Samantha stared at me through the screen, momentarily stunned.

Beside her, Nicholas kept adding fuel to the fire, shaking his head with exaggerated seriousness.

"Divorce? Henry must simply be saying that in a fit of anger. After all, it wasn't easy for him to gain the wealth he has today."

Hearing that, Samantha scoffed, frustrated at herself for almost falling for my "trick".

"Henry, you broke bastard, are you thinking of divorcing me so you can get some of my wealth? Well, the only thing you'll be leaving with is the clothes on your back!"

She then turned to the black-clad man standing beside the surgical table and said sternly, "Turn the lights brighter! He dares to scorn me for being impure? Then I'll make sure he becomes thoroughly impure!"

The surgical lights above me abruptly brightened several notches, forcing me to squint against the piercing glare.

As the mask-clad "surgeon" raised his scalpel, the light danced off the blade in a cold gleam.

I instinctively shut my eyes, my body trembling violently. The anesthesia had dulled my senses and slowed my reaction time, but even so, I couldn't stop myself from shaking in extreme fear.

Next to the "surgeon" sat a newly disinfected organ storage box. Under the harsh lighting, the condensation beading on its surface was particularly visible.

By now, it was already late into the night. Samantha ordered the live stream to cut into a close-up of me, bringing my pale face and terrified eyes into stark focus.

"He's shaking like a leaf! Is this really just an act?"

"I think so? This can't possibly be real, right?"

"Dr. Sonnet sure is cruel to strike him right where it hurts."

"The anesthesia doesn't seem to have fully worn off yet, but they're going to start harvesting his organs in about ten seconds or so, aren't they?"

I struggled against the restraints around my wrists, my nails scrabbling against the metal table with an unpleasant screech.

They were all waiting for me to plead for mercy so they could strip me of everything I was worth.

With faux sincerity, Nicholas coaxed me.

"Henry, it's really not that big a deal to me if you don't want my name on the surgical atlas. However, you should at least show Samantha where you stand."

He had barely finished speaking when the scalpel was lowered closer to me, its sharp edge hovering ominously over my abdomen like the Grim Reaper's scythe, ready to fall at any moment.

Suddenly, the restraint around my wrist gave way.

Seizing this chance, I raised a hand to grab the scalpel, but another man in black seized my arm and pinned me back onto the table.

The icy chill of the surgical table seeped into my bones as the anesthesia drained all strength from my limbs. The only thing I had left was a conscious mind, steeped in despair.

I could barely open my eyes against the harsh lighting, so all I could do was listen to the grinding of machinery.

Samantha's voice rang out from the speakers once more.

"Henry, where's your moral high ground now? Once the doctor slices you open, your kidney will be removed. I'd love to see how you'll maintain that disgustingly pretentious attitude then!"

In a tone dripping with fake concern, Nicholas chimed in.

"Henry, stop acting tough! Just admit your mistakes and apologize to Samantha! Agree to hand over the backup copy and credit only me. Then admit in the live stream that you were wrong for deliberately setting me up and adding mistakes to my diagnostic plan.

"If you do, Samantha will halt this operation immediately, and I'll forgive you like the magnanimous man I am. I won't even pursue the matter of you almost destroying my career and plans."

Samantha abruptly cut him off, her voice shrill as she screamed.

"Henry Jenner, I thought you were jealous of Nicholas, and that was why you often instigated the other staff members to ostracize him. Never did I imagine you'd be so rotten to the core!

"Do you have any idea how many lives depended on that diagnostic plan? How dare you sabotage it in secret?"

I bit my lower lip hard. They were forcefully pushing the blame for something I hadn't done onto me, and to "teach me a lesson", my wife was subjecting me to this illegal organ harvesting operation and was even broadcasting it.

"Get ready to start," she ordered coldly.

The "surgeon" pressed the scalpel against my waist, the icy sting of the blade making me shiver.

The live stream chat, open only to special members, was alive with chatter.

Up on the observation deck, the other people in the room with Samantha spoke in low, excited murmurs.

"Dr. Sonnet, this is truly an amazing idea! Live harvesting of an organ… The sheer shock value alone will make our live stream explode with popularity!"

Someone who looked like an assistant stepped forward with their phone, pressing it tightly against the one-way glass to capture every flicker of terror crossing my face.

"Henry Jenner, do you realize how serious the consequences are now? Hurry up and beg Dr. Sonnet for mercy! Otherwise, once the anesthesia wears off, you'll feel the full sensation of being cut open alive!"

As that person spoke, I felt the faint sensation of my skin being cut open. The sharp pain that followed was the final straw, shattering all my mental defenses.

Yet what hurt even more than the physical pain was the bone-chilling realization that Samantha would truly go this far for Nicholas' sake.

I lay there, feeling my life slowly slipping away as I waited for my organs to be harvested. The anesthesia and fear clouded my mind, turning both my vision and thoughts hazy.

At last, some people in the live stream began to feel uneasy.

"Is this for real? That guy's life is at stake!"

"Isn't this going too far? This isn't just a punishment anymore. It's a serious crime!"

The people on the observation deck also seemed worried that things might go awry.

"Dr. Sonnet, his vital signs are starting to drop. If this continues…"

Staring at my colorless face on the monitor, Samantha replied frostily, "He's incredibly tough, so this won't be enough to kill him! If it weren't for his endless greed and hostility toward Nicholas, he wouldn't have ended up in this situation. This is just a little punishment. If he survives it, then that's his fate. If he dies, then it's well-deserved!"

By now, many netizens were urging me to submit and beg for mercy. But I hadn't done anything wrong. So why should I?

With the last remaining dregs of my willpower, I started to struggle once more. Mustering all the strength I could, I rammed the so-called surgeon's arm away, causing the scalpel to drop to the ground with a clatter.

I ripped off some of the sensors monitoring my vitals and, before anyone could react, rolled off the surgical table. Using the wall for support, I yanked away the rest of the wires.

Not a hint of submission was in my gaze as I turned to look straight at the cameras.

Blood seeped from my wound, sliding down my skin to form a small puddle of bright red at my feet.

The live stream chat fell momentarily silent, everyone astounded at the turn of events. Moments later, the comments came flooding in again.

"That gaze is utterly ruthless! He genuinely doesn't seem to fear death!"

"Dr. Sonnet, things are going out of control, aren't they? Not only is he refusing to beg, but he's even throwing threats around!"

"Who said he was shocked silly just now? He clearly looks ready to fight to the death for his freedom!"

The laughter from the observation deck abruptly ceased.

Gripping the microphone so tightly her fingers turned white, Samantha hollered, "Henry, don't take my kindness for granted! It's still not too late for you to beg me now. If you stay this stubborn, what I'm about to release won't show any mercy!"

I found her words laughable. If I hadn't fought as though my life depended on it, I would already be bound to that surgical table and cut open like a fish!

"Samantha, we all know mercy was never on the table. All you want is to harvest my organs and take my life!"

Nicholas suddenly let out a mock gasp of surprise.

"Henry, why have you ripped off your patient gown?"

It was only then that everyone noticed what he was pointing out. In my struggle, the patient gown had slipped from my body; I was essentially naked. Only clotted blood and dust gave me the barest shred of modesty.

Samantha's face flushed a bright red.

"Henry, Nicholas once said it was in your nature to be obscene, but I hadn't believed him! You… You're practically naked in front of so many cameras! Don't you feel the slightest bit of shame?"

She disregarded my dignity entirely, continuing her barrage of harsh words.

"Was this your plan all along? To use such a method to seduce others? What? Did the feeling of being tied to an icy surgical table and cut open excite you? How obscene of you!"

Rage boiled in me at her words, and I bellowed at the one-way glass.

"Samantha Sonnet, what did I ever do to you? Without me supporting you from the shadows all these years, your hospital would've gone bankrupt long ago! You, of all people, have no right to accuse me of anything!"

Five years! For five entire years, I had secretly helped her by using my resources, even though she never knew. Even a dog would've formed a bond with someone in that time!

Samantha's face briefly contorted, but then she scoffed.

"Help me? What else have you ever given me, other than that surgical atlas? Back then, you were just a broke nobody with nothing to your name! Don't think you have the right to negotiate with me now! And stop trying to gild yourself!"

Nicholas gleefully exacerbated the situation.

"Samantha, maybe the anesthesia hasn't worn off yet, or maybe Henry is just under immense psychological pressure. That's why he's starting to hallucinate and speak nonsense."

The others in the observation room were quick to agree.

"This Henry guy really is quite tough, huh?"

"I honestly thought he wasn't going to make it. Who would've expected that it was all an act?"

Thoroughly infuriated, Samantha seethed. "Seems like you still don't understand your predicament and won't change unless drastic measures are taken!"

Nicholas' voice came over the speakers, tinged with a hint of exaggerated fear, though there was no hiding the excitement in his tone.

"Samantha, don't you think that's a little too much? After all, Henry—"

Scoffing, Samantha raised a hand and interrupted him. "He certainly didn't think it was too much when he edited your diagnostic plan and ruined your future, nor did he care when your family was in dire straits. Release them!"

Her last two words were barked straight into the microphone as an order.

Immediately, a rusted metal door at the side of the operating room was opened electronically, the gears screeching with friction. Not one, but many dark blurs shot out of the darkness, growling and barking madly.

The dogs' eyes were completely bloodshot, and viscous drool hung from their jaws. They seemed entirely out of their minds as they charged at the only target in the room—me!

The live stream chat went into an uproar.

"Oh fuck! Those are dogs!"

"There's something off about them! Are they rabid?"

"Dr. Sonnet is truly going beyond cruel! Dogs that have contracted rabies? That guy is doomed with just one bite!"

"Everyone, look at his reaction!"

Even without the reminders, I felt as though my heart was about to leap out of my chest. A primal fear swiftly coursed through me.

Those dogs had clearly been driven mad by starvation, pain, and disease. They bared their fangs, abnormal amounts of drool clinging to their lips, their eyes locked onto me.

The largest among them, a wolfdog, suddenly pounced, menacing growls ripping from its throat.

Not only was Samantha trying to humiliate me, but she was even hoping I would contract rabies and suffer a slow, agonizing death.

My survival instincts kicked in, drowning out everything else. I threw myself to the side, crashing into the cement floor and narrowly avoiding the first snap of the rabid dog's jaws. The pain of slamming into the hard ground tore a grunt from my throat.

Samantha's cold laughter drifted over the speakers, loud and clear.

"Now you're scared, huh? Henry, haven't you always acted all high and mighty, as though everything were filthy and beneath you? Well, how does it feel to be rolling around with those diseased mutts?"

Landing on empty air, the dog swiftly spun around and crouched to prepare for another strike, drool dripping onto the ground. I could see its muscles clenching and tightening, its gaze never leaving me.

"Those are definitely symptoms of rabies! There's no hope for him now!"

Comments scrolled across the screen relentlessly. Some netizens were terrified on my behalf, but most were thirsting for blood, eagerly cheering the dogs on.

When Samantha spoke again, I could hear her relishing the cruelty.

"Henry, you'll suffer a fate worse than death if you get even one bite from them! If you beg me now, I can still have my men lure them away. However, any later, and not even God can save you!"

The pack of rabid dogs closed in until I could smell the disgusting stench of rot and filth.

I curled up in a corner and held my breath, trying to make myself as small a target as possible. All the while, my eyes remained locked on the pack leader.

It stopped several steps away and tilted its head, almost as if it were debating where to bite me.

Samantha's voice blared over the speakers again, her tone now manic.

"Henry, beg me! All you need to do is beg me, and I'll let you live!"

Her loud voice served only to agitate the pack leader; it let out a chilling howl before leaping toward me again.

With my back pressed against the cold wall, I had nowhere left to retreat.

Just as despair threatened to overwhelm me—and I debated using my arm to shield myself—the heavy steel door of the operating room collapsed inward with a tremendous boom. Immediately after, a short burst of gunfire rang out.

The pack leader was in mid-jump when its heart and head exploded into a bloody mess. It slammed into the ground, twitching twice before falling still.

Meanwhile, the rest of the pack were swiftly shot to death or captured by the men in black uniforms who swarmed into the room.

In an instant, the smell of gunpowder masked the metallic scent of blood and the dogs' stench.

A familiar voice cut through the air, stern and filled with undeniable authority.

"He doesn't need to beg anyone!"