Chapter 5

However, that wasn't what concerned me most.

I asked Mya seriously, "Didn't you tell me you put Selena behind bars? Why was she in our house?"

And more than that, how did she have the nerve to lay a finger on me?

Mya froze for a second before replying, "Selena… She behaved well in prison, so she got an early release. But don't worry, honey. This was the first and last time. I'll make sure security is tightened. She'll never show up in front of you again."

As she said that, her phone chimed with a text. Whatever was on that screen brought a faint smile to her lips. Mya stood up immediately and said, "Honey, something urgent came up at the office. I have to go handle it. Just tell the nurse if you need anything."

As she turned around, I caught a crystal-clear glimpse of the name at the top of that chat—Alfred.

Enduring the aching pain in the back of my head and forearm, I propped myself up and got out of bed. On the side table, I stumbled upon my medical record, which the nurse had forgotten to put away.

Right there, it stated that two hours ago, I had undergone a full-thickness skin graft donor procedure on my forearm.

Skin donor? What skin? My skin? And who was it harvested for?

A horrifying thought struck me, making my eyes widen in sheer disbelief. Grabbing my phone, I rushed straight to the security room.

Only one elderly guard was on duty inside. I slid a bank card across the desk to him without hesitation. "There are five million dollars in here. Step out and let me check something, and it's all yours."

The old man grabbed the card, practically beaming, and hurried out the door.

I sat down at the console, dragging the security footage timeline back until I found the conversation between Mya and Alfred while I was unconscious.

On screen, Alfred pointed at my unconscious body on the hospital bed, whining to Mya, "How could Mr. Byrne do this? Just because Selena made a mistake in the past, he gets to stab her with a knife? Is there any justice left in this world?"

Mya's face looked dark.

She turned Alfred by the shoulder and said with a frown, "Zander has always been gentle. Besides, he's blind. How could he suddenly attack Selena out of nowhere? There has to be more to this.

"Also, I said I would look over her business plan, but I never gave her permission to drop by the house and look for me directly."

Alfred stared at her in utter shock and resentment. "So you're saying this is all Selena's fault? My fault? The maids saw it with their own eyes! They said Mr. Byrne went crazy and stabbed her the moment he recognized her voice! Are you saying you don't believe them either?"

Mya sighed. "That's not what I meant."

"That is exactly what you meant!" Alfred shoved her away, his emotion boiling over.

"Right, I almost forgot. Mr. Byrne is your legal husband. It's only natural for you to side with him! I'll take the baby and Selena and leave Hartwell right now. We won't ever bother your little happy family again!"

He turned to walk away, but Mya caught him from behind in a tight embrace. "I believe you! Okay? I believe you!"

Where no one could see, Alfred's lips curled into a faint smile, though he still complained, saying, "Then, shouldn't Mr. Byrne compensate Selena for assault? The cut on her arm is huge. The doctor said it'll leave a permanent scar. Make Mr. Byrne give up some skin to graft onto Selena, and then I'll believe you're actually being fair."

Hearing that, Mya instinctively glanced back at my unconscious body on the bed. But she didn't hesitate for long before answering him in a raspy voice, "Fine. Whatever you want…"

As the footage ended, every single piece of the puzzle regarding the bandage on my arm fell into place.

My hands shook as I closed the player. Even though I already knew Mya's true colors, my chest still twisted in agonizing pain.

This was the wife I had carefully chosen and loved for so many years.

While I was lying unconscious, she let people slice off my flesh to graft it onto my enemy.

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

Suppressing the rising disgust and bitterness, I quickly copied the security footage and saved it to my drive.

It didn't matter.

It wouldn't be long before every last piece of this evidence was exposed to the world. I would strip away the hypocritical masks she and Alfred wore little by little.

On the way back to my room, I continued tapping my white cane, pretending to be blind. Yet I kept getting the distinct feeling that someone was tailing me.

Before I could turn around to check, a blunt force struck the back of my neck. Darkness instantly swallowed my vision, and I collapsed onto the floor.