04
It wasn’t long before Maria showed up at the hospital, carrying a bag of fruit.
Her expression was cautious as she approached my bedside. “I’m sorry, Ryan,” she said softly. “I really didn’t know your allergy was this serious. I thought it was just a harmless prank.”
Though disgust churned in my stomach, I decided not to expose her yet.
Instead, I reached out and took her hand, my voice gentle and calm. “It’s okay. I’ve never blamed you.”
you.”
paused, giving her a look of feigned sincerity. “No matter what you’ve done, I’ll always love
Her eyes lit up instantly, and she clasped my hands tightly in hers.
“Really? That’s wonderful! Then… I have a small request.”
Her tone turned sweet as she continued, “A friend of mine recently started a business, but he’s struggling financially.
You made a fortune during your time overseas. Why don’t we invest all of it into his
company?
He promised me it’s profitable. We’re bound to make a lot of money!”
I mentally rolled my eyes.
Ah, so this was about money again.
“Let me guess,” I said dryly, “this ‘friend‘ wouldn’t happen to be Hector, would it?”
Her face darkened instantly.
L
“Maria,” I said, my voice sharp with disdain, “you’ve already stolen someone else’s credit and now you want my money too? You’ve truly perfected the art of shamelessness.
But my money is for the person who actually saved me. You and Hector? You don’t deserve a
dime.
There was a loud thud as the half–peeled apple she was holding fell to the floor.
Her panic was palpable as she clung to my sleeve. “Ryan, what are you talking about? What do you mean by ‘stolen credit“?”
I’d had enough. Shoving her away, I glared at her with icy resolve.
“Don’t play dumb. Five years ago, the person who saved me wasn’t you. It was a doctor
named Elena!
You’ve fooled me for years. What’s the point of playing dumb now?”
I didn’t wait for her to respond before pulling out the divorce papers I had prepared earlier
and throwing them at her feet.
“Sign them. Now.”
Maria’s face crumpled as she sank to the floor, staring at the bold words on the document.
“Ryan, please, don’t do this,” she begged, tears streaming down her face.
I know I was wrong. I’ll never do anything like this again. We still have feelings for each other,
don’t we?”
11:59 Tue, 1/ Dec
you.
Her eyes lit up instantly, and she clasped my hands tightly in hers.
“Really? That’s wonderful! Then… I have a small request.”
Her tone turned sweet as she continued, “A friend of mine recently started a business, but
he’s struggling financially.
You made a fortune during your time overseas. Why don’t we invest all of it into his
company?
He promised me it’s profitable. We’re bound to make a lot of money!”
I mentally rolled my eyes.
Ah, so this was about money again.
“Let me guess,” I said dryly, “this ‘friend‘ wouldn’t happen to be Hector, would it?”
Her face darkened instantly.
“Maria,” I said, my voice sharp with disdain, “you’ve already stolen someone else’s credit and now you want my money too? You’ve truly perfected the art of shamelessness.
But my money is for the person who actually saved me. You and Hector? You don’t deserve a
dime.”
There was a loud thud as the half–peeled apple she was holding fell to the floor.
Her panic was palpable as she clung to my sleeve. “Ryan, what are you talking about? What do you mean by ‘stolen credit‘?”
I’d had enough. Shoving her away, I glared at her with icy resolve.
“Don’t play dumb. Five years ago, the person who saved me wasn’t you. It was a doctor
named Elena!
You’ve fooled me for years. What’s the point of playing dumb now?”
I didn’t wait for her to respond before pulling out the divorce papers I had prepared earlier and throwing them at her feet.
“Sign them. Now.”
Maria’s face crumpled as she sank to the floor, staring at the bold words on the document. “Ryan, please, don’t do this,” she begged, tears streaming down her face.
“I know I was wrong. I’ll never do anything like this again. We still have feelings for each other,
don’t we?”
‘Feelings?” I scoffed coldly. “The only feelings you’ve ever had are tied to personal gain. You’ve been lying to me for years, and now you think a few tearful words will fix everything?”
As if on cue, Elena entered the room, holding a clipboard.
Maria’s expression darkened the moment she saw her name tag.
“Ryan, I need to run some tests, Elena said briskly, glancing at Maria. “Visitors should leave.” The checkup didn’t take long, and before I could ask for her number, Elena had already
hurried off.
To my surprise, Maria had also vanished.
Later, I headed to the parking garage with my assistant. In a dimly lit corner, Elena was
11:59 Tue, 17 Dec
You’ve been lying to me for years, and now you think a fow tearful words will fix everything?”
As if on cue, Elena entored the room, holding a clipboard.
Maria’s expression darkened the moment she saw her name tag.
“Ryan, I need to run some tests,” Elona sald briskly, glancing at Maria. “Visitors should leave.”
The checkup didn’t take long, and before I could ask for her number, Elena had already
hurried off.
To my surprise, Maria had also vanished.
Later, I headed to the parking garage with my assistant. In a dimly lit corner, Elena was surrounded by several people.
A woman stood among them, her voice loud and venomous.
“Elena! You shameless little snake,” Maria sneered. “You’ve been running your mouth too much. It’s time you learned a lesson.”
Then next second, the men closed in.
Acting on instinct, I grabbed my shoe and hurled it at the group, startling them momentarily. My assistant quickly stepped in, skillfully subduing them one by one.
In the shadows, I found Elena trembling, her face pale, while Maria stood frozen, her eyes.
filled with dread.
“Ryan, it’s not what it looks like,” Maria stammered. “I was just…”
“Save it,” I cut her off sharply, tossing the divorce papers to the ground at her feet. “Sign them.
Now.
“And if you don’t,” I added, my tone icy, “I’ll take this straight to court.
Let’s not forget that your three kids are all the evidence I need to prove your infidelity.”
Maria’s teary gaze met mine, silently pleading for compassion.
But I wasn’t moved. My focus was on Elena, ensuring she was safe. Realizing I wouldn’t back down, Maria finally signed the papers.
That night, she packed her things and left my house with her entourage.
