Chapter 3

Watching Ryan's arrogant face, I lost all control.

I pushed myself up and slammed my body into him with all my remaining strength.

Vivian's phone flew out of her hand and shattered on the ground.

Ryan reacted quickly. He threw a heavy punch, knocking me down instantly.

Years of taking heavy antidepressants had left me weak and reclusive. I was no match for Ryan.

He rained punches down on my face.

The cartoon mask shattered, the sharp plastic shards slicing deep into my skin. In seconds, my face was a bloody mess.

Even if I took off the mask now, Vivian wouldn't be able to recognize me.

But Ryan didn't stop. He was venting seven years of jealousy and rage onto me.

"What? You think you can challenge me?!"

"I've stayed in the shadows for seven years! I was looking for a way to make my name known!"

"Even if I beat you to death today, it'll only make me famous. I won't lose a thing!"

My consciousness began to fade. The taste of blood filled my mouth.

I felt several teeth break loose, and I swallowed them with the blood.

Vivian screamed for him to stop, but Ryan ignored her.

Suddenly, hospital security guards broke through the crowd, shouting, "Stop! Step back!"

Ryan finally let go of my collar.

He casually smoothed his sleeves and pulled Vivian into his arms.

"This is Vivian Sterling, your boss. And in case you don't know me, I am her future husband, Ryan Vance."

Since this hospital belonged to Vivian's corporation, everyone knew her husband was Ethan, not Ryan.

With plastic shards cutting my tongue, I couldn't make a sound.

I weakly reached out a hand, begging the guards for help.

The security guards knew me. During my worst depressive episodes, I had been in and out of this hospital.

They used to look at me with sympathy and pity.

"Mr. Sterling, Ms. Sterling loves you so much. You have to stay strong, or she'll fall apart."

With their support back then, I had slowly dragged myself out of the dark.

I desperately hoped they would recognize me now.

Instead, the security captain immediately put on a flattering smile for Ryan.

"Mr. Vance! I'm so sorry, I didn't recognize you. I shouldn't have interfered."

Then, he lowered his voice, whispering to Ryan, "By the way, Mr. Vance... I heard that Ethan guy is basically a walking corpse now. Are you and Ms. Sterling finally tying the knot?"

Ryan raised his chin proudly.

"Within six months, I'll have Ethan thrown out of the Sterling estate."

The guard showered him with congratulations.

Then, he looked down at me, coughing blood on the floor, with utter disgust.

"Selling fake products in our hospital and getting a well-deserved lesson from Mr. Vance."

"Throw him out. Don't let him ruin Ms. Sterling's mood."

Several guards dragged me up, completely ignoring the blood dripping from my face.

My phone slipped out of my pocket and landed in a puddle of blood, unnoticed.

I reached out weakly, trying to grab Vivian's hem, wanting her to look at me. To see who I was.

But before I could touch her, Ryan kicked my hand away.

I coughed up a mouthful of dark blood, staining the polished floor.

The guards threw me out of the glass doors onto the concrete.

"Get lost! If we see you here again, we'll beat you half to death!"

I dragged myself up, swaying on my feet as I walked away from the hospital.

Leaving a trail of blood behind me with every step.

...

Inside the hospital, Ryan took Vivian's hand.

"This is going to hit the news by this afternoon anyway. Let's use this chance to call Ethan and demand a divorce."

Vivian took a deep breath, preparing herself, and dialed Ethan's number.

Suddenly, a familiar ringtone echoed nearby.

Vivian froze.

Because the sound was coming from right next to her.

She followed the sound and saw a phone lying in the pool of blood where the "mascot" had been beaten.

The screen was flashing in the blood. The caller ID read: "Wife."

Vivian pushed Ryan away, her body stiffening as she picked up the bloody phone.

She started shaking violently, her face turning pale as a sheet.

"No... No... This can't be..."

Ryan's face paled too, but he tried to play it cool.

"How could that be Ethan? He's always locked up at home. He never goes out."

Vivian shoved Ryan to the floor and ran frantically toward the hospital entrance.

Suddenly, she fell to her knees, clutching her head, and let out a blood-curdling scream.

"No!!!"