Chapter 4: The Truth

The air in the office was heavy, the silence sharp enough to cut through. The staff whispered among themselves, and their eyes darting between Bradley and Eva.

It was unbelievable; their boss, the almighty Mr. Cooper, was kneeling beside his secretary, tending to her wound while his wife stood right there, bruised and shaken.

The atmosphere felt strange, tense, almost suffocating, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath.

“So it’s true,” one of them whispered. “He really doesn’t care about his wife.”

The murmurs grew louder, though no one dared to move too close. The shock of the moment lingered in the air like a foul smell.

Bradley ignored every eye in the room. He opened his locker, brought out the first-aid box, and carefully cleaned the small cut on Amira’s hand.

He didn’t look up, didn’t say a word, just focused on cleaning the wound as though nothing else in the world mattered.

His touch was gentle, his expression focused, the kind of care Eva hadn’t felt from him in years. The sight burned her inside; she could hardly breathe watching the man she once loved so deeply treat another woman with such tenderness.

Amira sniffed, her voice soft. “It was my fault,” she said in between sobs, glancing at Bradley with trembling lips. “I shouldn’t have provoked her.”

Her shoulders shook as she wiped her tears, her hand resting against Bradley’s arm for support, and he didn’t even flinch.

Bradley turned to face Eva. She was still standing there, motionless, her face pale. His tone was calm but cold. “What do you have to say, Eva?”

Every pair of eyes turned toward her. The silence that followed was crushing. Eva swallowed hard. “Yes,” she said, her voice almost breaking. “I came because I need money for my treatment.”

Bradley blinked slowly, his lips curling in disbelief. “Eva,” he said, walking closer to her, “you pushed Amira down, but instead of apologizing, you’re asking for money?” His tone was sharp, cutting through her words before she could even explain.

His words stung. Eva’s tears burned behind her eyes, but she didn’t blink them away. She raised her chin slightly, trying to steady her voice. “What about the care and attention you give to this woman?” she demanded, her finger trembling as she pointed toward Amira.

“Look at the jewelry she’s wearing, the dresses you bought her. Those are my rights as your wife, Bradley. They belong to me, not her. And the money for my treatment, it’s not charity. It’s my right.”

Her voice rose with each word, shaking with pain. The staff could feel it. Some of them lowered their heads, unwilling to meet her eyes, but they couldn’t stop listening.

There was something raw, something deeply human, in the way her voice quivered.

Bradley let out a small, dry laugh. “Fine,” he said, his tone now sharp and condescending. “I’ll give you the money. But first—” he paused, looking straight into her eyes— “you will kneel down and apologize to Amira.”

The entire office gasped. Even Amira’s mouth opened slightly in shock before she quickly masked it with a faint frown.

The tension thickened; no one dared to breathe too loudly.

“Sir, you mean she should kneel?” one of the staff murmured under their breath, almost afraid of being heard.

Eva’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What?” she whispered. “You want me, your wife, to kneel and apologize to her?” Her voice trembled so much that it barely came out.

Bradley’s eyes hardened. “I said kneel down and apologize to Amira, now!” His voice thundered across the room, echoing off the glass walls.

The staff froze where they stood, some clutching their files tightly to their chests.

Amira stepped closer, holding his arm gently, pretending to calm him. “Bradley, it’s fine,” she said, her tone suddenly tender. “It was wrong of her to hit me, but I believe she won’t do it again. Let’s not drag this any further.” Her voice was soft and humble, yet her eyes glistened with hidden satisfaction.

Bradley glanced down at her, his expression softening. “You’re too kind,” he said, almost in admiration. Then he turned back to Eva, his voice firm. “But I won’t let this go. She must kneel. She will apologize.”

His gaze stayed locked on Eva, unyielding. Her chest rose and fell fast, tears now spilling freely. The humiliation was unbearable.

She had never imagined a day would come when her own husband would humiliate her in front of strangers.

The staff shifted awkwardly, pity and disbelief on their faces. One of them whispered, “This is too much,” but no one dared to step in.

Amira bent her head slightly, hiding a smile that couldn’t be contained. She could already feel her victory spreading through the room like perfume, intoxicating everyone.

She didn’t even need to say a word; her silence was enough to show she had won.

Eva finally spoke, her voice trembling. “I’m your wife, Bradley,” she said. “You didn’t even ask what sickness I’m battling with, or why I need the money. You didn’t ask if I was alright. All you care about is this woman and her fake tears.” Her tone broke midway. “You trust her more than me?”

Bradley’s eyes narrowed. “Why not?” he said sharply. “Five years ago, I nearly died because of you. I got into that accident saving you, Eva. I was in a coma, fighting for my life. Do you know who kept me alive?” He pointed at Amira. “She did. She donated her kidney to me. She gave me life. So tell me, why shouldn’t I trust her?”

Eva froze. Her entire body went numb. The words hit her like a brick. Around them, the office went completely still. Even the whir of the air conditioner seemed to fade.

For a long moment, no one spoke. Even Amira seemed taken aback by his words. Then slowly, her lips curved again, not in guilt, but triumph.

The revelation had fallen perfectly into place for her. She stood beside Bradley like a savior, her expression calm and noble.

Eva’s voice was faint when it finally came out. “What did you just say?” she asked, her lips barely moving.

Bradley crossed his arms. “You heard me. The woman standing beside me gave me her kidney. Not you.” His tone was cold and final, as if that single statement had ended everything between them.

Eva stared at him, her mouth slightly open. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might stop.

She could barely process what she had just heard.

How could he say that? How could he forget what she went through for him?

The room was quiet now. The staff stood frozen, afraid to even whisper. Then Eva’s voice rose, sharp and raw with emotion. “The one who donated their kidney to you was me!”

Bradley froze. The color drained from his face. His eyes darted to her in disbelief, but she didn’t flinch. Her tears rolled freely now, her chest trembling with rage and pain.

The staff gasped, turning to one another, whispering in disbelief. “What?” one of them muttered. “She donated the kidney?” The confusion spread fast, filling every corner of the office.