Chapter 2

Cathryn's face quickly swelled on one side, with a visible slap mark.

Jared and Kaiden entered the hospital room to find Cathryn sobbing on the floor, her face marked with a slap mark.

"Cathryn! Did you push her, Harlee?"

Kaiden rushed forward, carrying Cathryn gently in his arms, tenderly touching her face.

"Jared, no... It wasn't Harlee, it was me... I was careless." Cathryn whispered, burying her face in Kaiden's embrace, her eyes avoiding mine as if hiding a great grievance she couldn't voice.

Feigning cheerfulness, she pointed at my leg, showing concern. "Luckily, Harlee's treatment was timely. I can't imagine what would happen if it were me. How would I live?"

Jared's gaze swept over her reddened face. "Cathryn, you're too kind-hearted! Which hand did she use to hit you?"

Tears welled in Cathryn's eyes as she shook her head, yet her face, beautiful even in tears, made the men believe her innocence.

Jared turned, his face darkening as he approached the bedside with a cold sneer. He pulled out a small knife he carried and drove it into my fingers, slicing through the tendons with force.

I watched him in terror.

"No! My hand! It wasn't me!"

I desperately tried to evade, but each movement brought searing pain as the blade cut through bone and flesh.

The hand that once had hope of recovery was now a hopelessly ruined hand.

Trembling, tears streamed down my face, yet I couldn't save my hand.

I had already lost my leg!

My husband would rather believe Cathryn than me.

The five years we spent together since we got married then seemed like a joke.

"What a pity, Harlee. Your hand could have healed, but now you can't even touch a piano." Cathryn remarked from Kaiden's arms, her eyes full of concern, though I detected a hint of malicious satisfaction in her voice.

"I won't forgive any of you!" I glared at the three of them.

Jared, as the heir of the Reed family, relished the sight of others' pain.

He chuckled, setting down the knife and admiring his "work".

"There's a steep price for harming Cathryn."

Kaiden, holding Cathryn, planned to tend to her facial injuries, casting a disdainful glance at my hand.

"Once her hand heals, break it again. If she dares to bully Cathryn, she'll pay tenfold for it."

I frantically pressed the emergency button with my shattered hand.

I couldn't give up on it.

I couldn't lose my hand!

After the doctor finished treating my wounds, Jared hadn't left.

He still held the knife, looking at me with a complex expression, his eyes fixed on my bandaged hand.

I eyed him warily, speaking bluntly, "Why are you still here? Shouldn't you be with Cathryn?"

His eyes flared with anger and a fleeting excitement at my question, as he approached my bed.

"Harlee, are you jealous? I know you love me..."

His hand gently caressed my neck, lowering his head to nibble at the soft skin.

A tingling sensation spread through me as I gritted my teeth, pushing him away with my arm.

"Are you out of your mind? Don't touch me! Get out!"

Jared slammed his fist against the wall, his eyes burned with a possessive intensity.

He forcibly tore my clothes, ignoring my struggles as he pressed his lips to mine.

Fear gripped me as I felt the coolness on my skin, hitting him repeatedly.

His kiss made me nauseated, wanting to vomit.

Suddenly, I felt something hard against my waist.

I bit down hard on his tongue, the taste of blood filling our mouths.

Jared raised an eyebrow but didn't stop.

With a smack, I slapped him without hesitation.

"What are you doing?"

Cathryn's face turned pale as she stood at the door, then ran off crying.

Jealousy burned within her. Why?

Jared casually wiped the blood from his mouth and subconsciously went after Cathryn.

Cathryn stood at the hospital entrance, clenching her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She tapped her phone, making a quick call, her face twisted with spite and envy.

She wanted everyone to witness Harlee's disgrace!