Chapter 3

Sophie's POV

Clutching my scraped and bleeding arm, I assumed Zachary had found out about the surgery and began to explain myself.

"She asked me to—"

Before I could even finish my sentence, Zachary aggressively hauled me to my feet. Then, he drove me straight to the hospital.

Melanie was sitting on a hospital bed. The moment she saw me, she burst into tears.

"Why would you do this to me? I trusted you, but you deliberately injured me!" she accused. "You stole my husband from me, and now, you want him to divorce me and never have sex with me again!"

My throat felt dry. I had no idea what she was talking about.

"The surgery went well. I didn't harm you in any way—"

"You liar! I was bleeding so heavily. A doctor examined me earlier. He claimed you botched the surgery and mutilated my private parts!" Melanie screamed.

Sobbing even harder, she cried, "You did it on purpose! You wanted to get revenge on me and steal my husband!"

I jerked my head up to look at her before glancing over at Zachary.

"I didn't. There was nothing wrong with the surgery, and I never intended to hurt you," I said. "I'm a doctor. I would never do something like that."

Neither of them believed me.

Crying hysterically, Melanie begged Zachary to punish me.

"Look at what she did to me, Zachary. If you're still going to protect her, I'll disappear from your life forever. I won't bother you ever again. I'm only going to ask you one thing—her or me?"

She stared at him stubbornly, waiting for his answer. A flicker of hope rose within me as I turned to look at him as well.

I was his wife. So, I hoped that he'd believe me. But in the next moment, he pulled Melanie into his arms and gave me a cold look.

"I warned you. Why didn't you listen to me?" he asked. "Since you've made a mistake, it's only right that you pay for it."

The bodyguards behind him instantly stepped forward and pinned me down. I struggled desperately against their hold, and my voice began shaking uncontrollably.

"What are you doing, Zachary? It wasn't me. I didn't hurt her. Please—you have to believe me…" I pleaded.

All I received in response was a cold, dismissive glance.

"Do it."

My heart hammered against my ribs as the bodyguards broke my wrists and every single one of my fingers. An agonizing scream tore from my throat. My entire body convulsed with pain, but the heartbreak I was experiencing felt worse.

"My hands… My hands…" I cried.

My hands were ruined. And with them, so too was my career. I might never be able to perform surgery or work as a doctor ever again.

How could Zachary be so cruel?

Tears spilled uncontrollably down my face. As the pain gradually became unbearable, my vision started to fade.

Just then, I heard Zachary make a phone call.

"Sophie Smith is involved in a medical malpractice dispute. Have her detained for a couple of days."

My eyes shot open in disbelief. I couldn't believe that he was using his connections to lock me up in a detention center.

"You can't do this to me, Zachary! I refuse to go!" I protested.

No matter how desperately I struggled, I was quickly dragged away.

…

The next few days became a living nightmare.

Someone had clearly given the detainees instructions, and I was subjected to horrific abuse every single day. My broken fingers were repeatedly crushed, and my already-fractured wrists were deliberately twisted as well.

In just three days, my entire body was covered in injuries. There was hardly any part of my skin left unscathed.

By the time I was released, I was barely recognizable.

Before I could even leave the building, I was brought before Melanie.

Taking in my battered state, she smirked. "Your current state tells me that Zachary loves me more than anyone else."

It felt as though my heart was being torn apart.