Hearing Lex's message from the nurse, Gracie and Nicholas nearly collapsed. They lost all strength and slumped to the ground, mumbling incoherently, "Please, I beg you... I know you can save him. Whatever it costs, we'll pay... Lex is our only son!"

Watching the two elderly figures crumpled on the floor, I felt a brief flicker of hesitation.

My parents passed away when I was young, and I dropped out of school before finishing elementary.

Lex had been my childhood companion—we'd known each other since we were kids. If Gracie and Nicholas hadn't been kind enough to take me in temporarily, I'd probably have ended up in an orphanage, fighting over scraps with a pack of stray kids.

Gracie and Nicholas were good people. They never gave me less to eat because I was an outsider. Later, when distant relatives tried to snatch the house my parents had left me, it was Gracie and Nicholas who fought the case on my behalf, driving those people away.

Gracie had held my hand back then, her voice warm but firm. "A girl must have her own home," she had said. "That's how she'll stand tall in the world."

She had also told me that girls needed an education to avoid being trampled by society. They tightened their belts, willing to eat less themselves, just to ensure both Lex and I stayed in school.

And Lex—he was always kind to me. As a child, he'd promised to marry me. Later, when I became his first love, no matter how many girls admired him, he never glanced their way.

When we secretly got married, many of his relatives mocked us. They sneered that I was an orphan, an illiterate nobody. They didn't bother hiding their contempt.

Nicholas had been furious. He had even cut ties with those relatives on the spot. "Samantha grew up under my watch," he thundered. "I know exactly what kind of person she is! You lot are nothing but dogs spitting nonsense. Get lost!"

I was deeply moved. Even my biological parents had never treated me with such fierce protection.

From that day, I vowed to take good care of Lex and repay his parents for their kindness with everything I had.

But…

The thought broke, like a fragile thread snapping in my mind. I stared blankly at Gracie and Nicholas, weeping on the floor. My gaze shifted away quickly—I couldn't bring myself to keep looking.

Dr. Henley finally helped Gracie and Nicholas to their feet. He reassured them, "Don't worry. Even if Samantha refuses to help, I'll save him! I'll do everything it takes to save your son!"

He turned to me, his eyes blazing with disgust.

"Without you, I'll still save him! Compared to money, a human life is far more valuable. Samantha, you're a monster!"

With those words, he strode into the emergency room without hesitation, leaving the air crackling with his righteous indignation.

Inwardly, I applauded.

Ah, what a virtuous doctor. How noble, how self-sacrificing. Truly the stuff of tear-jerking melodramas. How touching.

Still shaken, I prepared to leave this suffocating place. But before I could take a step, an enraged bystander emerged out of nowhere and landed a punch squarely on my face.

"You vicious woman! The most toxic poison is a woman's heart! You're a snake in human skin—beautiful but rotten to the core. Today, I'm going to be justice itself and rid the world of you!"

They kicked my abdomen, again and again, until the world around me spun and blurred.

Then came a final blow, hard and deliberate, striking the back of my head. A low groan escaped me before everything dissolved into darkness.

The sharp, sterile smell of disinfectant pulled me out of unconsciousness.

I opened my eyes to find myself in an empty, stark-white hospital room. Outside the door, I could hear the faint voices of nurses murmuring.

"Dr. Henley's incredible skills saved Mr. Hampton's life…"

"Didn't you hear? His heroic act is trending online. The hospital even gave him a raise and recognition from the higher-ups!"

"But do you think Dr. Warhol will get fired over this? After all, it caused such a big scene…"

Their voices faded as they moved away from the door.

My face darkened, but a soft laugh escaped my lips.

Lex, you got lucky this time.

But as long as I'm alive, this isn't over.

I struggled out of bed, clutching my still-throbbing stomach and head. My movements were clumsy, but determination pushed me forward as I staggered toward Lex's ward.

Before I could get far, a doctor on duty blocked my path, his eyes filled with disdain.

"Your injuries aren't healed yet. Go back and rest," he said curtly.

I sneered. "I'm fine. Don't try to stop me."

He sighed, his tone softening. "What you did… no human would do something like that. But here's a piece of advice: don't go now."

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Your actions have gone viral. There are people out there who want to kill you. You'd be walking straight into danger—

"Hey! Where are you going?!"

I ignored him, pressing forward.

When I reached Lex's room, I found it packed with people. The hospital director stood front and center, handing a custom-made banner of gratitude from Gracie and Nicholas to Dr. Henley.

Dr. Henley stood tall, beaming with pride, his face glowing with satisfaction.

Without acknowledging anyone, I stepped into the room.

For a moment, silence fell over everyone.

Lex, propped weakly against the headboard, forced an awkward smile. "Samantha, you're here. What happened to your face? Does it hurt?"

I cut him off, my voice laced with impatience and disdain. "What kind of pathetic show are you putting on? It's disgusting."

Lex's smile faltered. His tone turned firmer. "Samantha, let's talk about this later. Reporters are coming to interview us soon. Can't you stop making a scene?"

Ignoring him, I placed my phone in the center of the room, its camera already streaming live. Comments flooded the screen, each one more vicious than the last.

"This stream is actually from that bitch?! Unbelievable. Don't give her any attention, people!"

"Why aren't you dead yet? Seriously, the wrong person fell down those stairs."

"First, she tried to kill her husband, and now she's harassing Dr. Henley? Someone end this psycho already!"

A faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Perfect. This was exactly the reaction I wanted.

I turned to the room, my voice calm but deliberate. "No need to bother with reporters. I've already set up a live broadcast for you all."

Lex's face grew darker. "Samantha, what are you trying to do?"

Excitement surged through me, and I gestured animatedly in his direction.

"Lex, have you ever wondered why I chose to endure all the insults, all the hatred, just to refuse to save you?"

He stared at me, bewildered, and shook his head.

The viewership count climbed to 100,000.

Perfect.

My smile widened, spreading across my face like a crack in glass.

"Because only by doing this can I make sure the whole world sees the truth about you and your precious family."

I laughed, the sound sharp and electric, filling the room.

"The show is just beginning."