Chapter 5

The hospital room door slammed open again, and three men, tied up like prisoners, were shoved inside.

The moment they saw Emily, they nearly fell over themselves, crying and pleading as if she were their only hope. "Ms. Summers, we did everything you told us to. Please, have mercy! We don't want to die."

Emily stared at the strangers, her expression cold as ice. "I don't know them," she said flatly.

The men's faces twisted with outrage. "Ms. Summers, how can you say that? You were the one giving us orders through messages. Don't try to act innocent now!"

Alexander's eyes darkened, his gaze like a burning brand.

Emily let out a sharp, mocking laugh, pulled out her phone, and tossed it to him. "I've got nothing to hide. Check it yourself."

A few moments later, Alexander walked back over, holding the phone up to her face, a sinister smirk curling his lips. "Darling, care to explain this?"

Emily's brows furrowed sharply as she stared at the chat logs on the screen. "I never sent those messages."

Alexander's patience snapped. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. "Looks like those lessons still didn't teach you a damn thing, Darling."

Before Emily could respond, he hurled her phone to the floor. The crack of shattering glass filled the room.

He grabbed her wrist in a tight grip. "If that's the case, Darling, then you can treat Sophie's hand yourself."

Emily's pupils contracted in shock. She yanked her wrist free and said through gritted teeth, "I'm not doing it!"

Because of Sophie, her back was still mangled, torn and raw from burns that hadn't even begun to heal.

And now Alexander expected her to perform a skin graft for Sophie.

He chuckled darkly and brushed a hand along her cheek. "Darling, every mistake comes with a price."

Emily's voice trembled with fury. "Alexander, get your facts straight! She was the one who hurt me first. My back is still—"

"I told you it was an accident!" Alexander snapped, cutting her off. His voice was sharp enough to slice through the air. "What part of that don't you understand?"

Emily suddenly laughed, tears spilling down her face.

She finally understood, no matter what she said, it would never matter. To Alexander, she was always the one at fault.

"Alexander, is she an idiot or are you?" she cried. "Can't even tell acid from water? Who walks around with sulfuric acid anyway?"

Alexander didn't bother arguing. He turned to the doctor and ordered coldly, "Ask Sophie which part of Emily's skin she wants. Let her pick. Anywhere she likes."

Just then, Sophie's trembling voice came from the doorway. "Mr. Grant, it's all my fault. I didn't see clearly. That's why Emily got hurt. I deserve what happened to me. Please, don't make her give me a skin graft."

Alexander immediately turned to comfort her. "Sophie, your injury isn't your fault. But she hurt you on purpose, and she has to pay for it."

Emily's fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

Her eyes blazed as she stared at Sophie, putting on her pitiful act in Alexander's arms. Suddenly, Emily lunged. She grabbed Sophie by the hair and slammed her head against the wall with full force.

Sophie let out a piercing scream that echoed through the room.

Emily's eyes were wild and bloodshot, a cold grin twisting her lips. "Now that's what it means to do something on purpose! Did you really think everyone's as fake as you?

"If you hadn't donated bone marrow to my daughter, I would've ended you long ago!"

She raised her hand to strike again, but Alexander seized her wrist, his voice low and menacing. "Emily. Let go."

"No way!" she spat, defiant.

Alexander's face hardened to stone. He twisted her hand sharply.

Pain shot up Emily's arm as her fingers bent at a grotesque angle. Cold sweat soaked through her hospital gown, but he didn't stop. He twisted harder, slow and deliberate, his expression unreadable.

"Emily, what is wrong with you? You're acting like a crazy wretch!"

The words hit like a slap of their own.

Emily let out a hollow, bitter laugh, tears streaking down her cheeks. "Alexander, I regret ever meeting you, ever marrying you!"

His fury flared hotter. His voice came out in a growl, each word cutting like a knife. "Let go. Now."

"Not a chance," she shot back, trembling but unyielding.

Ignoring the pain, Emily clenched her jaw and slammed Sophie's head against the wall again, harder this time.

Sophie's scream tore through the ward, followed by a sickening crack.

Alexander twisted Emily's hand so hard. He broke her finger without mercy.

Sophie's shrieks filled the air, shrill enough to rattle the ceiling. Alexander, shaken by her screams, didn't even register the snap of bone or the unnatural twist of Emily's hand.

Without hesitation, he grabbed a fistful of Emily's hair and threw her to the ground like trash. "Emily, you must really have a death wish."

He turned to the surgeons, his tone ice-cold. "Drag her in, tie her down. No anesthesia needed. Skin her hand for Sophie's graft."

Emily's eyes blazed red, fury burning through the pain. "How dare you!"

He didn't even glance at her. Instead, he wrapped a comforting arm around Sophie and led her gently toward the operating room.

As they passed, the smug curve of Sophie's lips sliced into Emily's heart like a blade.

Emily was manhandled into the operating room. They strapped her wrist to the surgical chair, her burned hand splayed out on the cold metal table.