Blue Blood in My Veins

It's my seventh anniversary with Chase McGregor, the most ruthless mafia head in the North.

I hide in his car's trunk while holding a pregnancy report. In my other hand, I hold a limited-edition watch that I've prepared for him. I want to surprise him and tell him we're about to have a child.

To my surprise, I hear something that devastates me.

"Chase, you're not really going to marry Daphne, are you? Lucille Gervais wants to marry you. As long as you do that, the North Sea's shipping routes, cargo operations, and drug trade will come under your control."

"Help me set up a date with her. I'll break up with Daphne."

My breathing hitches. I want to hear Chase object to this or show even the slightest bit of hesitation, but none of it comes. The pregnancy report slips from my fingers.

I once thought he would be the father of my children; I thought we would have a happy family together. Now, my dream has been shattered.

I was hiding in the car trunk of my boyfriend, Chase McGregor, while grabbing my pregnancy report in one hand. In the other hand, I held a limited-edition watch I had specifically prepared for him. I wanted to surprise him with my pregnancy.

"Chase, you wouldn't actually marry Daphne, would you?

"What can she offer you? Love? Loyalty? These are worth nothing in our world.

"Lucille Gervais wants to marry you. Her family is in charge of the entire North Sea. Once you marry her, you'll gain control of all the shipping routes, cargo operations, and drug trade on the North Sea.

"Yeah, Chase, stop being a fool. Daphne is nothing—she doesn't deserve to become your wife."

My breath hitched as my nails sank deep into my palms. I anticipated Chase's retort, even if there was a slight hesitation to it.

However, his voice was cold as he replied, "Arrange a meeting for me with Lucille. I'll break up with Daphne."

The pregnancy report slipped from my fingers, disappearing into the darkness of the trunk.

I thought Chase would be the father of my future child. We would build a family together and live happily ever after.

But in that instant, my dreams were shattered.

I had no idea how I returned home. Dead silence enveloped the house, and Chase's words kept lingering in my mind.

I met him when I was 18.

That year, I got stranded on an alpine mountain while traveling alone. I was on the brink of death. As a snowstorm raged around me, I felt the cold seeping into my body, draining me of consciousness.

It was as if my blood had frozen. Everything before me blurred into a vast, white void. I had no idea how long I could hold on—in fact, I was mentally prepared to be buried beneath the snow.

But just as I was about to close my eyes, Chase appeared.

Clad in a dark leather jacket, he had an unlit