Halfway through the meal, he suddenly dropped to one knee and presented a velvet box. "You've suffered for me, Meredith. After Hillary gives birth, I'll hand the child to you to raise. You will always be Mrs. Palmer. No one can replace you."
Inside the box, a diamond necklace glittered. I didn't reach for it.
Suddenly, a sharp ringtone cut through the moment. He looked embarrassed and rose to answer. On the other end, Hillary's faint and fragile voice sounded. "Tristan... I think I'm hypoglycemic. I'm dizzy..."
Tristan's voice changed at once. "Where are you? I'm coming!"
She sniffled with practiced vulnerability. "I might need a transfusion... If something happens to me, save the baby first..."
"No—don't say that! You and the baby will be fine." His voice trembled. Then he glanced at me, like a man remembering a detail.
I spread my hands. "I didn't touch her."
He hurried over. "Meredith, you have the rare blood type—only you can save Hillary."
Before I could reply, he'd already called the family doctor and ordered a blood draw.
Seven years of deception finally snapped into brutal clarity: he hadn't chosen me for love. I was nothing more than his emergency blood bank—a backup for Hillary. The truth left me cold.
When the needle touched my skin, I placed a hand over his arm. Irritation flashed in his eyes. "Hillary can't wait. I'll give you anything you want."
I took out a divorce agreement from my bag, and said calmly, "Sign this and I'll give blood."
Without hesitation, he took the paper, flipped to the last page and signed.
"Good. Draw more—fill the bags. That way Hillary can use it whenever she needs it."
The needle pierced me again and again. Every bag filled was another stitch in the net they'd woven around me.
"Why didn't you bother to read it?" I asked softly as the tube warmed in my hand.
He waved me off. "It's only a transfer of assets. If it saves Hillary, I'll give you whatever you want."
His certainty made me laugh coldly. Fine. The faster this farce was done, the sooner I could dismantle it.
By the time dizziness washed over me and my vision blurred, the doctor finally couldn't bear it anymore and said,
"Miss Meredith's life will be in danger if she continues to give blood."
Tristan's brows drew together.
"Are you sure this is enough for Hillary?"
When the doctor confirmed, he gave a short nod and reluctantly agreed to stop.