Chapter 2

2.

Gideon was desperate, but work demanded his attention as a major project ran into trouble.

He had to rush to the office. Once the meeting ended, a group of executives followed him out.

He barked orders at his subordinates, his mind already back on the hunt for me.

As he finished speaking, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the lobby.

"Jade! What are you doing here?"

He rushed over, his voice so tender it could make anyone sick.

He reached out to touch her forehead, checking her temperature with extreme care.

"You're not well. You should be in your hospital bed. Why are you out here?"

Jade stood there, her face as pale as a ghost, leaning heavily against the railing.

"I... I was worried about you. I wanted to see if you found Fiona yet."

Floating beside them, I watched the tenderness in Gideon's eyes. My non-existent heart felt like it was being shredded.

Years ago, his company was just a tiny start-up.

To land a big contract, I went to every business dinner with him, drinking until my stomach bled.

When I ended up in the hospital, he stayed by my bed for three days and nights without closing his eyes.

He looked at me back then exactly how he was looking at Jade now.

But ever since Jade reappeared, that look had vanished. All I ever got from him was resentment and disgust.

It was pathetic.

"I haven't found her," Gideon sighed. "Her phone is disconnected, and her place is empty. She's hiding somewhere."

Jade seemed to let out a subtle sigh of relief.

"But..." Gideon added, his tone shifting.

Jade immediately tensed up, leaning forward. "But what?"

"I went to her place earlier. A neighbor claimed she was dead."

Gideon let out a mocking laugh. "Claimed she died from complications after the liver donation. What a load of crap!"

"Fiona is too much of a coward to die. She's just using that as an excuse to avoid the surgery!"

At those words, Jade's expression became incredibly forced.

Her eyes flickered with unease. "Gideon, maybe we should stop looking. I'll find another donor."

"Things are critical! What other choice do we have?!"

Gideon frowned and patted her hand gently.

"Jade, you're just too good for this world."

"She faked your identity to trick me into marriage. Of course she'd fake her own death to skip a surgery. She owes us this!"

I stood there, laughing internally.

Gideon still thought Jade was an angel. Only I knew she was terrified of my death being confirmed.

After I donated my liver, I was incredibly weak.

Jade had gone to the doctors privately, threatening them not to give me proper care.

She knew if I died, her secret would stay buried forever. She could step into my life without any loose ends.

The doctors, afraid of her influence, neglected me. I bled out in agony, alone in that cold room.

"Gideon, forget it." Jade's voice carried a hint of panic. "What if she's really having a hard time..."

"What hard time could she possibly have?!" Gideon was adamant. "I don't care. I'm finding her within three days!"

"Jade, trust me. I will get you that kidney. I won't let anything happen to you."

He helped her sit down and turned to his assistant.

"Track down all of Fiona's relatives, friends, and former workplaces. Dig through every hole she might be hiding in!"

The assistant nodded quickly. "Yes, sir."

Jade sat there with her head down. No one saw the flash of malice in her eyes.

Watching Gideon work himself into a frenzy for Jade made me feel cold.

He had no idea that the woman he was protecting was my murderer.

And the woman he hated, the one he was hunting for a kidney, was the one who once would have died for him.

Life really was a sick joke.