Chapter 2

Soon, Chloe's shameless laughter echoed from the master bedroom.

Along with the squeaking of the bed.

A sharp, throbbing pain shot through the back of my head.

This was a chronic symptom left behind by years of high-intensity research work.

A few years ago, there was an explosion at the military lab.

To protect the core research data, I was thrown by the blast wave.

My brain suffered severe trauma.

Now, whenever my emotions fluctuated violently, the neurological pain would flare up.

The pain was so intense it caused full-body spasms, making it hard to even stand.

I forced myself to endure the agony and staggered toward the living room medicine cabinet.

But when I opened my prescription bottle, it was completely empty.

Asher happened to open the bedroom door and walk out.

I pointed at the empty bottle and asked him.

"Where is my medication?"

Asher glanced at the bottle and sneered impatiently.

"Chloe had terrible cramps earlier."

"I saw your bottle said it was for pain relief, so I gave her the rest of the pills."

That was a highly regulated, custom-made military nerve blocker.

He actually gave my life-saving medicine to Chloe just for her menstrual cramps.

My vision went black, and I had to grip the edge of the table to keep from collapsing.

"Asher, that is my life-saving medication."

"Do you even know what the chemical compounds in that drug are? How dare you just feed it to her!"

Asher let out a cold laugh.

"Elena, do you really think you're terminally ill?"

"You look perfectly fine normally. Stop acting."

"You're just jealous that Chloe matters more to me, so you're throwing a tantrum and faking an illness."

He grabbed a glass and brushed past me, heading straight for the water dispenser.

Chloe walked out of the bedroom, draped in Asher's jacket.

She was twirling the empty medicine bottle in her hand.

She walked up to me and spoke in a mocking, sarcastic tone.

"Your medicine works wonders."

"My cramps are completely gone."

As she spoke, she deliberately tossed the empty bottle into the trash can.

Asher walked back over with his water.

"If the medicine is gone, just go buy more."

"It's not a big deal. Stop starting fights just to get attention."

The pain hit me in waves, worse than before.

My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor.

Asher held two glasses of water.

He looked down at me as I shivered on the floor.

He coldly stepped over my body.

"Alright, Chloe says she's hungry."

"We're going out for a late-night bite."

"If you find the floor so comfortable, you can sleep there all night."

He led Chloe out, slamming the front door behind them.

Their giggles faded down the hallway.

I curled up on the cold floor.

I bit the back of my hand hard to keep myself from screaming.

Memories of the past flooded my mind uncontrollably.

Five years ago, I had a severe case of acute gastroenteritis.

When Asher found out.

He drove through a raging blizzard for over ten hours to get to me.

When his car broke down halfway, he ran over ten miles on foot.

When he finally burst through the door, he held me so tightly.

"Elena, as long as I'm here, I will never let you suffer or feel pain again."

Back then.

Even a slight frown from me would make him panic.

It wasn't until dawn that I finally managed to drag myself up.

Looking at my pale, ghost-like reflection in the mirror.

I knew it was time to wake up.