He Saved Her Child and Destroyed Ours

Chapter 3 Please Wake Up

The Stone estate was packed the next day.

A long red carpet stretched all the way from the ancestral hall to the front gates of the mansion.

The living room overflowed with expensive gifts and jewelry stacked like mountains.

But the thing drawing the most attention was the pearl ring on Harper's finger.

Whoever wore that ring was recognized as the future head of the Stone family.

The guests stared at the ring, then at Everly standing behind Harper, whispering nonstop.

"So the rumors were true. Everly really is Aiden's one true love."

"Seriously. Otherwise why would he drain his own daughter's blood three times just to save an illegitimate child? I honestly feel bad for Anya and little Isla."

"What can you do? The wife was never the one he loved."

Anya stood silently among the crowd, listening to every word without changing expression.

Suddenly, a wooden ceiling beam cracked loose overhead and came crashing down toward the guests.

Everly happened to be standing directly beneath it. Fear filled her face instantly. "Aiden! Save me!"

Everything happened in a split second. Anya saw Aiden shove through the crowd in panic, rushing straight toward Everly. He grabbed Everly into his arms protectively.

He didn't even notice himself knocking Anya to the ground.

A loud crash echoed through the hall. The heavy beam slammed directly onto Anya's body.

Blinding pain shot through her instantly. Her vision darkened as dizziness overwhelmed her.

But through the haze, she vaguely felt someone holding her tightly. Cold water splashed against her face. "Anya, wake up... please wake up..."

The pain was so intense she couldn't even speak. But the moment she smelled Aiden's familiar cedarwood cologne, nausea twisted violently in her stomach.

Using the last bit of strength she had, she forced out a few weak words. "Don't touch me..."

Then darkness swallowed her completely.

In her daze, Anya heard Aiden's panicked voice over and over again. "Anya, why are you sleeping this long? Why won't you wake up? Please wake up... I'll make it up to you no matter what it takes..."

Anya suddenly jolted awake.

The first thing she saw was the white hospital room. The second was Aiden's exhausted face covered in rough stubble.

"Anya, you're awake?" Relief flashed across his eyes. "I didn't mean to knock you down. I was just afraid Harper would get hurt."

Anya ignored his explanation completely and turned her face away in disgust.

To her, it didn't matter who he chose to protect anymore.

She had stopped caring a long time ago where she ranked in his heart.

The silence made Aiden visibly uncomfortable. He stood up and reached for her hand, trying to wipe it gently.

But the second he touched her, Anya gagged violently in disgust.

Aiden's face instantly turned pale. "Anya... do you hate me that much? Back then, you were the one who came onto me first."

The words hit her like a knife. Her breathing froze, her face turning deathly white.

He was right. The first time they slept together had been her choice.

Back then, Aiden had been drugged and suffering badly, yet he still insisted on staying faithful to Everly.

But Anya loved him too much.

She couldn't bear seeing him in pain. So she dressed herself to look like Everly and offered herself to him willingly.

After the incident became public, Anya became the laughingstock of high society. People mocked her relentlessly behind her back.

At the time, Aiden had stood beside her. He defended her again and again, shutting down every rumor and insult.

And when she later became pregnant with Isla, he took responsibility for her.

He once told her that he had failed as a husband. That he should never have wasted so many years of her life or allowed her to become a joke to everyone else.

But only now did Anya finally realize something. In Aiden's heart, she had always been nothing more than a pathetic country girl desperate for love.

The disappointment in her eyes was so obvious that even Aiden froze for several seconds.

"Anya, I..." He looked like he wanted to explain something.

But before he could continue, the hospital room door burst open.

Everly rushed in hurriedly while holding up her phone. "Aiden, we found out why the ceiling beam fell!"