I pushed myself up, ignoring the pain, and ran to the edge of the pool. The water rippled where the necklace disappeared.

Without thinking, I climbed over and jumped in.

Cold water swallowed me whole.

I opened my eyes, searching, my chest burning as I dove deeper and deeper.

I didn’t know how long I’d stayed there. Maybe minutes. Maybe hours. All I knew was… I couldn’t let it go.

…

The moment I found the necklace, my body was already at its limit. The cuts on my skin burned when the pool water soaked into them, the pain sharp and constant, but I still held on. I clenched my teeth and kept searching until my fingers finally closed around it.

When I climbed out, I was shaking so hard I could barely stand. I dragged myself to the edge, pulled myself up, and collapsed on the ground, gasping for air.

The necklace was still in my hand.

I tightened my grip on it, water dripping from my fingers. Memories hit me all at once. The day I pawned it. The way he held my hand and promised me he’d take care of me for the rest of my life. That he’d only love me.

What a joke.

A broken laugh slipped out of my mouth.

I kept laughing, but tears came out at the same time. My chest hurt so much I couldn’t breathe properly.

When I got home, I fell sick.

High fever. My whole body felt heavy, weak. Even getting up to pour water felt impossible. I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, half-conscious.

Then the door opened.

Bernard was back.

Before I could even react, he grabbed my arm and pulled me up.

“Get up,” he said coldly. “You’re coming with me.”

I thought… maybe he noticed. Maybe he saw I was sick. Maybe he was taking me to the hospital.

So I didn’t resist. I followed him.

But halfway through the drive, something felt wrong.

“Bernard,” I said weakly, holding onto the seat. “This isn’t the way to the hospital. Where are we going?”

He let out a short, annoyed laugh. “Hospital? You’ve got some nerve. You haven’t even cleaned up your mess and you’re thinking about a hospital?”

My mind was slow. Foggy. I didn’t understand.

Not until the car stopped.

A bridge.

High. Dark. Cars passing below, lights flashing.

And at the edge… Ingrid stood there.

My heart dropped.

Bernard dragged me out of the car and pulled me forward. The wind was strong, cold against my face. Ingrid saw us and stepped back, panic on her face.

“Don’t come any closer!” she cried.

“Ingrid, stop this,” Bernard said quickly, his voice tense for the first time. “Don’t do anything stupid. I brought her here. Naomi’s here to apologize. She’ll clear everything up online. No one’s going to hurt you.”

Apologize?

I froze.

“No,” I said immediately, “I’m not apologizing. Why should I? I didn’t do anything.”

They were the ones who cheated. They were the ones who humiliated me. Why should I be the one begging?

Ingrid lowered her head, her shoulders shaking. “Of course you don’t need to apologize. I’m just… worthless anyway. Everyone’s laughing at me now. Maybe it’s better if I just die.”

Bernard’s face changed instantly. “Don’t say that!”

He turned to me, anger flashing in his eyes. “What the hell is wrong with you?! It’s just an apology. You really can’t do that?”

My chest tightened.

“Bernard,” I said, my voice trembling despite myself. “Ten years. We’ve been together for ten years. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

I wasn’t just asking for myself. I was asking for the one who already died once. The one who loved him until the very end.

He paused.

Just for a second.

Then his expression went cold again. “Are you going to apologize or not?”

So that was my answer.

I had no choice.

A tear slipped down my face. I clenched my teeth. “Fine. I’m sorry. Miss Ingrid, I’m sorry. I’ll fix it right now.”

My hands shook as I took out my phone and posted a public statement. Clearing her name. Taking all the blame.

When I finished, he didn’t even look at me.

He walked straight to her, “Ingrid, you hear that? It’s done. Come down now, don’t scare me like that again.”

Then he reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Careful. Gentle.

I stood there, watching. My chest felt empty.

I pushed myself up slowly, using the railing for support.

Ingrid walked over to me, still holding Bernard’s hand. She reached out and grabbed mine.

“Mrs. MacAllister,” she said softly. “Thank you.”

Her grip tightened.

Then she leaned closer, her voice dropping so only I could hear.

“As a woman, don’t you think you’re pathetic?”

My head snapped up. Anger rushed through me. I tried to pull my hand away.

But she held on tighter then she dragged me back with her.

“Ah!” she suddenly screamed.

My foot slipped and the world tilted.

Everything happened too fast.

Bernard rushed forward, reaching out. His hand caught hers.

Only hers.

Not mine.

For a second, our eyes met.

Then I fell.

The wind roared in my ears. Lights blurred. My mind went blank, then flooded with memories. Every moment. Every promise. Every lie.

In the end…

He chose her.

My body hit something hard below.

A black SUV passing under the bridge.

The impact knocked the air out of me instantly. Pain exploded through my entire body, sharp and unbearable.

Then everything went dark.

...

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital.

So I didn’t die.

The fall wasn’t as high as it felt. The bridge wasn’t that tall, and I hit the roof of the SUV before rolling onto the ground. Lucky, they said. If you could call this lucky.

Three ribs broken. Every breath felt like something stabbing into my chest.

“Honey, you’re finally awake.”

Bernard rushed over the moment he saw me. He looked tired, eyes slightly red, like he hadn’t slept properly.

“For a second I thought…” he stopped, then let out a breath. “Good. You’re fine now. Ingrid’s been blaming herself this whole time. She couldn’t even eat, and said she felt guilty seeing you like that.”

I stared at him.

So that’s where he’d been. Taking care of her.

I slowly pulled my hand away from him. “With you around her all the time, I’m sure she’ll live a long life,” I said quietly.

His expression darkened. “Do you have to talk like that?”

I didn’t answer.

“Ingrid works under me,” he continued, his tone turning colder. “She’s alone in this city, no one to rely on. Of course I’m going to look after her. And don’t forget, if it wasn’t for you, she wouldn’t have ended up like this.”

There it was again.

My fault. Always my fault.

I closed my eyes. I didn’t have the strength to argue anymore. What was the point? He already chose who to believe.

His phone rang.

He glanced at the screen and picked up immediately, his voice softening. “Ingrid? What’s wrong?”

“I’m scared of being alone,” her voice came through faintly.

“I’m coming back now,” he said right away. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there soon.”

He stood up without hesitation. Then he paused, as if remembering I was still there.

“Naomi,” he said, letting out a breath. “You’ve got me, you’ve got the best doctors. But Ingrid has nothing. Stop picking on her all the time.”

Then he left.

Just like that.

I lay there, staring at the ceiling.

He said I had him. But didn’t I already lose him a long time ago?

The next few days, he didn’t come back. Not once.

And this time, I didn’t care.

I just listened to the doctor, took my medicine, and focused on getting better. Slowly, painfully, I healed.

When I was finally discharged, I didn’t even get to go home first. I was called straight back to the company.

A meeting.

The atmosphere in the room was tense.

Ingrid stood in the middle, eyes red, looking like she’d been crying for hours.

“I really didn’t mean to,” she said softly, her voice trembling.

No one bought it.

The board members were furious. Accusing her one after another. Saying she leaked confidential information to a business partner. Saying she crossed a line no one should ever cross.

“Enough,” Bernard said suddenly, his voice cold and firm.

The room went quiet.

“I believe she didn’t do it on purpose,” he continued. “And even if she did, it’s not your call to deal with her.”

People frowned. Someone spoke up. “Mr. MacAllister, this isn’t something we can ignore. She has to be removed.”

Bernard didn’t even hesitate.

“I’ve already transferred thirty five percent of my shares to Ingrid,” he said. “She’s a shareholder now. Not an employee. No one here has the authority to fire her.”

My mind went blank.

Thirty five percent.

Do you know how long it took me to get that? Ten years. Ten years of working beside him, building everything from nothing. And she got the same amount… in less than a month.

Just because he wanted to protect her.

He once told me the company would always belong to the two of us.

Now there were three.

Just like our marriage.

I lowered my eyes and let out a quiet laugh. It sounded calm, but my nails were digging deep into my palm, so hard it almost hurt more than my ribs.

No one dared to argue anymore. With him backing her, the board had no choice. One by one, they left, frustrated but silent.

I stood up too. I didn’t want to stay there any longer.

Right then, the door opened.

Two police officers walked in.

“Good afternoon,” one of them said, his gaze sweeping across the room. “We received a report about stolen and leaked trade secrets. The name Ingrid was mentioned. Is she here?”

The room went completely still.

Ingrid hid behind Bernard, wiggling her finger at him like she wanted help.

Bernard just stared for a long moment. Then he finally said, “It wasn’t her.”

All eyes turned to him.

“We looked into it ourselves,” he continued, voice low but sharp. “It wasn’t Ingrid who did it. The real mastermind… was you, Naomi.”

He pointed straight at me.

“What did you say?” My voice trembled. “Say it again. Who?”

He stepped closer and grabbed my hand, his grip firm, heavy, like I couldn’t pull away. “If Ingrid had a record, she’d be done in this city, done in this industry. But you, you’ve got me. I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life. Don’t worry, I’ll get you out.”

Then he turned and handed a USB to the police, saying nothing else, just calm and businesslike. “This is the evidence. Naomi did it.”

My blood ran cold, and a chill shot from my feet to my chest.

He even made fake evidence. No way out.

I jerked my hand away and glared at him, tears stinging my eyes. Ten years ago he swore he’d love and protect me for life. And this… this is what that meant?

I felt utterly pathetic.

At the station, I tried to explain. Again and again. I told them I didn’t do it, that it was all fake, that he set me up. They didn’t care. They looked at me with that same expression. Doubt. Annoyance. Then the lawyer came in. Said I was unstable. Said I was under too much stress. That I wasn’t in the right state of mind to even understand what I was saying.

“Miss Naomi needs evaluation,” he said calmly. “She’s showing signs of emotional instability. It’s better if she receives treatment.”

Treatment? I wanted to laugh. Before I could argue, they already made the decision. I wasn’t sent to jail. I was sent somewhere worse. A private mental institution. High walls. Locked doors. White everywhere. Too clean. Too quiet. The moment I stepped in, I knew something was wrong. The nurses looked at me without warmth. The doctors didn’t ask questions. They just wrote things down.

“The patient shows resistance,” one of them said.

“I’m not sick,” I told them, my voice hoarse. “You’re making a mistake.”

They didn’t listen. They strapped me down. The first day, they injected something into my arm. I felt my body go heavy, my mind slow, like I was sinking into something I couldn’t escape. The second day, they kept me awake. Lights on. Questions repeated over and over.

“Did you do it?”

“Admit it.”

“Why won’t you cooperate?”

I said no. Every time. They didn’t like that. The third day… they changed methods. Cold water. They held my head down, forcing me to stay under just long enough to panic, then pulling me back up before I passed out. Again and again until I couldn’t even think straight.

“See?” one of them said calmly. “She’s still resisting.”

By the third day, I couldn’t even tell what was real. My hands shook, my chest burned, and every step felt like walking through a nightmare

Those three days in that place felt worse than death. By the time they let me out, my mind was empty and slow. I couldn’t think straight, couldn’t even tell what was real anymore.

I didn’t realize the car I got into wasn’t safe. The lawyer who said Bernard sent him… he wasn’t Bernard’s man at all.

Everything was a setup.

Bernard pushed someone too far this time. Forced a partner into a corner, crushed his business, left him with nothing. So now he was fighting back.

And I got dragged into it.

So did Ingrid.

The car drove for a long time. No one spoke. My head leaned against the window, eyes half-closed, until it finally stopped. Hands grabbed me again, rough, impatient, dragging me out.

The smell of the sea hit me first.

Then I saw him.

“Sandro…?” My voice came out weak. My chest tightened. “President Moore… you don’t have to do this. We can talk this out. There’s still a way to fix this.”

He looked at me and laughed, but there was no humor in it. Just anger.

“Talk?” he sneered. “If talking worked, your man wouldn’t have destroyed everything I built. He backed me into a corner, Naomi. You think I’ve got anything left to lose?”

My heart sank.

“You people started this,” he continued, eyes burning. “You leaked secrets, crushed my company, and now you want me to sit down and talk? No. If I’m going down, I’m taking all of you with me.”

He pulled out his phone and dialed.

“Bernard,” he said the moment the call connected. “Both your women are with me. You’ve got one hour. Bring five hundred million in cash. If you don’t… I’ll burn one alive and drown the other.”

My breath caught.

On the other end, there was silence for a second. Then Bernard’s voice came through. Cold. Dangerous.

“You touch them, and I’ll make sure you regret being born.”

Sandro laughed loudly. “You don’t get to threaten me anymore. One hour. Don’t be late.”

The call ended.

They tied us up.

I was dragged to the edge and suspended over the water, ropes digging into my wrists. The sea below was dark and endless.

Ingrid was kept closer, right beside Sandro. I could smell gasoline. He had poured it around her feet.

I closed my eyes for a second.

So this was how it ends?

Less than an hour later, Bernard arrived.

Of course he did.

He stepped out, calm but tense, eyes scanning everything in one sweep. They passed over me… then lingered on Ingrid.

Finally, he looked at Sandro.

“Let them go,” he said flatly.

Sandro smirked. “You don’t give orders here anymore. Where’s the money?”

Bernard pushed a black case forward. “Five hundred million. Let them go.”

Sandro signaled his men. They checked it, opened it, and confirmed everything. Then he laughed again.

“I changed my mind,” he said slowly. “Now you only get one. One lives. One dies. Your choice.”

My heart started pounding so hard it hurt.

I already knew the answer. Even if I didn’t want to admit it… I knew.

Bernard didn’t hesitate. “I’m not choosing,” he said coldly. “I want both.”

I froze. For a second, I actually looked at him.

But Ingrid… her face twisted for just a moment before she lowered her head, tears falling.

“Mr. MacAllister! You don’t have to save me. This is all because of me. Just let me end it.”

Before anyone could react, she suddenly shoved the man holding her. Sandro stumbled. The lighter in his hand slipped.

Everything happened at once.

Fire burst out.

The gasoline caught instantly, flames rising fast and wild.

“Shit!” Sandro cursed, furious. He grabbed Ingrid and threw her straight into the fire. Then he turned and cut the rope holding me.

I dropped.

Right before I hit the water, I saw Bernard move. His face had gone pale.

He ran forward.

“Ingrid!”

He rushed straight into the fire, grabbed her, lifted her in his arms, shielding her from the flames. And me? I fell into the sea.

...

When I woke up again, I was already lying on an operating table.

The lights above me were too bright. My head felt heavy, and my body didn’t listen properly.

Then I saw him.

Bernard stood right in front of me, his face dark, eyes filled with anger I hadn’t seen in a long time. Not even disappointment this time. Just rage.

“Naomi,” he said, voice low and dangerous. “Why the hell did you team up with Sandro to pull this kind of stunt? You really thought you could play everyone and get away with it?”

I blinked at him, confused. “What are you talking about?”

His jaw tightened. “Don’t play dumb with me! Ingrid already told me everything. You didn’t want to take the blame, so you set her up. You planned all this just to hurt her. You’ve really become that vicious?”

My heart dropped.

So that’s what she did.

I didn’t even know how she twisted it this far, but somehow… he believed her. Of course he did.

“It wasn’t me,” I said, forcing myself up a little, my throat dry and rough. “I didn’t do anything. You have to at least listen to me—”

“Enough!” he snapped, cutting me off. “I’m done listening to your excuses.”

I froze.

The words died in my throat.

Right. Why was I even trying? Since when did he ever choose me over her? No matter what I said, it wouldn’t matter.

I slowly leaned back, staring at him.

“So what?” I said quietly, a bitter smile forming. “What now? How are you going to punish me this time?”

Something in my tone made his expression turn even colder.

“A blood debt gets paid with blood,” he said flatly.

My fingers tightened.

“Ingrid got burned because of you,” he continued, his voice hard as stone. “She needs a skin graft. You’re giving it to her. Right now.”

For a second, I thought I heard wrong.

“What?” My voice came out weak. “No… I’m not doing that.”

I tried to get off the table, panic rising, but before I could move, several men stepped in and forced me back down.

“Let me go!” I struggled, my body weak but still fighting. “Bernard, you can’t do this to me!”

“There’s nothing to discuss,” he said coldly.

Then he turned around and walked out.

Didn’t even look back.

The door closed.

A few seconds later, someone else was pushed in.

I turned my head… and saw Ingrid.

She lay on another bed at first, her leg wrapped, but the moment the door shut, she sat up easily. No pain. No weakness.

Her lips curled into a smile.

A chill ran down my spine.

She stepped down and walked closer, completely fine. Then she looked at the doctor and gave a small nod.

“Start,” she said softly. “And don’t give her any anesthesia. I want to see everything.”

The room went silent. The doctor hesitated for a second, exchanging looks with the nurses.

But no one dared to refuse. Fear hit me all at once.

“No! Wait!" I struggled harder, “You can’t do this. Let me go!”

Hands held me down tighter. Straps locked around my wrists.

I couldn’t move.

The knife touched my skin.

Then it cut.

Pain exploded through my body.

“Ah—!” I screamed, my whole body jerking uncontrollably.

Ingrid laughed.

Soft at first. Then louder.

I turned my head and saw her watching me, eyes shining, enjoying it.

“Keep going,” she said calmly. “Don’t stop.”

The blade moved again.

And again.

Each cut was slow, deliberate. I could feel everything. Every inch. Every tear of skin. Warm blood spread under me, soaking the table.

My body was shaking so hard I couldn’t control it. My breath came out broken, uneven.

But after a while… I stopped making sound.

What was the point?

The more I screamed, the happier she looked.

So I bit down on my lip and stayed quiet. Even when the pain got worse. Even when it felt like I was being torn apart piece by piece.

How did it come to this?

How did the man who once held me so carefully… become the one who did this to me?

The cuts didn’t stop.

One.

Two.

Ten.

I lost count somewhere in between. All I knew was the pain never ended. By the time it was over, my body was covered in blood. My vision was blurry, everything spinning.

I couldn’t feel my fingers anymore. I couldn’t even tell if I was still breathing properly. And then… everything went black again.

…

When I woke up, I was in a hospital room. My thigh was wrapped in thick gauze, blood still seeping through, and every tiny movement hurt like hell. I just stared at the ceiling, not feeling much anymore, silently counting down the days. Five more days. That’s all I had to wait. Five more days, and I’d finally be free from him.

I spent the next few days barely moving, just resting and trying to heal. Bernard didn’t show up once. It was like the cold war had returned, the one where we barely acknowledged each other and didn’t interfere.

Four days later, the nurse told me I could leave. Supporting my weak body, I got out of bed, grabbed my things, and started toward the exit.

As I passed one of the rooms, Ingrid’s voice floated out, sweet and teasing.

“Dad, Mom, I’m fine now. Thanks to Bernard for taking care of me these past few days. Oh, and I forgot to introduce him. He’s my boss and also my boyfriend.”

Through the half-open door, I saw Bernard holding her hand, his expression gentle. “It’s my duty to take care of you. You can trust me with Ingrid, Mr. and Mrs. Delaney. I’ll protect her for the rest of my life.”

Her mother’s smile stretched across her face. “Good, good, good. Ingrid’s lucky to have a boyfriend like you.”

I felt something twist in my chest. Those words dragged me straight back to the past, to the day Bernard came to my parents’ house to propose. He had said almost the same thing to them about me. “Mr. and Mrs. Emberlight, please entrust Naomi to me. I’ll protect her for the rest of my life.”

Now, he was giving the same promises but to her.

I swallowed the bitter laugh that wanted to escape and walked out of the hospital. My face was blank, but inside, I felt a strange weight lifting.

...

The next day, Bernard came home. He went upstairs, took a quick shower, and changed into a casual but sharp outfit. He stopped by the door before leaving. “I’ll be on a business trip for a few days. I’ll bring you a gift when I get back.”

He leaned in, like he wanted to kiss my forehead.

I stepped back slightly, forcing my voice calm. “Okay, go ahead.”

He paused, frowning slightly, sensing something, but didn’t press it. He just smiled and left.

The second he was gone, I grabbed my bag and left too. I went straight to the courthouse downtown. My heart pounded as I got the divorce papers. One copy went in my bag, the other was mailed to MacAllister Group.

I broke the SIM card in half before getting on the bus, feeling lighter than I had in years.

From that moment on, I was no longer Mrs. MacAllister. I was just me.