Chapter 5

When Irene woke up, the first thing she saw was Gabriel’s slightly haggard face.

Seeing she was awake, Gabriel softened his tone for once and handed her a glass of water. "I saved you not because Chloe is sick, but because you are a Thorne."

Irene didn't take the water. She replied flatly, "I understand."

He let out an almost inaudible sigh, placed the glass on the bedside table, and continued, "You have the bone marrow donation surgery in a few days; you must heal your body. Fortunately, this fall didn't break any bones, just caused superficial wounds and soft tissue contusions."

Irene smiled bitterly. So, he was guarding her because of this. He was likely worried her injuries would affect the quality of the marrow for Chloe.

After a long silence, Gabriel added, "No matter what the outside world says, as long as you cooperate obediently with the surgery, I will have the PR department suppress the news. Even after I marry, I will protect you forever as your guardian."

Irene slowly looked up at the ceiling. In the depths of her heart, she whispered, *Whatever. I won't need it anymore.*

……

The next day, Gabriel did not appear. Irene waited for the painkillers to kick in, then handled all the discharge procedures herself.

Just as she finished the paperwork, she saw a stretcher being rushed into the emergency room.

Her gaze fell on Gabriel, who looked panic-stricken beside the stretcher, and the person lying on it—Chloe.

Her mind went blank. In her past life, Chloe had died because Irene refused to donate. But now that Irene had agreed, why was Chloe still ending up like this?

Without time to think, Irene found herself walking toward the emergency room as if possessed.

……

Outside the ER, Gabriel, who always cared about his appearance, was slumped on a bench with his head hanging low, his tie pulled askew. His fingers drummed nervously against his knees.

Irene walked over to ask what happened. Only then did she learn that Chloe, in her pursuit of paler skin, had been secretly injecting some kind of illegal substance for a long time, causing a severe coagulation disorder.

Chloe had suddenly felt dizzy and slipped in the shower, hitting her head, leading to massive, unstoppable bleeding.

Soon, a doctor came out of the ER and asked, "The patient has lost too much blood, and the blood bank is low on Type B Rh-negative blood. Can any family members donate?"

Gabriel shot to his feet. "Take mine!"

"The patient is Rh-negative. What is your blood type?" the doctor asked.

Hearing this, Gabriel’s face went instantly pale. His voice trembled. "I am O-positive."

Rh-negative blood is a rare type, and among those present, only Irene possessed it.

She didn't hesitate, even though she had just fallen down the stairs and her body was still weak. "I am Type B Rh-negative. Take mine!"

The painful memories of her past life were still fresh. Now that she was finally about to escape that tragic fate, she absolutely could not let Chloe die at this critical juncture. Otherwise, Gabriel would hate her for the rest of his life, and she would never be able to leave.

Guided by the nurse, she donated a full 400 milliliters of blood. When it was over, her vision went black, and she fainted in the donation room.

When Irene woke up, the room was quiet and empty. She pulled out the IV drip, got out of bed barefoot, and ran toward Chloe’s ward.

At the door, a warm, intimate scene made her stop in her tracks.

Gabriel was tightly embracing the awakened Chloe, cherishing her as if she were a lost treasure found again. He choked back tears as he whispered, "It’s good that you’re okay... as long as you’re okay."

Chloe smiled weakly, but her eyes held a probing look. "Gabe, if I died, wouldn't it be easier for you to be with Miss Lockhart? Why go to such lengths to save me?"

Hearing this, Gabriel solemnly took her hand and pressed it against his chest. "Chloe, never say such things!"

"Can you feel it? My heart beats only for you. Don't mention irrelevant people; it is a profanity against our love. In this life, and the next, I will only love you."

Irene’s heart trembled violently, a sharp pain piercing her chest. She leaned against the wall, her eyes filled with desolation, and whispered softly, "This time, the tragedy will not repeat itself. And I can finally give up completely."