Chapter 2
This was the very first thing I did after coming back to life.
In the ten minutes after I woke up in the restroom, I didn't just draw bruises across my stomach with eyebrow pencil and lipstick. I also sent tip-off texts to the biggest media outlets in the city.
The headline read: [Shocking Scandal in the Elite Circle. Holloway Group CEO Illegally Detains Wife to Force Kidney Donation for His Mistress.]
That wasn't all. Relying on memories from my previous life, I sent one more message to Orion's sworn enemy, Caleb Robinson, the CEO of Gu Group.
Just one line: [Hard evidence of Holloway Group's financial fraud. In exchange, keep me alive.]
Over the past few years, Orion had built himself a spotless public image as the ultimate devoted husband. Holloway Group's stock had soared right along with it.
Now that his carefully built persona was crashing down, there was no way the media would let this go.
"Mr. Holloway, is what the lady here said true? Are you really forcing your wife to give up a kidney?"
"Mr. Holloway, rumor has it the patient inside is your old flame, Lyra Ashcroft. Is that true?"
"Is this illegal detention? If your wife agreed to donate, why are your bodyguards roughing people up?"
Microphones were practically shoved in Orion's face.
The two bodyguards freaked out and let go, instinctively shielding themselves from the cameras.
With no support left, I let myself collapse to the floor. Tears came instantly.
"Help... please, someone help me..." I sobbed uncontrollably and, with trembling hands, lifted the hem of my hospital gown.
On my stomach, several shocking "bruises" and "wounds" were exposed under the camera lights.
Dark purple eyeshadow and lipstick. Carefully blended. Under harsh flashes, they looked horrifyingly real.
"Orion locked me in the basement and beat me for three days straight just to make me sign," I cried hoarsely. "When I refused, he threatened to kill my parents.
"I don't want to die. I really don't want to die. I'm a person, not some spare kidney kept alive for Lyra!"
The cameras flashed nonstop, and the reporters' eyes burned with sympathy and outrage.
Orion's face went stormy as he lunged at the reporters, trying to snatch their cameras. "Stop filming. Get those cameras out of my face. This is private. She's lying. Those wounds are fake!"
He lunged at me, trying to haul me to my feet and prove the bruises were fake.
"Don't touch me!" I screamed and scrambled backward, grabbing the IV stand beside me and holding it out defensively.
"To all the reporters here," I shouted, "if I die today, it means Orion murdered me to silence me!"
"Mr. Holloway," a female reporter snapped, stepping forward and blocking him, "are you threatening violence in public right now?"
Orion froze. Surrounded by countless unblinking eyes, he finally realized the situation had spiraled completely out of control.
The operating room light was still on.
Lyra was inside, still waiting for my kidney.
But today, she was never going to get it.
Orion took a deep breath, straightened his wrinkled tie, and forced himself back into that cold, superior executive persona.
"Delilah," he said flatly, "have you caused enough trouble? Come home."
"I'm not going back!" I grabbed onto the female reporter's leg like it was my lifeline, sobbing and shaking all over. "If I go home with you, you'll kill me. I'm calling the cops. I want a divorce."
The word "divorce" sent a shockwave through the hallway.
Orion's face went as dark as a thundercloud.
Just then, the operating room doors swung open.
A doctor rushed out, panic written all over his face. "Mr. Holloway, the patient's condition is critical. All indicators are dropping. Where's the kidney? If we don't transplant immediately, it'll be too late!"
Orion looked down at me lying on the floor, then swept his gaze over the crowd of reporters.
He clenched his jaw, veins bulging at his temples.
Even without him saying a word, I could tell he was weighing his options.
If he dragged me into surgery now, tomorrow's headline would read: [CEO Kills Wife to Harvest Kidney.] Holloway Group would lose billions overnight.
But if he didn't, Lyra would die.
I peeked at him through my fingers, smirking inwardly with cold mockery.
Go on, Orion. Choose.
Your money and reputation… or your so-called true love.
As expected, it took him less than thirty seconds.
He turned to the doctor. "Stabilize her conservatively. Transfer her to the ICU."
He gave me a look that could kill, then stormed off without another word.
"We will provide a full explanation to the media," he said coldly over his shoulder. "But if anyone publishes false reports, Holloway Group's legal team won't be so forgiving."
After delivering the threat, he didn't look back. Not even once.
Not even at Lyra, who was being wheeled out, barely breathing.
See?
That was men.
When money was on the table, this so-called true love thing was just a bad joke.