He Died So She Could Live

After walking out of Southhaven Private Detention Facility, Selene Price took on a high-paying private job. She was hired to set up the engagement venue for the richest man in Southhaven City and his fiancée. Her artificial heart was on the verge of failure. Without surgery, it would soon shut down, and she needed a large sum of money. Selene changed into her work uniform and followed the team to the venue. They worked through the day and into the night, finishing everything at dawn. She was about to leave when a commotion rose not far away. Her whole body went rigid. She stood there, staring blankly toward the entrance. Adrian appeared in a tailored suit, surrounded by a crowd, dazzling and impossible to ignore. Selene couldn't help stealing a few more glances at him before she finally noticed the woman on his arm, dressed in a wedding gown. It was Vivian Hale, her best friend. So this was their engagement party. A dull ache spread through Selene's chest as she watched them standing together. Her thoughts were dragged back, uncontrollably, to the past. Three years ago, she could have been the one standing beside Adrian. They had met young, fallen in love, and once been the couple everyone envied. But on the eve of their wedding, she broke up with him and left the country with a wealthy heir. That day, Adrian's eyes had been red as he begged her not to go, begged her to wait for him. A man that proud had abandoned all dignity, just to hold on to the woman he loved. Yet she had been merciless. She pried his fingers off hers, one by one, and interlaced her hand with another man's right in front of him. "Adrian, I don't love you anymore. I have someone new." Then she walked away without hesitation. Even when she saw him chasing after her and getting into a car accident, she never turned back. The crash had been devastating. Both his legs were crippled, leaving him unable to stand. His heart began to fail, and only a transplant could save his life. Even covered in blood on the operating table, he used the last of his strength to keep calling her, but every call was rejected. From that moment on, Adrian hated her. The memory tightened Selene's chest. Warmth surged beneath her nose as another nosebleed hit. She lifted her hand in a panic to cover it, but the blood wouldn't stop. She had to get the money as soon as possible. Otherwise, she might not even have time to fulfill her mother's last wish. Selene took a deep breath and steadied herself, trying to slip away unnoticed in the crowd. "Selene? What are you doing here?" Her whole body trembled. She did not dare look up. Before she could react, a foot shot out and tripped her hard. She crashed to the ground. Her palm scraped against the rough floor. Small stones cut into her skin, drawing thin lines of blood. Laughter erupted across the venue. Mocking eyes fell on her like blades. "So it really is you, Selene. You ruined Adrian's legs and left him in a wheelchair for three whole years. If it weren't for his fiancée staying by his side, who knows when he would've recovered. How do you even have the nerve to show up here?" "Oh, what happened? Did that rich boy you ran off with go bankrupt? Now you're desperate for money?" "Fine. Take this money. But you have to kneel and lick my shoes clean." A thick stack of cash was thrown at her face, stinging as it hit. "Lick them clean! Lick them clean!" The crowd jeered, eager and cruel, all under the excuse of standing up for Adrian. Selene pressed her lips together and said nothing. The dull pain in her chest reminded her over and over again. She needed the money. Her fingers tightened around the hem of her clothes. Her face burned. She could feel the sharp gazes piercing into her back, her eyes stinging. Adrian hated her that much. Seeing her like this, he must be satisfied. Her nails dug into her palm. The world blurred. Then, in front of everyone, she knelt. Just as she was about to bend down, a cold, furious voice cut through the air. "Have you had enough?" In the next second, someone grabbed her arm hard. Before she could react, she was dragged into the wedding corridor. It was silent there, so quiet that only their heartbeats could be heard. His cold, hate-filled gaze flickered slightly when it caught the tears at the corner of her eyes. Seeing the redness in her eyes, Adrian spoke in an icy tone, yet something faintly expectant lingered within it. "Selene, do you regret leaving me for money?"