Blood and Regret

I was born cursed with blood that cures any disease.

In my last life, I healed Chloe Cummings, the city's heiressonly to learn her family's vow: her healer would inherit their fortune.

Forced into our engagement, Chloe was shattered.

Her true love, Jake Reed, had been scaling frozen peaks to find a mythical cure for her.

Hearing of our betrothal, he fell from a cliff and vanished.

A year later, Chloe found his body preserved in ice.

She forced me to cut my wrist and bleed for him.

If you hadn't interfered, Jake would've saved me! You killed him! she screamed.

If your blood is miraculous, bring him back!

Chloe, he's been dead a year. I heal the sick, not raise the dead, I pleaded, but she watched, cold-eyed, as I bled out.

When I awoke, I was back at the day the Cummings summoned me to heal her.

I glanced at her pale form in the wheelchair and raised a brow.

Miss Cummings, those legs are beyond repair. No one can heal them.

At my words, Chloe slowly lifted her head, her delicate features flushing with rage.

"You quack! Get out of my house!"

A faint smile touched my lips as I turned to her mother, who stood beside me.

"Mrs. Cummings, if my familythe Landonssays a condition is incurable, it's incurable. You're still young. Perhaps you should consider trying for another child."

The words had barely left my mouth when Chloe's teacup came flying at my head.

I sidestepped, and the porcelain, worth thousands, shattered against the marble floor.

Mrs. Cummings, startled, rushed to apologize.

"Mr. Landon, please forgive us. I apologize on Chloe's behalf. Her condition has made her..."

I waved a dismissive hand. "I understand. I won't lower myself to argue with a cripple."

I saw Chloe's entire body tremble with fury as I turned and walked out of the Cummings mansion.

Mrs. Cummings hurried after me, her voice a desperate whisper.

"Mr. Landon, is there truly no other way? I've heard the Landon family possesses a secret art of healing, a cure for all ailments. If you can heal Chloe's legs, the Cummings family will grant you anything you desire."

But the problem wasn't that I couldn't heal her. It was that I wouldn't.

In my past life, Chloe had blamed me for Jake's death, stubbornly believing that the Alpine Starbloom he sought would have been her salvation.

If she had possessed a single shred of logic, she would have known the flower was little more than a potent tonic, its miraculous properties wildly exaggerated.

But when she discovered it was my blood, used as the base for her medicine, that had truly healed her, she didn't hesitate.

To save the frozen corpse of her lover, she watched me bleed to death.

Just before the darkness took me, I overheard two of the Cummings family's maids talking.

Jake hadn't fallen from the mountain while searching for a flower at all.

After learning he'd lost his claim to the Cummings fortune, he'd been trying to trade up, seducing another wealthy woman.

Her husband found out and was the one who threw Jake from that cliff.

This time, I would not get entangled in their toxic drama. May they truly live happily ever after.

"I'm afraid there's nothing I can do for Miss Cummings's legs."

Chloe, having wheeled herself to the doorway, overheard me.

Her sweet voice was laced with venom. "Mother, Jake is already on his way to the highest peaks. He'll bring back the Alpine Starbloom, and my legs will be healed." She shot me a glare.

"My business is my own. I don't need a stranger's pity."

Mrs. Cummings sighed, a deep, weary sound. "Darling, the Starbloom might help with your recovery, but it's not enough to make you walk again. The Landons are your last hope..."

Chloe remained resolute. "I said, Jake will heal me."

I gave her one last, long look before bidding Mrs. Cummings farewell.

As I stepped through the gates of the estate, a black town car screeched to a halt in front of me. A woman emerged, her face etched with despair, and fell to her knees before me.

"Mr. Landon, I'm begging you... please, save my daughter."

I learned then that the accident a year ago had claimed more than one victim.

It wasn't just Chloe who had been injured; so had her arch-rival, Olivia Sterling.

After the crash, Olivia had slipped into a coma, remaining in a persistent vegetative state.

But after the hell I'd endured in my last life, I wasn't about to bleed for just anyone. I politely declined Mrs. Sterling's plea.

To her credit, she didn't press the matter, simply wiping her tears and leaving.

A week later, an invitation from the Cummings family arrived.

Jake was back, the legendary Alpine Starbloom in hand.

Worried that his remedy might be fraudulent or dangerous, Mrs. Cummings had begged me to attend the celebratory banquet and inspect it.

At the party, Jake hovered by Chloe's wheelchair like a devoted knight.

Mrs. Cummings approached me, her brow furrowed with anxiety.

"It's not that I fear his medicine won't work," she confided in a low voice.

"I'm terrified of seeing the hope in Chloe's eyes extinguished again. The disappointment... it might break her. We've tried everything this past year. As a mother, watching her spirit fade bit by bit... it's unbearable."

Before I could offer any words of comfort, Jake pushed Chloe's wheelchair toward us.

"Don't you worry, Mrs. Cummings," he said with a confident smile.

"I will have Chloe walking again. I nearly died on that mountain for this Starbloom."

Chloe squeezed his hand, her eyes shining with adoration.

"Jake, as soon as I can stand, I'm going to wear the most beautiful wedding dress and marry you."

"I'll be waiting for that day, my love," he whispered back.

Then, Jake turned to me, his smile taking on a sharper, mocking edge.

"Unlike some charlatans and quacks, I deliver on my promises. I am certain I can cure Chloe's paralysis."

His words struck a nerve. Several renowned physicians in the room, all of whom had previously treated Chloe, scowled.

"That's quite a boast, Mr. Reed," one of them scoffed. "And what makes you so certain?"

"You're not even a medical professional," another added. "Who are you to question our expertise?"

"Even Mr. Landon of the Landon family said Miss Cummings's condition was hopeless," a third chimed in.

"I find it hard to believe a young upstart like you has the answer!"

Chloe, however, saw nothing wrong with Jake's arrogance. She beamed with pride.

"I believe in Jake. He will heal me!"

A short, sharp laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it.

Jake thought I was mocking him. His jaw tightened, but he forced his smile to remain in place.

"Mr. Landon, I hear you're the most gifted healer of your generation. Yet you refused to help the Cummingss, and then you refused the Sterlings. It makes one wonder if you have any healing ability at all."

I raised my glass of champagne in a mock toast. "In that case, I eagerly await the day Mr. Reed helps Miss Cummings to her feet."

My calm amusement seemed to infuriate him more than any anger would have.

His fists clenched at his sides. "Are you just bitter because I've stolen your spotlight? I know you wanted to marry Chloe, but she loves me. And I'm the only one who can heal her."

From her wheelchair, Chloe's voice dripped with acid.

"Ethan, even if you could heal me, I'd never marry you. Especially not a fraud like you. When my mother first mentioned your name, I thought you were someone impressive. Turns out, you're just another pretender."

"Let me make this perfectly clear," she continued, her voice rising.

"The only man I love is Jake, and he's the one I will marry. Your pathetic attempts to show up in front of me won't make me spare you a single glance."

Watching their little performance was starting to grate on me.

"Mrs. Cummings invited me here to inspect Mr. Reed's medicine. Since Miss Cummings has such unwavering faith in him, my presence is clearly unnecessary."

I turned to leave, but Jake blocked my path. "What's that supposed to mean, Landon?"

My patience snapped. "It means exactly what it sounds like. If you can't figure it out, buy a dictionary."

His face went rigid. "Ethan, I challenge you. Let's make a wager. A bet to see which of us can achieve the impossible. The loser gets on his knees, admits defeat, and is banished from this city forever!"

I stopped, a slow smile spreading across my face as I turned back to him.

"I'll take that bet. But I won't be healing Chloe Cummings. I'm going to heal Olivia Sterling."

"Ten days," I declared, my voice cutting through the sudden hush in the room.

"We have ten days. We'll see if you can make Chloe Cummings walk, or if I can wake Olivia Sterling from her coma."

"So, Jake Reed," I asked, my eyes locking with his. "Do you dare to bet against me?"

The hall erupted in a cacophony of whispers.

"The Sterling girl? Isn't she completely unresponsive? That's a hundred times harder than paralyzed legs."

"I heard the only thing keeping her alive is the fortune the Sterlings are spending on life support. She's practically gone."

"If Mr. Landon can actually wake her up, it would be a medical miracle!"

"Ten days? A month would be a miracle. Ten days is impossible!"

Hearing the crowd's doubt, a glint of triumph appeared in Jake's eyes.

"I accept!" he boomed. "Everyone here is a witness. Don't you dare back out when you lose, Landon."

I let my smile widen. "I won't lose."

From her chair, Chloe smirked, her expression a perfect picture of condescending pity.

"Olivia is a living corpse. You couldn't even fix my legs, yet you dream of curing her? Ethan, if you concede right now, I might consider letting you stay in the city."

My gaze drifted pointedly down to her legs.

"Be careful, Chloe. All medicines have side effects. With Mr. Reed's 'miraculous' skills, you might find that not only do your legs remain broken, but you've also contracted some other... interesting ailment."

Without another word, I walked away.

Jake was a finance major whose parents were factory workers. The idea that he possessed the medical knowledge to cure paralysis was laughable.

That night, news of our wager spread like wildfire through the city's elite circle.

Bookies even set up odds. To bolster Jake's confidence, Chloe put down a million dollars on him to win.

The next morning, Mrs. Sterling picked me up and took me to the hospital.

I brought out the medicine I had preparedmy own blood, distilled into a potent elixir. Gently, I lifted Olivia's head and poured the liquid into her mouth.

Seven days, at most. That's all it would take for her to wake up.

"Mr. Landon, thank you," Mrs. Sterling said, her voice thick with emotion.

"Whether or not Olivia wakes up, the Sterling family will forever be in your debt. Please, if there's anything you need, you only have to ask."

She started to kneel again, but I quickly helped her up.

"Mrs. Sterling, I'm not doing this for a reward. I'm doing this to win." I met her tear-filled eyes. "And rest assured, I will wake your daughter."

Her face softened with gratitude. "I heard about your bet with that Reed boy. The Sterling family has placed a ten-million-dollar wager on you. When you win, the principal and all the profits are yours. Please, don't refuse. It's what you deserve."

Before I could respond, Jake appeared, pushing Chloe's wheelchair down the hallway toward us.

"So that's your game," he sneered. "I was wondering why you'd suddenly volunteer to help Olivia. You're just after the Sterlings' money."

He then turned to Mrs. Sterling with a look of feigned concern.

"Ma'am, please don't be fooled by him. He couldn't even help Chloe. How could he possibly wake your daughter? You'll end up losing both your money and your hope."

Mrs. Sterling's expression turned to ice. "I have full faith in Mr. Landon.

Your concern is not required, Mr. Reed."

Stung by her blunt rejection, Jake's face darkened. "Fine. See if I care when he fails you."

Seeing Jake get shut down, Chloe jumped to his defense. "Mrs. Sterling, you've known me for years.

You should trust me. This man is a total fraud. You can't let him treat Olivia!"

I held up a hand to stop Mrs. Sterling from retorting, my eyes fixed on Chloe's legs.

"Chloe," I said calmly. "Have you not noticed? Your legs... they seem to be withering even more than before."

Chloe instinctively pulled the blanket over her lap.

"What nonsense are you talking about, Ethan? Jake's medicine has been working wonders. My legs feel better than they have in months."

A flicker of panic crossed Jake's face before he stepped in front of her wheelchair.

"You don't know anything, Landon, so shut your mouth. This is a normal part of the healing process. In a few days, Chloe will be standing. You, on the other hand, should worry about yourself and how you're going to wake up a vegetable."

I just smiled and said nothing.

That evening, after giving Olivia her daily dose of the blood elixir, I received a video from Mrs. Cummings.

It showed Jake mixing Chloe's medication. Alongside the usual herbs, he added a few drops of a clear, unlabeled liquid.

Just then, a small sound came from the hospital bed. I shot to my feet and rushed over.

"Olivia? Are you awake?"

Her eyelids fluttered open. She blinked, her gaze focusing on my face.

"Ethan?" she whispered, calling me by name.

I stared at her, stunned. "You... you know me?"

Before she could answer, the door swung open and Mrs. Sterling rushed in, enveloping her daughter in a tearful embrace. I slipped out, giving them their moment.

My phone buzzed again. Another video from Mrs. Cummings.

Chloe's legs had atrophied even further. The mysterious liquid Jake was using had to be the cause.

I thought back to my past life, how Chloe had insisted that Jake's Alpine Starbloom would be her miracle cure.

I wondered, in this life, when she discovered he had not healed her but destroyed her, would she still want to grow old with him?

Over the next few days, Olivia dedicated herself to physical therapy. By the end of the week, she could walk on her own.

Soon, the tenth and final day of the wager arrived.

The Cummings mansion was packed. It felt like the entire city's high society had turned out to witness the outcome, most of them having placed a bet.

When Olivia and I walked into the grand ballroom, a wave of gasps rippled through the crowd. Jaws dropped.

"Is that... Olivia Sterling? Am I seeing things? She's really awake?"

"My God, I put five hundred thousand on Jake Reed!"

"The Landons truly are miracle workers. They healed a woman every hospital in the country had given up on."

The murmurs of the crowd drained the color from Jake's face. He stared at me, his expression a mask of disbelief. "You... you actually did it? You woke her up?"

I gave him a cold smile. "You lost, Jake. Time to honor our agreement."

All eyes turned to him, hungry for the drama.

"Come on, Reed, a bet's a bet. Get on your knees."

"Yeah, hurry up and kneel. Then get the hell out of the city."

Jake's eyes darted upward toward the second-floor landing, a look of pure panic on his face. "I... I..."

Just as he was about to buckle, a clear voice rang out from above.

"Who said we lost?"

Every head in the room snapped up.

There, at the top of the grand staircase, stood Chloe Cummings, dressed in a stunning designer gown.

"Good heavens, her legs are healed too!"

"Maybe that Reed kid really does have some secret formula. Even Ethan Landon said it was impossible."

"If they're both healed... who wins the bet?"

A triumphant smirk spread across Jake's face. "You see that, Landon? Chloe can stand!"

Chloe looked down at me, her expression dripping with disdain.

"You said I was beyond saving, Ethan. But here I am, standing right in front of you. Are you ready to admit you're nothing but a fraud?"

I simply shook my head. "Your legs might have been curable before, Chloe. But now... now they are truly hopeless."

Fire ignited in her eyes. "We'll see how long you can keep up that arrogant act!"

With that, she lifted her foot to take the first step down the stairs.

I silently counted down in my head.

Three...

Two...

One.

A sickening thud echoed through the silent room as she collapsed, her body tumbling limply down the staircase.

A woman standing near the bottom screamed, pointing a trembling finger.

"Oh, my God! Look! What's happened to Chloe's legs!"