I Refuse to Be Her Blood Bank

The day before we were supposed to sign our marriage license, I hid in my fianc's office lounge.

I was holding a pair of custom rings I'd designed myself, wanting to give him a surprise.

Instead, I heard his first love, Maddie, ask a question that chilled me to the bone.

Bennett, will Cassie really agree to give me blood transfusions every week?

My fianc's voice was cold and ruthless.

"She'll agree whether she wants to or not. If her blood type didn't match yours, I would never have agreed to marry her!"

"Maddie, you ended up like this because of me. Even if I have to drain her dry, I won't hesitate!"

Behind the door, I felt my heart turn to ice.

So, the only reason he was marrying me was to use me as a living blood bank for his darling Maddie.

But I was the one who actually saved him from that fire years ago.

......

"Bennett, I feel so guilty. I know Cassie is innocent, and I hate doing this to her."

Maddie leaned her head on Bennett's shoulder, her voice thick with fake tears.

Bennett immediately pulled her into a protective embrace, his heart clearly aching for her.

"Maddie, your health is fragile. Don't waste your energy worrying about someone so insignificant."

"I've already compensated her enough. Why else do you think I'm making her Mrs. Brooks?"

Insignificant?

At that moment, it felt like I was falling into a bottomless abyss that swallowed my heart whole.

The rings slipped from my numb fingers, landing silently on the plush carpet.

The initials I had painstakingly engraved on them seemed to be mocking my absolute stupidity.

Outside the lounge, Bennett pressed a tender kiss to Maddie's forehead.

"Maddie, I've booked a table at that new French place. Let's go grab dinner."

Maddie pouted her lips playfully, acting spoiled.

"Bennett, why won't you let me eat at the company cafeteria? Are you afraid your employees will gossip to Cassie?"

Bennett's eyes flickered for a second before he tapped her nose playfully.

"Silly girl, what are you thinking?"

"The cafeteria food is too greasy. You need proper nutrition to get better."

A smile finally broke across Maddie's face.

"I knew you were the best to me, Bennett!"

He led her out of the office, holding her as if she were a piece of priceless porcelain.

I waited until I was sure they wouldn't come back before I stepped out of the lounge, my body stiff with shock.

Our framed engagement photo still sat on his desk, looking like a cruel joke.

I threw the photo straight into the trash before walking out of the building.

Once I was safe inside my car, the tears finally started to fall in heavy, uncontrollable waves.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in a long time.

"Leo... I want to come home."

After a brief conversation, I hung up and sent Bennett a final text.

Bennett, we're over. I'm breaking up with you.

I turned off my phone immediately and drove home to start packing my life into suitcases.

An hour later, Bennett came charging through the front door, looking frantic.

He saw me folding my clothes and rushed over to grab my arms, his face a mix of panic and anger.

"Cassie, we'm getting married tomorrow! Why the hell are you talking about a breakup?"

"Did someone say something to you? Don't listen to those jealous losers. You know how much I provide for you!"

I wrenched my arms out of his grip, my voice eerily calm.

"No one said anything. I've just realized I hate this city and I don't love you anymore. I'm going home."

Bennett looked stunned for a moment, clearly not believing a word I said.

"Cassie, stop saying things just to hurt me. I know how obsessed you are with me, and I love you too."

"If you're homesick, I'll take you back for a visit right after we sign the papers tomorrow!"

For a second, the warmth in his eyes almost fooled me again.

Since we started dating, he had treated me like a princess, or so I thought.

Until today, I never doubted his heart, and I never imagined I'd be the one to leave.

But the words I heard in that lounge were like a physical slap to the face, waking me up.

This man's devotion was nothing but a well-crafted mask.

He was just fattening me up so he could feed my blood to his real love.

How much did he have to love her to sacrifice his own marriage for her survival?

The thought made my voice even colder.

"No thanks. I'm going back alone."

"Cassie, I've had a long day at work. Stop acting like a spoiled brat, okay?"

Bennett sighed and sat on the sofa, where he spotted the ring box I'd left on the coffee table.

His scowl instantly vanished, replaced by a look of genuine excitement.

"Cassie, are these the rings you designed for us? They're beautiful. I love them."

"I know I've been busy lately, but I promise we'll go on a luxury cruise after the wedding."

"By the way, could you come to the hospital with me this weekend? Maddie really misses you."

Misses me?

I felt a cynical smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.

Bennett didn't notice; he just picked up the men's ring and slid it onto his finger.

Then, he reached for the women's ring, trying to take my hand.

Before I could pull away, his phone let out a specific, high-pitched ringtone.

It was the special alert he had set only for Maddie.

He dropped my hand and the ring onto the table as if I didn't exist, his face tightening with worry.

After a quick, hushed conversation, he stood up and headed for the door.

"Something came up. I'll be back soon," he tossed over his shoulder without looking back.

The ring he claimed to love sat forgotten on the table.

The weather had been terrible lately, and the earliest flight I could book was for tomorrow afternoon.

I spent the time getting rid of everything I couldn't take with me.

I knew in my heart that I would never set foot in this city again.

By midnight, Bennett still wasn't home, but Maddie's social media was updated.

Your presence is better than any medicine in the world! I hope you can stay by my side forever!

The photo showed two hands tightly intertwined.

On the woman's ring finger was the exact same ring that Bennett had tossed onto the table earlier.

I realized then that Maddie must have added me on social media today just for this reason.

She was playing a high-stakes game to mark her territory.

It was almost impressive that she had the energy to be this petty while being so sick.

She probably thought I was a pushover who would just cry in silence.

She had no idea that I was done being a victim.

I stared at the screen for a moment, then typed a comment under her post.

I hope you two stay locked together forever!

After posting the comment, I took a screenshot and dropped it into our main group chat with all our mutual friends.

The notifications started blowing up immediately.

Cassie, what is going on here? Isn't that your wedding ring?

I didn't hold back and replied directly to the group.

Bennett and I are done. The wedding is off.

The chat went silent for a few seconds before exploding into total chaos.

Holy crap! You guys broke up? I don't believe in love anymore!

Don't be impulsive, Cassie! You guys have been together for years!

Maddie was in that group, too.

She clearly didn't expect me to air our dirty laundry so publicly and involve everyone we knew.

She didn't dare say a word; instead, she panicked and deleted the post that was supposed to only be visible to me.

Then Bennett's name popped up in the chat.

Cassie, I never agreed to a breakup!

I didn't bother responding to him. I just left the group chat entirely.

A second later, my phone started buzzing with his call, which I promptly declined.

I turned the device off and went to sleep, feeling lighter than I had in years.

The next morning, I was rudely shaken awake by Bennett.

"Cassie, what the hell was that in the group chat? I told you, I'm not letting you go!"

I shoved his hands off my shoulders, my eyes full of irritation.

"It's a breakup, Bennett, not a divorce. I don't need your permission."

He stared at me for a long time, his expression shifting from anger to a weird kind of pity.

"Cassie, are you just jealous because I've been spending time with Maddie? Is that what this is?"

"You know she only got sick because of me. I promise I'll pull back once she's stable, so stop throwing a tantrum."

I remained completely unmoved.

"What you do with her is none of my business."

I climbed out of bed and walked straight to the bathroom, ignoring him.

When I came out, he had already set the table with a breakfast spread from my favorite bakery.

He acted as if the previous night's drama hadn't happened and gave me a charming smile.

"Come eat, honey. After breakfast, we'll stop by the hospital. Maddie wants to explain that post from last night."

"Then we'll go to the courthouse. I've already booked a romantic dinner for tonight."

I took a deep breath and looked him dead in the eye.

"Bennett, listen carefully. I am not going to the hospital, and I am definitely not marrying you."

Bennett slammed his fork onto the table, his face darkening with a sudden, sharp aggression.

"Cassie, don't think that because I spoil you, you can keep pushing me like this."

"If you stay obedient, I'll keep loving you. If not, I'll drag you to that courthouse myself."

The threat was out in the open now, and the rage I'd been suppressing finally boiled over.

"Stop the act, Bennett! You're not in love with me!"

"I know the truth. You only want me because my blood type matches Maddie's. You want to turn me into her personal donor!"

"Well, forget it. I'd rather die than give that woman a single drop of my blood."

Bennett froze for a split second, but he recovered his composure quickly.

He walked over to me, his gaze turning cold and clinical.

"Fine, since you know, I won't lie. Maddie needs regular transfusions to survive."

"The doctors said it won't hurt you to give a little every week. I'll make sure you have the best nutritionists and everything you want."

He said it so casually, as if he were asking me to donate some old clothes to charity.

I couldn't help myself; I swung my hand and slapped him as hard as I could.

"You want to harvest me like a lab rat? In your dreams, Bennett!"

Bennett had clearly never been hit before. He looked like he wanted to kill me.

"I really misjudged you, Cassie! You're a heartless bitch! It's just some blood, it won't kill you!"

I let out a harsh, mocking laugh.

"If it's so easy, why don't you give her yours, Mr. CEO?"

"Dammit, Cassie! If my blood worked, do you think I'd be wasting my time begging you?"

"You're going to help her, whether you like it or not!"

Before I could react, he stepped behind me and delivered a sharp blow to the back of my neck.

As the world started to go black, I managed to hit the emergency SOS button on my phone.

After Bennett knocked me out, he was paranoid I'd wake up too soon, so he forced a sedative down my throat.

He took me to a soundproof basement he had specifically prepared for this.

The room was fully equipped with medical-grade blood transfusion equipment.

He was always a man who planned ten steps ahead.

The moment he realized I was a match for Maddie, he had started setting up this secret clinic.

His plan was simple: if I cooperated, I'd never see this room.

If I rebelled, he would keep me chained here as Maddie's private supply.

By the time I started to regain consciousness, I was strapped to a cold hospital bed.

The pain in my neck was throbbing, making it impossible to even open my eyes.

The basement was deathly quiet, except for the low murmur of voices nearby.

"Bennett, are we really going to keep Cassie locked down here forever?"

"Don't worry, Maddie. I'll let her out once she learns how to behave and follows the schedule."

"I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. If I weren't so sick, you wouldn't have to take such risks. She must hate me."

"Maddie, don't think like that. This is my responsibility."

"You saved my life and destroyed your own health by inhaling those toxins. I promised I'd keep you alive."

"As for Cassie, I'll find a way to make it up to her. She's just emotional right now. I still plan on marrying her."

Hearing their conversation, my heart felt like it stopped beating.

Maddie saved him? What kind of sick joke was this?

Three years ago, a lab at Brooks Pharmaceuticals was on the verge of a breakthrough.

I was there with Bennett, working late into the night.

Because of a lab assistant's mistake, a fire broke out, threatening to blow the whole floor.

The room was filled with experimental chemicals that turned into lethal gas when burned.

Bennett refused to leave without the data, but he was overcome by the fumes the moment he opened the door.

I was the one who put on a gas mask and dragged his heavy body out of the flames.

I collapsed from exhaustion the second we reached the safety zone.

A month later, Bennett found me and asked if I wanted to date him.

I thought my secret crush had finally come true and that he loved me for me.

Looking back, I had been walking into a trap from day one.

All his affection was a performance to turn me into a willing blood bag for the woman he thought was his hero.

But he had the wrong woman!

I tried to scream the truth, but my throat was parched and no sound came out.

Suddenly, I felt a rubber tourniquet being tightened around my upper arm.

I forced my eyes open just enough to see a masked person holding a thick needle, aiming for my vein.

My heart hammered against my ribs, ready to explode with fear.

But the pain never came because the basement door was suddenly kicked off its hinges.

"Police! Hands in the air! Don't move!"