Chapter 1

Alyssa Sonnet and her husband's childhood sweetheart, Nicole Hale, were both abducted. With knives pressed against their necks, the abductors forced Hendrix Ferguson to choose. He could take one of the women with him, but the other would stay and be violated.

Hendrix chose Nicole.

Alyssa's blood ran cold as she looked at him, disbelief written all over her face. "Hendrix Ferguson, I'm your wife!"

A flicker of guilt flashed in Hendrix's eyes, but he held firm to his choice. "Alyssa, I owe Nicole my life. I can't just leave her."

He paused for a bit. Then, in a soft, comforting voice, he said, "Don't be afraid. Even if you're violated… I'll still love you."

This sentence was devastating. It pierced through Alyssa's heart like a sharp knife.

"But I don't owe her anything!" Alyssa was so aggrieved that she was almost shouting. "If you take her with you, we're done!"

Hendrix's eyes reddened with distress, but he still bent down and picked up the unconscious Nicole.

"Bye, Mr. Ferguson," the abductors sneered as they unbuckled their belts. "We haven't had the chance to enjoy ourselves with the renowned Mrs. Ferguson yet!"

The moment the warehouse door slammed shut, Alyssa's world collapsed around her. The abductors tore open her shirt, and their rough hands roamed across the bare skin on her waist.

"They say Mr. Ferguson treasures his wife above all," one of them rasped a foul breath against her ear. "I guess rumors can't be trusted."

Alyssa struggled desperately as tears blurred her vision.

Just as an abductor yanked down her bra strap, the warehouse door burst open.

"Police! Don't move!"

Gunshots rang out. The man pinning her down collapsed with a thud.

Someone lifted her into their arms, and a familiar scent of cedarwood cologne enveloped her.

Hendrix said in a trembling voice, "It's okay now, Alyssa. It's all over. I had an ambush set up outside from the start. I wouldn't have let anything happen to you."

His words did nothing to lift the chill Alyssa felt deep within.

So what if there had been an ambush? Even when her life was on the line, he still chose Nicole.

"It's over between us…"

Right after uttering those words, Alyssa lost consciousness.

When she awoke again, she saw the familiar ceiling of their bedroom. She moved her fingers and realized someone was holding her hand tightly.

"You're awake?" Hendrix leaned in anxiously with obvious dark circles under his eyes. "Do you want water? Are you hungry? I had Pamela make your favorite—"

Alyssa cut him off, saying, "Hendrix. Do you remember what I said when you chose to take Nicole?"

Hendrix froze.

"I want a divorce." Alyssa's voice was frighteningly calm.

"You just woke up. Rest a little more. I'll get you some oatmeal," he mumbled, avoiding her eyes.

Alyssa sat up and pressed, "Avoiding the topic won't help. Let's talk about the divorce."

Hendrix's back visibly jolted. He quickly left the room and forgot to take his jacket with him.

As Alyssa stared at the closed door, her thoughts wandered back to five years ago.

Back then, Hendrix had just taken over Ferguson Group and was constantly busy. Still, he would cross half the city just to bring her some gnocchi from a very famous eatery.

"Here, Alyssa. Open up…" he used to say, always wanting to feed her himself. His gaze had been so gentle that it was almost unreal. "Careful, it's hot."

But now, he couldn't even look at her.

Forcing herself upright, Alyssa opened her laptop and began drafting the divorce agreement.

Once, she and Hendrix had truly been in love.

They were so in love that when Nicole made a scene at the company, Hendrix had coldly told her off in front of everyone. "Nicole, I don't like you. Have some self-respect."

They were so in love that when Nicole threw herself into his arms on purpose, he pushed her away instantly and texted Alyssa to explain the situation.

He wrote, "Alyssa, I was taken advantage of again. I need a kiss from you to feel better."

This persisted until the earthquake.

Nicole had risked her life to save Hendrix, only to be crushed by a collapsing beam, suffering two broken ribs. From that day on, everything changed.

"Alyssa, Nicki saved my life. She just wants to work at Ferguson Group." He spoke up for Nicole, for the first time.

"Alyssa, Nicki's not feeling well. I'm taking her to the hospital." He bailed on Alyssa for Nicole, for the first time.

"Alyssa, Nicki is…"

After that, once, twice, and countless times followed.

Alyssa could understand that he felt guilty about Nicole getting hurt. But when that guilt repeatedly outweighed their marriage and even her life… She'd decided that enough was enough.

The phone rang just as she put the signed divorce papers into an envelope and sealed it.

She picked it up and saw that it was Hendrix's friend.

The moment she answered, a frantic voice came through. "Come to the chapel, quick! Hendrix told us to lash him 99 times as an apology to you. He's covered in blood! He says he's not stopping until you forgive him…"

Alyssa's lips curled up into a mocking half-smile.

Hendrix was always like this. Every time he hurt her because of Nicole, he resorted to some extreme acts to prove his so-called love.

The time he stood Alyssa up for Nicole, he bought an entire rose garden to apologize. When he had forgotten their anniversary because he was busy celebrating Nicole's birthday, he gave her a diamond necklace worth millions.

Now, it was self-flagellation.

Did he think a bloodied back could erase the fact that he chose another woman when it mattered most? Did he think 99 lashes could undo the terror she felt as the abductors tore at her clothes? Did he think his pain and suffering would soften her heart?

Unfortunately, not this time.

Clutching the divorce papers, Alyssa grabbed her coat and walked out the door.

…

Inside the chapel, Hendrix was kneeling on the floor in a blood-soaked suit. His back was torn and raw, and blood dripped down his waist.

When he saw Alyssa, his lifeless eyes lit up.

He reached out weakly and said, "Alyssa… Please forgive me. As I've explained, I would never let anything happen to you. You're the only one I love. I can't live without you…"

As she stepped closer, she saw the obvious hickeys on his collarbone.

Directing her gaze at the red marks pointedly, she chuckled and remarked, "Didn't you say you only love me? Then what's this?"

Hendrix's face fell. Flustered, he explained, "Nicki said she'd never given a man a hickey before and begged me to let her try. She saved me, so I couldn't say no…"

In a panic, he pulled out a dagger. "Don't be mad. I'll cut this piece of flesh off right now!"

Before anyone could react, he plunged the knife into his skin. Blood flowed down his neck, soaking the collar of his white shirt.

His friends rushed over to stop him. "Hendrix! Have you gone mad?"

The chapel descended into chaos. Some scrambled for a first aid kit. Others turned to Alyssa, eyes red with emotion.

"Seriously, Alyssa. Everyone knows how much Hendrix loves you. When you were hospitalized with an allergy last year, he didn't sleep for three nights and kept watch over you."

"Last month, you casually mentioned that you loved the cherry blossoms in Suthvale. He spent millions to get 20 trees into your yard overnight."

"Just forgive him already. This is just a minor issue, yet you're making such a big deal out of it. Is there a need for you to drive him to death over this?"

Was this a minor issue? Was she making it a big deal over nothing?

Alyssa laughed as tears of grief formed in her eyes.

Hendrix shoved his friends aside and stumbled to his knees before her. Half of his shirt was soaked in blood at this point, but he didn't seem to feel the pain.

He looked up at her and whimpered. "Alyssa, please forgive me…"

As she looked down at the man she once loved with her entire being, Alyssa just felt exhausted.

She took a deep breath and said, "Fine. I'll forgive you."

Hendrix's eyes lit up instantly.

Then, she took out a document from her bag and added, "I have my eye on a house. If you buy it for me, I'll forgive you."

Hendrix felt a rush of hope. Just as he flipped it open to look, his phone rang.

Nicole's tearful voice came from the other end. "I'm running a fever, Hendrix. It's over 103 degrees. I feel awful…"

Hendrix's face paled. He didn't even glance at the contents as he signed the document in a rush before giving Alyssa a pleading look.

"Go," she said calmly.

Hendrix looked relieved.

And as he stood up, he checked again. "Alyssa, you're not mad, right?"

Alyssa shook her head and said in an even voice, "I'm not."

Only then did he relax and hurry off with his friends.

As the group left, Alyssa slowly unfolded the document in her hands. The bolded title "Divorce Agreement" came into view. And toward the bottom of the last page was Hendrix's fresh signature.

Alyssa ran her fingers over his signature and smiled. She murmured wistfully, "Congratulations, Hendrix Ferguson. This time, you pushed me out of your life yourself."

Chapter 2

Alyssa took the divorce papers to the courthouse.

After submitting the documents, the clerk handed her a receipt. "You'll need to wait till the one-month cooling-off period is over before the divorce certificate can be issued."

She nodded and turned to leave.

The sunlight was warm, making the receipt in her hand almost hot to the touch. In a month, she and Hendrix would have nothing to do with each other anymore.

When Alyssa returned home, the house was completely dark, so she switched on the lights.

In the empty villa, only the echo of her own footsteps could be heard.

Hendrix hadn't returned in the past couple of days, but she had seen him in Nicole's social media posts.

There were photos of him wearing an apron while cooking in Nicole's kitchen. There was a picture of him sitting at her bedside. Then, there was a selfie of Nicole leaning on his shoulder, flashing a peace sign.

Each photo cut deeply into Alyssa's heart like a blade.

Her phone buzzed as a call from Hendrix came in.

She stared at the screen for a long time before finally answering.

Hendrix's voice was cheerful, and he sounded eager to please. "Alyssa, didn't you always want to see a meteor shower? There's one tonight on Mount Virdia. Let me take you there!"

Alyssa gripped the phone tightly. "These past two days, you—"

He cut her off, rushing to say, "I'll be home soon to pick you up! Dress warmly. It's cold on the mountain."

Hendrix then hung up before she even had a chance to say no.

An hour later, his Maybach pulled up in front of their villa. He wore her favorite black coat and held a bouquet of sunflowers. These were the same flowers he'd given her on their first date.

"I missed you," he said, pulling her into a hug and kissing the top of her head. "Work's been crazy these past couple of days."

Alyssa smelled the faint scent of antiseptic on him. This coincided perfectly with the hospital photos in Nicole's social feed.

But she said nothing and pushed him away gently. "Let's go."

As they made their way up Mount Virdia, Hendrix was especially attentive. He handed Alyssa a water bottle from time to time and wiped the sweat from her forehead with tissues. When she got tired of walking, he didn't hesitate to carry her up the mountain.

"Am I heavy?" Alyssa asked as she lay on his back.

"You're as light as a feather," Hendrix replied, turning his head to kiss her wrist. "You need to eat more."

For a moment, she felt dazed.

When they had just started dating five years ago, he had carried her across Central Park just like this. He had said that she was too light and needed to eat more.

The mountain wind scattered her thoughts.

While setting up the tent, Hendrix's phone rang nonstop. He glanced at the screen a few times. Then, he silenced it.

"Aren't you going to answer it?" Alyssa asked.

"Nothing is more important than spending time with you," he said with a smile, ruffling her hair.

But Alyssa noticed that even while he sat next to her, he seemed distracted. His eyes kept darting toward his phone.

Soon, night fell.

When the first meteor streaked across the sky, Hendrix held her hand and said, "Make a wish."

Alyssa closed her eyes. Silently, she wished that she could leave Hendrix forever and never see him again.

When she opened her eyes next, Hendrix was nowhere to be seen. Even the coat he had draped over the tent was missing. Only the half-empty water bottle he had been drinking from before was left on the ground.

Alyssa pulled out her phone. There weren't any missed calls or messages.

Thinking back to the phone ringing incessantly earlier, she could guess the reason for his disappearance. She let out a self-mocking laugh and turned off her phone.

Since the tent wasn't fully set up, she began packing up to head down the mountain.

But when she reached the parking area, she found out that Hendrix had taken the car. The mountain path downward was pitch-black. She couldn't even see her hand that was outstretched in front of her.

Alyssa turned on her phone flashlight and carefully began her descent.

Suddenly, she slipped and fell down the slope.

"Ah!"

She had barely started to cry out when a sharper sensation of pain shot through her leg. She looked down and saw a snake slithering across her calf.

Alyssa realized with horror that she had been bitten. Her vision started to blur from the intense pain that shot through her.

Just before she lost consciousness, she shakily pulled out her phone. Out of instinct, she dialed her emergency contact, which was Hendrix's number.

The call rang for a long time before it was finally answered.

"Alyssa?" Hendrix's voice came through, mingled with Nicole's soft whining. "Something urgent came up, so I went down the mountain first. Sorry, just enjoy it on your own for a bit. I'll have Joshua come get you later…"

In the background, Nicole's delicate voice could be heard clearly. "Hendrix, the medicine's so bitter. Can you feed it to me with your mouth?"

At that moment, Alyssa felt her heart break painfully into a million pieces.

She wanted to tell Hendrix that she had been bitten by a snake. She wanted to say she was scared.

But the line had already gone dead.

And then, darkness swallowed her whole.

Chapter 3

When Alyssa woke up again, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled her nose.

Hendrix immediately leaned closer with bloodshot eyes. "Alyssa, you're finally awake!"

He wrapped his warm hand around hers gently.

Once upon a time, Alyssa had cherished that warmth more than anything. Now, all she wanted was to get away from it.

She yanked her hand back abruptly.

Hendrix's handsome face stiffened slightly. He realized that Alyssa was still mad at him.

So, he explained, "I'm sorry. Last night was urgent. Nicki was cornered by a stalker at her door and got hurt. I had no choice but to go to her. I—"

Before he could finish, Alyssa calmly interrupted him. "You owe her your life. I understand. I'm not even angry."

Hendrix froze, clearly surprised by how understanding she was.

"It's great that you're not angry," he said, breathing out a sigh of relief.

Then, he bent down as if to hug her. "I promise—"

"I need water." Alyssa cut him off again.

She scoffed inwardly, thinking, "Hendrix, if you can't keep a promise, don't make one at all."

Over the next few days, Hendrix barely left Alyssa's side at the hospital. He fed her and wiped her body down. Even the nurses remarked that they had never seen a husband so attentive.

But Alyssa only sat in silence. She stared out the window blankly, unmoved by his care.

On the day of her discharge, Hendrix went to the garage to get the car. He told her to wait for him by the entrance.

When the familiar Maybach pulled up, Alyssa opened the passenger door… Only to see Nicole sitting there with a bright smile.

Nicole greeted saccharinely, "Hey, Alyssa. I'm so sorry that you got hurt last time. I told Hendrix I'd treat you to a meal today to make up for it."

Alyssa didn't respond. She just stared silently at the passenger seat.

Hendrix immediately realized what was wrong and quickly spoke up for Nicole. "Nicki gets carsick. That's why she's sitting in the front. Don't be mad, okay? You can sit in the back."

Alyssa closed her eyes, trying to ignore the stabbing pain in her chest.

Three years ago, when his cousin unknowingly sat in his passenger seat, Hendrix pulled a long face and sold that car the very next day. He had said that only Alyssa could ride in the passenger seat.

Now, not only was Nicole sitting there boldly, but he had even helped her adjust the seat.

Without a word, Alyssa got into the back seat.

As soon as the car started, Nicole began munching on snacks with no regard for manners. Hendrix, despite his usual obsession with cleanliness, said nothing about it.

After she finished eating, Nicole began critiquing the car's decor.

She pouted and poked at the little figurine Alyssa had placed on the dashboard. "Hendrix, this ornament's ugly. Next time, let's switch it to the one I like, okay?"

"If that's what you want," Hendrix replied with a pampering smile.

Alyssa smiled too, but her eyes reddened as she looked out the window.

When they reached, Hendrix went to park the car while Alyssa and Nicole took the elevator up first.

As soon as the doors closed, Nicole's smile vanished.

She shot Alyssa a taunting look and bragged, "Haven't you figured it out yet? As long as Hendrix remains thankful that I saved him, he will always prioritize me over you."

Alyssa pressed the floor button calmly. "Your business with him doesn't concern me."

Upon hearing this, Nicole shoved her roughly. "Don't act so high and mighty! If things keep going like this, how much longer do you think you can remain as Mrs. Ferguson? I'm telling you, Hendrix is mine—"

Before she could finish, the elevator jolted violently and began plunging at a terrifying speed.

"Ah!" Nicole screamed and grabbed the handrail in panic.

Alyssa quickly hit all the floor buttons and crouched down against the wall to stabilize herself.

She took out her phone and noticed that there was still some signal in the elevator. So, she immediately called for help.

As soon as the call connected, Nicole cried out loudly, "Help! The elevator is falling! Please come save me!"

Soon, the elevator stopped at the first floor.

After an agonizing ten minutes, rescuers arrived and began prying the doors open.

Through the narrow gap, Alyssa saw Hendrix's pale face. His gaze darted between her and Nicole.

One of the rescuers urged anxiously, "Mr. Ferguson, the cables won't hold much longer. The elevator could drop again at any moment. We can only rescue one person first. Who will it be?"

Nicole immediately threw herself toward the gap and sobbed fearfully. "Hendrix, save me! I'm so scared!"

Time seemed to freeze.

Nicole's sobs became more desperate. "Hendrix, please save me…"

Hendrix looked at the weeping Nicole. Then, he turned to the silent Alyssa.

Alyssa watched as his Adam's apple bobbed. With trembling lips, he said the words she had already anticipated.

"Save Nicki first."

Chapter 4

Right after Hendrix spoke, he looked at Alyssa with eyes full of guilt.

He added, "Nicki is physically weak. And… she saved my life. Just hold on a little longer. I'll be back for you soon—"

"I understand." Alyssa cut him off. Her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible.

Her even, unfazed tone was not out of calmness. It was born of utter despair due to her heart shattering beyond repair.

The rescue team quickly pulled Nicole out.

Just as they turned back to save Alyssa, a terrifying metallic groan echoed, and the elevator dropped.

"Alyssa!"

Hendrix's desperate scream came from above, but she could no longer hear it.

…

When Alyssa regained consciousness, the pain she felt all over her body was unmistakable proof that she was still alive.

Hendrix was sitting by her bedside, his eyes frighteningly red.

The moment she opened her eyes, he gripped her hand and apologized in a trembling voice. "I'm sorry, Alyssa. Hit me and scold me all you want. I deserve it all. I had no choice. Nicki saved me. I had to choose to save her first."

Alyssa calmly pulled her hand back and replied, "I know. No need to explain."

Her indifference only made Hendrix more anxious. He pulled out a box of jewelry he had prepared in advance and placed each dazzling piece in front of her.

"Look at this sapphire. Isn't it your favorite gem? And this diamond necklace. It's a limited-edition jewelry," Hendrix offered eagerly.

Alyssa looked at the sparkling diamonds and suddenly found them laughable. Did he think these things could make up for what he'd done?

"Thank you," she said blandly and turned to the window. "I need to rest now."

Hendrix stood by the bed. He realized for the first time that although Alyssa was right there, it felt like she was impossibly far away from him.

In the days that followed, Hendrix did his level best to make things right. But no matter how many jewels he gave her, Alyssa only responded with a polite "thank you" and set them aside without a second glance.

"Alyssa, it's your birthday next Wednesday," he said, kneeling in front of her and holding her cold hands. "I'll hold a banquet at Empyrean Hotel for you. Everyone in high society will be there."

Alyssa pulled her hand away and kept flipping through her magazine. "Don't bother. I want to spend it quietly."

Hendrix wasn't having any of that. "No way. You're my wife. How can I just let your birthday pass by casually like it's just any other day?"

With that, he got up and called his assistant, Joshua Bray. "Add a private island and naming rights to a star as gifts. Also, transfer 50% of Ferguson Group's shares to Alyssa."

On Alyssa's birthday, Empyrean Hotel was booked out and decorated most extravagantly. Crystal chandeliers cast dazzling light across the hall. There was even a champagne tower that was about nine feet tall.

Alyssa stood beside Hendrix like a delicate doll in the gown he had personally chosen for her.

"Mr. Ferguson truly spoils his wife."

"Just that pink diamond alone is worth over 100 million dollars."

"There's no other man in high society as devoted as he is."

The murmurs of the guests filled the hall.

Alyssa took a sip of champagne and smiled, savoring the irony of it all. She'd rather not have the so-called perfect husband that they were talking about.

Just as the banquet reached its climax and the screen was supposed to play a surprise video from Hendrix, a video call request suddenly popped up.

Hendrix frowned and accepted the call.

Instantly, Nicole's pale, tear-streaked face filled the screen. Her clothes were torn, her body bruised and battered.

She sobbed pitifully. "Hendrix, save me… Because you chose to save me these past few times, Alyssa got someone to assault me… I'm so scared. Please come save me…"

The guests started gossiping among themselves, aghast at the situation.

Hendrix's face fell drastically as he hurried to shut off the screen. He turned to look at Alyssa with a very conflicted look.

Alyssa met his gaze squarely and said, "It wasn't me. Do you believe me?"

Hendrix said nothing.

He picked up the microphone and announced in a cold voice, "Apologies, everyone. The banquet is over."

Then, he left in a rush.

Gasps and whispers swirled through the crowd. The way the guests looked at Alyssa was filled with judgment.

"I didn't expect Mrs. Ferguson to be so vicious."

"But Nicole saved Mr. Ferguson's life…"

"A woman like that doesn't deserve him!"

Alyssa's heart ached as she watched Hendrix walk away.

In the end, he didn't believe her.

She turned to leave, but a group of socialites blocked her path. They were all Nicole's close friends, and their eyes burned with hostility.

A woman in a red dress slapped Alyssa hard across the face. "You bitch! Nicki saved Hendrix! How dare you do that to her?"

Alyssa staggered back, barely catching her balance before another woman kicked her in the stomach. Doubling over in pain, she felt someone yank her hair and drag her toward the hotel's garden at the back.

"If it weren't for you, Hendrix and Nicki would be married by now!"

"They've been together since childhood, then you showed up and somehow bewitched him into loving you so deeply that he'd die for you. Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Today, we're going to teach you a lesson on behalf of Nicki!"

Fists and feet rained down on Alyssa.

She curled up on the ground and shielded her head with her arms. She heard the sound of her clothes tearing and felt someone spit on her face.

Another gripped her hair and slammed her head into the ground. The pain from her scalp tearing made her vision go dark.

They then proceeded to stuff her into the hotel's landscape water display, which was a glass chamber, and locked the lid shut.

"Go to hell! You were never meant to be Mrs. Ferguson to begin with. Nicki should have married Hendrix instead!"

Water rushed in from all sides. Alyssa pounded against the glass in desperation, watching helplessly as the water level rose.

Her lungs burned, and her vision blurred.

In the final moment before losing consciousness, she summoned every ounce of strength she had and hurled herself forward.

With a loud crash, the glass shattered.

Alyssa dragged herself out. She was soaked from head to toe and gasping for air like a dying fish. She coughed up water with every breath.

…

When Hendrix returned home, Alyssa had just changed out of her drenched clothes.

He grabbed her wrist roughly and demanded, "Come with me to apologize to Nicki! I already owe her my life. How could you get those men to assault her? If I'd reached one moment later, she would already have—"

"I told you it wasn't me!" Alyssa shouted back.

Her chest throbbed with pain as she yanked her wrist free with tears welling up in her eyes. "Nicole staged everything herself! Her friends beat me up! I'm covered in injuries, can't you see that?"

Hendrix stared at her disheveled state. For a moment, he was taken aback.

Then, he frowned hard, and his expression turned increasingly grim. "I grew up with Nicki. I know the kind of person she is. I know her friends too. They wouldn't do something like that. Even if you don't want to take responsibility, don't slander them."

Chapter 5

Alyssa couldn't believe her ears. She felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck her. Her lips moved slightly, but no words came out. Agonizing pain surged through every bone in her body.

Seeing her in this state, Hendrix frowned and finally softened his tone. "It's just an apology. You won't be harmed or inconvenienced. Why are you being so stubborn?"

Those words chilled her to the bone. She was trembling and about to speak when the butler suddenly burst into the room with panic written all over his face.

"Mr. Ferguson! Something terrible happened! Ms. Hale jumped off a building. She's in the emergency room now!"

Hendrix's face went pale in an instant. He dragged Alyssa with him and raced to the hospital. He even ran three red lights along the way.

The red light outside the operating room glowed ominously.

A doctor rushed out and said, "The patient has a ruptured kidney and needs an immediate transplant. According to the organ registry, only one match is available, and that is Ms. Alyssa Sonnet."

Hendrix froze for a moment before whipping his head around to look at Alyssa, who instinctively took two steps back.

But in the next second, he stepped forward and grabbed her hand.

In a tight voice, like he was holding back a lot of emotions, Hendrix said, "Nicki jumped because of you…"

Alyssa trembled and stared back at him incredulously. Was he serious about wanting her to give Nicole a kidney?

Hendrix held on to her wrist tightly and continued, "If you hadn't arranged for her to be assaulted, would she be driven to such extremes? This is rightful atonement on your part."

Alyssa flung his hand away and retorted hoarsely, "Hendrix, I'll say it one last time. I don't owe her anything! I never sent anyone to hurt her, and I will never donate my kidney to her!"

She turned to leave, but four bodyguards blocked her path.

Alyssa's blood ran cold. "Hendrix Ferguson, do you even know what you're doing?"

Hendrix's gaze darkened. He looked at the doctor and said, "Prepare for surgery."

"Let me go!" Alyssa shouted.

She struggled wildly, her nails digging into the bodyguards' arms until they bled.

Resisting their clutches, she sobbed and screamed, "Hendrix! You bastard!"

They pinned her to the gurney. Then, they restrained her wrists and ankles with thick straps.

As the anesthesiologist approached with a syringe, a memory flashed through her mind.

Last year, she had accidentally cut her finger while slicing fruit. Hendrix had flown back from overseas overnight just because of that.

He cradled her bleeding hand with reddened eyes as he said, "Alyssa, I'd rather it be me in pain."

But now, he was the one who forced her onto the operating table to take her kidney.

When the needle pierced her vein, her entire body convulsed in pain. It wasn't the physical agony. It was due to her heart being ripped in half.

As the anesthetic took hold, her consciousness faded. Through the haze, she saw Hendrix standing at the operating room door.

She couldn't hear what he was saying, but she saw his lips moving soundlessly.

He seemed to be saying, "Alyssa, forgive me."

A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye onto the white pillowcase.

She screamed inwardly, "There won't be forgiveness. I will never forgive you!"

…

The pain from the surgery woke Alyssa at 3:00 a.m. Her kidney wound throbbed with a burning intensity as the anesthesia wore off.

The hospital room was silent, save for the steady beeping of the monitors.

Alyssa turned her head with difficulty. The sky outside was still dark.

Joshua came in with a glass of warm water. "Are you awake, Ms. Sonnet? Mr. Ferguson… had to attend to something urgent. He asked me to take care of you."

Alyssa smiled as tears welled up in her eyes. She had expected this outcome all along.

As Joshua helped her up to drink some water, her phone buzzed.

A flood of message notifications popped up, and they were all from Nicole.

The first photo showed Hendrix peeling fruit for Nicole with an incredibly tender gaze. The second showed them lying on the same hospital bed with Nicole nestled in his arms. Hendrix's arm was wrapped around her shoulders. They were so close that it was painful to look at.

Then, there was a video.

In it, Nicole cried heart-wrenchingly, "Hendrix… Every time I close my eyes, I see those thugs touching and kissing me…"

She tugged at Hendrix's sleeve. "Kiss me, please? Help me forget all about it…"

Hendrix frowned and pushed her away. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm married."

Nicole amped up her piteous act immediately. "I know you're married! I know you only love Alyssa. But don't forget that it's because of her that I ended up like this! I saved you. Can't you… just repay me?"

Hendrix remained silent for a long time.

After a while, he leaned down and kissed her. It wasn't a brief peck but a deep, lingering kiss. Nicole responded eagerly by circling her arms around his neck.

The video timestamp showed that the kiss lasted five full minutes.

The phone slipped from Alyssa's fingers and hit the floor with a heavy thud. The screen stayed lit and frozen on the image of Hendrix cupping Nicole's face in a passionate kiss.

Suddenly, she couldn't breathe. She instinctively clutched her side, where the stitches were. Her fingers came into contact with a cold, wet patch.

It was blood.

Her wound had reopened, and blood seeped through the gauze.

Yet, she didn't feel any pain. The flesh wound was nothing compared to the feeling of her heart being ripped from her chest.

Alyssa curled up and buried her face into the pillow.

Soon, the sheets were soaked. But it was hard to determine if it was wet with tears or blood.