I watched her act quietly, saying nothing to defend myself.

Michael frowned deeply. “Nichole, how could you say to Olivia like that? She’s taken care of you. Even if you’re not grateful, don’t be so rude!”

“Apologize to Olivia immediately, or I’ll suspend your father’s medical payments.”

Hearing this, I stared at Michael in shock. Though I’d seen his true colours during my coma, I never imagined he still managed to sink lower than I expected.

My lips cracked and peeled as I denied, “I didn’t flip it. It was clearly her...”

Before I could finish, Olivia interrupted, “Michael, if Nichole says I did it, let’s just say it was me.”

“I have no status, no connections, no power or position. I’ve faced this kind of injustice so often that I’m used to it.”

The truth was twisted. Michael shouted angrily, “Nichole, I’ll say it again, you must apologize to Olivia.”

I gripped the bedsheet and noticed the arrogant and defiant look in Olivia’s eyes.

Seeing Michael defend Olivia without question, I suddenly remembered our first meeting. Back then, when I was falsely accused, he had firmly defended me, too.

He had said, “Even if the whole world doesn’t believe you, I, Michael Cordero, will always believe every word you say. I will never betray you.”

Now, he has broken his promise. My heart was hurt.

Meeting Michael’s unfamiliar gaze, I whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Olivia smirked. “It’s fine, Nichole. Just be more careful next time. Please, don’t be so reckless.”

Seeing my apology, Michael’s expression softened.

He reached out to ruffle my hair and said gently, “That’s better. Since you’re being so obedient, I’ll take you shopping tomorrow.”

I didn’t refuse or agree. Early the next morning, Michael took me to check out of the hospital.

I instinctively opened the passenger door and saw Olivia sitting inside, entirely made up.

She gave me a teasing smile. “Sorry, Nichole. I’m used to sitting in the front.”

Michael opened the back door and said gently, “Nichole, please sit in the back. Olivia gets carsick, so give her some space.”

I stayed silent and went to the back seat. After arriving at the mall and browsing for a while, I finally spotted a handbag that caught my eye.

Seeing how much I loved it, Michael immediately took out his card. “Buy it.”

“Nichole, I like that bag too. Why don’t you let me have it?” Olivia said, reaching out to grab the bag.

I stayed calm and answered, “I saw it first.”

Olivia’s eyes turned red, then she said tearfully, “Nichole, you’ve had every bag you wanted since you were a kid. Why fight me over this one?”

Michael, who had just returned from paying, frowned upon hearing this. “If Olivia likes it, let her have the bag, Nicole.”

Then he took my hand and said kindly, “You can take another one. I’ll buy you ten of them, okay?”

I pushed his hand away, my face cold. “No way.”

If it wasn’t the one I loved at first sight, buying more later wouldn’t matter. Just like people, if we didn’t see them clearly from the start, we were already wounded beyond repair by the time we discovered the truth.

I wouldn’t have him since Michael never truly belonged to me.

On the way back, I sat in the backseat, staring out the window. At an intersection, the car suddenly jerked violently.

At that moment, I saw Michael pull the steering wheel and protect Olivia with his body.

The accident happened suddenly. When I regained consciousness, my legs were numb and I was trapped in the narrow space.

Screams and cries for help mixed with the sounds of ambulances and police sirens.

Half-conscious after being rescued, I heard Michael shout at the medical staff, “Hurry and save Olivia first! Can’t you see her arm’s all scraped?”

The medic hesitated. “But the woman in the backseat is more severely injured. Without quick treatment, she could become paralyzed.”

Michael’s eyes were reddened with anger “I’m her husband. I order you not to treat her. Save Olivia first!”

“As long as Olivia is in critical condition, she can’t get treatment.”

My heart ached so much it felt hard to breathe. Silent tears ran down my face, erasing my last feelings for Michael.

When I opened my eyes again, Michael was sitting beside my bed.

His voice trembled when he saw me awake, “Nichole, I almost lost you again.”

“The doctors said your injuries were serious. You were almost paralyzed, so I immediately called and gathered the best doctors to treat you.”

“How do you feel? Is there any pain?”

As I opened my mouth to speak, my throat burned fiercely, as if torn apart.

Michael picked up a glass of water beside him and handed it to me. “Drink some water first to ease your throat. Don’t rush.”

After drinking the water, I felt much better.

Michael handed me some apple slices. “I prepared this for you earlier, but my skills aren’t great, so the pieces are a bit weird.”

I stayed silent. My eyes kept seeing Michael, badly injured. He demanded that the doctors save Olivia rather than himself, who only had minor wounds.

Michael seemed about to say more when the phone suddenly rang.

From the corner of my eye, I saw his contact’s name was “Via”. In less than a second, I knew it was Olivia.

As I expected, after the call, Michael looked sorry for me. “Nichole, I can’t stay with you. There’s a new project that needs my attention. Rest well and recover. I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”

Then he walked away without hesitation. Shortly after he left, a friend request popped up on my phone. It was from Olivia.

After I accepted, she sent a message and a photo. The photo of a carved rabbit-shaped apple.

[A useless woman like you only deserves what I threw away.]

I gripped my phone tightly, seeing the plate of uneven apple pieces. Then a cold laugh escaped me. So, she’d only given me her leftovers.

Ignoring Olivia’s message, I tapped lightly to open another app. There was a message from Karina.

[What’s going on? Are you okay?]

[I’ve cancelled it for you, but it’ll take seven days to finish.]

[Come to the airport. I’ll send someone to pick you up.]

After replying with a simple “Got it,” I called Mr. Orseolo from the Barkworth Law Firm.

He answered quickly. I then said, “Uncle Peter, prepare a divorce agreement and get Michael to sign it without him finding out.”

Remembering the anger in Michael’s eyes when I mentioned divorce, my heart tightened in pain.

Uncle Peter nodded. “Yes, Miss Barkworth. I’ll take care of it right now.”

Soon after the call, I saw Michael rushing past my hospital room door. Thirty minutes later, Uncle Peter sent me a photo of the contract signed by Michael.

I suddenly noticed Uncle Peter had added a note to the contract: Michael would leave with nothing.

Before I could ask, he called and explained the situation to me, “Since Michael joined the company, he’s been endlessly spoiling Olivia. I had someone to investigate them privately. They have been secretly together for a long time.”

“So, I drafted this document myself. I hope you won’t blame me, Miss. I just couldn’t stand seeing Mr. Barkworth’s legacy destroyed by such a beast.”

The tears filled my eyes. “Uncle Peter, you did the right thing.”

After the call, I got up and went to the restroom. As I entered with my crutch, someone suddenly shoved me from behind.

I fell hard to the floor, my leg aching in sharp pain.

Olivia’s crazed, mocking voice rang behind me, “Look at you now, so pathetic. The proud Barkworth daughter has become nothing more than my footstool.”

Lying on the floor, I quickly turned on my phone’s voice recorder.

My leg ached as I weakly asked, “Why are you doing this to me? I don’t remember ever have a problem with you.”

Olivia glared at me with disgust. “Hmph! I’m Michael’s real wife, but you, the shameless mistress, got in the way. Without you, I’d have been Mrs. Cordero long ago.”

“You really think Michael loves you? Ha! Don’t get any ideas. Without your money, he wouldn’t even look at you.”

“So, you and Michael have a plan to steal my father’s company?” I asked through gritted teeth.

Olivia’s eyes burned with hatred. “You could’ve avoided this pain. It’s your fault for not dying in that kidnapping.”

“Aren’t you afraid of the law?” I shot back.

“Law? Come on. Michael and I were promised to each other as kids, so we’ve been inseparable since childhood and never betray each other.”

“Just arrange a little ‘accident’ for you. Who would ever suspect a ‘loving husband’ such as Michael Cordero is a murderer?”

Olivia’s eyes were full of disdain. When her phone rang, she gave me a disgusted look and answered the speaker.

“Honey, are you finished yet? I’m craving those dumplings on East Street. Pick me up later, okay?”

Michael’s deep voice replied, “Of course, whatever my dear wife wants.”

After the call, Olivia smirked. “Hmph. Only women who aren’t loved end up as mistresses.”

With that, she turned and walked away in her high heels.

I froze when Michael said “wife.” In our two years of marriage, he’d never called me that.

I held my breath. The phone’s ring sounded like a death knell in the silent room.

When I answered that call, an angry voice said, “What’s going on with your Barkworth Family? Mr. Barkworth has been dead in our hospital for almost six months and no one has come to claim him?”