Chapter 8
“Let’s have some fun.” Shawn said as he pulled her out of the car. “What’s wrong? Are you nervous?”
Inside the private room, the lighting was soft and a little hazy. Ariana, dressed in a white dress, sat in the center seat. As soon as she saw them arrive, she rushed over and held onto Shawn’s arm. “Shawn, why are you so late? We’ve been waiting to start the game with you.”
“Let’s begin the game!” one of Ariana’s close friends shouted excitedly. “Whoever loses has to take a punishment.
Not long after the game started, Shawn and Ariana “just happened” to lose.
The group of girls shared knowing looks and shouted louder on purpose, “Linked arm toast!! You both have to do it!” Ariana’s face turned red as she lifted her glass. Shawn smirked, glanced at Hannah, then slipped his arm into Ariana’s.
In the next game, they both lost again.
“This punishment is way juicier!” another friend said, flipping over a card. “A French kiss-five full minutes!”
Everyone in the room burst out screaming and laughing.
Without hesitation, Shawn grabbed the back of Ariana’s head and kissed her right there in front of everyone.
“Last round! This time, carry the lady like a princess!”
Shawn effortlessly lifted Ariana into his arms and twirled her around a few times while everyone cheered and clapped.
Her white dress swayed as she giggled, her arms wrapped around his neck, shaking with laughter.
Hannah quietly noticed that Shawn kept sneaking glances at her, like he was waiting to see her break down.
But she calmly sipped from her glass of water. The burning in her stomach made her eyebrows tighten a little.
“I’m going to the restroom,” she said as she got up. Her skirt brushed Shawn’s leg as she walked past.
Inside the restroom, Hannah splashed cold water on her face
The reflection in the mirror looked pale, almost like a ghost. As soon as she stepped out, she found Ariana standing in
her way.
“Trying to act cool?” Ariana said while playing with her new manicure. “Too bad Shawn already told me that tonight’s all about humiliating you.”
Hannah didn’t even glance at her. She turned around, ready to leave.
Ariana grabbed her arm. “You still think you’re his wife? He told me himself that marrying you was just his way of
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getting revenge.”
She leaned in close and whispered, “I know I’m just a stand-in, but one day, he’ll forget your sister and love me in- stead.”
Hannah pulled her arm free. “If he wants to hurt me, fine. But who do you think you are? You think you’re even wor- thy?”
“How dare you!”
Furious, Ariana grabbed her shirt collar. But just as she was about to explode, she spotted Shawn walking over from the hallway. Right away, her face changed. She let go of Hannah, stepped back, and let out a scream.
“Ah!”
Ariana fell to the floor, landing on her back.
By the time Shawn reached her, Ariana was crying, her hands covering a cut on her forehead. “Shawn, please don’t blame Ms. Yanetta. We were just having fun, but I think she got jealous. That’s why she pushed me…”
“Hannah!” Shawn shouted, lifting Ariana into his arms. His eyes were full of rage and hatred. “You already caused Brielle’s death, and now you want to hurt her too? She’s the closest person I’ve found who looks like Brielle!”
In the distance, the sound of an ambulance echoed through the air.
Shawn gently placed Ariana inside the ambulance. Before stepping in, he glared at Hannah and said, “If she dies, I’ll make sure your life becomes a nightmare.”
Hannah stayed on the steps as the rain poured down, soaking her clothes.
She started to laugh, but tears fell down her cheeks at the same time.
“A nightmare life?”
She had already been suffering for what felt like forever.
She returned home alone. Shawn didn’t contact her after that night, but deep down, she knew it wasn’t over.
As expected, around three in the morning, someone kicked open the door.
Shawn stormed in with a dark expression. He ripped off her blanket, grabbed her wrist, and yanked her up.
His voice was sharp and icy. “Get up! Go to the hospital and give Ariana a blood transfusion!”
He dragged her so hard that Hannah almost fell. Her stomach twisted in pain. “I didn’t push her…”
“Enough with the lies!” Shawn forced her into the car. “She’s bleeding too much. Your blood type matches hers, so it’s your responsibility!”
The hospital corridor lights were too bright, making Hannah squint.
They shoved her into the blood collection room. The nurse approached with a needle, but paused when she saw Han-
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nah’s pale skin. She said hesitantly, “Sir, we can’t take blood from her…”
“Why not?” Shawn asked coldly, cutting her off.
The nurse glanced at the medical records and said softly, “Her condition isn’t good. She’s already in the late stage of
cancer…”
