A Heart That Will Never Warm

Matthew fell silent. Taylor was the name he had originally chosen for their child.

Danielle had once seen it in his notes. He had written it down himself, planning to use it regardless of the child's gender. He hoped the child would grow up to be as strong and elegant as the name he had chosen.

Yet now, that very name belonged to Meghan's son.

"Olivia."

Danielle spoke first.

"My daughter's name is Olivia."

Matthew's Adam's apple bobbed as the tension in his eyes eased, his voice returning to its usual warmth. "Olivia is a beautiful name. It sounds graceful and bright."

He reached out, trying to brush her hair. "Danielle, I have to go on a business trip for a few days. When I get back—"

"Right," she cut in. "Work comes first."

Danielle had no patience left for his act. She turned and walked away.

…

Danielle returned home and had just put Olivia to sleep when a notification popped up on her phone. Meghan had posted a new update on her social media.

The photo showed three hands clasped together, with Taylor's chubby palm gripping a set of car keys. Matthew had actually given Taylor a five-million-dollar car for him to play with.

Meanwhile, despite reminding him three times last week, he still forgot to buy the imported diapers for Olivia.

Danielle laughed and quietly saved the screenshot of the post into her evidence folder.

Cradling Olivia in her arms, she watched as her daughter smacked her lips, her eyelashes casting shadows in the light. She leaned down to kiss her soft cheek.

"Sweetheart, Mommy will definitely keep you safe."

…

The following day, after Danielle finished auditing her assets and shares, she booked a flight to Hadrion departing in three days.

Ever since Matthew sensed her suspicion, he had been messaging her almost every hour these past few days.

"Honey, today's client was a nightmare, but I managed to close the deal."

"You're working so hard, honey. The cookies here in Nethoria are incredible. I'll bring you here next time."

He probably had no clue that every cent of the project bonuses he funneled into Meghan's account was documented in her inbox.

Nor did he realize that, while he carefully maintained the image of a devoted husband, Meghan was using his money to post photos of lingerie stuffed with bills and her body covered with suggestive marks.

Danielle stared at her phone and let out a hollow laugh. Once upon a time, Matthew had treated her with the same devotion.

They were childhood sweethearts everyone envied. He had once blushed under a tree, saying she was the only one he would ever marry. In college, he was fiercely protective of her, and he would quietly drive away anyone who pursued her.

When she underwent an appendectomy, he stayed by her hospital bed for three days straight without a wink of sleep. He even transferred his first paycheck to her account with a note that read, "For my princess."

Suddenly, a sharp cry rang out from the nursery room.

The housekeeper, Sandra Miller, ran out in a panic. Her hands were stained with blood. "Mrs. Gardner, something has scratched the baby's thigh, and the bleeding won't stop! Please come quickly and take a look!"

Danielle's heart dropped. She sprinted into the room and scooped up Olivia. The baby's cries had subsided, but the wound continued to bleed.

Danielle rushed toward the hospital, holding Olivia in a panic.

After the examination, the doctor approached her with the results. "She has a coagulation disorder, and her hemoglobin is dangerously low. She needs an immediate transfusion."

Danielle's lips trembled. "Doctor, take mine! I'm her mother—"

"Direct donation from parents isn't allowed," the doctor replied gravely. "Besides, your daughter has RH-negative blood. We need to check the blood bank's inventory first."

"Give her a coagulant, hurry!"

Danielle screamed the order in desperation.

But even after the injection, the bleeding continued. Olivia's face was ghostly pale. Danielle held her tightly, tears running down her cheeks.

Minutes later, a nurse hurried in, her face full of sympathy. "Ms. Bradford, the RH-negative blood in our inventory… It's all been requisitioned."

Danielle snapped her head up, her eyes bloodshot. "You just said there was a supply. How could it suddenly be gone?"

The nurse bit her lip and lowered her voice. "This is a private hospital. The son of Mr. Gardner, our major shareholder, urgently needed a transfusion. The director immediately ordered all the RH-negative blood from the bank to be sent to the VIP room."

Her words broke the last thread of Danielle's composure. As she reached for her phone to confront Matthew, she saw Meghan's latest social media post.

The caption read, "Little troublemaker, scraped your knee, huh? Luckily, you've got such a powerful dad. He can get the city's rarest RH-negative blood in a heartbeat just for you!"

Rage surged through Danielle. She carefully handed Olivia to the nurse, then stormed toward the VIP room on the top floor.

When she kicked the door open, Meghan was sitting by the bed, playing video games with Taylor. The scrape on Taylor's knee was so minor that a bandage was unnecessary. The sight made Danielle's heart ache sharply.

She stared at the happy mother and child before her, her chest burning with hatred that threatened to consume her.

She was unable to hold back and shouted, "Give the blood to my daughter!"