Chapter 3

It was always easy to make Victor angry. If I brought him water that wasn't exactly at the right temperature, he would hurl the cup at me without any hesitation.

This time, I deliberately poured a cup of boiling water that was still steaming hot.

"Honey, have some water." I knew the hidden camera was filming, but I still couldn't stop myself from trembling whenever I faced Victor.

"Thank you, dear." Victor looked at the clearly steaming hot cup of water. However, instead of flying into a rage, he reached out for it with a smile.

I didn't hand it over to him. Gritting my teeth, I pretended to slip and poured the scalding water straight onto his legs. Surely, that would make him lose control and jump up in anger.

I shut my eyes. Just imagining what would follow made my body tremble out of instinct, but inside, I was already overwhelmed with joy.

Time passed, but no fists came crashing down on me like they always would before.

I opened my eyes to see that Victor hadn't moved.

He was still sitting perfectly upright in his wheelchair. There was no trace of anger on his face, but instead, he had a deeply apologetic expression. "Sorry, dear. I didn't grab it properly and spilled the water by accident. Did it burn your hand? That water looked really hot."

He gently took my hand and checked it over carefully. The tenderness in his expression clashed violently with the cruelty I remembered.

Just last time, the water I brought him wasn't at the exact temperature he wanted, and he had punched me right in the eye. I couldn't see clearly out of my left eye for a whole week.

I stood there, frozen.

Meanwhile, the comments were flowing rapidly on the broadcast.

"Isn't this abuse? That was boiling water!"

"Even if Victor's legs are paralyzed, she can't just do that on purpose!"

"She probably just lost her patience with her husband after taking care of him for so long. Now, she's taking it out on him."

"She married him because she wanted fame back then, and now she's mistreating him."

Why was Victor acting so strangely today? Could he have already found out about the interview and was deliberately putting on an act?

I quickly dismissed the thought. When I met with the reporter, Jack Pierce, today, he had promised that the broadcast wouldn't go public in advance. So, there was no way Victor could have known. Maybe it was just a coincidence.

Hoarsely, I said, "I'll go pour another cup."

It didn't matter—I would have more chances.

With how volatile Victor's temper was, it was incredibly easy to provoke him. I kept telling myself that over and over.

I "accidentally" mopped and waxed the floor to make his wheelchair slip. I took the toilet paper away and pretended not to hear him calling for me. I even went downstairs to give the neighbor some pastries I'd made myself.

However, Victor maintained a calm smile the whole time.

My anxiety only grew, and it peaked at dinner. So, I decided to take a bigger risk.

Victor had a pineapple allergy, so I made some pineapple salsa especially for him.

When his face broke out in red rashes and his breathing turned labored, I felt a surge of fear. If he actually died, the police would probably call me a murderer. So, I hurriedly fed him antihistamines.

"From boiling water to an allergy-triggering dish. There's no way anyone would believe she's innocent. The authorities should investigate this woman."

"Victor loves her so much. What more could she possibly want?"

"She's definitely cheating. Who gives homemade desserts to a neighbor like that? Clearly, she's trying to seduce others because she's not satisfied with her husband anymore!"

After dinner, I replayed everything that had happened today in my mind over and over again as I washed the dishes in the kitchen.

Suddenly, a tall figure appeared behind me and yanked me backward.

I fought back with everything I had, pried his hand off, and bolted to the spot the hidden camera could clearly see.

Victor followed, rage burning in his eyes.

When his fists came down on me, I felt pain, but also overwhelming relief.

He had finally revealed himself.