It was a stormy night.

"Screech!!!"

Zinnia tumbled heavily out of the car, her head hitting the asphalt with a dizzying thud! The gravel dug into her skin, blood flowing freely!

Wasn't she in the ICU, tortured to death? Why did it still hurt so much?

"Zinnia."

A cold voice came from above her, and she looked up in a daze, meeting the handsome yet indifferent face of River.Her heart clenched!

Her husband, River. At seventeen, he had saved her from the sea, stayed with her through the days of family tragedy, pulling her out of a hell of pain. He cherished her, almost with his life, promising to always be by her side, to make her the happiest girl in the world.

Now, he looked at her with cold eyes, filled with hatred. "If Celia loses a single hair, you'll pay with your life!"

Cecilia, River's beloved, his untouchable treasure.

"I never hurt Celia...!" Zinnia cried out,enduring the pain, trying desperately to speak.

But River didn't listen, raising the car window with indifference. "Drive."

The assistant hesitated, asking River, "Sir, it's pouring outside, and she just donated so much blood to Miss Celia. Are you really going to leave her on the street like this?"

In the rearview mirror, Zinnia's face was as pale as paper, blood streaming from her forehead, so weak she seemed ready to crumble.

River remained unmoved, scoffinglightly. "She’s tough. She won't die."

The Bentley sped away, leaving Zinnia discarded like trash in the pouring rain.

River always had the cruelest ways to hurt her the deepest, the most painfully!

This familiar scene, the same piercing words, just like two years ago, when she was forced to donate blood to Celia. On the way back, the hospital called River, saying Celia was poisoned after the transfusion.

In his rage, River had thrown her into the stormy street!So... she had been reborn!

Clutching her wildly beating heart, tears mixed with rain blurred her vision as memories flashed before her eyes...

Eight years ago, she and her parents were caught in a shipwreck. Just as she was about to be swallowed by the sea, a boy in white tightly grasped her hand.

When she opened her eyes again, the first face she saw was River.

He grew up with her, the only light in her otherwise hopeless life.enduring the pain, trying desperately to speak.Later, when the Shaw family fell into decline, burdened with debt and nowhere to turn, she, out of gratitude, offered her family's secret recipe, turning the tide.

The Shaw family rose to become a prestigious household in Bridgewater City, and Grandma Shaw personally arranged their engagement.

They were just waiting for her to graduate college to announce it to the city and give her a grand wedding.

She eagerly anticipated this wedding, dreaming of becoming the happiest woman in the world!But on the eve of graduation, River disappeared.

He returned just before the wedding, bringing with him a pregnant Cecilia.

He carefully supported Cecilia as if she were the most precious thing in the world, his gaze towards her filled with tenderness.

To Zinnia, he offered no explanation.

Her heart felt like it was being torn apart!

That night, Cecilia privately approached her, gently caressing her belly, pitifully pleading, "Zinnia, I'mcarrying River's child. Please, let us be together."

In that moment, her world collapsed.

But the child was innocent, and with her heart bleeding, Zinnia went to Grandma Shaw to call off the engagement.

"Cecilia is lying. River hasn't wronged you. The wedding must go on!" Grandma Shaw firmly refused. The Shaw family, now a Bridgewater City elite, couldn't afford a scandal of a mistress forcing a broken engagement.

"Zinni, love needs nurturing. Can yoreally give up on River? On all those years together?"

She couldn't bear to.

River was the only light in her life. Without that light, how could she live?

She couldn't believe that five years of shared days and nights could be so fragile. Her River couldn't be so cruel.

Cecilia disappeared, and the wedding proceeded as planned.

She donned her wedding dress and walked down the aisle, only to later realize it was the beginning of a lifelong nightmare.On their wedding night, River, with a cold expression, gripped her throat, his eyes burning with hatred, wishing she would die right then and there.

"You coerced Grandma into forcing me to marry, and you made Celia kneel in the storm all day!"

"My child is gone! My only child!"

"Mrs. Shaw, is this the wedding you wanted?!"

"I didn't! I never forced anyone!" Zinnia protested.

Not even an apology, and I was willing to make things right for you! Sheretorted.

"You didn't?" River looked at her with a mocking gaze, his eyes cold and filled with distrust.

Zinnia ripped off her veil, her body trembling with heartbreak. "I'll divorce you right now and give you back to Cecilia!"

River Shaw pushed her away with disdain, his expression icy. "The Shaw family heir has never had a divorce scandal. You want to ruin me? You're truly vicious!"

"I'm not, River, please listen to me.Zinnia pleaded.

River Shaw cut her off coldly, leaving her with only his indifferent back. "If you don't want to ruin me, then be a good Mrs. Shaw."

She compromised. After the wedding, River claimed he was busy with work and never came home. In truth, hespent every day at the hospital, tirelessly caring for Cecilia. Zinnia knew but continued to forgive him, loving him despite everything.

Even when Cecilia needed blood due to complications from a miscarriage, Zinnia agreed to donate. She thought her tolerance and patience would eventually warm his heart.

One day, she was kidnapped, her clothes torn by the thugs. Just as she was about to lose hope, River burst in, appearing before her. Zinnia thought her River had finally returned to her.

Instead, he frowned, looking at her as ifshe were something filthy, and coldly discussed terms. "Zinnia, I saved you, now you owe me. Cecilia's condition has worsened; she needs an organ transplant."

Her heart froze. Fine, I'll repay you. Cecilia needed her blood, her liver, her kidney, and Zinnia gave them all. But in return, all she received was River's relentless demands. He wanted her life as payment.

So... I'll give you my life.

Finally, after one last organ removal surgery, she developed cancer and was admitted to the ICU, with little timeleft. She called River repeatedly, hoping to see him one last time.

She had no other desires, just wanted to say goodbye and clear up their misunderstandings before she died. But he refused.

Eventually, she couldn't even reach him by phone. Desperate, she called River's assistant. "Please, let River take my call. I only need a minute!"

"Today, Miss Cecilia..."

"Discharged, the CEO is busy," River Shaw didn't want to spare even a minute for her. In those final daysCecilia, wearing her wedding ring, looked down at her with disdain.

Cecilia smirked, "I was never pregnant. It was just a trick to get River to marry me. But that old hag Shaw saw through it, and you ended up as Mrs. Shaw."

Zinnia's eyes widened in shock. "You weren't pregnant?! Then what about your illness..."

Cecilia's smile turned cruel. "Of course, I wasn't sick. I just wanted to play with you, torment you, watch you foolishly give your life to your enemy. Your organs? I fed them to the dogs!""You!" Zinnia's eyes burned with anger as she clenched her fists, but she couldn't even lift them.

"Want to hit me? You can barely breathe," Cecilia taunted, leaning closer to mock her. "Fool, River never loved you. Your sacrifices were just a joke to him."

"Oh, and to make sure you'd donate your kidney willingly, that kidnapping was his idea. He hates you more than I do. He sent me here today to anger you to death, so you'd die with regrets!"

Zinnia's heart felt pierced, cold winds seeping into her from all directions.Her unconditional love had been River's tool to manipulate and torture her.

"You'll pay for this!" she cried.

"Payback?" Cecilia laughed, even more brazenly. "Once you're dead, River will just be a widower, no divorce scandal. We'll inherit your formulas, your life's work, and wealth. I'll give River children, and we'll be happy forever. While you... you’ll rot here, die silently with a reputation as a shrew."

Zinnia's heart ached to numbness. From the start, River Shaw wanted her dead. On her 25th birthday, River andCecilia held a grand wedding, while she died alone in the hospital room, filled with hatred.

Memories haunted her, but she woke up. "Ha..."

Zinnia's lips curled into a bitter smile as she shakily stood up, her figure frail yet upright in the storm. She tilted her head back, letting the rain wash away the grime, revealing a face cold and pure, her clear eyes now burning with the fire of vengeance.

"River Shaw, I've repaid everything I owed you. From now on, I want blood for blood."Suddenly, the roar of an engine pierced through the storm! Blinding lights stabbed into her eyes as a Cullinan sped towards her!

Zinnia wanted to run, but her weakened body felt as if it were filled with lead. She couldn't move at all! Was she really going to be silenced just after being reborn?

Screech!!!

The tires splashed up a mist of rain, piercing the night with a low howl as the car came to a halt just an inch from her.Instinctively, she raised her hand to shield her face and peered through her fingers at the man in the driver's seat. Her heart skipped a beat.

He had a face that was breathtakingly handsome—sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a well-defined jawline, and a strong, noble nose. His features were striking and dignified.

His eyes, a mesmerizing shade of glassy blue, looked at her like the moonlight illuminating a valley—brilliant yet gentle, providing her with light without burning her.

For reasons she couldn't understand,the storm of hatred within her calmed down.

In the next moment, he closed his eyes in pain and collapsed onto the steering wheel. Why was he here?

In her previous life, this accident never happened. Could it be that her rebirth was changing everything?

With a complex expression, Zinnia pressed her lips together and finally walked toward the man...

(thanks for reading this chapter and for your support) episode 2 loading good night everyone

Chapter 2 Why did you choose me?In the VIP hospital room, Zinnia looked at the man sleeping on the bed. His eyes were closed, and his dazzling presence was subdued as he lay unguarded on the pillow. His flawless face was a perfect blend of youthful charm and mature allure, radiating warmth like a spring breeze. No wonder global magazines called him "a god sent to earth."

Even in her past life, when she was wholly devoted to River, she had heard of his name—Sebastian. He was thehead of the Huo family, the leading family in Apex City. Compared to him, River seemed insignificant. In her past life, River tried to expand into Apex City but was repeatedly thwarted by the Huo family, forcing him to stay in Bridgewater City.

Soon, the man opened his eyes, and his natural aura of authority enveloped her, drawing Zinnia's attention. Sebastian's deep gaze fell on her face, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Is it you?" His voice was deep and magnetic, rich and pleasing to the ear.

"You know me?" Zinnia was slightly surprised. Sebastian looked awaywithout answering. It seemed she didn't remember. Zinnia paused for a moment, finding an answer for herself. In her past life, Cecilia's tactics had filled the internet with negative news about her. With the internet being so advanced, it wasn't surprising that Sebastian knew about her. Well, at least she didn't have to introduce herself.

Zinnia lowered her eyes and skillfully removed the silver needle from his arm. "You were unconscious, and I saved you."

Sebastian was momentarily stunned, quietly sensing that the violent storm within him had indeed calmedsignificantly. He looked at Zinnia again, sincerely thanking her, "Thank you for saving me. I..."

"How do you plan to repay me for saving your life?" Zinnia interrupted him calmly, a hint of awkwardness flashing across her face. It was her first time trying to extort someone.

Sebastian paused, his expression complex. "You're talking about a life-saving debt?"

His beautiful eyes held a trace of disbelief, barely noticeable. Zinnia found his attitude strange and asked, "Haven't you heard that a life-savingdebt should be repaid generously? Are you trying to back out, Mr. Huo?"

"The one backing out is you."

"Me... backing out?" Zinnia was puzzled, then saw the man wearing a business negotiation expression, his tone much cooler. "Name your terms."

"Five hundred million," Zinnia stated bluntly. River was a vengeful person, and now that the Shaw family was already a force in Bridgewater City...

A powerful family. She needed to break free and seek revenge, which required money—a lot of it."For the life of a billionaire CEO, my price isn't high," she said.

"Five hundred million..." Sebastian slowly repeated her words, his brows slightly furrowed. So, saving him was just about money.

"If you wanted to make a high demand, you should have done it before saving me. That way, you'd have leverage," he pointed out.

"Leverage? I don't stoop to such schemes," Zinnia replied, her face serious. "I will save your life, and asking for your gratitude is because I have urgent needs. If the CEO of the HuoFamily only offers a verbal thank you, there's nothing I can do."

In the past, she never expected anything in return for saving someone. But this time, reborn with nothing but a bad hand, she had no other path.

Seeing him silent, Zinnia shook her head, unwilling to waste more words. She picked up a bandage and started wrapping her forehead. Sebastian's illness was peculiar, almost fatal. To save him, she had ignored her own well-being, using up even the rare herbs her mother had left her.

He noticed her drenched andshivering, her face pale, and dark circles under her bright eyes. Sebastian's lips tightened. She had risked herself to save him.

Suddenly, his phone lit up with a voice message from his grandma. He didn't need to listen to know what it was about. More messages popped up, each sixty seconds long, like a relentless reminder.

Glancing at Zinnia's slender, cold figure, he realized he preferred straightforward people over those who pretended to be noble while scheming for his money."Five hundred million, I agree. But you must agree to one condition," he said.

"What condition?" she asked.

"I need a fake fiancée."

A contract marriage? Zinnia's brows furrowed. Trouble!

Just as she was about to refuse, Sebastian continued, "For one month, just to reassure my grandma so she can go abroad for treatment. Don't worry, no marriage certificate, no physical contact, no public announcements, no impact on your reputation, and no trouble for you. It'smore like I'm hiring you to act. I think you need this money urgently. With me, it's the fastest way, with the least cost and greatest gain."

As he spoke the last sentence, he leaned slightly forward, his deep eyes half-closed, studying her with a slight smile, sharp and determined.

No wonder he was the youngest leader of the Huo Family, with a keen insight into people's hearts, almost dispelling all her concerns.

Zinnia's heart stirred slightly. He was right. However, the lessons from being caught between River and Cecilia inher past life were enough!

In this life, she never wanted to get caught up in such a whirlwind again. Sensing her hesitation, Sebastian quickly asked, "Miss Gu, do you have any concerns?"

Zinnia looked up, meeting his inquisitive gaze. "I don't want to beyour emotional shield, nor do I want to get involved in your romantic entanglements."

"I have no romantic history, so there's no need for that," Sebastian replied without a second thought, cutting her off. "This is purely a business partnership, with no personal feelings involved."

Love and marriage are irrational; wise people don't fall in love.

"Fine, business is business. That's exactly what I want," Zinnia nodded, though she had one lingering question. "But why choose me?"A hint of something flashed in Sebastian's eyes as he extended his hand, "Do you agree?"

Zinnia lowered her gaze slightly. Since she agreed to the partnership, there was no need to question his reasons further. She reached out and shook his hand. "To a successful partnership."

As their fingers intertwined, his hand felt large and warm. And there was something... familiar about it?

Sebastian noticed her hand was cold, almost lifeless. What had she been through all these years?Suddenly, the door burst open, and his assistant, Julian, rushed in. "Mr. Huo, are you okay?! You guys..."

Seeing the scene before him, Julian stopped abruptly, eyes wide in shock, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. His supposedly gay boss was actually holding a woman's hand? And not letting go?!

Zinnia glanced at the young man, quickly withdrew her hand, and handed a note to Sebastian. "I should go. Remember our deal." With that, she turned to leave, pausing to instruct Julian as she passed him."He's very weak right now. Give him two doses of the restorative soup and monitor him for 12 hours."

"Yes," Julian replied instinctively to her firm yet soft-spoken command, surprising even himself. Why was he so obedient to her?

"Julian," Sebastian said, rubbing the note in his hand, which contained a phone number and a bank account number. "Look into her background."

"Yes! And the restorative soup?" Julian asked, knowing the boss only took medicine prescribed by Dr. Du."Do as she says."

As Zinnia left the hospital, she hailed a cab. "To Sunset Mansion."

It was the marital home she once shared with River in her past life.

The place was supposed to be a marital home, yet River barely ever came back. And when he did, it was only to pressure her into donating blood for Cecilia.

Opening the door, she was greeted by silence. For the sake of marriage, she missed her exam to become a licensed traditional medicine doctor. After marrying River, he insisted that a wife should be obedient. So, she gave up a prestigious hospital job and her title, choosing instead to work at a nearbyhospital as a mere assistant.

She forced herself to learn household chores and cooking, things she despised, spending her days in the kitchen and waiting in the living room for River late into the night, only to be met with despair in the darkness. She felt as insignificant as a stain in the kitchen sink, while River was either having candlelit dinners with Cecilia or personally putting her to sleep at the hospital. Enough was enough!

Zinnia walked to the dining room. On the table, as usual, was a bowl of overly sweet bird’s nest soup left by the maid. In the past, after she had donated somuch blood that she was pale as a ghost, River had seen her and started leaving this soup for her. She thought it was a sign of his care, but River had said, "Celia needs healthy, fresh blood." To him, she was nothing more than a walking blood bank. Yet she endured the humiliation, drinking every drop each time. But now...

Suddenly recalling something, Zinnia found a small jar in the kitchen, scooped some of the soup into it, and dumped the rest down the sink. She hated overly sweet things!

Turning on all the lights, she climbed the stairs in the bright glow, prepareda herbal bath, and soaked comfortably, washing away the chill. The mirror reflected a delicate, pale face. In less than a year of marriage, she had been worn down to this state. Love a man? She should love herself!

Zinnia played a lullaby her mother loved, and as the music played, she opened the closet. She found that three-quarters of it was filled with River's clothes, while her own were crammed into a corner. The wardrobe was full of flashy, bejeweled outfits, all chosen to suit River's or rather, Cecilia's style.

"How foolish," she muttered, shakingher head.

She yanked all of River's clothes off the hangers and tossed them into the trash. Then she pulled out a suitcase, packing a few pre-marriage clothes, personal items, and important documents.

Opening the vanity drawer, she found it filled with yellowed paper cranes. They were from birthdays past, when River...

Shaw used to give her paper cranes he folded himself, each one containing a wish for her to grow up healthy and happy. He started this tradition fromthe day they met and continued until just before their wedding. He promised, "Zinni, I'll take care of you forever."

Funny how she was the only one who remembered his promise. The paper cranes turned yellow with age, and men, well, they change just like that. Zinnia closed the drawer, deciding not to take anything from it.

Just then, her phone on the bedside table lit up twice. One was a bank notification, and the other was a text from an unknown number—Sebastian Huo. [Your card has reached its limit.]Personal daily large transfers have restrictions; her card could only receive thirty million today. The five hundred million couldn't be transferred all at once. Zinnia smiled slightly; he was true to his word.

She replied with a thank you, saved Sebastian's number, and then messaged her friend Soleil, who was on a business trip in Apex City. She asked Soleil to help find a villa and inquire about a well-known lawyer in Bridgewater City. After finishing these tasks, Zinnia turned off the lights and comfortably lay on the guest bed, replaying the day's events in her mind.She had been reborn in the first year of her marriage to River Shaw. On this day, she donated blood to Cecilia Chin. Weighing less than 100 pounds, she was forced by River to give 600 milliliters! A strong man can't donate more than 400 milliliters at once! Weak and left in the pouring rain by River, she couldn't get a cab and had to walk home, eventually catching pneumonia. Her health deteriorated, leading to frequent hospital stays, and River never visited her. She lay alone in the hospital bed, enduring the heart-wrenching pain, a memory still vivid.Now, she planned to sleep well, take care of her health, and never let herself be mistreated by a jerk again. Soon, she fell into a deep nightmare.

Surrounded by towering waves, a capsizing ship, and flames reaching the sky, she was swallowed by the sea, sinking slowly into darkness. "Help... help me!" She reached out desperately for help but received no response. Finally, her body plunged into the deep sea, and through the blur, a white figure swam swiftly toward her, like an angel descending!

He embraced her from behind, pulling her away from the terrifying darkness.She tried desperately to see his face, but it remained unclear. Who are you?!

The scene shifted, and she was already ashore, opening her eyes in a daze to see the cold, indifferent face of 26-year-old River Shaw! "Ah!!!!!!"

Zinnia woke up with a start, barely having time to gather her thoughts before her phone rang urgently with River's distinctive ringtone. In the past, a call from River would fill her with joy, and she'd answer in a heartbeat.

But now, that jerk just wouldn't leave her alone...Switching her phone to silent mode, she took a sip of lemon water to calm her nerves, rubbed her temples to clear her mind, and finally answered the call.

"Why did you take so long to pick up?"

Since their marriage, River's tone was always cold and impatient, laced with blame and displeasure. In her past lifeshe hadn't realized that River used this kind of manipulative language to belittle and control her!

Zinnia rolled her eyes dismissively and replied coolly, "Get to the point."

Hearing her indifferent tone, River's dark eyes flashed with irritation. He glanced back at the hospital room and ordered, "Get to the hospital. Celia needs your blood."

Then the call abruptly ended with a busy tone.

"Heh..."

Zinnia's lips curled into a mockingsmile. In her past life, she had naively thought that donating blood to Cecilia would move River. But it turned out, it was just Cecilia's way of tormenting her for fun. And River? Forget being moved; he didn't even see her as a person!

It was time to take back what was hers!

Zinnia took a short nap, then chose a simple yet elegant white dress. She leisurely enjoyed a breakfast rich in iron before casually heading to the hospital. No rush.

First, she went to the lab to find her college friend and handed over a sealedcontainer from last night. "Could you do a test for me, please?"

"Sure, but the composition is complex; it'll take some time."

"No worries, I'm not in a hurry."

At 9 AM, she finally arrived at Cecilia's hospital room.

Creak.

Zinnia pushed open the door to see a cold array of blood-drawing needles and even more blood storage tubes than yesterday. All prepared as a grand gift for her!Her gaze shifted to the side...