Chapter 2

My heart sank as I opened my eyes wide, praying I hadn't gone blind.

The moment I opened them, Abigail's trembling voice was the first thing I heard. "Thank goodness. Honey, you're finally awake."

Abigail's worried, anxious face entered my field of vision. It was so familiar, yet it filled me with boundless terror.

I thanked the heavens that I could still see. That meant the doctor hadn't gone through with Abigail's cruel request at the last moment. He'd left me a sliver of hope.

I blinked and deliberately asked in a panicked voice, "Abigail, why didn't you turn on the lights? Why can't I feel my legs?"

Abigail's expression immediately brightened. She suppressed the smile threatening to spread across her face.

She said apologetically, "Honey, it's daytime. Those kidnappers were so ruthless. I'm sorry you had to suffer. Don't worry. I'll definitely cure your sight and your legs."

I knew that pretending to be blind was the only way I could get away from her.

So, I feigned utter despair and lay back down while muttering, "Okay. I want to be alone for a while."

After Abigail left, I took out my phone and immediately contacted my mother. I asked her to come back to the country and take me away. I didn't tell her what had happened because I didn't want her to worry.

When that was done, I quickly drafted a divorce agreement. Then, I suddenly noticed a new member had joined our theater troupe's group chat.

It was Noah.

The troupe leader announced to everyone that from now on, Noah would be the troupe's principal performer. It turned out Abigail had insisted on breaking my legs just to clear the way for Noah.

It had taken me ten years to secure my position as the principal performer. No one knew how much blood, sweat, and tears I'd poured into earning that spot.

But just like that, Noah had replaced me effortlessly.

Just then, a call from an unfamiliar number came in.

Noah's unhurried voice came through the receiver. "Abigail gave me your position as principal performer. I'll also be attending tonight's award ceremony in your place. Listen here, Lorne Carmack. I'm not just coming for your career. I'll take away your friends and Abigail too.

"I'm going to take back everything you stole from me ten years ago, one by one! Do you know why Abigail has been so heartless toward you? It's because she's already pregnant with…"

Before he could finish, I hung up. I was afraid to hear him say that Abigail was pregnant.

Throughout our marriage, I'd always prioritized my career, and Abigail had fully supported me. I'd once believed she respected all my choices because she loved me.

But now I felt as though countless arrows were piercing my heart.

When Abigail came back into the room, she found that I'd fallen asleep. She sat beside the bed and gently massaged my legs, which had completely lost all sensation.

I couldn't tell whether she was doing this out of guilt or out of some other emotion, like sympathy. No matter what it was, I solemnly swore that I would never forgive her. The agony of being betrayed and abandoned by the person I loved most lingered in my heart and refused to fade away.

Just then, I heard the front door being kicked open with a violent crash.

A voice that sent chills down my spine drifted in from outside. "Ms. Hunley, didn't you say you'd pay me if I mess your husband up? Why did I only get five million dollars? Do you think you can just screw me over?"

Wait… Wasn't that the kidnapper's voice?

Three days earlier, the kidnappers had demanded one billion dollars from Abigail as my ransom.

I knew that was practically her entire fortune. Just when I'd thought I was as good as dead, the kidnappers had suddenly said that the money had arrived and released me.

But now, the fugitive kidnapper had come to demand more money. Could it be that Abigail had orchestrated the kidnapping herself?

The terror of the three days of brutal torture came flooding back, and I stopped breathing altogether.

Abigail merely brushed her fingers over the scars on my body and said coldly, "So you came. You're the one who left these scars on him, aren't you? How dare you do that!"

Before she had even finished speaking, several bodyguards pinned the kidnapper to the floor. They covered his mouth and dragged him into the hallway just beyond the wall.

Abigail picked up an ashtray and casually shut the door behind her.

As the kidnapper's screams echoed through the hall, I clutched the bedsheets tightly to keep myself from crying out.