Chapter 3

3.

Amelia's heart pounded, a strange mix of excitement and nervousness rising within her. She quickly turned to look at the door.

But instead, she saw Brooke, clutching her chest, looking pale and frail.

The oversized hospital gown hung loosely on her, making her appear even more delicate and fragile.

"I heard Amelia was in the hospital, so I came to see how she was. Can I come in?" Her watery eyes were filled with a timid caution.

Damian's expression changed. He immediately stood up, walked to the door, and wrapped his arm around her.

"She's fine. But you, why aren't you resting in bed instead of running around?" Damian's scolding tone was laced with deep affection and concern.

His expression and actions were just as gentle as when he used to love Amelia.

A sharp pain pierced Amelia's chest. So, his love could be given to anyone.

She was about to tell them to get out when she saw her lawyer, sweating profusely, appear at the doorway.

Damian and Brooke were blocking the way, and he was stuck, not knowing whether to enter or retreat. He awkwardly but politely greeted Damian.

But Damian’s eyes were only for Brooke; he completely ignored him.

Amelia pulled the IV needle from the back of her hand, slowly got out of bed, and walked to the door.

"Give me the contracts."

She took the documents from the lawyer and unfolded them in front of Damian. "You said you'd add another two hundred million. Let's do it now, it'll save me the trouble of calculating the damages and holding you accountable."

"Two hundred million?" Brooke gasped, a flash of greed and disbelief in her eyes. "Amelia, that's way too much."

Amelia ignored her, looking at Damian with a mocking expression. "This is the award-winning researcher you're trying to prop up. Can't even tell the difference between two hundred million dollars and the original data."

Damian frowned slightly, instinctively glancing at Brooke.

Brooke’s face instantly paled. She covered her mouth and began to sob. "I just... I just feel so guilty. It's all my fault that Damian has to pay two hundred million."

"Amelia, can you please stop targeting me? Will you only leave me alone if I'm dead?" Her tears flowed faster, her expression one of extreme grief.

With that, she pushed Damian away and rushed towards the window. "I'll just jump right now."

Damian's gaze hardened. He reached out and grabbed her arm tightly, his eyes, now fixed on Amelia, were cold and filled with rage.

"Amelia, you were a nobody once, too. What right do you have to laugh at Brooke?"

"Apologize to her."

His tone was non-negotiable.

A sharp pain shot through Amelia's chest, and a chilling cold spread through her heart.

"I can apologize, but you have to sign the contract first." She no longer had the energy to argue with Damian.

She had already decided she was done with this man. There was no point in debating right and wrong with him anymore. She just wanted the divorce papers signed as quickly as possible.

"Are you threatening me?" Damian's face darkened, his brow furrowed as he stared at her coldly.

Amelia pulled the contracts back and pretended to hand them to the lawyer. "If you don't sign, I'll have my team assess the damages and sue Ms. Ryan."

"You dare!" Damian seethed, suppressing his fury.

Amelia met his gaze, her eyes devoid of any of the love they once held for him.

Damian was taken aback. A strange feeling spread through him, and he instinctively looked away, snatching the contracts and starting to flip through them.

Amelia watched him, her heart in her throat, wondering how he would react when he discovered the divorce papers.

Would he sign, or would he fight her?

"Damian, my heart hurts again."

Beside him, Brooke suddenly clutched her chest and cried out in pain.

Damian had no choice but to quickly sign his name and then lift her into his arms to leave.

Before he left, he didn't forget to warn Amelia, "Don't you dare bully Brooke."

Amelia handed the signed papers to her lawyer and then went to the department head's office to schedule a procedure to terminate the pregnancy in three days.

Her baby had come at the wrong time. She couldn't let her child have a cheating father.

And she absolutely could not continue to be a family with someone who protected the person who drove her brother to his death.

The next day, Amelia checked out of the hospital early and rushed to the lab, trying to salvage the crucial data. With it, she could still develop the targeted therapy drug.

As soon as she walked in, she saw everyone had stopped working and was sitting together. Brooke was smiling, handing out donuts to the team.

"I bought these especially for you all. I hope you like them. From now on, I'll be a member of this team, so let's all look out for each other."