I Saved the Man Who Betrayed Me

Ten years ago, I saved Tristan from his drunken father's beating—but the wine bottle he swung landed squarely on my eye and ear.

He cried as he thanked me, promising he would take responsibility for me for the rest of his life.

I was unconscious for three days. When I woke up, both my ears were deaf, my vision blurry, and a deep, jagged scar ran down my arm.

To prove his devotion, Tristan tattooed a matching scar and my name on his own arm.

In the ruthless world of business, he rose quickly, becoming the powerful and wealthy Attorney Martinez. And through it all, he stayed by my side, helping me through ten long years of treatments and surgeries.

At our wedding, he promised there would only ever be "widowhood, never divorce" between us.

One night, he got drunk at a celebration. The moment I received the call, I rushed from the hospital straight to the bar. But when I arrived, he suddenly yanked off my hearing aid.

"Jasmine, if I say this out loud, you have to be willing to admit defeat."

A soft voice answered from the shadows. "Of course."

It was Jasmine—Tristan's greatest rival and also his business partner.

Tristan's voice was gentle, but the words he said slithered out like venomous snakes.

"Celine, if it weren't for you back then, my father's million-dollar insurance payout would have already been settled. I wouldn't have had to struggle for all these years."

"If only you hadn't survived the rescue that day, I wouldn't have been stuck caring for a cripple for ten years. Every time I look at this tattoo, I feel sick..."

The crowd erupted into laughter, and Jasmine nodded with satisfaction.

Tristan looked triumphant as he turned and openly kissed her. "I'm traveling tomorrow. Will you stay with me tonight, Jasmine?"

She smiled and slipped a VIP room card into his hand with practiced ease.

When the party ended, Tristan gently put my hearing aid back on and massaged my tired eyes.

"Celine, don't come to bars anymore. The lights and noise aren't good for you."

Later that night, he sneaked out of the house.

I sat alone, clutching the medical report proving my recovery, and after a long silence, I drafted a divorce agreement.

I left my wedding ring and hearing aid on the table and booked a flight for a week later.

1

"Celine, if only you hadn't been saved that day, I wouldn't have had to take care of a disabled person for ten years just to maintain my reputation."

"Tattooing your name was the stupidest thing I've ever done."

Tristan's gentle expression remained unchanged as he spoke, and the entire room instantly erupted.

"Tristan is a real man. Ten years of charity care? I wouldn't last ten days."

"Too bad she can't hear. When her ears recover, you should whisper it to her. She'll cry for sure—another chance to play pitiful and win sympathy."

"Even if she did hear, what difference would it make? She's no better than a disabled person. Tristan is just kind enough to keep her."

Their mocking voices swarmed around me like flies.

My body felt as if all my bones had been snapped, and my bag slipped from my hand.

Inside was the gift I'd prepared for Tristan—the medical report announcing my full recovery.

I had planned to surprise him tonight. Instead, I heard the cruelest truth from him.

His words wrapped around me like snakes, tightening until my chest froze in agony.

My fingernails cut into my palms as the pain shot through my entire body.

I looked up at him, trying to speak, but no sound came out.

Seeing my trembling, voiceless attempt, the crowd burst into louder laughter.

Tristan merely toyed with my hearing aid and chuckled lazily.

"That's enough. Who told you all to mock her?"

"Celine is still my savior. I can say these things, but you're not allowed to say them to her face."

The laughter died instantly. No one dared another word.

So everything he said earlier... was just part of a truth-or-dare game?

From the corner of the room, a soft voice floated out.

"Atty. Martinez, I've really underestimated you."

A woman stepped into the spotlight—long, glossy hair, exquisite features dimmed only by fatigue.

Jasmine, the city's undefeated golden lawyer. Mysterious, powerful, and now attending a party hosted by her rival.

Tristan set down the hearing aid and cleared his throat.

"Since I dared to say this out loud, you have to be willing to admit defeat."

So it was just a dare.

I almost sighed in relief—until the next moment made everyone gasp.

Tristan strode over, wrapped an arm around Jasmine's waist, bent his back, and kissed her deeply.

Before she could even tease him, he could no longer restrain himself.

"A bet's a bet, Jasmine. I'm traveling tomorrow. Your punishment is to stay with me tonight."

No one was surprised, and the party carried on.

Only I stood out like I didn't belong.

The music blurred. My mind went blank—silent as a dead world.

In this truth-or-dare game, the punishment was to hurt me without mercy. The reward was a kiss I had never once received.

Lights flickered overhead, and though my vision had fully recovered, everything in front of me became impossible to see.

My throat was too dry to make a sound.

Jasmine's gentle voice drifted past like a breeze.

"Get some rest early tonight."

She nestled into his arms, lazy and sweet.

Before leaving, she slipped another VIP room card into his suit pocket with practiced ease.

One look from her, and the crowd nodded knowingly.

Tristan smacked his lips, savoring her taste.

A glance from him and his assistant dimmed the music and softened the lights.

"Celine, you still haven't fully recovered."

He put my hearing aid back on with infinite gentleness, even smiling.

The others chimed in. "Celine, Tristan just said the cheesiest love confessions. It gave us goosebumps!"

"He treats you so well—truly devoted!"

My eyes were already full of tears.

In the car, I rested my head on Tristan's lap as he gently massaged my eyes.

"Celine, don't come to bars again. They're bad for your eyes."

Slowly, I whispered, "Tristan... if I had died on that operating table that day... what kind of life would you be living now?"