Chapter 2

Lucas didn't hit me.

As a surgeon, he knew exactly where to press to make it hurt the most, and how to make people suffer without ever leaving a trace.

He examined Lily's face, his touch careful and gentle.

After making sure she was okay, he turned to me, towering above me.

"Emma, apologize to Lily," he said, his voice eerily calm and steady, carrying a pressure I couldn't ignore.

I scoffed and straightened up. "Why? Because she acts like being the other woman is something to brag about? Or because you can't see what's right in front of you?"

With that, I turned to leave.

I couldn't stand another second in this place reeking of disinfectant.

Just as my hand touched the doorknob, Lucas's voice came quietly but with a chilling edge from behind me. "I think we need to reevaluate your grandma's dialysis plan for next week."

My feet were nailed to the floor. It was like my veins were frozen by liquid nitrogen.

Grandma was my Achilles' heel. She was the only family I had left in this world.

Three years ago, I gave up my shot at a top medical school and my dream of becoming a surgeon, putting away my scalpel and becoming a housewife, all because my grandma was sick, and only Lucas had the skills and connections to save her.

Lucas knew that. He'd always known.

I heard the sound of his leather shoes echoing on the floor, each step drawing closer.

Lucas walked up to me, taking his time, and slowly fixed my messy collar.

His fingers were ice-cold against my neck, sending a chill down my spine.

"You know, no one in Harbor City has better neurosurgery or nephrology connections than I do," he said. "And nobody can get you a kidney faster than me."

He leaned in, his voice low and sinister, like the devil whispering in my ear. "Emma, you're smart. You know how to choose."

I bit my lip so hard it hurt.

For Grandma, the one who brought me up, now lying in the ICU, waiting for a miracle, I had no other choice.

I closed my eyes tight and clenched my fists.

"I'm sorry," I said.

Lily nestled into Lucas's embrace, her face lit up with a victorious smile.

She feigned innocence, gently tugging at Lucas's sleeve. "Lucas, let it go. Don't blame Emma. It's my fault. I shouldn't have come to you at this time."

Lucas gave my head a satisfied pat, like he was rewarding a well-behaved pet. "That's better. Go home. Don't embarrass yourself in the hospital."

I walked out of the hospital in a daze, barely aware of my own steps.

The wind outside was biting, and it cut right through me, making my whole body tremble.

My phone buzzed.

It was a video message from Lily.

In the video, Lucas was sitting on the office couch, holding a bowl of cereal and spoon-feeding Lily.

He blew on the spoon to cool it, then gently brought it to her lips, his face showing a tenderness I'd never seen before.

The way he treated her was so careful, like she was a treasure. I once believed that kind of gentleness was meant only for me.

Now I finally got it. I was nothing but a caged canary, kept for his amusement, while Lily was the one he worshiped above all.

Under the video, a message popped up: [He's like an untouchable god. Only I can make him come down to earth. Emma, you're just the maid. Time to face the truth.]

I stood by the roadside, watching the city traffic rush past.

For a split second, I wanted to throw myself into the chaos and end it all.

But then the image of Grandma lying in that hospital bed flashed in my mind, and I forced myself to stay put.

I couldn't die.

If I died, what would happen to Grandma?

I curled up on the curb, hugging my knees, not even a single sound escaping my lips.

*****

The next day, I headed to the hospital to drop off some food for Grandma.

As soon as I stepped into the lobby, I could feel the vibe was weird.

A bunch of nurses were crowded around the nurse's station, glued to their phones and whispering while pointing at me.

"That's her, right? Heard she's a sexually frustrated trophy wife who got tossed aside by her rich husband."

"Honestly, she looks so pure, but who knew she's such a party girl when no one's watching."

"Poor Dr. Reed. Does he know his wife is cheating on him?"

I walked past them with a blank face. They didn't even bother to lower their voices. They wanted me to hear every word.

When I got to the cafeteria, Lily was surrounded by a bunch of interns.

As soon as she saw me, she raised her voice on purpose. "Oh, don't be so quick to judge, guys. Emma's probably just lonely. Lucas is always busy and never has time for her.

"But messing around with interns? That's really kind of embarrassing. If people find out, how's Lucas supposed to hold his head up after that?"