Chapter 25
Two months later, with her immigration paperwork nearly complete, Riley flew back to submit her documents.
Outside the embassy, Asher’s assistant opened a car door: “Miss Hawthorne, it’s been a while. Our Mr. Blackwell has some words he’d like to share with you.”
Riley coldly retorted: “What if I refuse?”
This
This city is Blackwell territory. The choice isn’t yours to make.”
How ridiculous. When begging failed, they turned to force?
Riley got into the car, knowing a scene would affect her residence permit process. She also wanted to see what Asher could possibly still do to her.
The car drove to a hospital. The assistant led her to an operating room, then withdrew: “Please wait. Mr. Blackwell will be here
shortly.“.
Riley finally sensed something was wrong, fighting to suppress her rising panic: “What is Asher planning?!”
Asher, prepped for surgery, was wheeled in. His eyes held boundless tenderness: “Riley, I stole your heart. Now, I’m giving you
mine in return.”
“You’re insane!”
As Riley tried to run, an anesthetic needle pierced her body, and she lost consciousness completely.
When she awoke, she lay in a hospital bed. Her artificial heart had been removed and replaced with Asher’s strong, beating
heart.
Vivian sat beside the bed, her eyes red from exhaustion: “Riley, you’re awake!”
She opened more than a dozen food containers: “Look, I made healing porridge in every flavor for you. Which would you like? I’ll feed you.”
Riley’s eyes were cold: “I don’t want any.”
Vivian acted as if she hadn’t heard, turning to peel shrimp one by one: “That’s okay, if not porridge, you still need something nutritious. Riley, remember when we were in school? When I got sick, you were always by my bedside…”
“Where’s Asher? What are you two trying to do?”
Just then, the door opened. Asher, pale–faced in a wheelchair, wore a satisfied smile.
“Riley, don’t blame me for taking matters into my own hands. I know apologies alone are meaningless. I hurt you, so now I’m compensating you the same way.”
Riley smiled mockingly: “I don’t need it, Asher.”
“Your heart could hold two people. I find that disgusting.”
Asher’s expression darkened momentarily, a bitter smile not reaching his eyes. Still, he feigned lightness: “Your residence permit will take two weeks to process. That’s fine–we still have time.”
22:00
Two Chances, One Bullet: How His “Next Life” Promise Failed
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Chapter
With that, he nodded to his assistant, who produced a thick folder of documents,
One by one, Asher removed the contents: thirty–six property deeds, seventy–five commercial property certificates, share transfer documents for three Blackwell companies… Red folders covered the entire bed.
“Riley, I deceived you with my bankruptcy lie. Now I’m voluntarily giving you all my assets.”
For each document Asher placed down, Riley tossed one aside: “I don’t want them.”
When she turned her head, she met Vivian’s gaze: “Riley, these assets will automatically transfer to your name. As long as you can forgive us, my brother and I are willing to give up everything.”
Lunatics. They’d all gone mad.
Riley closed her eyes, her tone freezing the entire room: “Do whatever you want.”
“Once my wound heals and my residence permit is approved, I’m still leaving.”
22:00
