Chapter 1

A sharp dagger flashed past my face. A split second later, a searing pain tore through me, and I screamed.

Then I saw it—my left ear, lying on the ground.

Someone had hacked it off with brutal force. Blood splattered across my field of vision.

I tried to reach for it, but my body was strapped tightly to a chair. No matter how hard I struggled, the ropes only dug deeper into my skin.

The next moment, something cold pressed against my throat, forcing me to lift my head.

"Martin Lawson! You've been lying to me this whole time!"

Through my blurred vision, I saw a face I knew better than anyone. It was my wife, Selena Zane.

She stared down at me, her eyes cold and empty.

"Why are you screaming?" she asked coldly. "This is nothing compared to what I've suffered."

She paused, then added with a sneer, "Besides, you have congenital insensitivity to pain. You can't feel pain anyway!"

Blood from my severed ear soaked half my shoulder, leaving my skin sticky and warm. My mind went completely blank.

Today was my birthday. Selena had texted me earlier, saying she had a surprise waiting for me. Filled with joy, I brought a cake home, eager to celebrate with her.

But the moment I opened the door, everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, my ear was gone. A blood-stained knife was pressed against my throat, its blade glinting coldly under the light.

Even now, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I gritted my teeth and looked up at Selena.

"Why?" I managed to choke out, my voice hoarse and raspy.

Selena simply sneered, a cold curl on her bright red lips. "You tried to kill me, so what's wrong with me taking one of your ears?" she asked coldly.

Her words hit me like a punch to the chest. My whole body went rigid.

She was my wife. I loved her more than anything. How could I ever try to kill her?

Then it hit me. I twisted against the ropes and pleaded desperately, "Selena, that was just an accident."

Before I could finish, she leaned closer. Anger burned in her eyes as she stared at me like I was her sworn enemy. She pressed the blade deeper against my throat, drawing a thin line of blood beneath my jaw.

"An accident?" she spat. "Before the crash, you were the only one who had touched the car. If it wasn't you, who else could it be?"

I stared into her cold, unyielding eyes filled with hatred. Then, I frowned in pain and disbelief.

A week ago, Selena had been in a car accident on her way to work. If she hadn't received treatment in time, she might have died at the scene.

She had suspected me of tampering with the car. I had explained the truth to her over and over, and she eventually seemed to let the matter go.

I thought she had finally believed me, but now I realized she had never stopped suspecting me at all.

My breathing grew ragged as I rushed to explain myself. "Selena, I couldn't have done it! I only took your car in to have the brakes checked—"

A low, mocking laugh echoed from behind me, cutting me off mid-sentence.

"And what if you were the one who tampered with those brakes?"

I turned toward the voice. The moment I saw the familiar face, I froze.

Yale Sullivan? What was he doing here? Hadn't he dumped Selena long ago, drained her savings, and fled overseas?

My expression hardened as I glared at him.

"Yale, what the hell are you talking about? Did you tell Selena something?" I demanded, struggling against my restraints.

Yale simply smirked and tossed a repair report from the auto shop at my feet. "Martin, stop pretending you're innocent."

He crossed his arms, his tone dripping with contempt. "If that crash was really just an accident, then explain this. Why did you take Selena's car in for servicing the day before the crash and specifically ask for the brake pads to be replaced?"