Chapter 2 Healthy Patient

Miguel grabbed Brenda's wrist with one hand and raised his phone with the other.

"Not so fast. I just received news from the hospital that Veronica's condition has deteriorated again. She needs blood, so you have to go to the hospital with me. Right now."

Miguel's handsome face was gloomy. His eyes were fixed on his phone screen, but his cold tone indicated that he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Brenda widened her eyes in disbelief. Veronica again! Did this mean she had to remain that woman's blood bank even after they were divorced? No, no! She couldn't put up with this anymore!

A wave of hardheadedness got a grip on Brenda. She frowned and raised her chin.

"And what if I say no? Mr. Hamilton..." she said in a low voice, "now that we are divorced, you have no right to order me around."

With a frown, Miguel sharply looked at her. He was shocked to see her resolute face. She was disobeying him when their divorce was barely even an hour old? This had got to be a joke!

He sucked his teeth and said expressionlessly, "Our divorce doesn't matter when it comes to your donating your blood to Veronica. Have you forgotten how Veronica came to be in the state she's currently in? You and your brother want to go scot-free just because our marriage has ended? That's not going to happen!"

There were sparks in Miguel's eyes. His growl and expression made him even more frightening. It was clear he was threatening her. "Your brother is due for release in a month. Do you want him to be released or for the case to be reopened so he can spend more years of his miserable life behind bars?"

Brenda was under so much pressure that she couldn't breathe.

The Sanchezs were never nice to her. However, Victor was different. He was the best brother she could ever ask for. When she encountered a bully in school, he shielded her and took her enemies on at his own expense. Brenda couldn't count how many times he stood up for her.

She couldn't abandon him now.

A few words from Miguel broke her resolve.

After taking a deep breath, she said, "Okay, let's go."

Miguel shoved her into the back seat of his car, his expression as cold as ever.

On the way, he drove at lightning speed and almost shoved some cars out of the road. His eyes were fixed ahead of him. The veins in his hands were protruding. All these indicated that he cared about nothing but the woman lying sick in the hospital.

The silence in the car was so loud. She couldn't stand him. While Brenda held the handrail for safety, she pressed her lips together and suffered in silence.

Several torturous moments passed before the car finally came to a stop at the gate of the hospital. Brenda wasted no time in getting out. Miguel did the same. When she looked up, her eyes met his. She spat out the words she had been holding back for a long time. "I'll donate blood for her, but this is the very last time!"

Miguel's eyes went deep as he watched her run into the hospital. He knew she was running away from him, but he was appalled by the audacity of the docile woman he once knew. How come she changed so much?

After the blood donation, Brenda's face was pale as she pressed the swab of cotton wool on her arm.

The sight of blood scared the shit out of her. Also, she was anemic. But she never told anyone.

After all, who would feel sorry for her? No one... Her parents only cared about her brother, while Miguel only cared about Veronica. She was nothing to them.

As she arrived in front of ward 402, she read the patient's name that was written on the door, "Veronica Ballard."

After much hesitation, she turned the doorknob for the first time.

"What are you doing here?" Veronica asked in surprise. There was a heart monitor by the bedside. An oximeter was on her left hand and an IV needle was pierced into her right arm. She was lying in the bed. However, her cheeks were ruddy and her lips were red. She didn't look like someone who had been critically ill for a long time. Suddenly, she scowled and asked, "Where is Miguel?"

"Don't get worked up, Veronica. Your Miguel loves you so much, so he's here."

Taking a few steps closer, Brenda looked down at Veronica and added coldly, "I have divorced Miguel. This is the last time I'd donate blood to you. From now on, your life or death is none of mine or my brother's business. Don't interfere in our lives again, okay?"

"You got divorced?"

A spasm of joy flitted across Veronica's face. But the next second, she frowned again and said incredulously, "What do you mean it's none of you guys' business? Your brother put me in this state! No one asked you to marry Miguel in the first place. You forced yourself on him because of the blood donation arrangement. Do you now regret your actions?"

"Just so you know, I still don't believe that my brother did this to you. I'll find out the truth sooner or later. But you are right about one thing."

Brenda lowered her head and enunciated every word. "Yes, I regret marrying Miguel. It's the worst mistake I ever made."

"You..." Veronica was speechless.

The color on her face was drained as soon as Brenda hinted at investigating the truth. She shuddered with guilt.

Just as she was on the brink of panicking, she sighted someone at the door of the ward. "Miguel!"