The Seventh Heartbeat

Jade feigned surprise when she recognized me and hastily pulled me to my feet.

“Ms. Lewis, why are you here?! You’re Bryan’s ex-wife! Why are you working as a waitress here?”

It was as if someone had pressed mute on the grand hall. Silence fell in an instant. No one made a sound.

Every pair of eyes was fixed on me.

Then, the wave of mockery crashed on me.

“I heard that Mr. Abbott’s ex-wife ditched him for money when he hit rock bottom…”

“Ha! Serves her right!”

“Abandoning Mr. Abbott and ending up as a waitress? Good for her!”

Someone overturned a glass of red wine over my head.

Immediately, wine poured in from all directions.

Glass after glass shattered against my body.

The dark crimson wine mingled with bright red blood and pooled on the floor.

Clearly, those eager to get Bryan’s favor were ready to express their anger on his behalf.

Blood trickled down my forehead and across my cheeks.

Yet, I felt no pain and remained silent.

Bryan stared at me. His eyes were cold and unyielding.

“Aria, why aren’t you saying anything? Do we need to pay even to speak to you?”

Bryan sneered coldly, and a wave of derision rippled through the room.

“You came here as a waitress just to borrow money from me, didn’t you? I’ll grant your wish!”

He waved his hand, ordered someone to bring over a dozen bottles of premium red wine, and had them uncorked.

“Finish all this wine, and I’ll give you $300,000.”

He flung the money to the floor, where it lay against the wine-stained floor.

A coldness settled over Bryan’s face that just would not go away.

Everyone in the room looked at me mockingly as the spectacle unfolded.

Ever since the artificial heart transplant, my body had grown weaker by the day. Even the slightest bit of activity was beyond my grasp.

Simple running and jumping became impossible. A few extra steps would leave me gasping for breath.

Even the normal amount of alcohol that other people enjoyed could cause my artificial heart to fail.

I lifted my head to meet Bryan’s gaze and forced out a smile. “I suppose that means I won’t have to repay the $200,000.”

Bryan froze in shock. His eyes were blazing with fury beneath the bone-chilling cold.

He gritted his teeth and snapped, “Fine!”

When I heard his reply, I smiled faintly. Then, I grabbed a bottle and downed it in one gulp.

My body had long been pushed beyond its limits, and the doctor had warned me against even a drop of alcohol.

My mouth burned, and I retched. I almost threw up.

I forced down the discomfort and swallowed the liquor. Then, I downed bottle after bottle.

Everyone watched this spectacle in repulsion.

Bryan’s face grew increasingly dark and gloomy.

I finished another bottle and reached for more. Bryan could not hold back anymore. He grabbed my hand.

“Aria, is money really that important? Would you die without it?!”

Staring into his bloodshot eyes, I nodded.

“You’re right. Without it, I would really die.”

He pushed me away in rage.

“Fine! Then, drink it all! Drink until you’re satisfied!”

My whole body felt weighed down and heavy, as if I was tied to a boulder.

The artificial heart in my chest seemed to have stopped beating.

I smiled faintly, took a shallow breath, and grabbed another bottle to pour it down my throat.

Bryan, unable to bear it any longer, wrenched the bottle from my hand with a beastly growl, “Enough!”

I collapsed. I was unable to support myself any longer.

Fine shards of glass pierced my skin and stained the floor crimson.

Hearing the commotion, my best friend Beryl rushed over in a panic. She held me and looked horrified.

She shouted at Bryan, “Aria gave you her heart! She relies on an artificial heart now. She can’t drink! She’ll die! Do you even understand that?!”