Chapter 5
“Throw yourself down the stairs!” Shawn ordered coldly. “Do it, and I’ll let everything slide.”
Hannah clung tightly to the handrail. “Shawn, she’s not Brielle. Have you completely lost your mind?”
“As long as she looks like Brielle, that’s all that matters!” Shawn’s gaze was cold and threatening. “Since you won’t take the blame, fine. Guard, push her down.”
The bodyguard shoved her hard.
“Ah!”
She tumbled hard down the stairs, her body hitting each step with brutal force. Sharp bits of glass sliced into her skin, and blood started to smear the staircase.
She struggled to push herself up, her vision blurring. But before she could find her balance, they yanked her up again.
A second time. A third time….
Until she could no longer move. Blood poured from her mouth, soaking the front of her hospital gown.
When she regained consciousness, she could hear the nurses’ whispers from the corridor.
“Ms. Cauley’s small injury healed long ago, and Mr. Adelson still stays by her side every day. He treats her like his precious one.”
“Compared to that, the patient in room 302 is in such a miserable state. Covered in wounds, and no one even brings her meals.”
“Isn’t she his legal wife?”
“Be quiet…”
Hannah closed her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks without a sound.
She remained in the hospital for several more days. Her condition kept getting worse. The painkillers no longer helped, and the pain from her stomach cancer only grew harder to bear.
She realized there was no reason to stay in the hospital anymore, so she simply got discharged early.
When she got back home, Shawn was in the living room. As soon as he saw her walk in, he stood up and headed to- ward his study, ready to ignore her.
Leaning weakly against the wall, Hannah softly said, “Shawn, my birthday is the day after tomorrow.”
He stopped and glanced over. “So what?”
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09:43
“I want to spend one last birthday with you,” she remarked.
He asked, “What do you mean, ‘last”? Are you planning on dying or something?”
Hannah gave a faint smile. “Yeah. That’s exactly what I’m planning. So, are you going to give me that birthday or
not?”
Shawn thought she was just being dramatic. He let out a mocking laugh. “Sure. I’ll prepare a special surprise for you.”
He stressed the word “special,” and there was a dangerous glint in his eyes.
On her birthday, Hannah followed the address Shawn had sent and arrived at the hotel.
But the moment she stepped inside, she froze.
The entire hall looked like a funeral setting. In the middle stood a coffin, and the place was surrounded by white lilies meant for mourning.
A “memorial photo” of her hung on the wall. The guests were all dressed in black suits with white flowers pinned to their sleeves. As soon as she entered, silence fell over the crowd. Everyone stared at her like they were waiting for the drama to begin.
“Do you like it?” Shawn emerged from the crowd, a smirk on his face. “Hannah, this funeral is my gift to you.”
Hannah stared at her memorial photo, then suddenly smiled and said, “It’s nice. I like it.”
Shawn froze for a second, clearly caught off guard, then replied with a cold tone, “If you’re so into it, then stay right there.”
He lifted his arm, and right away, a few of his friends came forward and started lighting the candles in front of Han- nah.
“Hannah, better to go early and get it over with.”
“Don’t mess with Shawn in your next life.”
“Hope you have a nice journey.”
Hannah smiled faintly, taking in every word.
Once everything was done, Hannah turned to leave, but Shawn held her back and demanded, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“What are you talking about?” Hannah asked.
“Why didn’t you smash everything up? Don’t you usually hate it when I treat you like this?” he said, narrowing his
eyes.
Hannah gave him a peaceful look. “Because this isn’t shameful to me. I actually really like the gift.”
After all, she really didn’t have much time left.
