cecilia's surgery. As her attending physician, my reputation and future would be affected if something happens to her. Are you really going to ruin my future just because of your willfulness?"

The bedroom fell utterly silent, the air thick with the sounds of their unsteady breathing.

After a while, Sean suddenly raised his hand. His warm palm cupped Annie's cheek as he softened his tone. "I'm sorry, Annie. I'm exhausted today, so my emotions got the better of me. I didn't mean to snap at you. Just do this one last bone marrow donation, okay?"

His thumb brushed against her jaw as he coaxed softly, "Just do it for me, will you?"

Annie bit down on her lip hard until the metallic tang of blood filled her mouth. Bitterness spread from the tip of her tongue down to the deepest part of her chest, eventually dissolving into a wordless surrender.

She closed her eyes and gave the smallest nod. "Alright."

…

Early the next morning, Annie followed Sean to Jynston General Hospital.

Busy with rounds and pre-operative preparations, he left her with the nurses after hurriedly telling them to take her for the required examinations.

Annie quietly complied with a series of pre-donation examinations. Just after her blood was drawn, a sharp cramp suddenly twisted through her lower abdomen.

Clutching her stomach, she walked toward the restroom at the end of the hallway, her face drained of colour.

The moment Annie slipped into a cubicle and locked up, she heard footsteps from outside, followed by voices of two young nurses. Their tones were laced with sympathy as they said, "Oh, I just saw Dr. Frost's wife. She's probably here to donate bone marrow again."

"Again? Hasn't it been two years? Honestly, that woman is truly pitiful."

Annie's hand froze on the cubicle door.

Chapter 2 She Reincarnates

Before Annie could think further, another voice continued in a hushed whisper, "She'd probably faint on the spot if she found out that Ms. Lambert is actually Dr. Frost's beloved first love."

"Not only that, she'd probably divorce him on the spot!"

"Keep your voice down! We can't be talking about this!"

The rest of their conversation faded into a blur.

Cecilia was Sean's first love?

Those words cut into Annie's heart like a blade.

No wonder Sean had suddenly proposed to her two years ago. Since the beginning of their marriage, he had found countless excuses to persuade her to donate bone marrow again and again.

So this was the reason.

Tears streamed down from the corners of Annie's eyes. The rage of being deceived surged forward, shaking her whole body.

It turned out that none of the care and affection Sean had shown were meant for her. She was nothing more than a carefully chosen vessel to save the woman Sean truly loved.

A violent spasm tore through Annie's lower abdomen while despair engulfed her whole.

Her vision darkened and a loud buzzing filled her ears. She felt the whole world tilting and spinning before her eyes. With the last of her strength, she stumbled and pushed open the cubicle door.

Outside, the two nurses who had been chatting moments ago paled immediately when they saw Annie.

When their eyes fell on the bright, spreading red running down her light-coloured dress, they started screaming. "Someone! Help! Something's wrong!"

Annie could no longer hold herself up. Like a puppet whose strings had been severed, she collapsed softly to the floor.

Seconds before her consciousness slipped away completely, her blurred vision caught the look of pure panic she'd never seen on Sean.

He was shoving through the crowd with wild desperation, rushing toward her. "You can't go down like this, Annie! If something happens to you, what will Cecilia do?"

In the end, the only person Sean cared about was only Cecilia.

…

It was as if Annie had merely fallen asleep.

Then, a familiar voice sounded beside her. "It's almost 10:00 am, Annie. Why isn't Dr. Frost here yet?"

Annie jolted awake. She looked down at herself before scanning the room around her.

She couldn't make sense of what was happening.

The last thing Annie remembered was collapsing in the hospital. So why was she waking up in a bridal shop?

Her best friend, Suzanna Snyder, was sitting on a nearby couch. She glanced at her watch, clearly irritated. "Today's the day you guys made an appointment to try on wedding dresses, and Dr. Frost is two hours late? That's just unacceptable!"

Annie sat numbly on the couch. She was looking at Suzanna, who was righteously indignant on her behalf, with disbelief.

"Why are you looking so pale, Ann? Are you feeling sick?" Suzanna asked as she hurried over.

Annie couldn't be bothered to answer. She quickly pulled out her phone and glanced at the screen. Her eyes widened in shock.

Had she been reincarnated and was now back to the time before she married Sean?

Annie quickly pieced together the situation she was in.

Sean hadn't been late on this day in her past life. Halfway through the dress fitting, he'd received a call from the hospital, claiming that Cecilia's condition had suddenly worsened. He'd rushed off immediately.

After that, Annie had always felt guilty, thinking that she'd nearly caused someone's death.

Sean had manipulated her through her guilt and coerced her into donating bone marrow repeatedly for Cecilia.

The fact that he still hadn't showed up today only meant one thing—he had been reincarnated as well.

And now, he must be staying by Cecilia's side, refusing to leave even for a moment.

"Ann? Why aren't you saying anything? You're scaring me!" Suzanna's voice snapped Annie out of her thoughts.

"Do you want to call Dr. Frost? Maybe something urgent came up at the hospital?" Suzanna asked.

Annie took a deep breath and suppressed her churning emotions. "I'm fine."

She reached up and removed the bridal veil. Then she grabbed a makeup wipe and started scrubbing away her carefully done makeup in front of the mirror.

Once Annie was done, she turned to Suzanna. "I want to go to the hospital."

There were things—carried over two lifetimes—she just had to confirm with her own eyes. She owed herself and her unborn child an answer.

Suzanna didn't know what was going on. But seeing the unusual look on Annie's face, she immediately nodded. "Alright, I'll go with you."

…

The quiet hallway outside Jynston General Hospital's VIP ward was filled with the sharp scent of disinfectant.

Annie stood silently in front of the glass door. Through the small window, she saw Sean in his white coat, sitting by the bed with his back to her.

He was leaning forward slightly, holding Cecilia's thin, frail hand with gentleness. He lifted her hand to his cheek, gently rubbing against it, murmuring soft words Annie couldn't hear.

The atmosphere between them was warm and intimate, and it seemed like an invisible barrier was keeping Annie out of it. It was as if she was an intruder who shouldn't be there.

Although she had already expected this scene, her heart still clenched painfully. She could hardly breathe the moment she saw it with her own eyes.

Annie wondered just how deeply Sean loved Cecilia, to go so far as to scheme and force himself to marry a woman he didn't love. He even pretended to be affectionate with another woman for the sake of Cecilia.

Beside her, Suzanna was already shaking with fury. Unable to withstand any longer, she lifted her foot and kicked the door open.

Chapter 3 I Owe You for What Happened Before

The loud crash startled the people inside.

Cecilia flinched and yanked her hand back immediately. She shrank into the blankets, her already pale face turning even paler.

Sean turned around and saw Annie standing emotionlessly at the doorway, with Suzanna simmering in fury beside her. His gentle expression froze for a moment as something uneasy flickered across his face.

He quickly turned back, patting Cecilia's hand and murmuring words of comfort. He then got up and walked out of the ward with calm, controlled steps.

"Do you have any shame, Sean?" Suzanna exploded. "You're a doctor with a fiancee, yet you're openly getting handsy with a patient! Where's your professionalism and dignity?"

Sean frowned, but his eyes never left Annie. His tone was cold when he said, "This is between Annie and me. An outsider like you has no right to interfere."

He paused, then looked directly at Annie. "Come to my office. We need to talk."

She suppressed the wave of nausea rising in her chest and nodded expressionlessly.

Now that Sean's mask was ripped off in this lifetime, Annie wanted to hear how he planned to justify himself.

She gave Suzanna a look and signalled her to wait outside. She then followed him to the chief's office.

…

Sean gestured for Annie to sit. He even handed her a cup of warm water out of habit.

Then, he sat across from her and got straight to the point. "Let's end the engagement. Cecilia is my first love, and the only woman I've ever loved.

"The reason I got engaged to you in the first place was because your bone marrow matches hers. I needed you close, so that you'd be available to provide help whenever Cecilia needed it."

A cold smirk appeared on Annie's face when she heard Sean's words. "You've kept me deceived with such an elaborate scheme for so long, so why stop now? Did you find someone new and more suitable for the bone marrow donation?"

Her attitude clearly surprised him. He looked up and took a closer look at the woman before him. She seemed familiar yet foreign at the same time.

Knowing Annie, she should've been shocked and found it hard to accept the truth, or broke down hysterically and demanded answers.

Judging from her reaction now, something was clearly amiss.

The moment their eyes met, a thought struck Sean hard. Could Annie have been reincarnated too?

A mix of emotions flickered in his gaze as he recalled the two years they've been together, and their unborn child that was miscarried due to her emotional distress.

Sean sighed before softening his tone. "Yes. I've already contacted a volunteer in the neighboring city who's willing to donate bone marrow. The match was good.

"I'm telling you the truth now because I don't want to deceive you anymore. I don't want to drag you into this any further. What I am doing now is ultimately for your own good. I hope you can start a new life."

Annie was enraged by Sean's hypocrisy. "You're truly the most shameless man I've ever met, Sean! You think by proclaiming that she's your true love, it would give you the right to sacrifice and trample another innocent person?

"You dragged me into hell just to keep your first love alive. You don't deserve to be a doctor, let alone a man!"

Sean looked at her cheeks, flushed from anger, and merely assumed she was throwing a tantrum over being deceived.

Using a tone that was almost indulgent, he said, "I owe you for what happened before. But now that everything has restarted, there's no need to cling to what happened back then. Right now, I hope you can let go. Ending things peacefully is the best for both of us."

Annie shot to her feet, grabbed the cup of warm water from the table, and flung it straight to Sean's face. "End things peacefully? Dream on!"

Every lie she'd swallowed would never be forgiven so easily.

Droplets of water slid down Sean's face.

Annie's voice turned icy. "Let me tell you this, Sean. Just looking at you for even one more second makes my skin crawl."

Sean squeezed his eyes shut from the splash. A flicker of irritation flashed across his gaze when he reopened them, but it was quickly replaced by his usual composure.

He took a tissue from the table and slowly wiped his face. His tone remained condescending as he said, "Acting on impulse solves nothing. I'm aware of your family's situation. It'd be hard for you to convince your grandmother if you suddenly call off the engagement."

Then, with an almost magnanimous tone, he continued, "Considering our two years together, I can be generous. I won't announce the breakup for now. We can maintain the appearance of an engaged couple for a while, just to help you deal with your family."

Chapter 4 I Will Introduce My Uncle to You

"No need," Annie cut Sean off. "From this moment on, my affairs have nothing to do with you. I don't need your interference."

With that, she turned around and walked out of the office without a single glance back.

An inexplicable irritation rose in Sean's chest as he watched Annie walk out the door.

In their two years together in their past life, Annie had always been gentle and obedient in front of him. She was even a little eager to please, as if she was a well-behaved house cat.

Never had she shown such sharp, biting hostility.

But Annie's sharp reaction only proved she still cared for Sean. Her love had merely curdled into hate.

He knew best how humbly she'd loved him in their past life.

Sean was convinced it wouldn't take long for Annie's anger to fade. Once she calmed down, she'd forget today's unpleasantness. She might even come back crying and beg him to reconcile.

All he needed to do was give her time to calm down and accept reality.

…

Suzanna was pacing anxiously in the hallway. She hurried over the moment she saw Annie. "How did it go? What did that jerk say to you?"

Annie's voice was calm. "Nothing much, just a bunch of nonsense. I've already decided to break off the engagement."

Suzanna gritted her teeth. "I can't believe this! Sean always looked so prim and proper on the surface, but he's actually so disgusting behind closed doors! Everyone knew he was the one who pursued you back then. And now he's pulling something like this? This is absolutely vile!"

She paused, glancing worriedly at Annie. "What are you going to tell your grandmother if you break off the engagement so suddenly, Annie? She hasn't been feeling too well lately, and she's been looking forward to your wedding…"

Annie's expression dimmed for a moment.

She had been raised almost entirely by Irene Glenhill, her grandmother, since young, as her parents had been busy with business.

Irene was the person closest to Annie, but her health had been declining recently. Her greatest wish was to see Annie get married to someone reliable.

Sean had visited the Steward residence once as her fiance. He'd behaved himself and was impeccable in every aspect, so Irene had been thoroughly pleased with her future grandson-in-law.

If Annie suddenly informed Irene that she'd called off her engagement, Irene might not be able to bear the shock.

A flash of determination crossed her eyes as she bit her lower lip. "At worst, I'll just hire someone to go through a fake wedding with me. Grandma's eyesight isn't good, so she wouldn't be able to tell whether the man before her is Sean or not. As long as he doesn't stand too close, it'll be fine."

Suzanna's mouth fell open in shock. Then, her eyes lit up as if struck by a sudden idea. "Why don't you consider my uncle instead if you're really looking for someone?

"My uncle Chris is only five years older than you, and he's a hundred times more handsome than that jerk Sean! He also has a solid character and a great personality."

She continued, "Most importantly, he's also being pressured by his family to get married. If you two team up, you'd be solving each other's problems perfectly!"

Annie looked perplexed. "Your uncle? How come I've never heard you mention him before?"

"He's been studying abroad all these while, and only returned recently, so I never brought him up." Suzanna puffed up her chest confidently. "But anyone I introduce will definitely be reliable. If you're okay with it, I can arrange for you two to meet up tonight."

With her mind and body drained, Annie only wanted to resolve the issue as soon as possible. And with her absolute trust in Suzanna, she nodded without hesitation. "Alright, I'll trouble you with it then."

…

After leaving the hospital, Annie did not return to her apartment. Instead, she took a taxi straight to the Steward residence.

In the quiet living room, Irene was holding the old cat she'd raised for many years, occasionally playing with it. Even a simple gesture like that seemed to take her much effort.

In her past life, she passed away peacefully shortly after Annie got married, as if she'd finally fulfilled her last wish.

Tears stung Annie's eyes as she saw Irene's kind face once again. She rushed forward in a few steps and buried her face in Irene's warm embrace.

Irene was startled at first, then chuckled softly, patting Annie's back. "What's wrong? You're about to get married, yet you're still acting like a little girl who hasn't grown up."

Annie sniffled hard, her voice choking as she said, "It's nothing. I just missed you a lot suddenly. I can't bear to be away from you."

Irene smiled gently, her voice full of affection. "Silly child. Sean is a dependable man. I feel at ease entrusting you to him. You two just need to live a good life together, and I'll be content just like that."

A wave of sorrow surged through Annie's heart. She suppressed her emotions and whispered, "Alright, Grandma."

To avoid giving herself away, she quickly added, "I'm a little tired, Grandma. I'll go to my room and rest for a bit."

"Alright, go on," Irene replied.

…

Annie locked the door behind her once she was back in her room. Then she collapsed onto her bed in exhaustion.

She then pulled out her phone, opened her photo gallery, and found the video she'd secretly recorded outside the VIP ward.

Chapter 5 A Top-Tier Hottie Actually Wants to Marry Her on a Whim

The clear footage revealed Sean and Cecilia's tender affection for each other. It was obvious they were a loving couple.

Annie had once foolishly believed that Cecilia was an innocent victim who knew nothing about what was happening. Looking back now, she had been pathetically naive.

Cecilia clearly knew Annie was Sean's wife. She had been living off Annie's bone marrow to survive, yet was secretly entangled with Annie's husband.

Someone like Cecilia could never be anything but rotten.

Given all that, Annie saw no point in showing mercy. She logged into a throwaway account and uploaded the video in full HD.

She then typed out a caption, "Dr. Frost, chief of the Cardiac Surgery Department in Jynston General Hospital, is caught flirting and getting handsy with a patient while engaged. This disgusting behavior is a blatant violation of medical ethics!"

Annie then tagged Jynston General Hospital's social media account in her post.

After that, she tossed her phone aside. The suffocating anger lodged in her chest finally had an outlet.

This time, Annie refused to be lenient and soft-hearted.

She would retaliate the same way Sean had once used and deceived her. She would put the cheating couple on public trial and ruin them completely.

Perhaps because Annie had only recently been reincarnated and was still adjusting, she drifted into a deep sleep on the bed. It was as if she was finally shedding all the exhaustion of her previous life.

She was startled awake by the sudden shrill ringing of her phone near dusk.

Annie fumbled around her bedside table groggily and pressed the answer button. Her voice was thick with sleep as she answered, "Hello?"

A low, husky voice came through the receiver. "Is this Ms. Steward?"

Annie assumed it was just another telemarketing call and mumbled, "Don't need it, thanks." She then hung up and snuggled back under the covers, ready to continue sleeping.

She shut her eyes again. But before she could even settle in, the same number started calling again.

Having her nap interrupted twice in a row, Annie frowned irritably. She picked up the call and snapped impatiently, "I said I don't need—"

The husky voice cut in before she could finish her sentence. "Sorry to bother you, Ms. Steward. I'm Christian Parker, Suzanna's uncle. I'm your blind date for tonight."

Annie froze for a moment. Her sleep-addled brain instantly cleared, and she finally remembered the arrangement she'd made with Suzanna earlier.

She quickly sat up, smoothing her hair in embarrassment. Her tone softened considerably when she said, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Parker. I just woke up and wasn't thinking straight."

Christian replied, "It's alright. I need to leave for an emergency business trip tomorrow morning. And since the courthouse is still open right now, I wanted to ask if you're free to meet. If we find each other suitable, we can go ahead and get the paperwork done."

Annie was stunned speechless by his efficiency. She hurriedly explained, "I think there's been a misunderstanding, Mr. Parker. I was only looking for someone to put on an act for a while to deal with my family. I'm not actually planning on getting legally married…"

Christian's steady voice came through from the other end of the call. "I understand your concerns. But if you want to keep your family in the dark, a marriage certificate would be far more convincing. It'll also prevent unnecessary suspicion.

"You can think of it as a temporary partnership agreement, Ms. Steward. You're free to dissolve it whenever you like. There's no pressure."

Annie almost found herself persuaded as she held the phone and listened to his calming voice. But marrying a complete stranger was just too impulsive.

Seemingly sensing her hesitation, Christian spoke again. "My car is parked right outside your family home, Ms. Steward. You can come down and meet me first, see if I meet your standards for a partnership."

Surprised to hear that he was downstairs, Annie instinctively rushed to the window, barefooted. She lifted a corner of the curtain.

Sure enough, a sleek black sedan was parked by the curb.

A strange impulse surged through Annie.

She had nothing to lose by just meeting Christian anyway. Besides, he was Suzanna's uncle. His character ought to be solid.

"Alright, wait for me. I'll be right down," Annie said.

Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her ID card and changed into a presentable dress before hurrying downstairs.

…

Annie walked up to the car outside the Steward residence and pulled open the passenger door.

The moment she settled into the seat, she finally saw her blind date clearly.

Christian was tall—easily six-foot-two—with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Even in an oversized white shirt, the fabric couldn't hide the lean muscles underneath. She could faintly see the lines of his abs.

And his face was flawless.

Christian had a sharp jawline with a straight, sculpted nose. He definitely outclassed Sean in both looks and presence.

He would rank at the top even if he was placed in the entertainment industry full of handsome men.

Annie found herself dazed for a second.

She couldn't believe that a top-tier man like Christian, who could have his pick of partners, actually wanted to marry her on a whim.