I regained consciousness the following day.

A dreadful feeling settled over me. I lifted the covers to discover a fresh surgical scar across my side.

My life seemed to shatter in that instant. I intended to demand an explanation from Xavier, but he spoke first, saying, “Darling, you had a sudden internal hemorrhage yesterday evening. The scans showed your kidney was ruptured in the accident, so I authorized its removal to save your life.”

Concerned I might not believe him, he presented me with the forged medical report. Indeed, it indicated a ruptured kidney.

Had I not overheard his orders to the surgeon, I might have accepted his lie.

Gazing at the ugly new mark on my body, I felt as if my soul had been stolen, leaving only a hollow void of pain.

Xavier embraced me, his tone overflowing with sympathy as he tried to console me. “Darling, I know how much your health means for your work, but your life is my primary concern. I can't imagine a world without you. If this means you can't dive for a while, we'll find other ways to support your research.”

I started to speak, but the door opened before I could say a word.

Jennifer entered, carrying a box of rare, imported tea.

“Pardon my intrusion. I just came to check on you, Miranda. We were all so worried.”

Jennifer was a fragile socialite, known for her delicate beauty and a chronic battle with lupus. Her family’s fortune was propped up by Xavier’s firm.

It was easy to see why he might feel responsible for her.

Xavier’s demeanor remained cool and detached. He acknowledged her with a nod, then turned his focus back to me.

However, I saw the tension in his clenched hands.

I turned away from them, burying my emotions, and said, “I'm tired. I want to sleep.”

I expected Jennifer to leave, but surprisingly, she stayed. She sat quietly in a chair nearby, keeping Xavier company.

Xavier stayed by my side, gently rubbing my shoulders. Jennifer, meanwhile, sat demurely, completing the picture of a concerned family friend.

Yet unseen, beneath the blanket, Jennifer was desperately gripping Xavier's other hand.

He didn't pull away, letting her hold on until her grip became frantic. Only then did he reach down, squeezing her hand tightly to silence her desperation.

But Jennifer persisted. Once his hand was free, she stood and moved behind him, her touch on his shoulder a silent plea.

Xavier glanced at me, making sure my eyes were closed and my breathing was even, as if I were in a deep sleep. Convinced, he turned and followed her out into the hall.

He quickly withdrew, his icy gaze a warning to be careful.

But Jennifer was beyond caution. She leaned into him again, her body trembling.

This time, Xavier couldn't resist. After one last look in my direction, he took her arm and led her away.

As the door clicked shut behind them, I opened my eyes.

Xavier would never suspect that every detail of his silent, tense exchange with Jennifer had been reflected on the dark screen of my tablet, allowing me to witness everything with perfect clarity.

I silently followed them to a deserted balcony.

Hidden behind a large potted plant, I saw Xavier pinning Jennifer against the wall, his jaw tight as he hissed, “Didn’t I tell you to control yourself around her?”

Jennifer remained defiant. She leaned her frail body against his arm and whispered, “It’s just that you’ve been so focused on her. I’m scared, Xavier. The doctors said…”

Her voice cracked, her fingers tracing the lapel of his suit, “Mr. Colton, haven’t you always loved taking risks? Let’s just… forget everything else. This floor is empty, and your wife is asleep. No one will ever know.”

Before Xavier could reply, she raised herself on her toes and pressed her lips to his.

Xavier remained still for a second before his control shattered, swiftly cradling her head and deepening the kiss with a desperate, feverish passion.

“Xavier, please be gentle. I'm worried about my health…” she whispered against his lips.

“Be quiet. I’m handling it.”

I couldn't bear to watch what came next. As I fled, their desperate whispers stabbed at me like knives.

The man who had once sworn to protect me for eternity was now secretly clinging to another woman behind my back.

It felt like an invisible hand had struck me across the face. The humiliation was absolute, swallowing me like a riptide. My knees gave out, and I collapsed to the floor in a pathetic, broken heap.

A nurse rushing past hurried to help me up. Seeing the silent tears streaming down my face, she assumed I was in pain and consoled me, “Ma’am, please don’t cry. Mr. Colton would be devastated if he saw you like this.”

Seeing the nurse’s genuine concern, I could no longer hold back my grief. I burst into wrenching, silent sobs.

After weeping until I was empty, I returned to my room and collapsed onto the bed.

When I came to, Xavier was gone. Instead, Jennifer stood at the foot of my bed, her expression grim.

Her gaze held no trace of sympathy. Instead, she looked at me with a cold pity and said, “You saw, didn’t you? He’s doing this for me. He loves me.”

I clenched my fists, my body trembling as I asked, “How long have you two been together?”

Jennifer smiled faintly, raising two fingers.

“Two years. Two years ago, he met me at a charity ball and was captivated. That very night, he stayed with me until dawn. When he went home, he felt so guilty about you that he transferred his assets into your name. But those resources were meant to save me. You’ve taken what was supposed to keep me alive!”

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, fighting the urge to lash out.

Seeing my restraint only made Jennifer bolder. She added with a cruel softness, “Do you think he truly loves you? He comes to me whenever he can. Even now, with me so sick, he can’t stay away. And by the way, on the day of your accident? He wasn’t in some board meeting—he was with me at the hospital, holding my hand through a flare-up. He can’t live without me anymore. If you have any decency, you’ll grant him a divorce.”

Her words hit me like a physical blow. I remembered that day—the blinding pain as the world spun, the near-death experience in the ambulance.

The paramedics called Xavier ten times, but he never answered. Eventually, his phone went straight to voicemail.

The next day, he returned and knelt by my bed, claiming he'd been trapped in a hostile takeover negotiation. He hated himself for not being there and even slammed his fist against the wall in self-recrimination.

But in reality, while I was fighting for my life, he was tending to another woman.

The last shred of hope I held for him disintegrated. My heart turned to stone.

Jennifer, sensing her victory, grew even more confident. With a triumphant little smile, she sneered, “Oh, and next week, Xavier is taking me to Monaco. His ‘humanitarian trip’? It’s to finalize the arrangements for my private transplant surgery. He’s saving my life.”

With that, she turned and walked out of the room like a fragile, victorious queen, her head held high.

As I watched her leave, a sharp pain shot through my side. The next moment, darkness closed in, and I lost consciousness.

When I opened my eyes again, it was already the next morning. The first thing I saw was Xavier, his eyes bloodshot as he sat beside me, watching over me.

The moment he saw I was awake, he pulled me into his arms, his voice thick with emotion.

“Miranda, you’re finally conscious. You scared me half to death just now.”

The memory of what I’d witnessed in the hall flashed through my mind, filling me with disgust. I pushed him away.

“I’m fine,” I said, my voice ice.

Xavier froze, stunned by my coldness. A flicker of hurt flashed in his eyes.