Chapter 4

I could only stand there, pale and desperate, as I forced myself to explain.

"Our phones were all taken. I have no way to prove that the people who were hurt are your parents. But they really are at the hospital right now. Your mom dragged herself there despite being so sick, and she begged me to come get you.

"You need to come with me. They need us. Don’t waste any more time.

"And besides, Orion, we’ve been married for eight years. Even if the ones lying in the hospital right now were my parents, would that really have nothing to do with you? Don’t you have any obligation to at least go see them?"

Orion suddenly grabbed the water glass from the bedside and hurled it at me. The shattered glass sliced a deep gash across my face. Blood immediately dripped onto the floor.

"Lyra, what right do you have to talk to me about obligation? You know exactly why you married me.

"Learn something from Vera. Look at her. Even though she came from nothing, she’s never once opened her mouth to ask me for money. And you? Even if your parents die, what does that have to do with me? Aren’t you just trying to get me to pay your parents’ medical bills?

"Or even make me handle their funerals? Dream on. I won’t give you a single cent—"

Before he could finish, I lunged forward and slapped him across the face.

I couldn’t take it anymore. Mr. Hale was still lying in the operating room, his life hanging by a thread, and Orion kept talking about funerals and coffins.

He was not fit to be my parents' son-in-law, let alone his own parents' son.

When Orion realized I actually dared to hit him, he immediately grabbed my throat with one hand. With the other, he mercilessly drove punch after punch into my temples.

"You dare hit me? You put on this whole performance just to squeeze money out of me for your parents, and now you even dare to hit me? I’ll beat you to death!

"I’m telling you, Lyra. Not only am I not going to the hospital today, but neither are you. Aren’t you so devoted to your parents? I’ll make sure you don’t get to see your dad one last time. This is your punishment for hitting me."

As he spoke, he slapped me hard twice more, until my mouth and nose were filled with the metallic taste of blood and my swollen eyes could barely open. Only then did he pull out a thick coil of rope and bind me tightly to the window pillar.

I could only brace my body and desperately keep my balance. The moment I tried to struggle, I would lose my footing and fall out the window, hanging headfirst in midair.

Seeing the terror on my face, Orion was clearly satisfied. He gripped my chin tightly.

"Gold-digging witch. That’s all it takes to scare you? Didn’t you say back then that as long as I gave you money, you’d do anything? You can’t even handle this little bit of suffering. How are you supposed to beg other men for money in the future?"

I didn’t want to waste any more time settling old scores with him.

I twisted my head away from his hand, spat out the blood in my mouth, and spoke each word slowly and clearly, "Orion, go to the hospital and see your parents. As long as you go, I’ll agree to the divorce. When you come back from the hospital, we’ll get it done immediately."

At those words, Vera’s eyes lit up. Without saying a word, she ran to the wardrobe, grabbed a new shirt, and moved to help Orion put it on.

Orion didn’t even look at her. He shoved her aside and sneered, grinding the cigarette butt out against my collarbone.

The pain made me suck in a sharp breath, tears streaming down my face. He clamped his hand over my mouth, not letting me make a sound.

Orion laughed. "Divorce? I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want a divorce anymore. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re really after by suddenly agreeing to it. There’s no clean break anymore. You want to split my assets.

"You can’t squeeze money out of me through your parents, so now you’re aiming for a big payout so you can run off. On what grounds? I won’t let you have it easy. I won’t give you a single cent."