Chapter 3

As the piano was moved into the hospital room, the doctor was changing the dressing on my hand.

The doctor said that my hand had suffered a second injury, making it difficult to return to normal, and that I might have trouble with some daily activities.

I stared in shock at my fingers, twisted and deformed, wrapped in thick layers of ointment.

Cathryn skipped over to me from behind Jared and Kaiden.

"Harlee, why hasn't your hand healed yet? Are you pretending to get Jared's sympathy?"

She tilted her head, blinking innocently at me, but a malicious glint flickered in her eyes.

"What are you doing here?" I asked coldly, glaring at the three of them.

"After being found by the family, I heard that your piano playing is quite famous, and I really want to hear it. Look, I even brought the piano for you!" Cathryn said, smiling as she walked over to the piano and touched it gently. "I grew up facing hardships outside, unlike you, Harlee, who was pampered. Surely you can't deny such a simple request?"

She looked at me pitifully, as if refusing her would be unforgivable.

My brother and husband, seeing Cathryn's eyes well up with tears, rushed to comfort her, wiping away her tears and kissing her forehead.

"I can't play the piano anymore. Isn't that what you wanted?" I glanced at the three of them and replied indifferently.

"Harlee, do you dislike me? How could you think that way?"

Cathryn leaned in close and whispered in my ear, ensuring only we could hear, "Harlee, there's no point in resisting."

"Harlee, how can you be so heartless! Cathryn just wants to hear you play the piano. With all you've been given, can't you spare a thought for Cathryn's feelings?"

Kaiden was incensed by my cold demeanor.

Ignoring my injuries and the IV line, he violently dragged me off the bed and forced me onto the piano bench.

The IV needle was pulled out, and blood slowly dripped onto the floor.

I felt dizzy as my not-yet-healed wounds tore open again, oozing blood.

I looked at my bandaged hand and the piano, which had always been my dream.

My chest felt like it was being ripped open by a giant hand, leaving my lips pale with pain.

"I can't play! I can't anymore! It's all because of you!" I shouted angrily at the people in front of me, tears streaming down my cheeks uncontrollably.

"It's all my fault, Harlee! If you're angry, hit me. As long as it calms you down!"

Cathryn grabbed my wrist, trying to make me hit her face.

Jared pulled her back, soothing her.

"It's not your fault. Since you want to hear it, Harlee must play."

With that, he forcefully pressed my hands onto the piano keys.

The bandages were instantly stained red with blood, and the sharp, nerve-wrenching pain made my vision blur and my body convulse.

My bones and torn flesh collided with the hard piano keys.

Cathryn clapped and laughed lightly beside me, "Sounds great, Harlee! But the rhythm is a bit off! Play another one!"

Her laughter crept into my ears, chilling me to the bone.

Kaiden frowned, seemingly finding the scene before him too harsh, but seeing Cathryn's delight, he remained silent.

I screamed in agony, struggling repeatedly, but Jared pressed my hands onto the keys again and again.

"Let me go... I beg you... Let go..."

I pleaded humbly, as tears, sweat, and blood mixed and dripped onto my hospital gown.

In the chaos of the melody, I distinctly heard the sound of my already fragile finger bones breaking again.

The pain reached its peak, and I convulsed, losing consciousness completely.