He Married Me to Save Her

My wedding day. The groom was Tim, the city's most eligible bachelor and CEO. Mom, despite her illness, had checked herself out of the hospital to witness the ceremony. She waited all day, but the groom never appeared. The shock and anger triggered a heart attack, turning our wedding into a funeral. Seven days later, I was collecting Mom's ashes after her cremation when I finally received a call from Tim, my boyfriend of seven years, who had been missing since the wedding day. I expected an explanation, but all I got was an order: "Eat what's in your hand. Now." "What?" I stared at Mom's ashes in my hand, my mind going blank. "Film it. Eat it right now and let me see." Sharp laughter pierced through the phone, Sunny's voice, his close friend, cutting through the rest: "What, can't you stomach it? Oh well, looks like you lose! Write 'I'm an i***t' on your face, take a picture, and send it over, haha, you big i***t!" Tim's voice returned: "Sunny lost a bet. It's just a little punishment. Do it for her. You have one minute. Don't let anyone think Sunny can't take a loss!" The line went dead. Moments later, I received a photo from Sunny. It was of her and Tim, wrapped in each other's arms, the picture of a loving couple. My heart turned to ash. I decided to leave this man, forever. The saddest, most ridiculous part? That's when he decided he regretted everything and was willing to do anything to win me back. For three years, I had been Tim's girlfriend. I was also the woman most despised by this city's wealthiest man. He despised me so much that he forgot our wedding day, willing to humiliate me for a laugh from his precious Sunny. That's when reality hit me. The reality was, I didn't love him anymore, and he had never loved me. In Tim's eyes, I was nothing more than a "blood bag." A walking, talking blood bag ready for a transfusion whenever Sunny needed it. Clutching Mom's portrait, I knelt in the funeral home, finally understanding. Some hearts are impossible to warm, no matter how much scorching blood you pour into them. They remain ice-cold. I knelt there all day. As the funeral concluded and I prepared to carry Mom's ashes to her final resting place, I spotted Tim in the adjacent room, Sunny standing beside him, eyes red-rimmed. "Brother, thank you for finding so many people to see off my puppy. He would be so happy." Sunny cradled an urn in her arms, her tear-filled eyes gazing at Tim like the moon veiled by clouds. Tim's voice was a gentle caress: "Your dog is more important to me than anyone else. A grand funeral is nothing." So, I was "anyone else"? A pathetic laugh escaped my lips. My mother's funeral barely had any attendees, yet a dog's funeral warranted the presence of his entire company. I shook my head, wanting to avoid the sight of them, but Tim had already seen me. His face hardened. "Jane, you followed me here?!" In the past, I might have argued, but not today. Not while I held my mother's ashes. I had no desire to speak to him. I tried to leave, but Sunny blocked my path, her face a mask of blatant provocation: "Jane, you're not still angry, are you? It was just a game. Brother felt bad for me and asked you to help out. You're not holding a grudge, are you?" She leaned into Tim, her voice a sugary whine: "Brother, don't be angry with Jane, okay? It's all Sunny's fault." Tim's expression softened into one of condescending generosity: "Fine, for Sunny's sake. Let's have dinner together later." I couldn't help but laugh. "Not interested. Excuse me, you're blocking the way." The moment the words left my mouth, Tim shoved me aside as if terrified I might contaminate his precious Sunny. "Jane, watch your tone." I met his gaze with indifference. There were no ripples of emotion within me, not even a flicker of anger. Tim seemed taken aback. He had probably never witnessed such calmness from me, especially when it came to Sunny. You only fight, only argue, when you love someone. When you don't, they're just another face in the crowd. I turned to leave. Tim grabbed my arm. "What's that you're holding? Ashes? Whose?" Sunny chimed in: "Whose could it be? Obviously, she stole them." Tim immediately believed her, his face twisting in scorn. "You'd stoop so low as to steal just to follow me?" It felt like someone had stuffed a giant wad of cotton into my chest, suffocating me. Following him? He always assumed I was following him. But every time I reached out, weak and on the verge of collapse, begging for even a sliver of his attention, it was because I was his "blood bag" for Sunny. Fine, believe what you want. I shook my head, speechless. My words were meaningless to him, but Sunny's were gospel. Tears streamed down my face. I hugged the urn tighter, desperate to escape. Sunny continued to block my way, pointing at the urn with a mocking smile: "Whose ashes are those, Song Jane? Don't tell me they're your mother's?" I shoved her aside. "They are my mother's." Tears splashed onto the urn, shattering like fragile glass. But Mom would never again gently brush my hair and whisper, "Don't cry, my baby." Tim froze, his face darkening. "Jane, how could you be so low? To trick me into marrying you, you'll make up any lie!" Even now, he thought I was lying. I didn't have the energy to argue. I wrenched my arm free. Tim's brow furrowed. He stepped in front of me, blocking my path. "Jane, what's gotten into you? Is this because I missed the wedding? Didn't Sunny already explain everything? What more do you want?" My voice was ice. "I don't want anything. And I don't need an explanation. We're done." Tim, in his arrogant, self-centered world, was used to everyone bending to his will. I used to as well. Because Sunny and I shared the same rare blood type, I was obligated to be her donor. Countless nights, I despised myself for being so pathetic. But Mom's illness, her dying wish to see me married to the man I supposedly loved, forced me to swallow my pride and stay with Tim. But now, Mom was gone. I had no more excuses. "Let's break up. Let's never see each other again." Tim's frown deepened, his impatience growing. "Jane, how many times do I have to tell you? Sunny is just my godsister! Stop being so unreasonable!" What kind of godsister cuddles up to her "brother" and begs for hugs? Disgust filled me. I didn't want Mom to witness this any longer. I sidestepped Tim, eager to escape. But before I could take a few steps, Sunny's shriek pierced the air. "Brother! It hurts! It hurts so much! Look at my hand!" As I'd pushed past her earlier, she'd grazed her hand against a pillar, and it was now bleeding profusely. Sunny had a clotting disorder. The smallest injury resulted in unstoppable bleeding, compounded by her rare blood type. Few people could donate to her. And I was one of them. I knew what was coming. My first instinct was to run. But before I could even turn the corner, Tim's voice boomed: "Jane! Where do you think you're going? Sunny needs a transfusion. Now!" Over my dead body! He had the audacity to ask after he'd caused my mother's death? I turned and ran, only to be caught by Tim's bodyguards. "Tim, I won't do it! I won't give her my blood! Let me go!" Tim stalked towards me, looking down at me with disdain. "We had an agreement." I struggled, tears blurring my vision. "My mother is dead! You killed her! There's no more agreement!" Tim scoffed, yanking me towards him. In the process, he knocked Mom's urn to the ground. "All you do is lie. You're sick! You'd say anything to get out of helping Sunny!" Mom... I stared at the shattered urn, at the scattered ashes and bone fragments. My mind went blank. I couldn't hear, couldn't speak, couldn't even feel myself collapsing to the ground. Tim reached out to help me up, but Sunny had fainted at the sight of her own blood. Panic filled his voice. "What are you waiting for?! Get her to the hospital! Draw her blood!" His words jolted me back to reality. I clutched my stomach, my voice a desperate plea. "No! You can't! I'm pregnant! With your child!" Mom was gone. This tiny life growing inside me was all I had left. I couldn't lose it! Tim froze, his arms still around Sunny. "You're saying... you're pregnant... with my child?" I nodded frantically. For a moment, I dared to hope. Maybe he would change his mind. But then, Tim's face hardened, his eyes filled with disgust. "Jane, you think I'd believe that? You're just trying to get out of helping Sunny! I'm telling you, it's not happening!" The last of my strength evaporated. He didn't believe me. He'd rather believe I was using my mother's death, my own child's life, as an excuse. He refused to believe I couldn't give blood. I clung to his leg, my voice raw with desperation. "Please, Tim, I'm telling the truth! I can't donate blood! The baby is too small! It can't handle it! Please, wait until the baby is born! Please, just wait!" Tim waved his hand dismissively. "Take her." The bodyguards lifted me, carrying me towards the waiting car. I screamed, I begged, but all I received was a flicker of hesitation from Tim, quickly replaced with coldness and determination. Even at the hospital, I clung to the doctor's white coat, pleading, "Please... my baby..." Then, the drugs they injected me with took effect, and the world went black. Gone... my baby was gone... I felt it the moment I woke up. I was truly alone. I had nothing left. I'm sorry, my baby. It's all my fault. I couldn't protect you. But before I could fully succumb to my grief, Tim's secretary arrived, holding an urn. Her eyes were filled with pity. "I gathered all the spilled ashes, Jane. Please..." My gaze focused. I snatched the urn, clutching it to my chest as sobs wracked my body. When I finally calmed down, I looked at the secretary. "Does he know? Never mind, it doesn't matter." She opened her mouth to speak but thought better of it. Instead, she handed me a card with the address of a cemetery. "I've already purchased a burial plot. You can proceed directly with the interment." Paid for by the company, of course. I didn't want to use another cent of Tim's money, but for Mom's sake, I hesitated before taking the card. After burying Mom with my own hands, I sat by her grave for a long time. I don't know how long I stayed there, lost in my grief, until Tim and Sunny's voices jolted me back to reality. They were here. "Sunny, didn't I buy you a bigger, better burial plot? Why did you insist on burying your dog in such a remote place?" Tim sounded displeased. Sunny clung to his arm, her voice a sweet whine. "Puppy loved coming here to pee. I want him to stay in his favorite place." Tim's expression softened. "Alright, alright. Besides, I already checked with the cemetery management. This land belongs to the Shen Corporation anyway." As I watched them, Tim's gaze landed on me. "Jane, what are you doing hiding here?" I turned to leave. I couldn't bear to look at the face that had once captivated me. Every time I did, all I saw was the child I would never hold. Tim's jaw clenched, his expression hardening with barely suppressed rage. But so what? What did it matter to me anymore? Perhaps sensing my uncharacteristic apathy, Tim panicked. He grabbed my arm, his voice stammering. "You... how is your mother? You mentioned needing a specialist last time. Why didn't you remind me?" Remind him? What good was a specialist now? Hadn't I reminded him enough? It was laughable. I had knelt before him, begging for our child's life, and he hadn't believed a word. And somehow, it was still my fault? I bit my lip, pointing at the tombstone. "Mom is right there. You wanted to find a specialist? Go on then! Find one!" Tim followed my gaze, his brow furrowing. He clenched his fists, then released them just as quickly. "Jane, I already explained everything. How long are you going to keep this up? Cursing Mom like that... is that what a good daughter does?" He'd found a new moral high ground, eager to point out my flaws. I closed my eyes, laughing bitterly. Tim would never change. That's just how CEOs were, right? He could never be wrong. It was the rest of the world that was wrong. I could never wake someone who pretended to be asleep. The blood loss and the trauma of the miscarriage had drained me. My legs gave out, and I sank to the ground, gasping for breath. It felt like my lungs were tearing apart. When I finally caught my breath, I looked up at Tim. It was like our first meeting all over again. I was beneath him, both figuratively and literally, while he stood on a stage, radiating confidence and success. Back then, the CEO had claimed to have fallen for the ordinary girl. And I, like a fool, had believed him. He told me I was his, that no one could hurt me. And I, blinded by infatuation, had believed that too. Until I became a blood bag for his precious Sunny. Until my mother died on our wedding day. Until her ashes were scattered across the floor of a funeral home. Until our child died silently within me. Darkness encroached on my vision. I drifted in and out of consciousness. When I finally came to, I was lying beneath a tree. Beside me, a grave had been dug up. My mother's grave! Cemetery workers were taking the urn containing Sunny's dog's ashes from her hands, placing it in the ground, while Mom's urn lay discarded nearby. A surge of adrenaline coursed through me. I scrambled to my feet, shoving everyone aside. "What are you doing?! Who gave you permission to do this?!" "Jane!" I whirled around and saw Tim. In that instant, everything became clear. "Get out! All of you, get out!" I snatched Mom's urn, placing it back in the ground. I started shoveling dirt into the grave, my hands moving frantically. Tim pulled me away, his face a mask of displeasure. "Have you gone mad? It's just a burial plot! Look at what you've done!" He gestured towards Sunny, who was cradling her hand, which she'd scratched while I pushed her away, whimpering as if she were on death's door. "Brother, look at my hand! It's bleeding!" I laughed, a harsh, humorless sound. Her hand was bleeding, but my heart felt like it was hemorrhaging. Tim's frown deepened. "Don't forget, she's sick. If she gets hurt, you'll be the one who suffers." He gestured, and the medical personnel moved towards me, ready to restrain me and take me to the hospital for another forced blood transfusion. I threw dirt, I swung the shovel, desperate to defend myself. "Stay back! Get away from me! All of you!" Tim merely watched with a cold smile as the medical personnel and bodyguards swarmed me. My struggles were futile. As they carried me away, my heart sank into the abyss of despair. Before the sedative plunged me into darkness, I stared at Tim, mustering the last of my strength to scream, "Tim, I will never forgive you! Never!" I'd never imagined I could make such a chilling sound. Even Tim seemed startled. As my world faded to black, Tim frowned and pulled out his phone, dialing his secretary. "Arrange for Jane's mother to receive treatment. The best treatment available." The secretary's voice came through the phone, tinged with regret. "Tim, it's too late. Jane wasn't lying. Her mother passed away. It happened the day you insisted on attending Sunny's bachelorette party..."