I Burned for Proof, Not for Love의 모든 챕터: 챕터 1 - 챕터 9

The searing heat from the grill burned into my skin. My entire right hand was swollen and badly burned. Blisters quickly formed across my skin, and the smell of burning flesh filled the air.The cold indifference in Theo Zeller's eyes finally gave way to panic."Ivy Gibson! Have you lost your mind? Are you really willing to die just to fight her over a necklace?" he asked, grabbing my wrist tightly.An excruciating pain shot through my palm. My whole body trembled from the agony, but I refused to let go of the pendant.…Seven years ago, after my father, Mark Sanders, was sentenced to death, I did everything I could to save him. I searched for lawyers and filed appeal after appeal.But my father was just an ordinary truck driver with no connections. To the Zellers, he was the perfect scapegoat.They didn't even need to show their faces. A single word from them was enough to make lawyers turn down my case, shut every door at every government office I approached, and silence anyon

The bedroom door swung open moments later. Theo stepped inside with Diana following close behind. She had changed out of her evening gown and was now wearing an oversized men's shirt. It was Theo's shirt.I'd worn that shirt once during our first year of marriage. He'd frowned and told me to take it off, saying he didn't like anyone else touching his clothes.As it turned out, he didn't mind people wearing his clothes at all. The problem was, I hadn't been Diana."Ivy, is your hand feeling any better?" Diana asked, walking over to the table and reaching for the pendant.I quickly covered it with my hand. "Don't touch it."Diana looked at Theo through her red-rimmed eyes."Theo, do you think Ivy took something important from the company? Before Mr. Judd died, I think he was looking for some kind of storage device," she said.Theo's gaze fell on the pendant."Wilson stole a batch of confidential company files before he died."He held out his hand toward me, his expression turn

Before I could answer, Diana appeared behind Theo, holding an umbrella. She wasn't wearing shoes and had a thin coat thrown over her shoulders. She looked like she'd hurried out after him."Theo, Mr. Zeller Senior just found out that Ivy stole confidential company documents. He had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital," she said.She was referring to Edward Zeller, Theo's grandfather.Theo's expression changed instantly. "How is he?" "They're still trying to save him." Diana teared up as she gripped his arm. "The doctor said he can't handle any more stress. If those files get out, Zeller Group will be finished, and your grandfather won't survive."Then, she turned to look at me through the window. "I know you want to save your father, Ivy, but you can't sacrifice the life of another old man just to save a criminal's life."I glared at her. "You knew about this all along, didn't you?"A flicker of satisfaction flashed in her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking ab

By the time they brought me back to Calvane, it was already daylight.Theo had called a doctor. When the doctor removed the bandages and saw the wound, he drew a sharp breath."The burn has become infected repeatedly, and there are still porcelain shards embedded in the wound. We need to get you to the ER for surgery to clean it out immediately.""I'm not going," I said, sitting on the edge of the bed and staring out the window."If you wait any longer, you could permanently lose the use of this hand," the doctor warned."Then let it."Theo stood in the doorway, his expression dark. "Everyone, out."Once the doctor and household staff had stepped out, he walked over to me. "I've already had someone take care of your father's funeral.""I don't need your help," I said coldly."Ivy, what's done is done.""Get out!" I lost it, grabbed a pillow, and hurled it at him.The sudden movement tore the wound open again, staining the white fabric with blood.Theo froze. His mouth opene

Theo instinctively scooped Diana into his arms and turned toward the exit. As he passed me, he hesitated for a brief moment.I lay on the floor amid the flames and thick smoke, staring at him. "Theo, are you choosing her again?"His body stiffened.Diana coughed painfully in his arms. "Theo, it hurts..."Just then, a deafening crack split the air. A burning steel beam came hurtling down from above.Theo tightened his grip around Diana and rushed out of the warehouse.Just before I lost consciousness from the smoke, I heard police sirens wailing in the distance.When I woke up again, three days had passed.Alan was sitting by my hospital bed, his eyes red-rimmed. "The police rescued you. The location and recording you sent me got them there just in time."The first thing I asked was, "Did you find Harrison?""We did." Alan nodded and handed me a tablet.On the screen, Harrison was sitting in a hospital room, admitting that the Zellers had forced him to fake his own death seve