Chapter 5
Ryan’s hands shook so badly he could barely hold the gauze.
As he wiped away the blood from my face, each inch of familiar features he uncovered felt like a surgical knife carving into his heart.
The wife he had cherished above all else–bound to an operating table by his own hands.
Blood dripped steadily from the edge of the table, forming a horrific crimson pool on the floor below.
And their child–the one they had yearned for twelve long years–now flowing away drop by drop.
Ryan’s voice turned glacial, his expression terrifying:0
“Claire, where did you find the audacity to harm Lina?!”
Claire flinched at his frightening demeanor before straightening her back.
“Ryan, the volunteer who came to me clearly had a generic, cosmetically–enhanced face. Perhaps Lina secretly visited some back–alley clinic for beauty treatments without telling you?“]
Ryan’s laugh was chilling as he picked up a scalpel and advanced toward Claire.]
She immediately dissolved into tears.
In the past, such crying would have softened his tone, even prompted him to comfort her with a gentle touch.
Claire called his name between sobs, timidly clutching at his lab coat.]
“Ryan, I truly didn’t know… I’m so tender–hearted I can’t even step on an ant. How could I do something like this?“]
Ryan showed no mercy, violently shaking off her hand and slashing the scalpel across her face.
“Ahhh!“]
Claire covered her face as blood seeped between her fingers.
But Ryan didn’t spare her even a glance.
His trembling hands cradled my face, his voice breaking:
“Lina, look at me, please look at me… Don’t fall asleep.1
Waves of excruciating pain washed over me as my vision began to blur.
Ryan’s ashen face swam before me, his voice filled with a panic I’d never heard before.
પણ હું કે હું દિને
“You’re more important than any baby. When you recover, I’ll take you to see the cherry blossoms… You’ve always wanted to see the ocean, haven’t you? We’ll go together when you’re better, okay?” As the numbness in my throat began to recede, I used my last strength to whisper a few words.]
“Ryan…
He leaned closer eagerly, but froze when he heard my words.
7 will never trust you again. 1
Darkness flooded in
In my final moment of consciousness, his tears fell onto my
face.
I don’t know how long I was unconscious. When I finally awoke, I saw Ryan’s haggard face.
My fastidiously clean husband was wearing a wrinkled shirt, his jaw dark with stubble.
“Tina!
When he saw me awake, he grabbed my hand desperately, only to release it
it awkwardly when he met my icy store.]
0
1 didn’t mean to,” he stammered. “I truly didn’t know it was you…”
My throat burned like fire, each: word feeling like swallowing razor blades. I laughed bitterly.[]
“And sineping with Claire–was that unintentional too?”
Ryan’s face stiffened, his excuses growing quieter
“She climbed into my bed while you were away on business. I was confused… Besides, you’re still the one I love most.”
I stared at his evasive eyes!]
Once, when I’d cut my Dager while cooking, he’d rushed me to the emergency room in the middle of the night
Now he was trying to quantify love through comparison.
Suppressing his frustration, Ryan hurriedly added, “I’ve kept Claire locked in the basement for twenty days now–without daylight for so long, she truly regrets what she did. Surely you can forgive her now.
My face contorted as I rasped, “Not enough! She deserves to be flayed alive for killing my child!
Ryan gripped the bed rail, his tone urgent!
1
“Claire is terrified of pain, yet now she’s willing to have a baby for me–to replace yours. You would raise the chuld, since you can no longer f
