Cozy Season

Chapter 1

“Get the defibrillator! Increase the voltage!”

“Doctor! The patient is experiencing massive bleeding, and the A-type blood from the blood bank was just urgently taken away!”

The intern nurse’s hands were covered in blood, and she trembled. The operating room reeked of blood. She had never seen so much blood before. At that moment, a thought flashed through her mind: Who would suddenly take away A-type blood from the blood bank?

The woman lying on the bed was pale. Her lips were dry, and her eyes were losing focus. “Juan…”

“What?”

“Juan Nichols…”

The intern nurse made out the name murmured by Debra Frazier. Juan Nichols was the most influential businessman in Seamar City.

The doctor, on the verge of collapse, dialed the wrong number three times before finally getting it right. He pleaded with the person on the other end, “Mr. Nichols, your wife is experiencing massive bleeding, but the blood from the blood bank has been taken away. Please, come and see her for the last time.”

But Juan’s voice was filled with indifference. “She’s still alive? Call me when she’s dead.” With that, he hung up the phone.

All the light disappeared from Debra’s eyes. Juan, do you hate me so much? Even at this point, you wouldn’t come to see me.

The machine emitted a flat, cold beep, indicating the patient’s vital signs had disappeared. Debra felt her soul leaving her body. Her withered, frail body collapsed weakly on the bed. At just twenty-seven, she died from postpartum hemorrhage in the hospital.

Chapter 1 + 25 BONUS

In her lifetime, she loved Juan dearly. As the only daughter of the Frazier family, she should have enjoyed the best life. But to marry Juan, she sacrificed herself and her family. In the end, she met a tragic fate. Debra slowly closed her eyes. Given another chance, she would never make the same mistakes.

“Madam, Mr. Nichols wants to take you to the auction. Which outfit would you like to wear?” Sophie asked.

Debra gasped and opened her eyes. Everything in front of her was strikingly familiar. This place was Juan and her home. They had been married for a month, but Juan had rarely visited her. She remembered that Juan was attending a land auction and, due to the occasion, had to bring his family along. But this was all five years ago. ‘How could it be?’ she thought, deeply confused. ‘Am I reborn?’

“Mr. Nichols has never stayed overnight before. You should seize this opportunity.” Sophie’s voice brought Debra back to reality. She picked out a white gown, hesitating. “How about this one, Madam?”

Looking at it, Debra gave a self-deprecating smile. It was well known that Juan favored Shelia. In the past, she often dressed like Shelia to please Juan. Shelia liked white dresses, so she followed suit, just to earn a little favor from Juan. For this auction, Juan didn’t inform her of the change in companion and brought Shelia instead, making her look ridiculous in a white dress similar to Shelia’s.

The thought of the past made her laugh. “No, I’ll wear that one,” she said, picking up a red dress. Debra never liked plain clothes. Shelia was just a poor college student. Debra felt that she must have lost her mind to wear cheap clothes for a man; it only lowered her status and self-esteem.

“But Mr. Nichols likes white dresses,” Sophie said hesitantly.

Debra simply ignored her hints.

Chapter 1 + 25 BONUS (Continued)

“I’ll wear this one,” she said. “Throw away all those white dresses. I don’t like them.” Sophie sighed and complied.

Debra looked at herself in the mirror, still vibrant and beautiful. But in a few years, she would be worn down by Juan’s torment. Before that happened, she would end it all.

In the evening, Debra appeared in a burgundy dress that accentuated her curves. Her delicate makeup, curls, and a mole under her eye made her mesmerizing. She looked like a painting, untouchable.

Not far away, a man in a white shirt and black leather combat boots saw her. With a cigarette dangling from his mouth, Marion Houston asked, “Who is she?”

“You don’t know her? She’s Debra, the daughter of the Frazier family and Juan’s wife,” said his friend, Randy Osborne. “I just saw Juan entering with another woman. Maybe we’ll witness a showdown between the mistress and the wife. It will be fun.”

Marion made no comments. Randy clicked his tongue. “Juan’s taste is just terrible, preferring a skinny woman to his beautiful wife. Don’t you think?”

Randy turned around, but Marion was nowhere to be seen.

“Damn it!” he cursed, quickly catching up with Marion.

Shelia, in a white dress, held Juan’s arm timidly. “I’ve never been to such an event before. Maybe I should go back.”

“You’ll get used to it. You’ll be attending these events frequently in the future,” Juan said.

Shelia nodded. Juan was about to enter with Shelia when Joe spoke up. “Sir, won’t we wait for Mrs. Nichols?”

Juan frowned. “Didn’t I ask you to tell her not to come today?”

Joe glanced at Shelia, and she quickly said, “It’s not Joe’s fault. I told him not to inform Debra. With my status, I’m afraid of gossip, so I thought it would be better for Debra to accompany you in.”

Shelia lowered her head like a scared hare. Juan rubbed his temples. He didn’t want Debra to show up at all.

“Mr. Nichols,” Shelia murmured, biting her lip.

“It’s alright.” Juan patted Shelia’s head and said to Joe, “Go intercept her and send her away.”

In the crowd, there were murmurs of surprise. Joe looked over and was also shocked. “I’m afraid it’s too late.”