Ninety-Nine Punishments for His Love

Chapter 2

After hanging up the phone, Claire stared at her reflection in the mirror, lost in memories.

Three full years had passed since she left the border medical team and returned to Jivalis. Three years since she set aside all dignity to shamelessly chase after Arthur.

The world whispered she'd fallen for him at first sight, mocking her for acting like a desperate lapdog, clinging to him without a shred of self-respect.

Arthur had a weak heart, having undergone a transplant three years earlier. Back then, his idealized love Julie, fearing the burden, had left a letter falsely claiming Claire drove her away before disappearing. Because of this, Arthur had harbored deep-seated loathing towards Claire ever since. Yet Claire stayed by his hospital bedside for a month until his safe discharge.

These three years, she would go through fire and water at his word without hesitation. Even when Arthur demanded 99 punishments for Julie's sake, she accepted every one.

She just wanted him to be okay.

Because his chest held her true love's beating heart.

Claire pulled a pendant from her neck, extracting a photograph from its hollow. The image showed a vibrant young soldier standing tall as a poplar at the border, eyes sharp and steady, saluting the distance with quiet pride.

It was Ethan, Arthur's biological older brother and the anonymous donor of his heart.

His ashes still guarded every inch of that borderland where they were scattered.

To protect Ethan's heart, Claire had given up everything she had, transforming from the renowned Doctor of the frontier to being trapped in Arthur's orbit.

Pressing the photo to her chest, she felt a pain so sharp it stole her breath. 'Ethan, the three years are up. I've kept my promise. Your heart beats strongly in him. Now it's time for me to go back. Back to the border. Back to you.'

Exiting the bathroom, the computer screen blinked with messages.

A: Arthur, if Claire learns that the marriage was just to punish her, won't she leave in anger?

B: Leave? After 96 punishments? She's done everything he's asked.

C: Yeah, three years of this. No way she walks away now.

Seconds later, Arthur's arrogant reply appeared.

Arthur: She won't. She's obsessed with me.

With a numb heart, Claire mechanically closed the chat, picked up the calendar, and circled the wedding date two weeks away in red.

That day would mark her reunion with her true love and her final departure from Arthur.

After a heart transplant, Arthur required daily medication.

That day, his call came. "Claire, I forgot my pills. Get them here now."

Seeing the rain lashing against the window and worried about Arthur's fragile heart, Claire gritted her teeth, snatched an umbrella, and bolted out.

The moment she stepped through the door, the laughter hit.

"Holy s**t, she actually came out in this weather? For medicine?"

"I'd never grovel like that to any man. Women should have some self-respect, a career, something." In the crowd's center, a pale, long-haired woman leaned against Arthur, covering her mouth as she tittered.

It was Julie, freshly returned from her medical support mission in Elyndor, another city.

"Her? She'd probably get lost trying to find the airport outside Jivalis. How could she compare to you, Julie?"

The crowd burst into laughter, and even Arthur's lips twisted into a sneer.

"True. All she knows is soup simmering times and how to keep a man on a short leash." The mockery swelled.

Turning a deaf ear, Claire handed the medicine to Arthur. "Have your fun. But take your medicine."

Arthur took it carelessly and flung it straight into the bin. "I took it this morning. Claire, let this count as your 97th punishment."