It Doesn’t Matter Anymore novel Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Chapter 81

“Can you take me to the hospital? My back hurts so bad I can’t even move it’s unbearable

Liora Hughes old spinal injury had flared up again Ever since a severe fever in her childhood, she had lost her voice and could only communicate weakly through sign language Now she stood beside the bed, silently pleading with her husband, Lucas Chandler, to take her to the hospital

Last night, half-asleep, she was jolted awake when her husband, whom she hadn’t seen in three months, suddenly stormed into ter bedroom and pulled her into his arms. Without warning, he began to make love to her, almost desperately.

She instinctively responded but still tried to remind him-begged him-to be gentle, warning him that her old spinal injury hadn’t fully healed an

could be aggravated.

But Lucas didn’t listen. He only grew more aggressive.

Unable to bear it anymore, she bit him. It was just a reflex, a desperate attempt to get him to stop.

But it backfired. The bite only seemed to provoke him further. Like a man possessed, he pressed her against the wall, kissed her roughly, and

devoured every trace of her protest.

In that moment, she truly felt she might break. But the man before her was completely out of control. There was nothing she could do to stop him

And sure enough, the next morning, she was awakened not by sunlight but by searing pain.

Her entire body was stiff; her spine throbbed like it had been smashed by a hammer. She couldn’t even sit up. All she could do was ask Lucas to

take her to the hospital.

But when she gently nudged him awake and made her request, instead of showing a hint of concern, he flew into a rage. He shoved her hand

away and snapped viciously:

“Liora, can you stop using this kind of crap just to get my attention? Just because you once got hurt for me doesn’t mean you can hold that over my head forever. I hate manipulative women like you. You disgust me. I’m busy-get someone else to play along with your drama.”

With that, he stormed out and slammed the door behind him. Liora even heard the roar of his engine as he sped away.

But she really was in pain. It hurt just to breathe.

A year ago, when Lucas was almost assassinated by a hitman hired by his own uncle, Liora had thrown herself in front of him and taken the blow,

damaging her spine.

Lucas had spared no expense, hiring top-tier doctors and buying state-of-the-art equipment to treat her. The medical team said she had recovered

completely.

But two months ago, while she was rehearsing for this year’s tour, the old injury came back with a vengeance, sharp, piercing pain that left her

breathless

After a full examination…

Her career was over.

The spinal nerve damage had worsened. Although treatment could prevent it from affecting her daily life, she could never dance again.

The moment she got the results, she texted Lucas. But apparently, he didn’t care. The message disappeared into silence. No reply, not even a

word

Chapter 81

She cried her heart out at home, then accepted the reality.

She couldn’t die. Life still had a long way to go

After thinking it over, Liora decided to stick to her original plan: pursue conservative treatment while finishing the tour She would give her career a

graceful ending.

Tonight would be the final performance of her tour.

She didn’t want to leave any regrets, but she hadn’t expected what Lucas did last night…

With no other choice, she called an ambulance and reached out to her agent, Zoe.

She never imagined that once she could finally walk around the hospital again, she would run into the husband who had been too busy to take

her here accompanied by his mistress.

And that woman… Liora recognized her.

She had a face that looked eerily similar to hers, about sixty percent alike.

It was Jennie, the fake heiress who had taken her place in the Hughes family for sixteen years.

Liora had suspected six months ago that Lucas was seeing someone. But she never imagined it would be Jennie.

Then again, thinking about it now. It wasn’t surprising at all. Everyone knew Lucas’s first love, the one he could never forget, was his childhood

sweetheart Jennie.

Now, finally, Liora’s lingering hope was crushed once and for all.

Lucas Chandler stood there, head bowed slightly, speaking softly to Jennie. His voice was gentle, his expression tender-so unfamiliar to Liora it

made her stomach turn.

Jennie gave a shy, obedient nod.

They looked alike, but Liora could never mimic Jennie’s pretentious demeanor.

Just then, Jennie suddenly looked up and locked eyes with Liora across the hallway.

She immediately shrank back like a startled deer, hiding against Lucas’s chest.

“Luke… she whispered fearfully.

Liora rolled her eyes.

Same old act. Jennie was always playing the pitiful little victim.

What she hated most was how Lucas always seemed to buy into it, always ready to label her as the abusive sister.

Chapter 81

Their marriage had been arranged by both families before they were ever born

But when she was three, her parents died in a trager woodent, and the disappeared tork her place testery ” was found and brought back from an orphanage, Lucas already had only one woman in his heart-Jenne

He never wanted to marry her

The wedding had only happened because of pressure from the elders Lucas viewed the marriage as a humiliation and resentesher seep

But his hatred wasn’t just about Jennie or the forced marnage

It was also because of Liora herself

Rumor had it that when Lucas was young, his mute biological mother once tried to strangle him in a fit of madness. Since then he had loathed both his mother and all mute people.

But Liora never cared about his hatred.

Because from the start, all she had ever loved was his face.

That face made her feel like life wasn’t so hopeless. Like it was worth living.

Back then, she refused to give up the engagement because of that face. She even threatened Jennie with a knife, warning her that if she dared to touch him, Liora would take them both down.

But lately… that face had grown more and more unfamiliar.

And now, Liora was tired of it too.

The elevator doors slid shut.

Liora turned away, thinking what a soap opera this had become.

If she had stormed over just now, slapped Lucas twice, then grabbed Jennie’s hair and started a catfight, the drama would’ve been complete

She tightened her grip on the paper bag holding her pills.

Her eyes felt dry.

The scene she’d just witnessed felt like some sick joke from God, a cruel twist of fate

Her back began to throb again.

She regretted it. If she had known this would happen, she never would’ve saved Lucas a year ago.

If he had died back then, he would’ve remained her untouchable dream as her perfect blue moon

He wouldn’t have rotted before her eyes like this, defiling the face she once loved so deeply, leaving her utterly disgusted.

Liora slipped the painkillers into her coat pocket

half-lowered, long lashes casting shadows over her cold expression.

Chapter 81

Then she hit send without a second thought.

Hospital parking garage.

“Luke, why was Liora at the OB/GYN? Is she… pregnant too?” Jennie instinctively placed a hand on her belly.

“Impossible, “Lucas said coldly, his voice firm.

Jennie’s eyes began to fill with tears. “Luke, because of our past, Liora hates me the most. You know she almost killed me when she was first brought back… If she saw you bringing me here, it must’ve looked really suspicious. I should go find her, explain everything what if she

misunderstood and causes a scene…”

“She won’t, “Lucas said.

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