In my previous life, after Samuel learned that Felicia was marrying me, he couldn't accept it and poisoned himself one month later to end his life. Felicia failed to find a matching blood donor for him to cure the poison and could do nothing but watch as he died.

That was the incident that fully pushed her dislike into hatred, and even till her dying breath, she absolutely hated me.

This time around, however, I wasn't marrying Felicia, so why had Samuel attempted to end his life again?

Here I was, wondering how I was supposed to fulfill her third wish, and the opportunity had come knocking on my door.

I looked at Felicia. "So, you're here to take my blood to cure his poison, right?"

Upon hearing that, Felicia was visibly surprised, as though she hadn't expected me to say that. Then, she answered darkly, "Do you think I wouldn't dare? You're the reason Samuel was humiliated and pushed to the point of imbibing poison. It's only right that you repent for your sins."

With that, she took me straight to Samuel's residence.

Samuel lay on the bed, barely clinging on to life. The doctor took out a dagger that he used to slice my arm open, the pain causing me to grunt.

A moment later, the doctor exclaimed joyfully, "There's a reaction! This gentleman's blood is indeed a match. However, to save the patient, this gentleman's heart's blood is required, and I'm not sure if his body can handle the strain."

"No!" Felicia's expression instantly changed at the doctor's words, her brows furrowing deeply. "Taking his heart's blood is going to leave him half-dead! He can't handle that. Is there no other blood that will work?"

A conflicted look crossed the doctor's face. "Other bloods won't work as well, if they even work. If you're unwilling to take this gentleman's heart's blood, then you need to mentally prepare for the worst. Taking his heart's blood won't kill him, but the poisoned gentleman will definitely die without it."

Felicia pressed her lips into a thin line, her gaze locked on Samuel.

I could tell how much it hurt her to see him like this, so I turned to the doctor and said, "I'm willing to save his life. Go ahead and take my blood."

The doctor glanced at Felicia. "But this will greatly harm your body."

Nonetheless, I simply replied with a smile, "It's alright. I just need to rest and recuperate. Saving another person's life is more important."

For a moment, Felicia just stared at me. Eventually, she frowned and cut off a corner of her white dress, using the strip of cloth to cover my eyes.

"I'll count this as me owing you a debt. Rest assured that I'll make it up to you."

After she left, the doctor began taking my heart's blood. The scalpel dug into the skin of my chest, the pain growing stronger and clearer the further in the blade cut.

My mind suddenly filled with memories of my past with Felicia.

My parents died when I was eight years old, leaving me to the mercy of the other family heirs, who picked on me and jeered at me for having no parents to back me up.

It was Felicia who had beat them up and sent them packing, after which she tightly gripped my hand.

"Don't be scared. I'll protect you."

She had kept her promise, protecting me even when that led to her dying right there in my arms.

Hence, I couldn't not love her.

Still, I knew that with this second chance at life, I had to give up everything if it meant I could cut off all ties with her.

As my heart's blood was drained, warm blood seeped continuously from the corner of my mouth. The agony sent me crashing to the ground, and right before I lost consciousness, I dazedly recalled the very last words she said to me in my last life.

"Michael Sommerson, how wonderful my life would've been if I hadn't met you…"

Tears slipped from my eyes as I smiled weakly. "Felicia, this time, I won't cling to you anymore."

…

When I regained consciousness, I realized that I had been left alone in the room next door.

A wave of agony crashed through me, originating from my chest and leaving me completely sapped of strength. I couldn't even find the energy to move.

From my position, I could see the sun outside the window. Judging from how high it hung in the sky, I guessed that it was getting close to the time for me to leave.

Just then, the loud chattering of a few female attendants drifted in from the open window.

"Did you all see the once-in-a-century shooting star event last night?"

"I did! It was breathtaking! Supposedly, lovers who watch it together will grow old together!"

I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret when I heard the satisfaction and delight in their voices. It was truly a pity that I had missed out on such an amazing sight again.

Not long after that, Felicia entered the room with a tray of food. It was filled with all my favorite breakfast foods.

The sight of those dishes left me momentarily stunned, as I hadn't expected her to still remember.

Felicia stared at me and said in a rare gentle tone, "Does your chest still hurt? Should I get the doctor to take a look? Thanks to you, Samuel is no longer at risk of dying."

I nodded. "Okay."

The furrow between Felicia's eyes didn't ease up, seemingly because of how pale I looked. "I was a little too harsh with my words yesterday, so don't take it to heart. It's just that Samuel is innocent in all this, and you shouldn't have gotten him involved in our matters. Don't go tattling to my parents about him again, got it?"

My heart cracked a little at her words, but instead of pitifully trying to explain like I had in my previous life, I simply smiled.

"Got it. There won't be a next time."

Felicia tucked the blanket in around me tighter.

"I wasn't able to go watch the shooting star with you last night, so how about I visit your hometown with you? I remember you liked Jacaston, right? Let's go to Jacaston together after visiting your parents' graves."

I was briefly stunned, but then I smiled faintly and replied, "No need. You don't have to pay me back for what I did last night. I saved Mr. Gardner of my own volition."

Felicia was silent for a moment, a storm of emotions raging in her eyes. Then, she said, "I've already arranged for a carriage to take us out of the city in five days. Once you've recovered, we'll depart."

I didn't bother speaking again, merely quietly watched her.

She picked up a bowl of oatmeal, her right hand trembling badly. That was the arm that had been hurt when she saved me from the bandits back then. The tendons had been injured, so every time the weather was rainy or damp, her hand would hurt. Not just that, but even simple daily motions like picking up a fork took effort.

My nose tingled at the sight, and my heart ached for her. I asked, "Do you regret saving me? You became like this only because of me."

Her tone was calm as she replied, "There's nothing to regret. If it had been anyone else, I would've stepped in to rescue them too."

At that, my eyes darkened, but I continued with another question, my voice softer than before. "Then, what about the time you climbed that steep cliff to find me that herb to cure my illness? Would you have done the same for anyone else?"

"Yes."

As I expected, I wasn't anyone special to her.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I still forced my lips to curve into a smile.

"Felicia, thank you for saving me again and again. I lost my parents when I was still very young, so I've always desperately wanted a family. That's why I forced you to marry me. However, my impulsive and rash behavior must have caused you so much frustration and suffering, huh?"

From today on, though, that would change.

She would no longer need to abandon the man she loved and be forced to marry me. We wouldn't spend the next ten years torturing each other, and, more importantly, she wouldn't die at the young age of 30 for my sake. In this life, she would get to live a happy and long life.

I thought I saw a hint of panic flash across her face, and she opened her mouth as though to say something.

However, she was interrupted by an attendant, who urgently reported, "Lady Felicia, Mr. Gardner has awoken and is anxiously searching for you. He absolutely refuses to eat anything! Please hurry over to him!"

Immediately, a smile lit up Felicia's pretty face. Before leaving, she threw me one last glance, saying, "Wait for me to return."

"Felicia," I called out with a gentle smile, "I'm sorry, and also, I wish you a long, trouble-free life."

My choice of words confused Felicia, even as an inexplicable sense of unease spread through her. "Why are you saying such things out of the blue? I'm just going to check on Samuel and will be back very soon. Eat something first while you wait for me to return. I have something to say to you."

With that, she turned and left.

I was scheduled to leave the city at ten o'clock, which was creeping ever closer, so I got out of bed.

When the doctor came to examine me, he also prescribed me some medicine.

I shot him a grateful smile and said, "I'll be sure to take the medicine on time. Thank you so much, doctor. Also, could you help me pass on a message to Lady Felicia? Tell her that I've gone to Jacaston and that I hope she'll take good care of herself. Besides that, tell her that she shouldn't miss me."

…

After Felicia finished checking up on Samuel, she rushed back toward the room I had been in, only to find it empty.

Hailing an attendant, she asked, "He still hasn't fully recovered yet, so where has he gone?"

Before the attendant could reply, a guard dashed over anxiously.

"Lady Felicia, bad news! Bandits overtook the road leading away from the city and assaulted anyone who passed by. All the citizens involved are injured but alive, all except Mr. Sommerson, who died from too much blood loss, especially after having his heart's blood drained away just recently."