Chapter 3

Tears streamed down Silas' face instantly.

"I'm not leaving," he sobbed, clutching Mia's hand. "I'm going to save you."

He turned to look at Nadine and nodded numbly.

"Fine. I'll sign it. You win, Nadine."

Nadine frowned.

"Silas, this isn't a game. I didn't want to force it on you…"

Before she could say anything else, her assistant, Clarice Houston, walked over with the phone.

"Ms. Larson, Mr. Graham's calling."

"Alright."

Nadine glanced down and realized Silas had already signed the document. She picked up the settlement agreement and turned to leave.

"Silas, this is the last time."

Watching her walk away, Silas could no longer hold himself together. He sank to the ground, his tears mingling with the rainwater streaming down his face.

But she was right about one thing.

There wouldn't be a next time because he would be leaving this place soon, never to return to her side again.

…

Over the following week, Silas stopped picking fights with anyone.

He spent his days alone in the Larson residence, packing his belongings. The mansion held all the memories he and Nadine had made together. From the day it became their marital home to the renovations they had later designed specifically for him, every detail had been something they had planned together, piece by piece.

At the foot of the bed lay a cashmere blanket Nadine had custom-made for him. On it was a painting he had only half-finished, depicting himself and Nadine.

The cabinet beside it was filled with his accessories, all purchased by Nadine before his accident. Every piece was a rare and precious collector's item.

Beyond the open floor-to-ceiling windows stood a swing that Nadine had specially commissioned for him. Every evening, she used to sit there with him and tell him stories.

Sadly, none of it belonged to him anymore.

He packed only one suitcase, then sold off some of the more valuable items.

Once he had finished, he used the money to dismiss all the household staff from the mansion. He didn't want Nadine to hurt them again.

When Nadine returned that evening, she frowned at the sight of the nearly empty mansion.

"Did you make them all leave?"

Silas sat alone on the carpet, studying a world map.

"Yes," he replied, his voice cold and detached. "I wanted some time alone. Someone will come by to bring me food."

The indifference in his voice caught Nadine off guard.

For an instant, she actually felt as though Silas had grown up. He no longer seemed like the ten-year-old child he'd once been in mind and spirit.

Besides, he'd stopped calling and texting her, and he no longer showed up at her office. His sudden obedience was almost unsettling.

But the doctors had told her that Silas was unlikely to ever fully recover, so she could only assume that he was still angry about what had happened when she punished the household staff.

"Are you still upset?" Nadine asked softly, taking a seat beside him. "Silas, I wasn't trying to punish you. I just wanted you to understand that Jason isn't that kind of person."

"Yeah."

He continued studying the map, pondering which country he wanted to visit.

"We're having dinner at the Larson estate today," she continued gently. "Jason hasn't fully recovered yet, so someone needs to keep him company—just as I'd stay by your side if something happened to you.

"You both need someone to look after you. We can take care of him together, right?"

Silas was about to answer when something occurred to him. He glanced up at her, mulling over what she'd just said earlier.

She said she would stay by his side. Yet when he'd watched her leave that day, on the verge of breaking down, she hadn't even turned around to look back at him.

Perhaps he had held her gaze for too long, because Nadine began to feel uncomfortable and looked away.

Silas had no intention of arguing with her anymore. He also knew that resisting her would be pointless, so he simply changed his clothes and went along with them.

…

When they arrived at the Larson estate, Nadine supported Jason as they walked inside.

Silas, her rightful husband, could only follow behind them in silence, watching the two of them together.

The whole scene was laughable.

Nadine went ahead to greet the older members of the Larson family. Silas, however, wasn't expected to join her. Ever since the Larsons learned about his condition, they hadn't been particularly fond of him, and Nadine herself preferred to keep him away from them.

She took Jason to the room where he used to stay, told him to rest, and gave him a few instructions before leaving.

That left the two men alone in the room.

Silas had no desire to speak to Jason, so he picked up a comic book and began reading.

"Silas, could you get me a glass of water?" Jason asked in a soft, gentle voice.

Silas used to love hearing him speak that way. Now, however, his voice only filled him with disgust.

"No."

He refused without a second thought.

The next instant, a glass came flying at his head and shattered against his forehead. Blood immediately began trickling down his forehead.

"You stupid idiot! I asked you to get me a glass of water. Can't you understand a simple instruction?"

In the space of just a few seconds, Jason had transformed into a completely different person.

Silas clutched his throbbing forehead and glared at him.

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

Jason walked toward him, his once gentle demeanor now nowhere to be found.

"An idiot like you dares to challenge me?" He sneered. "Let me make this clear. Nadine belongs to me now. She doesn't love you anymore, so get lost and stay as far away from her as possible!"