Chapter 1

(Elena’s POV)

On the day of the wedding, my fiancé, Anthony Mancini, immediately called off our marriage after receiving a text from Lily Carter. On the way to find him, my parents were involved in a car accident — my father died instantly, and my mother was critically injured.

I thought my life was at its darkest when Anthony’s uncle — Gabriel Mancini, appeared. He was the Don of the Mancini family. He used his family’s influence to get my mother into the best private hospital in Chicago. He also personally performed the surgery on her.

But my mother still died on the operating table from blood loss.

Gabriel kneeled down in the hospital corridor and hugged me, saying he would marry me, give me a home, and protect me for life. In my grief, I accepted his proposal, thinking that it was my salvation.

Until Christmas Eve, when I overheard a conversation in his study.

Inside, Gabriel’s friend Nicholas lowered his voice, filled with shock:

“Gabriel, you drained Elena’s mother’s blood enough, but now you’re going to take her child’s umbilical cord blood for Lily?”

Gabriel’s voice was gentle but cruel:

“I made Elena pregnant with my child just to get the umbilical cord blood. Lily has an extremely rare blood type, and Elena and her mother happen to have the same type. I can’t take any risks.”

Nicholas paused, his voice bitter: “For Lily, you arranged the car accident, which killed Elena’s father, and drained her mother’s blood...” “I had no choice,” Gabriel interrupted coldly. “If something happens to Lily, I’ll go mad.”

“But she’s fine! Why do you have to do this?” Nicholas rasped.

Gabriel was silent for a long time before he spoke quietly:

“If anything happens, it’ll be too late. I can’t stand watching her suffering a little. I must be prepared for anything, at all times!”

I froze in place, my body cold as ice, but Gabriel wasn’t finished.

“As for Elena, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to her.”

Gabriel’s tone was bitter:

“Lily doesn’t like me, so I married Elena, letting Lily marry the man she likes.”

Nicholas almost yelled:

“You’re still pretending it’s for Elena’s good, regularly drawing her blood? Do you know how weak she is? Letting her get pregnant could kill both her and the baby!”

Gabriel was silent for a moment.

“I’ll get her the best OB team. She won’t die.”

But is there really a completely safe option in medicine?

Nicholas naturally disagreed, angrily rebutting:

“You’re insane. If Elena finds out everything, do you know what you’ll face? Murder, illegal blood extraction, black market medical practices — you’ll go to federal prison, and your family will be ruined!”

Gabriel didn’t hesitate:

“For Lily, I don’t care. My parents will understand. As for Elena... if she wants to seek revenge, she can.”

My body uncontrollably began to tremble, and I covered my mouth as I fled the scene.

The salvation I thought I had...

Was a trap carefully set by him.

My mother, who could have been saved, became a sacrifice to Lily.

And I, unknowingly, married him, was repeatedly drained of blood, and became Lily’s mobile blood bank.

Yesterday, I found out I was pregnant and eagerly shared the good news with him.

He, always calm and reserved, was so happy he picked me up and spun me around several times, saying he had become the happiest man in the world because of me.

I thought he was happy about the new life that would carry both of our bloodlines.

But now I know, the reason he was so happy was just because with my umbilical cord blood, Lily had more security.

He didn’t care if my life was in danger!