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In my past existence, Alma and I met our demise in a blazing inferno due to Gerald’s hesitation to initiate a rescue. The remorse from this weighed heavily on my conscience.
I continued tending to Alma’s wounds and purposely revealed her identity to the emergency responders, hoping they’d prioritize her rescue out of respect for the Barren family’s status.
Their response was mocking laughter, “Eleanor, how impressive! You’ve enlisted so many actors, even roping in the Barren family heir. That must have cost you a fortune!”
Gerald was equally skeptical. With disdain, he remarked, “First, you wanted me to join you at the Barren family’s New Year celebration. Now you claim to have been in the same vehicle as their heiress.”
“Eleanor, do you ever speak truthfully? And didn’t we agree to remain childless after marriage? How could you possibly be expecting?” After his tirade, he directed the paramedics to attend to Joanne, who had only minor scratches.
I finally grasped why Gerald had been so against having children post–marriage. As if sensing my realization, my abdomen tightened and I felt a slight movement within.
The bleeding from my body intensified, quickly staining my legs
and forming a pool beneath me.
Alma desperately called for help, but I stopped her. There was no use in appealing to Gerald.
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The Barren family’s wealth in Jade Harbour City far exceeded my reach. However, three years prior, my brother had donated a kidney to Alma’s father on his deathbed.
Since then, the Barren family invited me to their home each New Year. If Gerald had accompanied me just once, he would have known I never deceived him.
But he didn’t. After my brother’s passing, he took Joanne to the Riverton family home every New Year for their reunion. And I, his supposed wife, could only observe their joyful family gatherings through Joanne’s social media posts.
With a cold expression, Gerald glared at Alma and me before speaking, “I told you I was taking Joanne home for New Year’s. Was that enough reason for you to crash your car into hers?”
“I’m warning you, Eleanor, if anything happens to Joanne, neither of you will be spared!” He picked up Joanne and boarded the ambulance, urging the driver to rush to the hospital.
Just like in my previous life, he left decisively without a single glance back at me.
Snowflakes falling from the sky landed on my hand, their icy chill penetrating my skin, numbing both my body and heart.
As anticipated, regardless of the circumstances, Gerald’s first choice was always Joanne.
“Oh my, her water broke! She’s going into labor!” someone in the crowd exclaimed in shock. Only then did I notice Alma’s water had Lindeed broken.
Suppressing my sorrow, I knelt to support her neck and assured
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her, “Miss Barren, I’ve studied midwifery during my hospital internship. If you trust me, I …”
Alma turned her pale face towards me, pleading, “Save… my baby…”
A sudden loud noise drew everyone’s attention as fuel began leaking from the damaged vehicle. Flames erupted from the back seat, casting an eerie glow in everyone’s eyes.
The crowd dispersed in panic, “The car’s going to explode! Run! Get out of here! Don’t just stand there watching, you’ll be blown to pieces!”
Alma trembled in fear but forcefully pushed me away, “Forget about me, Eleanor. Go… just go!”
Lightheaded from blood loss due to my clotting disorder, my body felt weak. I pinched my thigh hard to momentarily steady myself and used all my strength to help Alma to her feet. Together, we stumbled towards the nearby forest.
We had barely covered ten meters when a thunderous explosion rocked the air. The blast’s shockwave hurled both of us half a meter away, landing us hard on the frozen ground.
