The Moment I Realized I Can't Lose You novel Chapter 11

Chapter 11 

“Whatever you want to say, you can say it now.” 

Closing the hospital room door, Audrey turned and sat on the sofa, casually taking in her surroundings. 

This VIP suite at the private hospital was definitely something else, elegantly 

furnished and meticulously designed. Rumor had it that a single night here cost as much as a five-star hotel penthouse. 

Joaquin hadn’t even blinked when he booked this luxurious suite for Rainey Sinclair’s recovery. 

Half a year ago, when Audrey had been injured in a fall orchestrated by Fiona, Joaquin had specifically arranged for her to be moved from a shared room to a quiet private one. Back then, she had foolishly thought he did it out of care, that he was actually starting to develop feelings for her. 

Now, looking at Rainey’s ultra-premium suite, she realized just how naive she had been. 

“Audrey.” Rainey leaned against the headboard, watching her. “You’ve had a pretty happy life as Mrs. Judd this past year, haven’t you?” 

Now that it was just the two of them, Rainey dropped the pitiful, fragile act she had put on in front of Joaquin. The mockery and disdain in her eyes were undisguised. “You never expected me to come back, did you?” 

“I actually thought you were never coming back,” Audrey replied evenly. 

Rainey picked up her cup, took a delicate sip, and said nonchalantly, “Joaquin already told you, right? Your bone marrow is a perfect match for me.” 

“He did mention it.” Audrey’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile. “But I’m not doing it.” 

The hand holding the cup paused. Rainey looked up, glaring at Audrey. “What gives you the right to refuse? If I hadn’t bailed on the wedding, a girl like you, who grew up out in the middle of nowhere, would never have had the chance to live the life of a billionaire’s wife! A year of living in luxury as Mrs. Judd in exchange for a little bone marrow. That shouldn’t be too much to ask, right?” 

“Are you out of your mind?” Audrey frowned, her voice turning icy. “A year ago, your father drove out to my grandparents’ house in the dead of night, literally begging on his knees, pleading with me to take your place and marry Joaquin to save both families from complete humiliation and financial ruin.” 

“In other words, my stepping up to become Mrs. Judd was a massive favor to all of you, not some charity you handed down to me. You have absolutely no right to use that to demand my bone marrow.” 

Rainey’s eyes went wide. Before returning to the country, she had heard endless rumors about how soft and submissive Audrey was. But the woman sitting in front of her now, though calm, had a gaze and words that were razor-sharp. 

“Audrey.” Suppressing the flare of temper, Rainey forced a smile. “Did Joaquin forget to tell you that he’s already hired the best specialists? The transplant is scheduled for a month from now. I’ve already started the prep work.” 

“Audrey Sinclair.” Rainey’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Don’t push your luck. Joaquin and I have plenty of ways to extract that marrow from you whether you like it or not!” 

“It’s my body, and I make the rules.” Audrey smiled, her voice resolute. “If you two insist on forcing my hand, I am more than ready to fight you to the bitter end.” 

In the past, she had cared about Joaquin and the Sinclair family’s reputation. High society was a tangled web, and she had been terrified that one wrong move would be misinterpreted, bringing shame to her husband and family. So she had been cautious, shrinking herself down, trying so hard to be the perfect Mrs. Judd. 

But now that Rainey was back, Audrey realized just how pathetic all her sacrifices had been. For the sake of the tiny two-month-old life growing inside her, she would no longer back down. She was done enduring. 

“You-!” Rainey’s eyes bugged out in fury. She was just about to hurl an insult when she caught a glimpse of a shadow shifting outside the room. 

From her angle, she could clearly see the edge of a tailored black suit jacket through the window. She knew exactly who it was. 

Instantly, she swallowed her rage and let out a gentle, melancholic sigh. “Audrey, do you regret taking my place and marrying Joaquin a year ago?” 

Rainey had always been moody, so Audrey didn’t bother analyzing the sudden attitude shift. She just answered coldly, “Yes.” 

As the word hung in the air, out in the hallway, Joaquin’s hand tightened around the door handle, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.