Chapter 2

Naomi could tell my mood was far from good. After thinking for a long time, she finally managed a few words of consolation.

I closed my eyes and let out a faint, humorless laugh. "Naomi, what about you? Do you see him as your idol too?"

"I..." She froze. After stammering for a long while, she still couldn't bring herself to deny it. In the end, she gave up trying and frowned at me. "What are you implying, Spencer? Are you seriously suspicious of me? I'm your wife!"

"I was just asking a question. Why are you getting so worked up?"

I watched her calmly. She looked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her expression darkened, and after a long pause, she let out a cold snort.

"You keep doubting this and that because you're not good enough. Is it really that hard to admit you've lost? Stop using Chase to create drama and embarrass yourself."

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became. Her face twisted with barely concealed hostility. At that moment, I finally accepted that everything I'd overheard was true.

Naomi had never loved me. These seven years had meant nothing.

Naomi wasn't satisfied by my silence. She stood abruptly and looked down at me from above.

"Spencer, I want your word that you'll never do something this reckless again. As for everything else, asking questions you already know the answers to is only damaging our marriage. Chase is already the world's number one driver. That's settled. Stop making a scene."

"Stop making a scene? Why shouldn't I?! One more turn and I would've become the new world champion! And as for our marriage... Naomi, are you sure there's even a marriage left to protect?"

I clenched my fists and roared, "Let me tell you something. Becoming world champion has always been my goal. If I can't do it this time, then I'll do it next time. If not next time, then the time after that. If one seven-year stretch isn't enough, then I'll spend another seven years chasing it! Chase can't possibly keep winning through dirty tricks forever, can he?"

"You..." Naomi stared at me for a moment, watching the determination in my eyes. Then, unexpectedly, she folded her arms and laughed.

"Fine. I was planning to keep up the act a little longer. But if you still want to be world champion, Spencer, then go ahead."

My eyes widened slightly. The smile on her face sent a chill down my spine.

Only then did I realize this wasn't the public hospital I usually visited. The luxurious furnishings alone made that obvious. This was some private hospital I'd never been to before.

"What are you planning to do?"

Before I could ask anything else, Naomi clapped her hands.

The masked Dr. Patrick Reed waiting outside immediately entered the room. His sharp eyes narrowed slightly. "Miss Sutton, what can I do for you?"

Naomi took Dr. Reed's phone and flipped through my medical report. Her gaze lingered briefly on the leg encased in a cast.

Then she spoke in a calm, matter-of-fact tone, "Famous race car driver Spencer Jordan suffered a leg injury after falling off a cliff. Despite the hospital's best efforts, they were unable to save the leg. Understood?"

Stunned, I stared at her in disbelief.

"Th-that's not exactly legal..." Dr. Reed hesitated at first.

However, after Naomi raised her offer to $3 million and applied both threats and temptation, he finally agreed.

One look at the two of them was enough to tell me they weren't joking. Cold sweat broke out across my back. I immediately reached for the phone on the bedside table, intending to call the police.

Unfortunately, Naomi snatched it away before I could touch it.

Seven years of marriage had given us an unspoken understanding. A single glance was enough for her to know exactly what I was thinking, which meant she also knew exactly how to destroy me.

"Give up, Spencer. There's no escape." Her eyes were filled with something that looked almost like pity.

"You've lost your mind!" I shouted. "I'm your husband!"

Despite the pain coursing through my battered body, I struggled violently, but in my current condition, I couldn't even lift my leg from its cast in the sling hanging above the hospital bed.