Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Aaliyah quickly hung up the phone, trying to stay calm. “You must’ve misheard.”
Claude narrowed his eyes but didn’t press further.
He said casually. “You and Caroline have been having issues over that design thing. Tomorrow I’m taking you both to the amusement park to blow off some
steam.”
Aaliyah instinctively wanted to refuse, but swallowed her words.
she used to beg him to go to amusement parks with her, and he’d always say it was childish.
f she refused too obviously now, it would make him suspicious.
Okay.” She agreed quietly.
The amusement park was packed with people.
laude spent the whole time taking care of Caroline-buckling her safety belt on the roller coaster, helping her onto the carousel, hand-feeding her ice cream.
Aaliyah followed behind like an unwanted shadow.
When Claude stepped aside to take a business call, Caroline suddenly grabbed Aaliyah’s hand. “Aaliyah, let’s go on the drop tower!”
Aaliyah instinctively tried to pull away. “I don’t want to.”
Claude wants us to get along,” Caroline said loudly enough for people around them to hear. “You’re not still holding a grudge over that whole design thing, are you? That’s kind of immature.”
Other visitors started staring curiously.
Aaliyah pressed her lips together, not wanting to cause a scene in public, and reluctantly followed her onto the ride.
Click-”
As the safety bar locked down, Caroline suddenly leaned over. “You know what? Claude said once the divorce is finalized, he’s taking me to the Maldives…”
Before she could finish, the equipment suddenly shook violently!
Ahhhh-!”
The moment the safety belt snapped, Aaliyah felt that sickening weightless sensation-
She and Caroline both plummeted from dozens of feet up!
Wind roared in her ears as Aaliyah squeezed her eyes shut in despair.
The expected pain never came. Instead, she fell into warm arms.
Opening her eyes, she met Claude’s panicked gaze. His arms were wrapped tightly around her waist, his breathing urgent.
“You…”
The moment Aaliyah spoke, Claude let go of her like he’d been burned.
“I caught the wrong person.” He explained stiffly, turning to rush toward Caroline, who was lying on the ground. “Caroline!”
In the hospital corridor, a doctor came running. “The patient is hemorrhaging badly and needs an emergency transfusion! She’s RH negative, and we’re short on supplyTM
Claude’s eyes immediately locked on Aaliyah.
“You’re RH negative too.” It wasn’t a question-it was a statement.
Chapter &
Aaliyah leaned against the wall, blood still seeping from her knee. She looked at Claude, suddenly understanding his intention.
“Give blood.” Claude stepped closer, his voice low, “and I’ll agree to withdraw the divorce papers.”
His breath brushed her ear, carrying that familiar cold scent.
Back in the day, this kind of closeness would have made her heart race.
Now, she just felt cold inside.
When the nurse brought the blood donation consent form, Aaliyah signed it without hesitation.
She knew if she refused, Claude would get suspicious.
She couldn’t risk it, couldn’t let him discover her Paris plans.
As the needle pierced her vein, Aaliyah turned her head away, watching her blood slowly fill the bag.
One bag, two bags…
“Stop! That’s enough!” The nurse suddenly shouted. “She can’t give any more!”
Aaliyah’s vision kept going black, her ears ringing.
In her haze, she saw Claude frowning beside her bed, his lips moving, but she couldn’t hear what he was saying.
