Chapter 8

It wasn't until the morning of the third day that Charlie finally drifted back to consciousness.

Even before he opened his eyes, he was mumbling Alyssa's name in a daze. Probably caught in a nightmare, he suddenly jolted awake, his forehead slick with sweat.

"Alyssa… How is she?"

His mind was so consumed with thoughts of Alyssa that he failed to notice the dark circles under Yuliana's eyes—evidence of two sleepless nights spent watching over him.

Yuliana nodded, her voice hoarse. "The doctor said she's out of danger. She just needs a few months to recover."

Her voice faltered. "But your hand…"

At her words, the crushing weight on Charlie's chest finally lifted.

He dismissed her concern, saying, "My hand doesn't matter. As long as she's safe, I'd pay any price."

Still, he was too worried to rest. Despite his weakened state, he tried to force himself out of bed to see her.

However, the moment his feet touched the floor, his body went weak, and he collapsed.

Yuliana couldn't hold him back. It was the nurse who came to administer the IV who helped lift Charlie back onto the bed.

Anxiety was etched into his every feature. He was desperate to know how Alyssa was doing.

After racking his brain, he finally came up with an excuse.

"Yuliana, Ethan called Alyssa's distant cousin. He should be at the hospital by now. Could you go find him and give him my regards? And… check on her while you're at it."

What a "convenient" errand.

Yuliana didn't argue. She simply nodded and did as he asked.

After a brief stop at the supermarket for a fruit basket, Yuliana made her way toward Alyssa's hospital room.

She was just about to knock when she heard Alyssa's voice drifting from inside, coy and flirtatious.

Then came a man's voice, "I never expected Charlie's friend to call me. If he ever finds out about us, our whole plan goes up in smoke."

"What are you worried about?" Alyssa replied. "I use a separate phone when I'm with him. I even saved your number as 'Cousin.' He'll never suspect a thing."

"That's my clever girl," the man chuckled.

Yuliana's heart jolted violently, yet she stayed where she was and kept listening.

The man continued, "We were supposed to get married this year. I never thought you'd get into an accident. Looks like the wedding will have to be postponed."

"What's the rush? Once I've squeezed more money out of Charlie, we can book an even bigger ballroom for the wedding," Alyssa said dismissively.

Yuliana's hands curled into tight fists as she heard that.

Alyssa was in a relationship—about to get married, even. To her, Charlie was nothing more than a human ATM to fund her wedding.

Just then, a doctor came in to change the IV, pushing the door open and startling the two inside.

Alyssa looked up and went pale the moment she saw Yuliana standing there.

"What are you doing here?"

Yuliana walked in and set the fruit basket on the table. "Someone asked me to check in on you. But seeing how well you're recovering, I'm sure he has nothing to worry about."

With that, she turned and walked out without looking back.

Terrified that Yuliana would blow her cover, Alyssa ignored her injuries and scrambled after her, finally catching up with her at the stairwell.

"Are you going to run back and tell Charlie? Do you really think he'd believe a word you say?" Alyssa demanded.

Despite her defiance, the guilt was plain on Alyssa's face. Her words sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than anyone else.

Yuliana turned to face Alyssa, her voice cutting like ice. "Why are you lying to Charlie? You're about to get married, yet you refuse to let him go. Is it really just for his money?"

Alyssa arched a brow and sneered. "The money is part of it, sure. But what I really enjoy is watching him lose his mind over me. I love having him wrapped around my finger, basking in the way he worships me."

"Charlie was willing to die for you. And you're just trampling all over his heart?" Yuliana shot back.

Seeing Yuliana's righteous fury, Alyssa scoffed. "That's his choice. I'm young and beautiful, and I hold all the cards. Even the high-and-mighty Charlie Zimmer is nothing more than a dog begging at my feet."

With each word she spoke, her arrogance grew, leaving Yuliana at a loss for words.

Yet her silence only emboldened Alyssa. She looked Yuliana up and down with disdain, as if watching a pathetic clown in a cheap comedy.

She let out a mocking scoff. "Besides, you should be thanking me. I let you play Mrs. Zimmer for three free years. You're nothing but a thief living someone else's life."

She leaned closer and whispered, "I'll tell you another secret. I didn't actually go abroad on our wedding day. I hooked up with two seniors a few days earlier and accidentally got pregnant. I was at the clinic getting an abortion.

"If Charlie hadn't been trying so hard to spite me, do you think he would have looked at you twice?"

The rage Yuliana had suppressed for years finally hit its breaking point.

She instinctively raised her hand, but before she could even touch Alyssa, a twisted, unreadable smile flashed across Alyssa's face. Suddenly, as if struck by a massive force, Alyssa threw herself backward and tumbled down the stairs.

Before Yuliana could even register what had happened, a violent shove sent her crashing to the floor.

Charlie rushed down the stairs, his face stricken as he gathered a bruised Alyssa into his arms. He looked up at Yuliana—who stood frozen in shock—with eyes blazing with fury.

"Alyssa is in a fragile state! How could you lay a hand on her?" he roared.

Tears streamed down Alyssa's face as she clung to Charlie's hand, her voice a fragile whimper. "It's my fault. I'm just your ex. I shouldn't have shown my face in front of your wife. She had every right to push me."

Charlie's expression darkened with every word. Yuliana knew that no explanation would ever reach him.

Yet to him, her silence was an admission of guilt.

He looked away in disappointment, lifted Alyssa into his arms, and walked off without sparing Yuliana another glance.