Losing to My Substitute (Katerina and Joshu)
Substitute 31

Chapter 2

The next day, Linda woke up in the hospital.

Ivan had stayed by her side all night, dark circles under his eyes, and a bruise on his wrist from the

blood draw.

"Linda, you're awake! Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"

Linda looked at him and shook her head.

Four years ago, she was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder that prevented her body from producing blood on its own. Due to her rare blood type, no suitable donors could be found in the blood bank, but Ivan's blood type matched hers perfectly. How convenient, she thought.

They were the main couple in this story, destined by fate, meant to love each other.

But why couldn't Ivan love only her?

"It's my fault for not taking care of you. If it weren't for those early days of the business, with you running around to markets and programming, pushing yourself and exhausting your health, you wouldn't have gotten sick... it's all my fault." Ivan held her hand to his cheek, his eyes full of guilt and regret.

As he spoke, he gently wiped the light sweat from Linda's forehead, his movements tender and

delicate.

"Linda, I am who I am today because of you. My life belongs to you; I would never betray you. You

must... you must live on."

Though his words sounded like a declaration of love, Linda felt nothing.

Four years ago, when she was first diagnosed, Ivan had thought she was terminally ill and tried to end his own life late one night.

Since that night, she had felt a constant fear that if she died, Ivan might truly not survive. So, she left the company and focused on her treatment.

No matter how painful or agonizing the process, she endured it.

Losing to My Substitute

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Chapter 2

Looking at the unshaven Ivan in front of her, she asked, "Could you really not live without me?"

Yes, I love you. Without you, I can't go on, Linda. Promise me you'll never leave me."

Ivan held her hand to his chest, gazing at her with sincere, unwavering eyes.

But she lowered her gaze, avoiding his.

Feeling his strong, steady heartbeat in her palm, Linda felt no trace of her former affection.

She had always been clear that she couldn't tolerate betrayal. She'd told him when he first pursued her: if he couldn't commit to loving only her, he shouldn't get involved with her.

He had managed it for nine years; why couldn't he keep it up?

Ding!

A notification sound broke the silence.

Ivan took out his phone and, after a quick glance, frowned. He looked at Linda, his voice apologetic. "Linda, there's an urgent matter at work. I have to go. Rest well, and I'll pick you up once I'm done." Linda didn't ask any questions and simply gave her usual reminder: "Alright, don't work too hard."

Ivan smiled gently, nodded, and left a light kiss on her forehead before turning to leave.

Click

The door to the hospital room closed.

Immediately, Linda's expression turned cold as she pulled out a tissue to wipe the spot where he'd kissed her. She picked up her phone and entered Katherine's livestream.

"The mistress is still streaming? How shameless!"

"Get out, you home-wrecker!"

"Hey, Miss Mistress, did you sleep your way to all these rewards? Got yourself a few rich sponsors, huh?"

The comments were flooded with insults, clearly the work of hired trolls targeting Katherine. Just as Linda was wondering who would go to such lengths, a familiar ID, Golden Days, entered the livestream. 13.13

Losing to My Substitute

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Chapter 2

She recognized it immediately-it was Ivan's alternate account.

Suddenly, countless "Carnival" gifts exploded across the screen, drowning out the negative

comments.

The account quickly leveled up from an ordinary level ten to an extravagant level seventy-five, a tier that required over twenty million to reach, dazzling with flashy effects. Amidst the fireworks, it sent a single message-

$