Chapter 2
Nicholas didn't come to the hospital all night, only sending messages saying he was busy contacting doctors.
Maria racked her brains trying to comfort me.
"Miss Sanders, please don't overthink it. Mr. Flores is doing all this for your own good."
"Maria, take me home," I said.
Unable to dissuade me, she had no choice but to take me back.
I intended to pack my belongings, but I unexpectedly found the door to the storage room at home wide open.
Nicholas had always claimed it held crucial props for his magic acts and forbade me from entering.
A dreadful premonition dawned on me. I gestured for Maria to push the storage room door open.
As expected, the room was filled with Melanie's belongings.
Her first design sketch, her first award certificate, even a discarded brooch.
I found it hard to breathe. Maria, pulling me away, accidentally bumped into a safe on the table.
It required two passwords.
Melanie's birthday and the anniversary of the day she first met Nicholas.
Even though I had already guessed the outcome, my heart still clenched with pain.
Inside, there was only a single USB drive.
I took a deep breath and asked Maria to see what was on it.
"Miss Sanders, it's... there's nothing there."
She flustered, trying to hide the screen, but the computer played the audio aloud.
It wasn't anything particularly scandalous.
It was Nicholas's recorded memories of Melanie.
Countless photos, starting from their first meeting, for every year.
Nicholas had compiled these photos and videos into a montage, complete with his own voiceover.
"I don't even know how I fell in love with Melanie, but true feelings cannot be bound by convention."
"Melanie said she's always second best. I started to resent the girl who kept taking first place. How dare she steal what should be Melanie's?"
"Brielle said she wanted to see my live performance. I refused. I promised Melanie that only she could sit in the audience as my beloved."
I instinctively tried to clench my fists, but a sharp, piercing pain brought me back to my senses.
"Miss Sanders..." Maria was already in tears. "They're utterly despicable!"
I said, "I'm not even crying, why are you?
"Maria, contact my senior, Brayden. Ask him to help me find a new doctor."
That evening, Nicholas finally hurried home.
"Brielle! Why did you come back by yourself without telling me? I was worried sick!"
He pulled me into a tight embrace; I could feel him trembling slightly.
"Are you finished with your work?" I asked.
Nicholas looked at me, his eyes seeming to well up with tears.
"What's wrong?"
He said, "Your hands... they can't be saved.
"That damned doctor made a mistake during the procedure, worsening the injury."
His tears fell onto my clothes.
"The hospital says... you need an amputation."
My heart lurched violently. I stared at him in disbelief.
Having my hands ruined wasn't enough? He wanted to sever all hope completely?
Whether from anger or despair, my body trembled, and I was speechless for a long moment.
"Brielle, don't scare me." Nicholas patted my back soothingly. "Don't be afraid. You still have me. I'll take care of you from now on. I'll be your hands!"
A chill settled deep into my bones.
First my hands, was my life the next thing he would plot against?
I said, "I understand, honey. Don't worry about me."
Nicholas let out a huge sigh of relief. "That's my girl. Be good. From now on, I'll stay by your side every step of the way.
"Tomorrow, I'll take you to the hospital for the surgery. I promise nothing will go wrong this time."
I remained silent in his arms.
Sensing that I had calmed down, he spoke tentatively, "Sweetheart, let me put away all those design drafts of yours, okay?
"Seeing them will only make you sad from now on. Let me store them away for you, keep them safe."
"Okay." I looked up at him. "Since I can't continue in the competition anyway.
"But, the piece I prepared for the finals... you must keep that one safe for me."
Nicholas, missing the implication in my words, was only surprised by my compliance.
I added, "Also, before the surgery tomorrow, take me to the studio, please?"
His body instantly stiffened.