Chapter 4 Damien's face went white . He sprinted forward , scooped the unconscious Isabelle into his without a backward glance . Elara stood frozen for a moment , her fingers curling into fine Jug before finally following them . Under the stark , white lights of the hospital corridor, the lamp above them mus 2011 arms , and raced toward the hospital room door remained lit. Damien stood outside , his suit stained with Isabelle's blood , his usually composed face showing a rare flicker of raw panic . Elara sat quietly on a nearby bench , saying nothing . 2 The operating room door burst open , and a doctor rushed out . " We have immediate transfusion , but she's RH - negative . The blood bank is running critically low ! " m The patient is hemorrhaging and needs an Damien's brow furrowed , but before he could speak , Elara had already stood up . " I'm RH - negative . After the donation , Elara walked out , pressing a cotton ball to her arm . She saw Damien still standing vigil outside the operating room . She hesitated for a moment before walking over . " Don't worry , " she said softly . " She'll be okay . " Damien looked up at her , his voice hoarse . " You're still here ? " Elara shook her head . " Miss Croft has a misunderstanding about us . I need to explain things to her when she wakes up . " Staring at her pale face , Damien suddenly asked , " Do you really love me this much ? " Elara froze . Before she could answer , the operating room door opened again . " The surgery was a success , " the doctor announced . " The patient will wake up once the anesthesia wears off . " The tension in Damien's shoulders finally eased . Elara silently stepped back , saying nothing more . A few hours later , Isabelle woke up . The first thing she saw was Elara standing by her bed . Her eyes immediately turned red . " Damien , did you bring her here because you want me to give you my blessing ? " Elara quickly stepped forward and explained gently , " Miss Croft , you've misunderstood . Damien really did have a meeting that day . Taking me shopping was just on the way ; it wasn't a date . He wasn't lying to you ." Damien nodded in agreement . " Our marriage is just a contract . There are no feelings between us . " Isabelle bit her lip , tears falling again . " Then how can you prove it ? Prove to me that you don't have a single shred of feeling for her . " 220.11 Chapter 4 Damien frowned . " What do you want me to do ? " Isabelle thought for a moment , then pointed out the window at the icy lake on the hospital grounds . " Throw her in . " Damien's expression changed . " Isabelle … " " You're hesitating ? " Isabelle's voice trembled . " You do have feelings for her ! " Damien was silent for a few seconds . He finally sighed and waved a han Elara's pupils contracted . at hi bodyguards . " Throw her in the lake . " She knew Damien would do anything for Isabelle , but she never imagined he could be But she couldn't fight back . She had to endure it . cruel . The bodyguards escorted her outside . Damien remained where he was , his expression dark an The water of the lake was bone - chillingly cold . adable . 20.11 O The moment Elara was pushed in , she felt the air rush from her lungs . Icy water filled her nose and mouth , making her limbs go numb . She gritted her teeth , forcing herself to stay afloat , but her body kept sinking . The bodyguards on the shore watched her with cold indifference , none of them moving to help . Elara's consciousness began to fade . In a daze , she saw a vision of her younger self . Abandoned by her parents in the countryside , shivering through the winter without a warm coat , huddled for warmth in the careta- ker's woodshed . Her entire life , no one had ever cared about her . After what felt like an eternity , Elara was finally pulled from the water . Her body was frozen , her lips purple . She was unconscious . In a haze , she felt someone gently wiping her down with a warm towel . She instinctively grabbed the hand , murmuring , " Just a little longer … I can leave soon … " The next second , the hand clamped down on hers with a force that felt like it could shatter her bones . " Leave ? " Damien's voice was as cold as ice . " What do you mean , leave ?! "