As she left, she also took a picture of the hospital and of Xavier getting into his car. Once she was in the car herself, she snapped a selfie inside.


    Xavier knew where Vanessa lived; after all, he andn used to live in the same vimunity. Twenty minutester, Xavier''s car pulled up in front of Vanessa''s vi.


    Xavier got out, opened her door, and silently and coolly motioned for her to get out.


    After stepping out of the car, Vanessa looked at him, her gazeced with a silent invitation. "Xavier, would you like toe in for a bit?"


    "No, thank you," Xavier replied curtly.


    As he was about to get back into his car, Vanessa suddenly said, "Xavier, what if I told you that I like you?"


    Xavier turned to face her. Even with the deep affection in her eyes, he remained unmoved, his gaze holding only a clear, all-knowing coldness.


    "I really did like you, but you rejected me back then. I''m well aware of my value ton—I''m just his mother''s donor. If you hadn''t rejected me back then, maybe we—"


    Xavier cut her off sharply. "There is no possibility of ''us.'' I am not a pawn in your game."


    With that, Xavier got into his car and sped away.


    Vanessa stood there, hugging her arms, feeling a chill run through her. But it was true—she really had liked Xavier.


    She had been smitten with him from their very first meeting, but she just couldn''t let go ofn.


    Xavier''sst words made her realize something: for the past ten years, hadn''tn been stringing her along as well?


    He would show her just the right amount of tenderness, buy her a limited-edition handbag, and even personally apany her to a restaurant when she felt weak from frequent blood donations.


    But now, looking back, all those seemingly intimate gestures were filled with calction. He knew her too well, knew what she craved, and he used the lowest- cost methods to keep her willingly participating in their transaction.


    He was such a master maniptor! With material gifts and a pathetic sliver of warmth, he had bought the best ten years of her life.


    If Xavier had been willing to love her back then, she would have married someone else long ago. She would have seenn''s heartlessness for what was and found a way to end their deal, making him suffer the pain of losing his mother. Then, he would have had to watch as the family he loved was tormented


    illness one by one, until finally


    Eleanor left him, and he would have be a lonely, isted man.


    This vicious thought surfaced in Vanessa''s mind.


    But there were no ''what ifs'' in this world.


    Now that theb had found a way to rece her, she had not only been cast aside byn but was still being forced to give blood.


    Vanessa opened her phone and posted on her social media: "Had an ident, but luckily I ran into someone kindhearted."


    She uploaded all the pictures she had taken and hit post.


    The next morning, Eleanor opened her door at exactly seven-thirty. Ian was waiting outside as usual to take their daughter to school.


    "Bye, Mommy!" Evelyn was like a fully charged doll, lively and cheerful.


    Eleanor smiled and waved back at her. "Be good at school."


    "I will!" Evelyn said, then turned and took her father''s hand. "Let''s go, Daddy!"


    n led his skipping daughter away. In the elevator, he took out his phone and sent a text to Eleanor.


    "Drive safely."


    Eleanor was walking to the dining


    table where Joslyn had prepared et


    nutritious breakfast for her. She Saw the message and Wanks."


    In a hospital room at theb, Serena Goodwin was having breakfast with her mother when a message came through. "Serena, isn''t she your future sister-inw? Why is she with Xavier?"