Julian arrived upon hearing the news. Seeing her with disheveled hair and covered in dust, his eyes were filled with nothing but disappointment and disgust. "Sera, even now, you refuse to repent!"

At his signal, two bodyguards dragged Sera into the villa’s basement.

It was dark and damp, with only a single dim bulb hanging from the ceiling. The air smelled of mold.

"Since you don't know how to admit your mistakes, you can stay here until Bianca’s surgery is over."

Julian left her with those words, slamming the basement door shut.

A moment later, a man in black walked in, holding a long, thin leather whip.

"The boss said that if the mistress won't listen, we should give her a lesson until she admits her fault."

The whip came down. A searing pain spread instantly. Sera shook with agony, but she gritted her teeth and refused to beg.

She stared at the ceiling, tears falling silently.

She regretted it. She regretted transmigrating here, regretted falling for Julian, and regretted losing everything for a man who wasn't worth it.

After an unknown amount of time, the man finally stopped and walked out, leaving her alone in the basement.

She lay on the ground, wrapped in darkness and silence.

She didn't know how long she had been locked away. Her wounds throbbed, and the sharp pains in her heart and lungs became more frequent. Her consciousness flickered.

The blood on her body dried and scabbed, only to be torn open again whenever she moved, causing pain that pushed her to the brink of unconsciousness.

Just as she was about to give in, Julian’s voice came from outside the door.

"Sera, Bianca’s surgery was a success. She’s out of danger."

Almost simultaneously, the System’s cold, mechanical voice rang out again:

[Host Sera Sterling, life countdown has ended. Initiating departure from current world.]

Sera’s body jolted. Finally, it was over.

Julian remained outside the door, continuing through the wood: "Sera, stop being difficult. Just be obedient and apologize to me. I’ll let you out to see your parents."

The basement remained in deathly silence. There was no response.

Chapter 7

Julian called out twice through the basement door, but the interior remained deathly silent. He couldn't even hear the sound of breathing.

An inexplicable dread crawled up his spine. He raised his hand to push the door open, but he was stopped by a bodyguard rushing toward him.

"Sir, an urgent call from the hospital. Miss Bianca is having an abnormal post-operative reaction. Her heart rate is fluctuating wildly. The doctor needs you there immediately."

The bodyguard's voice was frantic.

Julian froze, his brow furrowing deeply.

On one side was the unresponsive Sera; on the other was Bianca, who had just finished surgery and was in critical condition. In the end, his scales tipped toward the latter.

His knuckles turned white as he gripped his fingers. He spoke sternly toward the basement door: "Watch her closely. Pay attention to her condition. Bring her food and water on schedule. Contact me immediately if anything happens."

"Yes, sir," the bodyguard bowed.

Julian cast one last deep look at the door before turning to leave, driving straight to the hospital.

At the hospital, Julian stayed outside Bianca's intensive care unit, never leaving his post.

The doctor repeatedly warned that the post-operative rejection was more severe than expected and required close observation for seventy-two hours.

During these three days, he barely slept.

Occasionally, the thought of Sera in the basement would cross his mind, but he soothed himself with the idea that "she’s just throwing a tantrum." After all, no matter how much she had caused a scene in the past, she had never truly left him. He told himself he would explain everything to her once Bianca's condition stabilized.

On the morning of the third day, the light outside the ICU finally went out. The doctor stepped out, removed his mask, and said, "Sir, Miss Bianca is out of danger. The surgery was a success."

Julian let out a massive sigh of relief, a visible joy surging in his eyes.

Just then, his assistant rushed over, looking ecstatic. "Sir, great news! News from the hospital abroad—they’ve found a matching donor for Sera! All the vitals are a perfect match. We can schedule the surgery as early as next week!"

"Truly?"

Julian stood up abruptly, the surprise nearly overwhelming his senses. His first instinct was to tell Sera this wonderful news immediately.

Bianca was wheeled out of the ICU, weakly calling out, "Julian."

She reached out her hand, trying to pull him toward her, her eyes full of dependence. "Julian, don't go. Stay with me a little longer."

"Bianca, they found a heart for Sera. I have to go back and tell her. She has waited so long for this day."

Julian’s tone was urgent as he pulled his hand away. "I’ll come back to see you once you’re more stable."

Without waiting for Bianca to say anything else, he rushed out of the ward and sped back to the villa.

All along the way, he imagined Sera’s joyous face upon hearing the news. He even began to plan a trip around the world for her after the surgery to make up for everything he owed her.

He wanted to tell her that he would never let her suffer again.

The villa was eerily quiet. A servant came forward as he entered. "Sir, you’re back."

"Where is she?" Julian headed straight for the basement.

"Still in the basement. No movement," the servant said hesitantly. "We brought food twice, but she never opened the door, and there was no response when we called her."

The unease in Julian’s heart flared up again. He hurried to the basement door and pounded on it. "Sera! I have good news! We found a donor for you! You’re going to live!"

Still, there was only silence.

"Sera? Sera?" Panicking, he shouted at the bodyguard, "Open the door! Open it now!"

The bodyguard fumbled with the keys and turned the lock.

With a click, the door swung open.

The dim yellow light spilled inside. Julian rushed in and immediately saw the figure on the floor.

Sera was covered in injuries. Her thin clothes had turned stiff from dried blood. The hemp ropes at her wrists and ankles had left deep, raw gashes. Her head was tilted to one side, her face as pale as paper and completely devoid of life.

"Sera!"

Julian rushed over like a madman, his hand trembling as he checked for a pulse. All he felt beneath his fingertips was a bone-chilling cold.

His mind went blank with a deafening roar.

"Sera? Sera Sterling!"

He scooped her into his arms. Her body was stiff and freezing. Her head rested powerlessly against his arm, lifeless. The dark red blood at the corner of her mouth was so piercing that his heart throbbed with agony.

"Sera! Wake up! I found a heart! Don't die!"

He held her, his voice shaking violently as tears gushed out. "I was wrong! I shouldn't have locked you in here. Please wake up. Let's go have the surgery!"

He shook her body frantically, his voice breaking into a collapsed plea.

"Look at me! It's Julian! Didn't you hate it most when I ignored you? I'm here now. I brought good news. Wake up, please!"

The person in his arms did not respond. Only the icy touch remained to remind him that she was dead.

He had locked her in here himself, wanting her to reflect. Instead, she had become this.

"Who was it? Who hit her?"

Julian looked up sharply, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at the bodyguard. "Didn't I tell you not to touch her? How did she get these injuries?"

The bodyguard turned deathly pale and dropped to his knees. "Sir, it wasn't me! I didn't dare lay a hand on her! I... I don't know what happened. There was no response when I brought food. I just thought she was still angry..."

"You don't know?"

Julian screamed. "She’s like this, and you’re telling me you don't know?"

Before long, hurried footsteps echoed at the villa entrance. Arthur and Eleanor arrived with the police.

Seeing the scene in the basement, Eleanor collapsed instantly, screaming as she lunged forward, "My baby! My sweet girl!"

Arthur’s face was ashen. He pointed at Julian, shaking with rage. "Julian! You animal! What did my daughter ever do to you for you to treat her like this?"

The police stepped forward, pulling the despondent Julian away from Sera. Cold handcuffs clicked around his wrists. "Mr. Julian, we have received a report. You are a suspect in a case of negligent homicide. Please come with us."

Julian struggled, his eyes fixed on Sera’s body. "No! I didn't want to kill her! I found a heart! She was going to be saved! Let me go! I want to stay with her!"

He roared like a madman but was forced away by the officers.