Chapter 4

As my consciousness returned to me, I realized that I was still sprawled on the icy hospital floor. The hives and itchiness all over my body had subsided.

Callum's reddened eyes were focused on me, but I couldn't detect even the slightest bit of warmth in them.

"Tell me, just who does that bastard in your belly belong to?"

I subconsciously shook my head. "I don't know. No, that's not right. There's no way I'm pregnant. You and I didn't even—"

A scoff cut me off as Callum's lips twisted into a cruel sneer.

"That's right. I didn't even touch you, so where did that baby come from?"

I opened my mouth to argue further, but at that moment, Veronica suddenly started shrieking.

Blood poured from the blisters on her face, and the doctor shook his head helplessly when he saw that.

"It must be that solution Dr. Suther gave her. There's no way that Ms. Dane's face can recover here in this country."

Veronica nestled into Callum's arms before pointing a hateful finger at me.

"Callum, that woman is just too wicked! Not only did she cheat on you and have a baby with another man, but she even ruined my face out of jealousy!"

"I didn't!" Glaring intently at that doctor, I demanded coldly, "That solution is only meant to treat allergic reactions! How could there possibly be such side effects?"

The doctor scoffed disdainfully. "Dr. Suther, I know you're involved in some new research, so who knows whether you used a new drug you created?"

I wanted to defend my innocence, but Callum didn't even give me that chance.

"Enough!" He stroked Veronica's bandaged face. His expression became increasingly unhinged. "Lia, I made you my wife on account of us having grown up together, but you've really gone too far.

"People who have done something wrong need to be punished. As such, you'll also have to experience all the suffering Veronica is going through!"

With that, I was pinned to the floor and could only watch in disbelief as his subordinate brought a knife closer and closer to my face.

"Ahhh!"

The knife slashed relentlessly into my skin, instantly drenching my face in blood. At the same time, it cut away the last bit of emotional attachment I had toward Callum.

While I lay in a pool of my own blood, my whole body trembling in agony, Callum covered Veronica's eyes protectively.

"Don't look, Veronica. It'll only sully your eyes. Don't be scared, alright? I'll take you out of the country to seek treatment right away. Your face will be fine."

Before leaving, Callum instructed his subordinates, "She's a doctor with no morals, and her hands will only cause more harm if left intact. Chop them off."

My breathing stuttered to a halt.

Without my hands, I wouldn't be able to continue my research.

Callum knew just how much I valued my hands. A few years back, he nearly took a housekeeper's life because she accidentally broke a vase and cut my hand.

Now, however, at his orders, a knife was pressed right against my wrist.

Gathering every last bit of energy I had, I screamed for mercy, "Callum, don't do this! I know I was wrong! Please! Please don't do this to me! I'm begging you!"

Veronica turned back to look at me. A hint of smug glee flashed across her pitiful expression briefly.

"Callum, she's quite pitiful. After all… she's pregnant."

Callum, who had paused momentarily, continued walking forward, but not before adding one last instruction.

"Get rid of that bastard in her womb."

The chilling sound of bones cracking rang out as my hands were chopped off, stripping me of all the energy to fight back. I could do nothing but allow his subordinates to torture me.

"Callum Holden, I hate you! I want your entire family dead!"

His subordinates had been whaling away at me with a bat for a while. The effort had caused them to break out in sweat. Still, they failed to see any blood coming from between my legs.

"Boss, with how hard we've been beating her, she would have had a miscarriage by now. Could it be that Mrs. Holden isn't actually pregnant?"

…

Callum's POV:

One month later, at an overseas hospital, Veronica had finally recovered. Her face looked good as new.

Delighted, Callum caressed the familiar features before turning to glance at the nametag on the doctor's coat—Felix Linnell.

He was Talia's favorite surgeon.

"Go. Bring Talia here so she can learn some techniques from Dr. Linnell."

His subordinate hemmed and hawed, not at all daring to look Callum in the eye.

"I don't think Mrs. Holden will be able to learn anything. Since she has no hands… Besides… she's been missing for a month now."

Hearing that, Callum seized the man's throat in a death grip. The veins in his temples bulged as he bellowed, "What did you say? I only meant for you to scare her a little! Did you actually cut off her hands?"

At that moment, a divorce certificate was delivered to Callum.

He opened it with shaking hands, only to see his and Talia's names on it.