The Wrong Person

Jaime Barthes was the only son of the wealthiest family in Hartow City. Ever since he was a child, he could have anything he wanted. On his fifteenth birthday, he fell for Eden Hawthorn the moment he first saw her. Right then and there, he boldly declared, "She belongs to me, and nobody should ever think about touching her!" During the entire decade of their marriage, he was obsessively protective of her. She was forbidden from any kind of interaction with men, and she had to employ the help of her assistant for something as mundane as handing a report to a male colleague. Everyone assumed this was simply Jaime's love language. One day, he caught a terminal disease. The entire nation frantically searched high and low for a matching heart donor, and when they finally found one, Eden decided to give the heart to another man named Jericho Brown. Chapter 1 Eden Hawthorn was never the type to oppose anything Jaime Barthes said or wanted. If he forbade her to speak to men, she would go to great lengths to have her assistant collect reports from male employees rather than interact with them herself. She would never cross any boundaries Jaime set. When Jaime developed a chronic heart condition, she searched every part of the country as well as overseas for a suitable heart transplant candidate for him. However, when she finally found a candidate who fit the criteria, she instead chose to have the heart transplanted to another man named Jericho Brown. “Jaime, Jericho's condition suddenly worsened. He can’t afford to wait any longer, so… I decided to let him have the heart transplant instead.” Everyone in Hartow City expected Jaime to erupt with rage. After all, someone like Jaime, who was known for his utterly possessive treatment of Eden, would not possibly tolerate her giving away the heart that was supposed to save his life to another man. To their surprise, all he did was look up and glance calmly at Eden. Her profile was beyond angelic, but also bore a hint of what seemed like guilt in her eyes. Jamie did not lash out at her. There was none of the dramatic theatrics of smashing objects, cursing, or even so much as a frown. Instead, all he did was regard her calmly, “Alright, I understand.” Eden was stunned, for this was not the reaction she expected. Ironically, it only heightened her sense of guilt. She stepped forward to gently stroke his cheek while dropping her voice to a low and coaxing tone, “Jaime, don't be angry. I assigned people to contact all the hospitals in the country and overseas. I’m sure we’ll find a matching heart for you soon. I promise, nothing will happen to you.” All Jaime could do when he looked at the trace of concern in her eyes was to pull a face without uttering a word. None of what Eden had done was necessary anymore. The hospital diagnosis claimed he only had seven days left to live. Noting Jaime’s continued silence, Eden clenched her fingers and reassured him without being prompted, “Jericho understands you are upset about this too. He had someone prepare a special cardiac tonic sourced from his hometown for you. He says it will help with your heart condition and speed up recovery.” With a brief gesture, an attendant showed up with a glass of liquid she described. The sharp, bitter scent made Jaime's throat twitch and tighten. In an instant, he felt a discomforting feeling creeping up his throat, which he had to suppress with a forced cough. Suddenly, the system was activated. [An irritant likely to accelerate organ failure is detected in the soup.] Jaime ran his fingers along the rim of the bowl while wondering if it was going to hasten his death. The system continued, as if to address his concern. [The irritant is very likely to shorten the host’s lifespan.] With that, Jaime tilted the bowl at an angle without hesitation and finished the bitter soup in one gulp. He could feel the concoction burning the walls of his throat as it streamed down. Yet, it was nothing compared to the glacial feeling he felt deep inside. Eden felt a wave of relief seeing how decisively he had drunk the soup. Then, she feigned distress, “Jaime, something urgent came up at work. I’m going to need to work overtime. I’ll come back to see you later.” Jaime knew there was no such thing as overtime. This was all an excuse for her to visit Jericho at the hospital. Regardless, he nodded and sent her off. “Alright, go on.” Eden was taken aback and could not help blurting out, “You’re okay with me going?” In the past, Jaime would not have tolerated her leaving at such an hour. He would either insist on going with her or make her stay within his line of vision at home. Jaime smiled softly. “Even if I keep you with me, I could not possibly stop your heart from wandering off.” Though he had spoken with a casual cadence, it struck Eden with the force of a thunder strike. She felt her heart drop while a wave of panic washed over her. Before she could even speak, Jaime braced himself against the couch to get up, then turned to head toward the bedroom upstairs. His silhouette from behind seemed unusually frail. Every step he took seemed to require a monumental amount of effort. Despite all that, he managed to walk with impeccable balance and did not look back even once. When Eden watched his figure disappear at the top of the stairs, she felt the unease inside her growing like a lump. Ultimately, the uneasiness could not overcome her desire to be with Jericho. After another moment of hesitation, she finally turned and speed-walked out of the house. The moment she shut the front door, Jaime’s strength gave out. He held on desperately to the doorframe before launching into a violent coughing fit. His coughing was so violent that crimson drops of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth and dripped onto the white cashmere carpet. Then, the mechanical voice of the system played in his mind again. [The host’s physical condition is deteriorating rapidly. The lifespan countdown has been updated to five days.] Jaime expressionlessly wiped the blood from his mouth. He had a secret. He did not belong to this world. He was what was known as a transmigrator who was reborn into the world of a tragic novel. He had taken on the role of the male supporting character who was destined to be sacrificed for the sake of the plot. His sole mission here was to save Eden Hawthorn, who was cast as the schemer. He had to prevent her from being caught with the original male lead, Jericho Brown. He had to steer her away from being betrayed by Jericho, which would lead to the demise of her family and ultimately to her dying in the streets. To accomplish this mission, he had meticulously laid out his plan to intercept all of the plot points in the original story. He was forcefully rewriting their story from the start. However, his methodical solutions rubbed readers the wrong way. They were upset with the deviation from the original plotline and ended up petitioning for the “uncooperative supporting male lead” to be punished. With that, the author caved and revised the plot. He was dealt the fate of being afflicted with an incurable heart condition. While he was being treated in the emergency room, the story unraveled out of his control. Jericho, who was also rushing to the hospital with a hand clenched over his heart, had bumped into Eden. With that, the original plot was revived. All of Jaime’s hard work was being undone. Ironically, Jericho had the exact same condition as he did. Meanwhile, Eden had also reverted to the original plot. She began to shower all of her affection on Jericho. She went as far as to give Jericho a second life. Without hesitation, she gave away the medicine specially formulated for Jaime to Jericho instead. Jericho was given access to the hillside villa for him to recuperate from his condition. Finally, she had given Jericho what was supposed to be Jaime’s final lifeline, a heart transplant. When Jaime leaned against the doorframe with his eyes shut, the system notification went off in his mind again. [If you complete the mission, you will be given a chance to be reborn in the real world with many rewards to start with.] The only thing Jaime had in his mind was to give up. “I want to give up on the mission. I don't want any of the rewards.” He was tired. He did not want to save Eden anymore. Her fate had nothing to do with him. Chapter 2 [Host, if you give up now, you will die in the world you originated from as well. There is a chance you won’t be revived again.] Suddenly, a faint trace of urgency crept into the system’s mechanical voice, sounding almost humane. Jaime leaned against the doorframe with bloodstains still on his fingers. He spoke with utter indifference, “Can I in any way survive without the heart transplant?” The system remained silent for a long time before finally answering him. [No, your heart and lung failure had reached a terminal stage. Without a suitable candidate for a heart transplant, you will not last more than five days.] Jaime chuckled softly, “In that case, what difference does it make?” There was a weary look in his eyes. “Whether I give up or not, it all ends in failure anyway. It’s just a matter of whether I die in this world or in the original world.” He had protected Eden for many years and did everything he could to steer her away from the original plot. Even after all that, he could not defy the fate ordained for him. Now that he was afflicted with a terminal illness and had his final option for survival stripped away, the mission had become pointless to him. [The mission has been abandoned. The system will no longer alter the plot. The host has five days left to live.] After the system's voice trailed off in Jaime’s head, everything fell silent. He dropped to the cold, hard floor with his back slumped against the door. He could not sleep the rest of the night. Eden did not return either. This was the first time she stayed out all night. Even when she was out drinking with her clients or discussing business deals in other cities, she would rush home one way or another. She would do it just to sit quietly outside Jaime’s room for ten minutes to prevent him from overthinking in her absence. By the time Jaime heard the sound of the door opening, it was already morning. He was already seated at the dining table with a warm bowl of oatmeal. When Eden pushed the door open, the smell of hospital disinfectant along with the chilly morning breeze wafted into the house. Her eyes were bloodshot. There were dark circles under her eyes, and she seemed exhausted. The moment she saw Jaime, a flicker of guilt flashed across her eyes. “There was an emergency at work last night, so I had to work late. I decided to just sleep in the office lounge.” There was something coy about the way she said it. It was as if she was trying to stay in Jaime’s good graces. She had always had a way of coaxing him with sweet assurances. However, the evasive look in her eyes this time made her explanation seem especially sheepish. Jaime eyed her for a moment before setting down his spoon and gently wiping his lips with a tissue. “How is Jericho?” Eden flinched. A look of panic flashed across her eyes while she stammered, “I can explain, his condition became critical last night. I had no choice…” “It’s alright, I understand.” Jaime interrupted her, “It’s a matter of life and death, after all. Anyone would have done the same thing.” His calm demeanor had the opposite effect of settling Eden’s feelings of guilt and unease. She felt like she was getting the breath choked out of her. She would have much preferred Jaime lashing out at her rather than having his present calmness. She wanted to come up with another explanation to rid herself of her guilt. Just as her lips parted in an attempt to speak, Jaime continued, “Make sure you take good care of him. Since he has the same condition as me, he won’t be able to handle cold food or anything raw. Make sure you don’t overstimulate him either.” Jaime's voice maintained its relaxed cadence as he went on, “The specially imported medicine the doctor prescribed for me is still in the cabinet on the left side in my study. You can let him have it. If he needs more, tell the assistant to order more. You don’t have to ask for my permission. “Also, you can let him stay on in the hillside villa if he wants to. It’s in a nice, serene area and is close to the hospital, which is perfect for his recovery.” Jaime barely even frowned as he spoke. It sounded as if he was talking about something completely ordinary, something unrelated to himself. Eden gulped. She wanted to say something, but the words caught in her throat. Just a little while ago, the very same subject had been the cause of Jaime’s violent breakdown. He had flown into a rage, tearing apart the living room and threatening Jericho. But now, he had become completely indifferent. A bizarre feeling threatened to overtake Eden until she reasoned that Jaime had always been someone who was very clear about what he wanted. Since he was never the type to suppress what he truly felt, his current reaction must imply that he was truly over it. Besides, he had plenty more houses, so it was no skin off his back at all. With that, the guilt inside her deflated. After heaving a sigh of relief, she remarked as if to vindicate herself again, “I just feel sorry for him, that's all, since he is suffering from such a serious illness and doesn’t have anyone in the city to look after him. I figured I could help him out where I can.” Then, she cast a look at Jaime before solemnly assuring him, “Just wait a little longer, alright? I have already contacted all the hospitals in the country and used all the connections I have. We’re going to find you a heart transplant before you know it. I promise you I won't let anything happen to you.” Looking at the fixed look in her eyes along with her resolute expression, Jaime chuckled softly to himself. Rather than asking her to elaborate, all he did was ask candidly, “When is Jericho’s transplantation surgery?” Eden paused for a moment before answering, “The doctors had it scheduled for five days from now. All the preliminary examinations are done, and there shouldn’t be any hiccups since they confirmed that the organ is a perfect match.” There was a subtle hint of relief in her voice when she spoke. Five days. Jaime nodded faintly without adding any further comment. That happened to be the day he was to leave this world. Chapter 3 Ever since their conversation that morning, Eden was no longer subtle about spending time with Jericho at the hospital. News of the arrangement spread like wildfire. People began to speculate that Jaime was finally going to snap this time because surely he would not tolerate it. On the contrary, Jaime seemed oblivious to what was happening. His daily routine remained unchanged. He read and tended to his flowers. Occasionally, he went to the yard to bask under the sun. His demeanor was exceedingly calm, and there were no signs of starting a fuss anytime soon. During this period, he often caught himself recalling memories of Eden since his arrival in this world, the memories they shared from the first time he saw her up until the day she met Jericho. Unfortunately, it was proven that there was nothing he could do to stop fate. In a way, he thought that this was likely the best outcome. In the original story, things did not end well for the supporting male lead who was cast solely to be a plot device. Because of his attempts to get between Eden and Jericho, his family was shattered, and he ended up dying a horrible death. Even though Eden was eventually betrayed by Jericho, the supporting character was still blamed for everything and therefore died without dignity. In a way, dying of a mere illness was a kind of blessing in disguise. This time, he would not have to suffer the same humiliation and could at least die with some semblance of dignity. Since there was no way to change the outcome, he might as well keep his distance so he would not be affected by the awful effects of the plot. After making peace with the fact, he went to the hospital alone. “Doctor, I have a question. Can my organs still be donated in their current state?” After going through his medical record, the doctor expressed in a troubled voice, “Mr. Barthes, all your organs except your heart and lungs are healthy, so they can be donated, but…” “But what?” “The hospital’s director, Ms. Eden Hawthorn, came by a few days ago and informed me she was doing her best to find a suitable heart donor for you. There could be good news at any moment, so it’s a little too early for you to make this decision, don’t you think?” Jaime chuckled and softly shook his head. “It’s fine. Even if we do find a suitable donor, I wouldn’t follow through with the surgery.” The doctor sighed heavily upon realizing Jaime’s resolve. With that, he presented the organ donation consent form for him to sign. Jaime picked up the pen and signed the document without any hesitation. Then, the doctor turned to him again, “Mr. Barthes, you will also need an immediate family member to sign the document. Shall I contact Ms. Hawthorn for you?” Jaime paused briefly. He felt a tension in his throat, then he stated, “Contact my parents instead.” His parents had moved overseas shortly after he got married. Since then, he had never brought up a word of his illness to them. Initially, he decided there was no need to trouble them or cause them to worry, especially since the doctor assured him he would be fine after a donor was identified. Fast forward to the present, he was starting to regret his choice. If he had known this would be the ending, he would have told them sooner so they would have time to see him one last time. After sorting out the documents, he left the doctor's office. As soon as he turned the corner around the corridor, he bumped into Eden and Jericho. Jericho looked pale and sickly. Eden carefully braced him while he walked. There was a stark look of concern in her eyes. She was immediately taken aback upon noticing Jaime. She pulled away from Jericho nearly instantly and went up to Jaime. “What are you doing here? Are you feeling okay?” Jaime regarded her indifferently. “I’m fine.” Then, Jericho went up to Jaime to express in a weak voice, “Mr. Barthes, I want to thank you for letting me have the heart transplant instead. Also, for the medicine and the villa, I… I don’t even know where to start.” Jaime was disgusted by Jericho’s false act of modesty. Jaime had never been known for his benevolence in the first place, and now that he was about to die, there was less reason for him to play along. With that, he shot a glacial look at Jericho before stating in a tone completely lacking in warmth, “Who do you think you are to thank me?” Jericho's complexion turned another shade whiter. He lowered his watery eyes and took a step back, looking visibly hurt as he glanced toward Eden, as if he had suffered a great injustice. The moment Eden witnessed the interaction, her face darkened instantly. She turned to Jaime with a sharp, disapproving look. “Jaime, why are you being so harsh on him? He’s just trying to thank you! Would it hurt you to have some manners and be a little generous?” Jaime gave her a look as if she just made a joke. This whole time, he was sure he was over it. Still, seeing her blatantly protecting Jericho stung a little. “Eden, how long have you known me? You should know by now that I have never been known for my generosity!” Eden was struck speechless. The tension between them had become pulled taut to the edge of breaking. Suddenly, Jericho clutched at his chest and rocked his body to produce several violent coughs. His face was as pale as a ghost when he heaved, “Eden, I… my heart hurts…” Eden dropped the argument in an instant. She grabbed Jericho anxiously and directed him straight toward the emergency room without so much as another glance at Jaime. The entire time, she seemed completely oblivious to the fact that Jaime had been similarly wounded by the things she said. His fists were clenched tightly, and he wore the same pained expression. After that, he went home by himself. He had just settled onto the couch to get some rest when he heard someone violently pounding the door. It was immediately followed by Eden bursting into the house, her eyes burning with rage. She stormed up to Jaime and seized his arm so tightly he felt his bones would break. She screamed, “Jaime, why are you so evil?” Along with the pain in Jaime’s wrist was a terrible throb in his chest. He cried out, “What’s wrong with you?” Eden was irate. “Did you order someone to attack Jericho at the hospital? You know he’s about to have surgery and that he wouldn’t be able to handle something like that because of how weak he is, but you still went and did it! I can’t believe this. I thought you changed, but you are still as petty as ever! You clearly didn’t want to let him have the heart transplant!” Veins were bulging on her forehead, and she was heaving rapidly while screaming at Jaime. Jaime was distraught. “I did not do it.” He clenched his jaw to suppress the severe pain in his chest, which made it hard for him to breathe. When he tried to jerk his hand away, Eden only held onto him tighter. It was clear that she did not believe him. Her eyes were filled with disappointment and anger when she launched into another tirade. “Are you still trying to make excuses? The person who attacked him confessed that you were the one who ordered him to do it! I’m warning you now, Jaime, you better watch yourself and quit acting like a lord. If you ever hurt Jericho or try to interfere with his surgery again, I’ll make sure you get what’s coming for you!” With that, she shoved Jaime away so hard that he fell backward. By the time he dropped to the ground, Eden had slammed the door shut without looking back. He found himself curled up on the floor with a terrible throb in his heart. The sheer intensity of the pain was causing his vision to blur. Soon, a metallic taste filled his mouth, and he found himself coughing up blood. The housemaid, who heard the commotion from an adjacent room, rushed to help him. Her face turned pale with fright when she reached for her phone to call the emergency services for him. As Jaime was being taken into the ambulance, he started to lose consciousness. When he stared at the ceiling of the vehicle, there was only a single thought left in his mind. ‘Eden, my efforts were wasted on you.’ Chapter 4 Jaime awoke to the sharp smell of disinfectant. When he opened his eyes, his vision was blurry, and it took him a little longer to make out that the person sitting by the bedside was Eden. There were still prominent dark circles under her distinctly bloodshot eyes. The moment she realized Jaime was awake, a flicker of panic and guilt flashed in her eyes. She started frantically, “Jaime, I'm so sorry for pushing you yesterday. I just lost my cool.” Jaime glanced at her indifferently before turning away to face the ceiling. He softly rubbed at the spot on his wrist where he could still feel Eden’s clutch. He did not respond to Eden’s apology. His expression hardly changed at all. His cold reaction only served to amplify Eden’s fright. She explained softly, “I didn't mean it. I’m sorry. Jericho caught a mild fever after he was attacked, then the doctor told me it might affect the surgery, so I panicked. That’s why I… “Besides, you did cross a line this time. This concerns his life. You shouldn’t have done something so rash.” It was clear that with every word she spoke, her reproach of Jaime was getting increasingly pronounced. She could not help but continue to blame Jaime. At last, Jaime responded. He turned to her. His voice was cutting and hoarse when he interrupted her, “It wasn’t me who did it. We’ve been together for over ten years. How could you still suspect me? You should know I am never the type to pull sneaky tricks like this. If I have a problem with someone, I will confront them directly.” It was true. Regardless of severity, whenever he was upset with someone, he would confront them head-on rather than scheming behind their backs. Eden, of all people, should know this. But now, she refused to yield him even a shred of trust just because it involved Jericho. When she tried to say something again, the door was suddenly flung open, and Jaime’s parents rushed into the ward. Judging by the luggage that was with them, they must have headed straight to the hospital after landing. The moment Marcus Barthes saw Jaime lying on the hospital bed and observed how sickly his son seemed, he was on the verge of tears. He rushed to Jaime’s side, holding his hand; his voice was choked with tears as he uttered, “Oh, son, how did you end up in this state? You should have said something to us!” Elisa Barthes turned to face Eden, her eyes blazing with fury, exuding an aura that was beyond menacing. Jaime was the beloved son of the Barthes. After marrying Eden, he was reduced to such a pathetic state, and yet, the details of the severity of his sickness had been kept a secret from his parents. “Eden.” Elisa’s voice was intense. “You never told us how long Jaime has been sick, but we can let it slide. However, would you explain to us why you let another man receive the heart transplant that was meant for him? Do you not care for your husband at all? Does our family not mean anything to you?” Eden felt ashamed when she was barraged with questions. She stammered an apology, “Elisa, Marcus, it’s not what you think, it’s…” “Dad, Mom, it’s fine.” Jaime gently clasped his father’s hand and interrupted Eden, “I was the one who let her do it. Jericho’s condition is more serious than mine, so he needs that heart transplant more than I do.” The last thing he wanted in his final days was for his parents to argue on his behalf. He did not want to inspire any chaos. Then, he turned to Eden and dismissed her calmly, “You should go. I’d like some space to talk to my parents.” When Eden noticed his distance, she felt a terrible feeling lodged inside her. All she could do was give him a long, solemn look before leaving the ward. At the same time, she vowed to herself that she would find a suitable donor for Jaime as soon as she could. After her departure, Jaime and his parents were the only ones left in the room. Marcus could not hold back any longer and cried out aggrievedly, “Jaime, how could you be so foolish and let someone else have the heart meant for you? It would save your life!” Jaime wanted to cry, but he managed to hold back his tears. Meanwhile, Elisa also expressed in a lowered, concerned voice, “We only found out about what happened when we received the organ donation consent form from the hospital. That’s why we took a red-eye flight here. What are we to do if something happens to you, darling son?” Jaime was overcome with guilt. He put his hand out to wipe away his parents' tears. “Mom, Dad, don't worry. I only signed the document as a precaution. The doctor did mention that I can slowly recover over time, so I’m sure it’s not as bad as it seems.” He did not want them to know that he only had a few days left to live. He did not want them to share their last moments together in a state of grief. However, Elisa refused to believe him. She held his hand tightly and assured him, “Don’t worry, Jaime, I have already contacted the best cardiologists in the world to help you. In the meantime, I promise you we’re going to find a suitable heart donor for you no matter what. You’ll get better.” Marcus and Elisa’s unconditional love washed over him like a warm current. At last, the strong facade that he had to hold up lately had collapsed. He could not hold back any longer, even if he wanted to. He buried himself in his parents' arms and started to cry, releasing all the pent-up pain and despair accumulated inside him. This was the first time he had allowed himself to break down since arriving in this world. Two days into the hospitalization, he insisted on going home despite his parents’ dissuasion. At last, they obliged. When he stepped into his house, he was taken aback by what he saw. Jericho was sitting on the living room couch, wearing one of Jaime’s coats, while being attended to by the housemaid. Chapter 5 Upon hearing the commotion, Eden showed up out of nowhere and went up to Jaime to explain, “Jaime, Jericho has surgery in two days and needs a quiet place to rest. It’s a little too noisy in the hospital, and he’s afraid of being alone. He’s terrified that you’re still upset with him and you’d be sending someone to attack him again. “I figured I’d bring him home so he could rest while I look after him. He’ll leave after the surgery." The terrified Jericho quickly got up from the couch and turned pale. He went up to Jaime and expressed in a frail voice, “Mr. Barthes, I’m sorry for the disturbance. I’ll only be here for two days and will get out of your hair immediately after the surgery.” Jaime was too exhausted to bicker with them anymore. All he did was dismiss him with a faint look, “Sure, stay if you want.” It was only two days, anyway. He decided that being upset about something like this was simply not worth the effort anymore. Eden was somewhat taken aback by Jaime’s response since she expected an outburst from him. At the very least, Jaime would have had something mean to say rather than just oblige without any resistance. Then, she turned to comfort Jericho, “Jericho, don't worry. No one’s going to pick on you when I’m around.” Jaime felt an awful feeling turning over in his chest. Just as he was heading up the stairs to go to his bedroom, he heard faint footsteps behind him. It was Jericho coming up behind him. Jericho deliberately slowed his pace so he would remain only a step behind Jaime. As soon as they reached the top of the stairs, Jericho suddenly drew closer. He lowered his voice so Jaime was the only one who could hear him. He taunted, “It doesn’t matter how hard you try. Eden is still going to choose me.” Jaime was already upset enough at that point. When Jericho deliberately taunted him, he was successfully provoked into turning around sharply to respond. As soon as he did so, the look in Jericho’s eyes widened. Jericho intentionally stumbled backward, throwing himself down the flight of stairs. “Ah!” His piercing cry shattered the relative peace inside the villa. When he landed at the bottom of the stairs, he curled up with his hands clutched over his stomach. Eden rushed to him like a bolt of thunder. Seeing how pale his complexion had become, she embraced him tightly and asked in a trembling voice, “Jericho, are you alright? Where does it hurt?” Jericho clung to her while looking at the top of the stairs with his brows furrowed in pain. He then gestured upward with his hands shaking the entire time and his voice weak, “Eden… it was Mr. Barthes… He pushed me... He told me he hated me because I took everything from him and that he was not going to let me follow through with the surgery…” Meanwhile, Jaime, who stood at the top of the stairs, had to watch the wretched scene unfold before him. He felt a terrible throb in his heart as well, which was growing stronger with every passing second. At one point, he clutched a hand over his chest and felt like he was going to faint at any moment. Despite that, he forced himself to explain, “I didn't push him. He was the one who threw himself…” Before he could finish explaining, an enraged Eden howled at him, “Jaime, enough is enough!” She cast a bloodshot look at Jaime. All the love and guilt in her eyes had been replaced by a burning look of anger and disappointment. When she spoke, each word hissed between the gaps of her clenched teeth. “Have you seen the state Jericho is in already? How could you be so cruel? When are you going to leave him alone?” Her deafening shout echoed throughout the house. She held onto Jericho as if to protect him from Jaime, whom she had imagined to be a ruthless beast. “How could I have been so blinded in the past to not realize how much of an evil man you are? Did you truly think you could do anything you want just because of your family name? Did you think even murder is permitted?” Jaime looked at the seething hatred in her eyes, then at the way she was protecting Jericho. In an instant, a chilly, absurd feeling washed over him. That was when he decided there was no use defending himself. Just as he was turning to leave, Eden cried out after him, “Stop right there! Since you’re not going to change, I’ll teach you a lesson so you can learn!” A murderous glint flashed in her eyes as she shouted in the direction of the entrance, “Get in here!” Immediately after that, two bodyguards dressed in black burst into the room. The one leading the charge addressed Eden solemnly, “Yes, ma’am.” Eden gestured at Jaime, “Take him to the courtyard and make him reflect on what he’s done. He’ll only be allowed to come back in once he comes to his senses and admits that he was in the wrong!” With that, the bodyguards went up to Jaime to seize him. Despite his furious struggles, he was no match for them in his sick and weakened state. All he could do was shout and protest with tears in his eyes, “Eden, let me go! I told you, it wasn't me! Why are you doing this to me?!” When the housemaid tried to intervene, Eden sharply rebuked her, “What do you think you’re doing? Call an ambulance!” Then, she looked at Jericho, who was cradled in her arms. Her voice was filled with sorrow when she spoke to him, “Jericho, don't be scared. I’ll be with you. The paramedics will be here soon, you will be alright. The surgery will proceed smoothly, and nobody is going to hurt you.” With that, she helped Jericho out of the house without sparing Jaime so much as a glance when she walked past him. Meanwhile, Jaime was forcefully dragged into the courtyard by the bodyguards. It was midday. The heat of the sun had been baked into the concrete. Whenever he tried to get up, the bodyguards would forcefully shove him back down, slamming his knees against the concrete in the process and hurting him. The bodyguard instructed without mercy, “Sir, Ms. Hawthorn has instructed us to use force if necessary. Don’t make things difficult for us.” Jaime was beyond exhausted. The terrible pangs of pain in his heart and lungs were combined with the shooting pain in his knees. Large beads of sweat started to form on his forehead before dripping down. At one point, his vision began to blur. In his half-conscious state, a series of images flashed through his mind. Soon, a familiar metallic taste swarmed his mouth until he could no longer hold on. After one last wave of dizziness washed over him, he passed out. Chapter 6 When Jaime woke up, he was greeted by the familiar ceiling in his bedroom. There was a faint scent of medicine in the air. His parents were watching over him from the bedside and looked like they had been crying. Upon realizing he was awake, Marcus took his hand and cried out emotionally, “Jaime, you're finally awake! We’re going to have that brat Eden pay for what she’s done to you!” Elisa seemed distraught as well when she informed Jaime, “I’ve gotten someone to investigate Jericho already, and we’re going to make Eden give us a proper explanation! Eden wouldn’t have gotten as far as she did today if it weren’t for our family helping her in the past! How dare she treat you like this? Talk about being ungrateful!” Jaime was just about to say something when the bedroom door opened. It was Eden. Her eyes were still bloodshot. It was evident she had not gotten much sleep all night either. “Marcus, Elisa.” She spoke first, without being prompted, “Jaime has been holding a grudge against Jericho. A few days ago, he hired someone to attack Jericho at the hospital, and then he tried to attack him again today. I understand you two are trying to protect him, but that doesn’t mean you can just let him hurt someone innocent. I had to do something to put him in his place.” “That’s a load of crap!” Elisa immediately retorted, “We know what kind of person Jaime is. It's clear to me that Jericho is the one who has been instigating!” Eden proceeded to show them a blurry surveillance video on her phone while stating, “There is evidence to prove who the instigator is.” The footage showed Jericho suddenly tumbling down the stairs when Jaime turned around. However, whether he was shoved or not remained rather ambiguous. “Jericho is still in the hospital. Even now, there’s no telling if the surgery would even be successful or not,” Eden remarked while putting away her phone. Then, an icy look surfaced in her eyes. “I understand that you two have helped me in the past and I respect you for that, but there are boundaries too. If you insist on defending Jaime, I’ll have to do something even after considering our history.” Marcus and Elisa were struck dumb by her hardly subtle declaration. They were aware that Eden had access to the majority of the construction materials and technology in Hartow City. She was no longer the naive girl who had to rely on the Barthes in the past and was more than resourceful enough to stand up for herself. Marcus was shaking with rage at this point. He jabbed a finger at her to rebuke her. “You… you ungrateful wretch!” Eden replied dully, “I’m only doing what’s right and protecting the one who needs protecting.” When she cast a look at the pale-faced Jaime, a conflicted look surfaced in her eyes. “Before Jericho’s surgery is concluded, I want Jaime to stay inside the house so he can reflect on his actions. He will not be allowed to leave. “In the meantime, I will have my people escort you two back to your house so you can get some rest. Please don’t interfere anymore.” Marcus refused to give in. He gnashed his teeth and threatened her, “You can protect your boy toy all you want, but we’ll make him pay one way or another!” Suddenly, an icy look glinted in Eden’s eyes. She announced stoically, “If you so much as put a finger on him, I’ll cut off all of Barthes Corporation’s investment funds.” After Marcus and Elisa were so-called escorted back to their home, Eden had the house fortified with heightened security. Though she claimed it was for their protection, it resembled imprisonment more than anything else. Marcus and Elisa were not only forbidden from leaving the house, but they were also not permitted to call Jaime. Meanwhile, Jaime found himself confined to Eden’s house. Bodyguards were stationed right outside his room, and the only person permitted inside was the housemaid delivering his food and drink. He was forbidden from any kind of contact with the outside world. “Eden, let my parents go!” Jaime pounded on the door. He had been shouting so long that his voice was barely recognizable anymore. “Take it out on me if you’re angry, don’t drag them into this!” Eden, who was inside the study, was in the middle of a phone call. She issued an order, “Suspend the joint development project we have with Barthes Corporation in the western part of town. Also, call off the ongoing negotiations for the financing of their overseas project. Don’t go overboard, we’re just teaching them a lesson.” After hanging up, she went to the master bedroom and spoke to Jaime through the closed door, “Jaime, all you need to do is stop harassing Jericho. If you do that, I will let your parents go and help your company through the upcoming crisis.” Jaime weakly slumped against the door. He felt as if his heart had been cut into a million pieces when he cried out, “Eden, do you really have to go this far? We’ve been together for a decade, doesn’t that mean anything to you?” “You were the one who started this.” Eden’s voice carried a faint hint of exhaustion, but she maintained her firm stance nonetheless as she continued, “I want you to think about what you’ve done, and speak to me once you see some reason.” Jaime remained imprisoned for what felt like ages until the following day, when a housemaid secretly slipped him a note that read, [Your father collapsed from a heart attack last night and has been rushed to the ICU.] Jaime broke down upon reading the message. He was beside himself and pounded on the door relentlessly while begging with tears streaming down his cheeks. “Eden, please, spare my parents! I promise you I'll never mess with Jericho again! Please, have some mercy and let me see my mother!” Eden's derisive voice filtered through the door, “Oh, so now you’re begging! Where was this attitude in the past? Don’t worry, I’ll let you see them once Jericho's surgery is successful.” Jaime was overwhelmed by a wave of despair. However, he was resolved not to give up. Jericho's surgery was scheduled today. Following the original plot, Eden would be caught in a fierce battle with the female protagonist after Jericho’s recovery, at which point she would be betrayed by Jericho. It would all culminate in her tragic death. At the same time, this was going to be the day Jaime died. He refused to let his parents get caught up in his wretched fate. With that, he smashed the window with a vase and climbed his way out through the bars. He had barely stepped out of the villa when he was stopped by the bodyguards who were already waiting for his arrival. “Sir, Ma’am has given orders that you are not allowed to leave the villa.” Despite Jaime’s persistent struggles, he was subdued. When Eden arrived, her eyes were filled with disappointment. She was disgusted by his dishevelled hair and how haggard he looked. “Jaime, you will never learn!” With a quick gesture, two bodyguards dragged Jaime into the basement. It was dark and damp inside, with the only source of light being a bulb hanging overhead. There was also a persistent, moldy smell in the air. “Since you won't admit your mistake, you can stay here until Jericho's surgery is over.” With that, she turned and left, slamming the basement door shut on her way out. A moment later, a woman dressed in black entered with a leather whip in hand. “Ms. Hawthorn has given instructions that since you wouldn’t learn your lesson, you would be given a beating until you admit to what you’ve done.” Following the crack of the whip, a searing pain spread across Jaime’s entire body. Though he was shaking all over, he adamantly refused to beg for mercy. He stared at the ceiling vacantly and found himself filled with regret. He regretted ever coming into this world. He regretted falling in love with Eden and sacrificing everything for someone who was not worth it. After what felt like ages, the woman finally had enough of beating him and left him alone in the basement. When he lay on the floor, darkness and silence enveloped him from every direction. He was not sure how long he had been locked up at this point. The only thing he could be sure of was his throbbing wounds as well as the agonizing pain in his heart and lungs, which became more frequent with every passing second. He was oscillating wildly between the states of consciousness and unconsciousness. The wounds had dried and formed scabs, which would flex with every slightest movement he made. He nearly lost consciousness from the pain several times. Just as he was about to give up, Eden’s voice suddenly came from outside. “Jaime, Jericho's surgery was successful. He’s out of the woods now.” At the same time, Jaime heard the system’s mechanical voice in his ears again. [The lifespan countdown has reached its end. You will be leaving this world, host.] Jaime shivered. At last, it was all over. Eden remained outside but continued speaking to Jaime through the door, “Jaime, quit being such a pain. All you need to do is listen and apologize, then I'll let you out and see your parents.” The basement was filled with a deathly silence. There was nobody left to respond to her.