After I Died, He Married My Photo

Chapter 5

Renald's eyes shrunk in sheer disbelief. "Julienne, what kind of stunt are you pulling now?!" he snapped.

Her head felt like it was splitting open from the pain, but she somehow managed to keep a straight face.

She casually wiped the blood away and said, "Renald, you're worried about me.

"To think a simple fake blood pack could scare you like this—coming back was definitely the right move."

Renald immediately let go of her arm, his face twisting with disgust. "Worried? I actually wish you'd just drop dead right in front of me!"

Julienne's heart felt like it had been pierced by a needle.

She remembered how this guy, who used to believe in absolutely nothing, would go to church every year on her birthday just to get her a blessed charm for protection.

Every single time, he wrote down the exact same wish. May Julienne be safe and happy year after year, and may everything go her way.

Back then, he'd frown and cover her mouth whenever she casually mentioned the word "death", telling her with total seriousness to stop jinxing herself.

Times had changed. The person who used to pray for her safety was now praying for her death.

Julienne let out a faint smile and walked right past him. "Then Mr. Magnier will just have to wait for your wish to come true."

The second she got off the stage, she gasped for air and grabbed Carmen. "Carmen, find Dr. Ferreira!"

Carmen sped all the way there. By the time the car pulled into the hospital lot, Julienne had already blacked out in the passenger seat.

After Dr. Ferreira rushed her through emergency treatment, Julienne finally woke up sometime during the middle of the night.

Before she could even fully blink her eyes open, she heard Carmen's furious voice, "The theater put out that video of your CEO acting without permission, so go take it up with them! What does that have to do with Julienne?!

"Isn't he supposed to be so powerful? Let him fix it himself!"

When Carmen walked back into the room and saw that Julienne was awake, she caught herself.

Julienne looked at her and smiled. "It's fine, I heard everything."

Carmen sat down and grumbled moodily, "That theater just wants clout, and the internet has such nasty mouths. People are saying your eyes showed you're still in love with Renald, and that he completely looks down on you now. They're seriously delusional!"

Julienne's fingers twitched slightly as she said softly, "Sounds like it's getting a lot of traction. In that case, help me post an update.

"Just tag Renald and say his acting has gotten rusty—that it's not even half as sweet as he was back when he begged me not to break up with him."

Carmen was stunned. "Do you really have to keep rubbing it in that you dumped him? Do you absolutely have to force him to hate you this much?"

Julienne gently closed her eyes. "Carmen, please just help me."

Left with no choice, Carmen could only do it.

But just five minutes later, she let out a sharp gasp. "Julienne, Renald replied to you."

Julienne snapped her eyes open. "What?"

Carmen fell silent for a couple of seconds before saying quietly, "He said he hopes you'll stop messing with him and his fiancée's lives."

Hearing this, Julienne felt like a ton of bricks had just smashed into her chest.

She turned over to face the wall and murmured, "That's good then. Go back and get some rest. I'm tired too."

Carmen tucked the blanket in for her and walked toward the door. But as she passed the doorway, she couldn't help but look back.

She saw that Julienne, who was lying there with her back turned, had shoulders that were shaking slightly.

*****

The next morning, while Julienne was staring at the sunlight streaming through her ward window, Carmen came bursting in.

"Julienne! We passed the first round! Stellar Biotech called us to go in for a physical exam this afternoon!"

Looking at the pure joy on her face, a smile broke across Julienne's face too. "Great."

At three o'clock that afternoon, Julienne stood in the exam room at Stellar Biotech, completely bundled up from head to toe.

The doctor in front of her held her report, his brow furrowing. "Miss, for a late-stage patient like you, a liability waiver is mandatory."

Julienne nodded obediently. "Alright, no objections here."

Just as the doctor went to grab the paperwork, Julienne suddenly heard footsteps coming down the hall.

Right after, Renald's cold voice rang out, "How's today's volunteer recruitment looking?"

Julienne froze, not daring to turn around, but she felt a massive wave of relief. Thank goodness Carmen had gone out to buy her breakfast just now.

"Mr. Magnier, a new late-stage volunteer came in today. We're currently checking her body's tolerance levels.

"Don't worry, since we're in the final stretch of drug development, every case gives us crucial data. We'll keep a close eye on her."

Renald gave an "Mmm" and asked casually, "What's her condition?"

"This lady is already in the advanced stages of brain cancer. I'm afraid... she doesn't have much time left."

Only when the sound of their conversation finally faded away did Julienne let her posture slump. She walked quickly to the door, staring longingly at Renald's tall figure from behind.

She didn't look away until Carmen came back.

"Carmen, do me a favor."

"What is it?"

"Help me contact the press. Tell them I have some major dirt to leak on Renald."