When Bella opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Seth's worn, haggard face.

Seeing her awake, his voice softened—just slightly. "I didn't save you... because Faye is sick."

Her voice was calm, almost distant. "I understand."

Seth let out a barely audible sigh before continuing, "You still have the kidney donation in a few days. You need to take care of yourself."

A bitter smile flickered across her lips. So that's why he'd stayed to look after her—he was afraid an injury would delay the operation for Faye.

After a moment of silence, he added, "No matter what happens, I won't forget my promise. Even after I marry, I'll protect you. Always."

Bella raised her eyes slightly at that.

In her heart, she quietly answered, 'Too bad. I don't need that anymore.'

The rest of the day, Seth never came back. Bella sat alone, waiting for the IV drip to finish. She checked herself out of the hospital by herself.

Just as she completed the discharge papers, a stretcher rushed past her toward the emergency room.

She caught a glimpse of Seth running beside it—his face tight with panic.

And on that stretcher… was Faye.

Her mind suddenly blanked.

In her previous life, she hadn't donated the kidney, and Faye had died.

But now—she was willing to donate. So why was Faye still being wheeled into the ER?

She didn't have time to search for answers. She just ran.

At the emergency room doors, Seth sat with his head bowed, fingers tapping anxiously on the bench, his whole frame radiating tension.

Bella asked what had happened. Only then did she learn that Faye had a clotting disorder. She'd gotten dizzy while showering, fallen, and hit her head on the tub. The impact had caused internal bleeding.

Not long after, a doctor emerged from the emergency room.

"She's lost a lot of blood. Is there any family who can donate?"

Seth stood up instantly. "I will!"

"What's your blood type?" the doctor asked. "The patient is Rh-negative."

At that, Seth's face turned ghostly pale. His voice came out trembling. "I'm type B."

Rh-negative blood was rare, like a red wolf's. And of everyone there, only Bella had it.

Without hesitation, she stepped forward. "I'm Rh-negative. I'll do it."

The memories of her last life were still vivid. She had come so far—she couldn't let things play out the same way again.

Led by the nurse, she gave a full thousand milliliters of blood.

As the last drop drained, her vision went black. She collapsed in the donation room.

When she came to, she was alone. The room was silent.

She tore the IV from her hand and got out of bed, barefoot, hurrying toward Faye's ward.

Just as she reached the door, a tender scene met her eyes.

Seth held Faye tightly, his voice choked with emotion. "You're okay… you're okay…"

Faye, pale and weak, managed a faint smile. "Seth, if I had died, at least it would've freed you to be with Bella. Why are you doing all this?"

Seth shook his head, solemnly pulling her hand to his chest. "Faye, don't say things like that. Do you hear this? My heart only beats for you. Don't bring up people who have nothing to do with us to hurt what we have. This life and every life after… I'll only love you."

Hearing that, Bella's heart jerked violently in her chest. It was real—sharp, physical pain. She leaned against the wall, sorrow washing over her eyes.

Softly, as if only for herself, she murmured, "This time… the tragedy won't repeat."

Not long after they returned from the hospital, Seth received a call from the auction house.

When he told Faye, she lit up with excitement and ran back to her room to pick out clothes.

After a moment, he looked over at Bella, sitting quietly on the couch.

He said, "You can come too. Consider it a favor, since you donated blood to Faye."

Bella opened her mouth to refuse, but he was already walking back to his room. He hadn't left her space to answer.

…

At the auction, Seth didn't hesitate. Anything that caught Faye's interest, he raised his paddle and bought.

Bella sat still beside them the entire time, her expression vacant and disinterested. She didn't raise her paddle once.

Then, a hush swept through the room as a new item was brought out—an exquisite jewelry set of rare value. Gasps rippled through the audience.

Faye leaned in, her voice soft and coaxing, "Seth, I want to wear that on our wedding day. It'll be the perfect moment."

Without a second thought, Seth raised his paddle again. The bidding escalated rapidly before he secured it for 17 million dollars.

People around them murmured in awe—calling him a man hopelessly devoted to his fiancée.

Bella didn't so much as glance up, not until the next item was introduced.

"And now, this next piece is of significant historical value—a bullet casing left behind by Captain Cordon Ramsey during a battle ten years ago."

Cordon Ramsey.

Her father's name.

Bella's head snapped up, eyes wide with disbelief. Her gaze shimmered, the corners tinged red. She didn't hesitate—her hand shot up with the paddle.

Seth didn't bid this time. He only looked at her with a complicated expression.

"Forty thousand going once…

"Forty thousand going twice…

"And sold to Bella—"

"Wait!"

Faye, who had shown no interest in the item until then, tugged Seth's arm.

"Seth, I want the bullet casing too. Let me have it?"

Maybe he knew what it meant to Bella. Maybe that's why he hesitated.

But when he saw the pleading look in Faye's eyes, he turned to Bella, his tone laced with compromise.

"Bella, let it go. I'll buy you anything else you want. But this—this one's for Faye."

A slow sorrow washed over Bella's face. She said nothing. Just lifted her paddle again, stubborn and silent.

Seth's eyes darkened, like something in him had made up its mind. He raised his hand, and gestured toward the auctioneer—three fingers.

"30 million!" someone gasped.

"God… he's serious. Truly a simp for his girl."

The buzz around the room grew louder, but Bella's face grew even paler.

He knew what that casing meant to her. And still—

Her eyes dimmed completely. She nodded with tears in her eyes. "Alright."

She let go of the paddle.

And with it, she let go of all the years she had held onto Seth.

Without another glance, she bent down, picked up her bag, and walked out of the hall. Seth stared after her, stunned.

A message popped up on her phone—it was a flight confirmation for tomorrow at 6 p.m. It was also the day of her kidney donation.

Bella checked the time and exhaled, a quiet, private relief.

Just one more day, and she'd be gone.

Back at the villa, she packed quickly. Strangely, even though she had lived there for more than ten years, her belongings didn't take up much space. Less, even, than Faye's.

She had just zipped up her suitcase when the door flew open with a violent kick.

Seth stood there, his expression thunderous. The air around him was heavy and suffocating.

His eyes were sharp, cold as a blade.

"Bella," he snapped, "what the hell have you become? Just to get what you want, you'd stoop so low as to steal?"

She froze, utterly bewildered.

Before she could speak, he cut her off.

"I know that bullet casing was your father's. I was going to give it to you after Faye got bored with it. But now? You've let me down."

His fury consumed him. His voice trembled from rage.

"You turned out like this because I failed to teach you right. But I owe your parents. I owe them the truth of raising you properly."

His anger overtook him. He raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face.

Her head turned from the force, the sting blooming across her cheek in the shape of his palm.

She stared ahead, dazed, lips parted in disbelief.

All these years, this was the first time he had ever struck her—and it was for something she hadn't done.

As soon as he lowered his hand, his phone rang.

"Hello, is this Faye Walter's family member? She's in the ER right now. Please come immediately."

Seth's face paled in an instant. Without a word, he dashed out of the villa.

By the time Bella arrived at the hospital, the doctor had just stepped out of the emergency room. He looked at Seth, his expression grave.

"The patient's condition is critical. The kidney transplant has been moved up—surgery will begin in thirty minutes. Can you reach the donor? See if they're available now?"

Before Seth could respond, Bella's voice rose behind him, "I'm available, doctor. I'm ready."

Bella stepped forward, clutching the side of her face where she'd been struck. There was no lingering attachment left in her heart. All she wanted now was to get away from Seth. From the Rogen family. To sever everything, completely.

Seth's expression shifted, just barely, before he finally said, "Thank you."

Bella didn't reply. She simply opened her phone and rescheduled her flight for that afternoon.

Thirty minutes later, she lay on the operating table. There was no fear in her—only a quiet sense of release. Relief.

Just as she settled into place, a nurse burst into the room, flustered. "We're out of anesthesia. There's only enough for one patient."

The doctor took off his gloves and stepped outside to speak with Seth. Through the open door, Bella heard his voice. "Faye is too frail. She needs the anesthesia."

…

After a pause, the doctor returned, his gaze filled with sympathy.

"Bella, you'll have to undergo the operation without anesthetic. If you don't think you can bear it, we can cancel now."

"No need," she said. "I can handle it."

It was the answer she'd expected, yet still, it chilled her to the bone.

Her dear uncle. Her only family. And yet, as always, he chose Faye over her, even though she had never once hurt anyone.

The doctor said no more. He stayed by her side, offering quiet comfort as the procedure began.

The pain was unimaginable.

Without anesthesia, the sensation tore through her like glass under the skin—deep and cold and merciless. Her veins bulged, her forehead drenched in sweat. Though she gritted her teeth, the scream still tore from her throat.

By the time the transplant was complete, Bella had long since passed out.

When she woke again, the room was empty. A nurse came in to change her dressing and gave her a concerned look.

"You're awake, Bella. That uncle of yours... he's really something. Let his girlfriend get the anesthesia, and made you go through it like that."

Bella didn't reply. She offered a pale smile. Once the nurse left, she checked the time on her phone.

Two hours.

That was just enough to get her things and make it to the airport.

She let out a breath and tried to get up—but pain, sharp and tearing, hit her like a wave. It was the kind of agony that lived in the marrow, the kind that pulled screams from the soul. Every heartbeat felt like a knife's stabbing.

But still, the thought of leaving Seth pushed her forward. She gritted her teeth, braced herself against the bed, and stood.

She changed, slowly, into her own clothes. She picked up the letter she'd carried with her for so long—the formal statement to sever all ties—and began her slow walk toward Faye's room.

Inside, Seth sat beside Faye, watching her sleep. He didn't notice Bella until she stood before him, the letter held out in silence.

Only then did he look up. When he saw what she was handing him, his face darkened.

"What is this supposed to mean?" he asked quietly. "You really want to cut ties with me? I've told you before, there's no future between us. Why are you still holding onto this?"

Bella was trembling, sweat forming at her brow. But she looked him in the eye.

"This is what you promised me."

His gaze lingered on her pale, exhausted face. A flicker of irritation passed through him. Then, after a beat, he took the paper and pen, and signed his name.

She finally allowed herself to exhale. Holding the signed paper close, she turned to leave—limping with every step.

Seth frowned.

"You just had surgery. You're still weak. Why aren't you resting in your hospital gown? Why change clothes? Where are you going?"

Her throat was dry. Her thin frame looked as if a breeze could knock her down.

"The hospital feels suffocating," she said. "I'm going for a walk."

He watched her go, and for once, there was a hint of concern in his voice.

"The wind's strong today. Don't stay out too long."

Bella gave a soft, vague reply. But in her heart, she whispered, 'Seth, I'm not coming back.'

She retrieved her suitcase and boarded the flight to Caledon.

As the plane lifted off, sunlight poured over her frail silhouette. She turned her head, taking one last long look at the city.

"Goodbye," she murmured. "Goodbye to the place I lived for twelve years. Goodbye, Seth."