---- Chapter 9 Alexandra Smith POV: Through a swimming haze of pain and encroaching darkness, | heard voices. "She's lost a lot of blood, Mr. Cardenas," a doctor was saying. "We need to find a donor, fast. The blood bank is almost out of AB negative." "Use hers," Edward's voice cut through the fog, sharp and cold as a scalpel. He was standing over me, a dark silhouette against the blinding surgical lights. "But sir," another voice, a nurse, protested. "This woman. your wife... she's in critical condition herself. She just had a major abdominal surgery. Taking her blood could kill her." "| don't care," Edward snarled. "That woman in there is carrying my son. My heir. This one is disposable. Do it. Or I'll have every single one of your licenses revoked by morning." The protest died. | felt a cool swab on my arm, then the sharp prick of a needle. My life, my very essence, was being siphoned away to save the woman who had orchestrated my ruin. The world grew colder, the darkness at the edges of my vision creeping inwards. My last thought before | slipped into unconsciousness was of my baby. Maybe | would see him ---- soon. | woke up slowly, resurrection a painful, groggy process. | was in a different hospital room. A private one. The low hum of monitors was a steady counterpoint to the pounding in my head. "Look who's decided to rejoin the living." | turned my head. Carla was sitting in a chair by the window, nonchalantly eating a box of chocolates. She looked pale, but smugly triumphant. "Edward felt so guilty about leaving you to die," she said with a malicious little smile. "He paid for the best room for you. See? He's not all bad." She popped a chocolate into her mouth. "Want one? Oh, wait. You probably can't have solid food yet." She set the chocolates aside and stood up, walking over to my bed. She pulled a small, gleaming fruit knife from her purse. My heart hammered against my ribs. "What are you doing, Carla?" She just smiled, a terrifyingly empty expression, and ran the flat of the blade against my cheek. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she sliced through the front of my hospital gown, exposing the fresh, angry red line of my incision. "You're insane," | whispered, my voice trembling. "Oh, I'm well aware," she said, her voice dropping to a low, ---- conspiratorial purr. "And so is Edward. He just doesn't know it yet." She leaned in close, her breath smelling of chocolate and poison. "You think this was about love? You think | want him?" She let out a short, sharp laugh. "I hate him. | despise him more than you ever could." | stared at her, utterly bewildered. "What are you talking about?" "Edward Cardenas is a weak, spineless fool who is easily manipulated by the women in his life," she said, her eyes glittering with a cold, hard fire. "His mother. Me. He's just a pawn." "Then why?" | asked, my mind struggling to process this new, insane twist. "Why all this?" "Revenge, darling," she said, tracing the line of my incision with the tip of the knife, sending shivers of pain and fear through me. "Edward's recklessness cost my husband the use of his legs. A stupid street race a few years ago. Edward walked away without a scratch and paid us off to keep quiet. But money can't buy back a man's ability to walk. So, | decided to take everything from him. His family, his company... his sanity." She smiled again. "I've been feeding him small, steady doses of a psychotropic drug for months. It enhances paranoia, aggression, impairs judgment. He barely knows which way is up anymore. He's my puppet." My blood ran cold. The erratic behavior, the violent mood swings, the blind devotion to her... it wasn't just him. It was her. She was pulling the strings. ---- "He's a monster," | whispered. "No," she corrected, her voice dangerously soft. "He's my monster." She leaned in even closer, her lips brushing my ear. "And you, my dear Alexandra, are destined to go down with him." Title: A Princess? No! I'm the Female General! In "A Princess? No! I'm the Female General!" by CrushReel, Adela Taylor, a noble family's daughter, disguises herself as her brother to secure their Duke title by joining the army. Despite facing obstacles, she achieves remarkable success. However, upon her triumphant return, her brother betrays her, setting off a chain of events that will test her resolve and reveal hidden truths. This captivating novel delves into themes of secrets, reincarnation, revenge, murder, and drama. Adela's journey from deception to betrayal is filled with intrigue and suspense as she navigates through a world where power dynamics and family loyalties collide. What sets this story apart is its strong female lead who defies expectations and challenges societal norms in a quest for justice and redemption. Experience the riveting tale of Adela Taylor online at CrushReel and witness the transformation of a princess into a formidable female general.