Chapter 2

Someone wrapped their arms around me in my sleep. I startled awake and shoved the person away, only to see Mia. The moment I smelled Afton's cigarette scent on her, my whole body went rigid.

Mia did not notice as she frowned. "It was just a joke. Did you really have to take it so seriously and throw a tantrum over it? Stop being so dramatic. Everyone in Oceanton knows you're going to be my husband. Who would actually bid on you?"

I could not say a word as she took my hand herself. "Does your hand still hurt? I'll massage it for you. It'll heal in two or three days at most. It won't affect your future. You should apologize now, right?"

Her tone was gentle, but it only made my heart ache even more.

"Mia, I think we should break up." After I said that, she did not respond for a long time.

When I turned my head, I saw her smiling at her phone. After a while, she waved me off dismissively. "What did you say? Just tell my secretary what you want and have him buy it for you. Afton said he wants to help us rehearse the wedding. Come with me now."

After she said that, she ignored my injured hand and dragged me to the hotel forcefully.

Afton still looked as harmless as ever, without even the slightest guilt toward me.

When the staff brought out the custom wedding ring Mia had specially bought for me, Afton took Mia's hand and said in a pained tone, "Mia, I have Syphilis now, and no woman will ever want to marry me. I want to experience exchanging wedding rings, too. Help me fulfill my dream, okay?"

Mia's eyes filled with pity. "Of course."

They acted as if no one else was there, gazing at each other lovingly as they exchanged rings to the wedding music. And I stood there watching it all, as if I were the homewrecker.

After the ceremony, Afton noticed my watch, and his eyes lit up. "Mia, Ryan's watch matches the ring perfectly. Can you give it to me as a keepsake?"

Mia immediately yanked off my watch and gave it to him. "You owe Afton, anyway. Consider this your compensation to him."

My heart tightened. I grabbed the watch and begged her. "Mia, I'll give him anything else he wants, but not this watch! This is the only thing my grandfather left me!"

As soon as I finished speaking, Afton screamed in pain. "Ryan, it's my fault! Stop pinching me!"

Mia's expression changed instantly. She shoved me away hard, then rushed to check on Afton.

I struck the window ledge and tumbled out in terror.

I was in so much pain, as though all my internal organs had exploded, as I spat out a mouthful of blood. Then, my vision went black as darkness consumed me.

-

When I woke up again, my colleague's eyes were full of pity. "You've injured your spine, Ryan. You're completely paralyzed from the waist down."

The news sent me reeling.

When I thought about how I would never stand at an operating table again, I finally broke down crying. My colleague could hardly bear to look at me and cursed under his breath angrily, "Your injury is so serious, but all Mia cares about is that man's escape. She even called every doctor in the hospital to look at it. This… This is just wrong!"

I thought those words would make my heart ache, but I had already been hurt too deeply. My heart was calm, without the slightest ripple.

Just then, my phone lit up: [I'm here.]

I held my phone, wiped away my tears, and sent Afton's medical records and the evidence that he had framed me to Mia.

From then on, whatever bond I had with Mia was considered severed.

I had just finished packing and was about to ask my colleague to send me away when Mia pushed open the door and slapped me across the face in a furious rush. The blow sent me falling from the wheelchair, and my head hit the floor hard.

My colleague rushed over to help me. "Ms. Jackson, why did you hit him when you finally decided to see him?! Do you know..."

Mia cut him off with a cold laugh. "Ryan, I never thought you'd be this shameless. You actually forged evidence to frame Afton?!"

She threw the syphilis test report in front of me. "If Afton hadn't found this in your office, I would've really believed your lies!"