Half-conscious, Gia heard the hurried footsteps of doctors and nurses.
"The patient's blood type is rare, and we need to arrange a transfusion right now!"
"We've found it. The patient donates blood regularly. The blood bank has her record. We can prioritize her supply!"
What happened before she fainted kept flashing in her mind. Her heart had gone numb from the pain.
She no longer recognized Lucas. He was no longer the calm, gentle professor she once knew.
Fragments of her past life surfaced in the chaos. She had always believed her marriage was happy. Though there had been compromise and tolerance, her husband had seemed caring and considerate. She thought she had no reason to be dissatisfied.
Looking back, however, she realized those moments were nothing but delusions.
Gia had a high fever once and had called Lucas, but he said, "The experiment can't wait." She wondered if he was with Cecelia back then.
She found a lipstick in his car once, and he said a colleague must have dropped it. How easily she had believed him.
There were too many memories, and she dared not dwell on them.
"The blood is ready. Begin the transfusion!" said a nurse. Her voice made Gia snap out of it.
However, the ward door was forced open the next moment.
"Wait! Don't give her the blood!" yelled Lucas. He rushed in, his face pale and eyes bloodshot.
He continued, "Cecelia's life is no longer in danger, but she suddenly went into premature labor and suffered massive bleeding. The hospital's supply is running out, so this blood has to go to her first!"
The doctor knew Lucas, and he disapprovingly retorted, "Mr. Isles, your wife is critically anemic. She could die!"
"No!" Lucas suddenly lunged forward. He begged, "Gia, you can hold on, can't you? There are two lives at stake on Cecelia's side. Please, I'm begging you–give the blood to her, alright?"
Gia could not believe that he broke down in tears as he spoke.
She was stunned for a moment, having never seen him cry before. The only time he pleaded so desperately was when she collapsed from illness years ago, and he clutched her tightly, begging her not to die, and not to leave him.
She thought she had no tears left for him, no pain left to feel. Her chest ached so badly at that moment; she felt like she was borderline suffocating.
She thought to herself, 'Soon. Soon, I will be free.'
Gia nodded calmly. "Fine. Give the blood to her," she said.
Lucas froze, then his face lit up with relief. He snatched the blood bag and bolted from the room.
Silence fell. The doctors exchanged helpless sighs. "Hurry up and see if we can requisition more blood!"
Gia slowly closed her eyes and, to her own surprise, smiled. She had finally, completely given up.
Her phone vibrated softly. She made the effort to pick it up and answered.
"Ms. Rowan, all assets have been successfully transferred. The mandatory waiting period is over. The divorce has been finished," said the lawyer.
The lawyer steadily continued, "Funding for Lucas's lab has been fully withdrawn, and as you requested, all the evidence is ready. You can file the lawsuit anytime."
Gia let out a long sigh and smile. It was a genuine smile, too. She felt like she was finally free.
Gia pulled out her IV drip after ending the call.
"Ms. Rowan, you can't!" the nurse exclaimed.
Gia pushed herself to her feet. Her steps wavered, but her body felt lighter than ever.
"There's no need to stop me. It's alright," she said. "My life is mine to decide."
She slipped on her coat and walked out without looking back.
Lucas was still waiting anxiously outside the operating room at the end of the hallway, his voice tight with worry as he questioned the staff.
However, Gia did not spare him a glance. She walked toward the elevator.
The world was vast from then on, and she would never look back.
