When He Gave It Away, I Reclaimed My Deal

Chapter 2 The Shattered Sapphire

The family doctors practically stumbled over themselves as they rushed into the bedroom carrying their medical kits.

They injected me with medication after medication. Only then did the agonizing pain finally ease enough for me to breathe.

Monica stayed by my bedside, holding my hand while tears streamed down her face. Her voice was hoarse from crying.

"Vivian, you've always been a good girl. Our family has failed you. Lucas has completely lost his mind. But listen to me, we only recognize you. The lady of this house will always be you."

I parted my lips, wanting to answer. But I didn't even have the strength to speak.

Outside the room, Edric's furious shouting echoed through the hallway. Mixed with it were the dull sounds of a baseball bat striking flesh.

Yet no matter how hard he was hit, Lucas never begged for mercy. Instead, he kept gritting his teeth and shouting Anila's name.

"Anila... don't be scared. I'm here. No one gets to hurt you."

A bitter memory suddenly surfaced.

Years ago, before anyone knew who I really was, a group of street thugs had cornered me and tried to assault me.

Lucas had stood in front of me then, fighting them off alone. Even while getting beaten bloody, he had smiled at me and said the exact same words.

"I'll protect you."

Back then, he would have died for me. Now, all that devotion belonged to someone else.

Just then, a commotion erupted downstairs.

"Oh no!" Richard, the butler, rushed into the room in a panic. In his hands were several shattered sapphire fragments.

My sapphire necklace, the one William had gifted me. It had always been displayed inside the living room showcase.

"Anila insisted on rearranging the plants near the display cabinet. When nobody was looking, she grabbed the necklace and slammed it onto the floor. The gemstones shattered instantly."

Monica jumped to her feet in fury.

"What kind of upbringing is that? This is the woman Lucas is obsessed with?"

My gaze fell upon the broken sapphire pieces. My chest tightened painfully.

William had spent thirty million dollars to acquire that necklace.

The day he gave it to me, he had looked happier than a child on Christmas morning.

"You like gemstones. Then I'll buy you the finest gemstones in the world."

And now it was gone, destroyed by Anila's hand.

I forced myself upright. Supported by a servant, I slowly made my way downstairs.

In the living room, Lucas was bruised from head to toe. There wasn't a single patch of uninjured skin left on him. Yet he still stood protectively in front of Anila.

Meanwhile, Anila wore an innocent expression as if she had done nothing wrong.

The moment she saw me, a smug smile appeared on her face.

"Don't be so stingy. It's just a necklace. I've got plenty of gems. I'll have someone bring you a dozen or so some other day. You can smash them for fun if you want."

Lucas gritted his teeth through the pain. When he looked at me, his eyes were full of hostility.

"Vivian, are you done yet? Anila accidentally broke a necklace. That's it. And you had to run crying to my parents? Are you seriously trying to get us killed over something this small? The way your mafia family handles things is disgusting."

Sadness flooded my chest. But when I spoke again, my voice was ice cold.

"Lucas. You really think I can't survive without you? If Anila is as generous and capable as you claim..."

I met his gaze directly. "Then from now on, let her pay for your company. Let her cover your operating costs too."

When I married Lucas, my nine brothers had practically emptied their personal fortunes for me.

Over the past five years, the majority of his company's funding, the villa's upkeep, and even the capital used for his business expansion had all come from my money.

Lucas froze for a moment. Then he laughed mockingly.

"Vivian, you're unbelievably shallow. All you ever do is brag about money. Anila is different. She's talented. She built her own business empire from scratch. What she can do is worth far more than your family's money."

Anila immediately sneered. "Lucas is right. I earn my money honestly. Unlike you who spend their lives living off their family while contributing absolutely nothing."

I was so furious I almost laughed. A violent coughing fit overtook me.

Monica immediately rubbed my back. Then she spun around and screamed at Lucas.

"You ungrateful animal! Do you even know what Vivian sacrificed for you..."

"Mom!" Lucas cut her off.

"Stop letting her manipulate you! She's just some sickly outcast from a mafia family. Even her own father barely pays attention to her. And yet you all treat her like she's some priceless treasure."

He grabbed Anila's hand.

"I'm divorcing and marrying Anila. She's the love of my life!"