Chapter 8

Because Alfred had already "pulled some strings", the staff at the psychiatric ward locked me in a storage room right next to the bathroom.

Every single day, they forced massive doses of "medication" down my throat. Whenever I refused, they dragged me straight to the shock therapy room.

I finally realized that Alfred wasn't just trying to torment me. He wanted me dead.

That afternoon, after they forced the pills into my mouth, I waited for them to leave before jamming my fingers down my throat and vomiting every last bit onto the floor.

I had barely cleaned up the mess when a nurse opened the door to announce that Mya had arrived to visit me.

Seeing me unwashed, exhausted, and completely gaunt after just three days, Mya looked surprised.

Yet, having likely been briefed by Alfred beforehand, she showed no further reaction.

She simply slid a food container toward me. "You must have been through a lot these past few days. I brought you some food the maid made. Have a few bites."

As I devoured the food like a starved animal, a flicker of pity crossed Mya's face.

She slid a document in front of me. "Honey, I know you're suffering right now. That's why I'm transferring a few properties in the south suburb to your name. Just sign this and cooperate with your treatment. Once you're cured, I'll take you back home, okay?"

She flipped the document to the final page and placed the pen in my hand, guiding it toward the signature block. "Honey, sign right here."

Relying on the idea that I was a "blind man", she assumed I couldn't read the bold header at the top of the page—Divorce Agreement.

So, she couldn't wait another second to marry Alfred.

Which suited me just fine. Cutting my final tie to Mya before I left was exactly what I wanted.

I signed my name quickly and discreetly slipped the fountain pen into my sleeve.

Before Mya walked out, I asked her in a quiet voice, "Even after seeing me tormented like this, you're still going to keep me locked in here just for Alfred?"

"Don't say silly things."

Mya squeezed my fingers and brushed me off as casually as she always had. "I still have work to handle at the company. Just focus on your recovery, honey. I'll drop by more often from now on."

A faint smile touched my lips, and I gave her a calm, solemn nod. "Alright… Goodbye, Mya."

There would be no next time. Today was the last time she would ever see my face.

That night, an orderly brought in my medication and roughly shoved the "me" under the covers.

"Hey, wake up and take your meds!"

He frowned and pulled back the covers, only to find a doll lying underneath.

Before he could react, I appeared behind him, clamping a hand over his mouth while pressing the tip of Mya's pen against his carotid artery.

"Don't move. Drop the tray and put your hands up."

The orderly who had treated me like an animal for days now trembled uncontrollably.

He raised his hands as instructed, and the next second, I brought the side of my palm down hard against his neck, knocking him out.

I quickly changed into his uniform and searched him for the key to the storage room.

Keeping my head low to dodge the hallway cameras, I retrieved my phone and personal belongings before slipping out of the facility.

Sitting in the airport departure lounge, I edited all the evidence I had collected. It contained footage of Mya and Alfred's illegal skin-graft harvesting, her marital infidelity, and the full recording of my abduction and torture by Alfred and Selena.

Then I sent the file directly to the police department and every major news outlet and media house in Hartwell.

I dumped the entire 100 million dollars Alena had wired me into promoting the story.

I wanted Mya and Alfred's filth projected onto every massive public screen across the squares of Hartwell. I wanted them utterly ruined.

With that finished, I slammed my laptop shut and walked toward the boarding gate without looking back once.

The plane cut through the clouds, carrying me far away from a land built entirely on lies and betrayal.