Chapter 1

"Where's the patient's husband? Why hasn't he come yet? If he doesn't sign soon, it'll be too late,” a doctor urged.

"The patient's husband refuses to come. He said to let her fend for herself,” a nurse replied.

"Fend for herself..."

When Suzy Frost, battered and barely clinging to life on the operating table, heard those words, something inside her stirred. Summoning the last of her strength, she slowly raised her hand. "Give me my phone..."

Seeing her condition, the nurse quickly handed her the phone.

Enduring excruciating pain, Suzy redialed the number that was almost etched into her brain.

Just as the call was about to disconnect automatically, it finally went through.

"I already told you that her life or death is none of my business!" the man on the other end spoke, his voice full of displeasure and impatience.

"Dylan..."

With every word Suzy spoke, a searing pain shot through her body, "After you took Anne away, the kidnappers detonated the bomb, and I was hurt, badly..."

"Heh..."

Before she could finish, the man on the other end let out a cold, dismissive chuckle. "Suzy, your acting is really improving. That weak little voice almost sounds convincing."

"...I'm not lying to you, I really am hurt."

"Is that so?" His tone grew even more scornful.

"Then I wish you a speedy journey to hell!"

"Dylan..."

"Beep beep beep..."

Undeterred, Suzy tried calling again.

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is unavailable.”

The doctor, no longer able to stand by in silence, spoke gently, "Miss Frost, your condition is very serious. If you have any other family members present, they're also authorized to sign on your behalf.”

What other family did she have?

In this world, he was the only one who could sign the consent form.

No matter how much it hurt, Suzy fought back the tears that streamed down her pale cheeks and asked the doctor with a faint smile, "Can I sign for myself?"

"...Yes!"

With her last ounce of strength, Suzy signed the consent form for the surgery.

The operation lasted four hours and was finally over, but her condition worsened two hours post-surgery, and Suzy was moved to the ICU.

For 24 hours, Suzy lay in a coma, unable to open her eyes, but her mind was alert, and she could hear the nurses discussing as they changed her bandages.

"Even if the marriage is struggling, a husband can't just ignore his seriously injured wife! You wouldn't believe it—I called him several more times, but it just kept going to voicemail. Doesn't he care even a little?" lamented the nurse.

"Here's some juicy gossip for you—the CEO of Wright Corporation, Dylan Wright, who's rumored to be disinterested in women and hasn't married even at thirty, actually has a girlfriend, and she's hospitalized right here in our hospital. He’s taking care of her around the clock in the VVIP ward on the top floor."

"It’s strange how different men can be—one boyfriend is incredibly devoted, and another is worse than an animal!"

Little did she know, Dylan was so close, merely an inquiry away from knowing that Suzy hadn't lied to him.

Yet, he refused to waste a moment on her, simply because... she wasn't worth it!

Her eyes, tightly shut, suddenly flew open, startling the nurse who was wiping her face.

"You're awake!"

Once awake, Suzy was immediately given a thorough check-up and, finding no serious injuries, was moved to a regular room.

That night, deep in the silence, despite still being confined to her bed, Suzy removed her oxygen mask and dragged her injured left leg, wounded in the explosion, to the top floor.

Outside the hospital room, through the glass, Suzy watched as Dylan tenderly fed Anne Wheeler fruits by her bedside.

Her fists tightened, but the anguish in her chest, like a swarm of needles pricking at her heart, didn’t ease in the slightest.

Three days ago, Suzy and Anne had been kidnapped together. Knowing how important Anne was to him, and despite their rivalry, Suzy had fiercely protected her.

For two days and nights, Suzy was tortured by the kidnappers, bearing injuries all over her body, while Anne only suffered minor superficial wounds.

Finally, Dylan came...

"I choose to save Anne. As for Suzy, do as you please..."

He was not only unconcerned about Suzy but even suspected that the kidnapping was a drama she had orchestrated herself.

He had never trusted her!

The intimate scene in the hospital room turned Suzy's eyes, once filled with love, utterly cold. "It's time to end this!"

The moment Suzy turned to leave, Dylan felt something stir and whirled around, just as Anne let out a pained cry.

Dylan quickly asked, "What's wrong?"

Anne glanced at the door and then gave Dylan a weak smile. "I accidentally pulled at my wound."

"Do you need a doctor?"

"I'm not that frail," Anne replied teasingly. "But Mr. Dylan, you should head back. You've been with me day and night; Suzy must be upset again..."

She paused, "Mr. Dylan, honestly, Suzy isn't wrong. No matter what our relationship was in the past, you are now her husband. No woman could tolerate her husband being so kind to another woman, so whatever she does is understandable. Don't be angry with her, otherwise, Madam Grace might hear of it..."

Dylan cut her off, "It's getting late, you should sleep."

"Mr. Dylan..."

"Listen to me!"

"Alright then."

As Anne closed her eyes, Dylan glanced once more towards the door.

Was it really...

He remembered the weak voice on the phone that day.

His lips tightened, and he stood up.

Just as he moved, Anne grabbed his hand. "Mr. Dylan, my wound still hurts a bit. Could you blow on it for me?"

A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes before Dylan finally replied in a deep voice, "Alright."

…

Suzy didn't return to her room but left the hospital directly.

A taxi took her back to the villa where she had lived with Dylan for three years. As she walked inside from the front gate, memories of the past three years with Dylan flooded back like a tidal wave.

It had been a blend of sour, bitter, and spicy moments in their life together, but sweetness was conspicuously absent.

Dylan had always believed that Suzy married him as part of a calculated scheme.

In truth, he wasn't entirely wrong; Suzy had indeed manipulated events to marry him, but her motives were never what he assumed—she wasn't after his wealth or status; she was after the man himself.

She had hoped that time would prove her true intentions, but three years had only intensified his disdain for her.

She could never forget his cruel words, "Then I wish you a speedy journey to hell!"

"Dylan, you might not realize it, but I've actually been living in hell all along. These past three years, I tried to climb out, to be normal, to be by your side, but you clearly didn't care. Since that's the case, I'll grant your wish."

Taking what she needed and discarding what she didn't, Suzy left behind only the signed divorce papers and the keys to the villa.

She walked away without a trace of longing, leaving nothing behind.