Chapter 1

It took me three years to thaw the frozen heart of Theo, the Mafia's top surgeon, just to marry him.

To be his wife, I shut down my documentary studio and locked my Best Director trophy from the independent film festival inside a drawer.

I was willing to put away my camera and stay in the shadows as the woman behind the Family's chief surgeon.

After he said having a kid in this business was a death sentence, I went to a clinic the very next day and got an IUD.

Everyone in our circle was absolutely certain that we would be the perfect power couple.

But today, on our fifth wedding anniversary, I decided to get a divorce.

My lawyer was my best friend, Jade. She twirled her pen before stopping.

"Are you out of your mind? You threw away the title of North America's best independent director for him back then, and now you are telling me you want a divorce?"

I swallowed the bitter ache in my chest. "Just draft the divorce papers for me. As soon as possible."

She frowned. "But why, Harper?"

I looked at the black velvet gift box on the dining table. Inside lay a carefully preserved peony.

After a long hesitation, I gave her my answer.

"Because of a flower."

Chapter 1

It took me three years to warm the heart of Theo, the Family's chief surgeon.

I gave up the title of North America's best independent director for him. I even got an IUD simply because he said having a kid in this lifestyle was a death sentence.

In everyone's eyes, we were an unbreakable couple. But on our fifth anniversary, I asked my lawyer best friend to draft divorce papers as quickly as possible.

She was shocked that I would give up the marriage I had sacrificed everything for. I looked at the exquisite gift box on the table and smiled bitterly. "Because of a peony."

I was actually happy when I first received this box today.

I thought Theo had finally come to his senses and prepared an anniversary surprise for me.

But when I flipped open the card at the bottom of the box, the smile on my face completely froze.

Thank you for breaking the rules to save my cousin using the Family's clinics. I picked this peony myself. I think it suits "us" perfectly. I hope you think of me when you see it. Yours, Isla.

My grip loosened. The gift box hit the floor, and the dark red peony rolled far away, its delicate petals scattering across the ground.

Three years ago, my father suffered from heart failure.

The doctors said he needed immediate surgery and that the best surgeon needed to act fast.

Theo was the best surgeon in the entire city. He also controlled the Family's clandestine medical network, complete with the fastest ambulances and the best-equipped operating rooms.

With red eyes, I begged Theo. I begged him to save my dad.

What did he say?

"Outsiders are not allowed to use Family resources. This is the rule set by the Don. As the chief surgeon, I must uphold it."

Later, my dad died in a crowded, run-down public hospital.

That became a wound I could never heal from for the rest of my life.

So many times I woke up in the middle of the night, picturing my father's cold tombstone, muffling my sobs in the blanket until I fell asleep.

I convinced myself over and over again that I couldn't hate Theo.

He was the chief surgeon. He had his Family's stance and the ironclad rules he had to defend.

It wasn't until today that I realized rules could be broken and boundaries could be crossed.

It was just that I, Harper, wasn't worthy of it.

Hanging up Jade's phone call, I swept the entire exquisite candlelit dinner on the table into the trash can.

I opened my laptop and typed a few words into the search bar: North American desert rally routes.

Wind, sand, canyons, and roaring engines stretching all the way to the end of the wilderness.

I had once made a promise to my father that, in our lifetime, we would drive an off-road vehicle, bring our cameras, and shoot a documentary about the wild open road.

After my father passed away, Theo kissed my forehead to comfort me and promised he would fulfill that journey with me.

But that year, he had just taken over the medical lifeline of the entire Mafia family.

Turf wars, assassinations, emergency surgeries. He came home every day reeking of heavy blood, without even a moment to close his eyes.

Seeing him suffer stomach cramps from back-to-back surgeries broke my heart.

So I gave up the major film festival awards that were practically in my hands, transforming from a promising documentary director into Mrs. Theo.

That year, two top Hollywood production companies came to my door with contracts, and I turned them down single-handedly.

Later, Theo became the most sought-after surgeon in both the legitimate and underworld scenes on the East Coast. No one in the Family dared to show him anything less than utter respect.

I once thought my sacrifices were worth it.

Looking back now, I only found it ridiculous.

The sound of the fingerprint lock chimed, interrupting my thoughts.

Theo was back.

He took off his trench coat, draped it over the back of a chair, and glanced at the empty dining table. His brows tightened.

"You didn't cook?"

I stared at the off-road vehicle price quotes on the screen without even lifting my head.

His frown deepened.

"You stay at home every day. Can you really be more tired than me?"

Before I could answer, his phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID and picked it up in a second.

"What's wrong?"

A soft, breathless female voice came through the phone.

Theo's tense jawline visibly relaxed, and the corners of his mouth even curved up slightly.

"Don't panic. I'll be right there."

I could faintly hear the cheering of a few mob bosses in the background.

"Miss Isla needs a rescue again."

"Hurry up, Doc. Our beautiful supplier is terrified of these brutes."

A wave of relaxed laughter echoed, laced with a flirtatious tone.

I, his legally wedded wife, felt more like an outsider who couldn't fit in.

Hanging up the phone, Theo grabbed the trench coat he had just taken off.

I spoke up. "Isla?"

His movement of buttoning his coat paused for a moment.

"There is an organ rejection issue at the underground clinic. She's the supplier, so she has to come to me for clearance. It's a matter of life and death, so don't let your imagination run wild."

With that, he turned and walked out.

I watched his tall, straight back.

I remembered how he had also left home in a hurry like this last week, claiming he was going out of state for a medical seminar and wouldn't be back for three days.

Only now did I understand that there was no seminar at all.

He had used the smuggling medical routes, flown all night, to save Isla's cousin, an outsider who took a bullet to the shoulder.

"Theo."

I called out to stop him.

He stopped at the entryway and looked back at me. "What is it?"

I looked straight into his deep eyes and asked softly, "Do you remember what day it is today?"

He barely even thought about it. "The anniversary of the South Side turf war?"

I smiled.

He had completely forgotten.

Today was our fifth wedding anniversary.

And from the looks of it now, it was also our last.

"Nothing."

I looked away, my tone completely devoid of emotion.

"Go do your work."

Theo looked at me, his brows slightly furrowed, as if sensing something.

After a long moment, he squeezed out a sentence.

"I'll come back and keep you company when I'm done. Want me to pick up some of that Italian food you like on the way?"

I shook my head.

"No need."

There would never be a need again.

After Theo left, I went alone to the Michelin-starred restaurant I had booked three months in advance.

The night was intoxicating, couples were embracing, leaving me to sit alone in the corner.

The waiter asked respectfully, "Ma'am, when will your husband be arriving?"

I took a sip of red wine. "He's not coming."

He would never come again.

After paying the bill, I called the car dealership.

"I want to order a high-performance rally car with a desert-grade suspension. Full payment, in cash."

The owner said it was in stock but would need a week for bulletproofing and performance modifications.

Countdown to my departure: 7 days. These seven days were enough for me to strip away this rotten relationship and end this messed-up marriage.

"I'll take that one. I'll pick it up next Saturday."

As I hung up, an email from Jade popped up. The divorce papers were ready.

I clicked it open, glanced at it, and replied with a quiet "Received."

She fell silent on the other end of the line for a moment before finally failing to hold back.

"Harper, you tied your whole life to him. Can you really bear to cut ties?"

I looked out at the city drowning in neon lights outside the window and asked her back.

"Jade, have you ever seen Theo ignore the Don's warnings and break the Family's deadly rules for someone?"

"No," she answered honestly.

"I have."

A bitter, self-deprecating smile touched my lips.

"But that person wasn't me."

Chapter 2

Just as I walked out of the restaurant and passed by the VIP area of an underground casino owned by the Family, the manager's flattering voice carried over.

"Dr. Theo, the private room you requested is ready. Right this way."

The name was deeply ingrained in me, and I stopped in my tracks.

It really was Theo.

Pressed right up against his side was Isla.

The two walked out of the exclusive corridor side by side.

Theo had already taken off his white coat. The cuffs of his black shirt were rolled up to his strong forearms, faintly revealing the tattoos that marked his rank. There was an unconcealable weariness between his brows.

Isla leaned against him, her face tilted up as she whispered something playfully.

Theo looked down, and a faint smile touched his lips.

I stood in the shadows watching this scene, my heart aching as if a dull knife were being dragged back and forth across it.

In the past, as soon as he walked through the door, I would go up to him and tell him all the interesting little things about my day.

He always wore a cold, dismissive look. Forget smiling, even a nod was treated as charity.

I always felt sorry for him and made excuses, thinking he was living in the line of fire and was just too tired.

Only now did I realize that no matter how tired he was, he could still smile.

It was just that his vibrancy never belonged to me.

"Harper?"

Isla had sharp eyes and saw me first. She walked over quickly, an innocent and surprised smile hanging on her perfectly made-up face.

"Why are you here all alone?"

I looked at her coldly and didn't make a sound.

She didn't mind at all and started explaining on her own.

"We had a massive emergency today. Too many bodies."

"Theo and I were stuck in the underground operating room for ten whole hours without even a sip of water."

"As soon as he washed his hands, he dragged me here, saying you wanted the special pasta from this place and that he absolutely had to get it packed up and take it back to you immediately."

With that, she turned to look at Theo, her eyes curving like crescent moons.

"Theo really spoils you, keeping even such a small detail in mind."

"I'm so jealous of you. I wish I had a man who loved me this much."

Loved me?

Would a man who truly loved me forget our fifth anniversary?

Would a man who truly loved me accompany another woman to this kind of VIP room at midnight?

Would a man who truly loved me risk breaking the rules to save someone else's cousin, yet stick to the rules and watch my dad die on the street?

I looked up at Isla, my voice kept extremely cold.

"Whether he loves me or not is none of your business."

Isla's smile faded, and she shrank back a step.

"I'm sorry. Did I say something wrong? I really just thought you two had a great relationship."

Her voice began to tremble, and her eyes turned red on cue.

Even though I hadn't uttered a single harsh word.

Theo took a quick step and blocked Isla behind him, completely cutting off my line of sight.

That instinctive, protective posture stung my eyes terribly.

"Harper, this is Family turf. Don't make a scene."

His voice suppressed a fire.

"You know perfectly well she didn't mean anything by it. Why do you insist on being as prickly as a hedgehog?"

"She is our supply connect. She waited outside the operating room all day today just to secure our equipment supply. Stop being unreasonable here."

The mob soldiers patrolling nearby also started whispering.

"The Doc's wife is crazy."

"The Chief surgeon just got off the table and was only thinking about bringing her food, and she's still not satisfied."

"Exactly. Miss Isla is a Capo's daughter. If she offends her and the medical supply line gets cut, then what?"

Right.

They were made men risking their lives for the Family, and Isla was a selfless business partner.

I was the only unreasonable, toxic woman.

I didn't want to waste any more time and turned to leave.

As I brushed past Theo, he grabbed my wrist.

That familiar warmth made my heart skip a beat.

But his next words plunged me into an ice cellar.

"Apologize to Isla."

I thought I misheard him.

"What did you say?"

"Your attitude just now embarrassed her. Her father is a Capo, and more importantly, the core of the Family's supply chain. Apologize."

I looked over his shoulder at Isla hiding behind him. She looked like a frightened fawn, as if a gust of wind would shatter her.

And my husband was using a defensive posture fit for an enemy, tightly gripping my wrist.

I suddenly felt this was absurd to the extreme.

"Theo, then you teach me. Which sentence of mine was wrong just now?"

"Do our private matters as husband and wife have a single damn thing to do with the Family's business interests, or with a medical supplier?"

I bit out the words "medical supplier" heavily.

Theo's Adam's apple bobbed, and he was actually choked up by my words, unable to speak.

After a long moment, he lowered his voice. "Her father is a Capo. All the Family's medical equipment comes through her line. Do you not understand what the big picture is?"

"Don't cause trouble for me at a critical time like this."

So that was it.

So he stood in front of her not to protect her, but to protect his own political position.

So our private matters as a married couple had long been outweighed by a medical supply chain.

I shook off his hand and just turned and walked away.

The cold midnight wind, carrying the scent of freedom, hit my face, instantly blowing away all the suffocation in my chest.

I suddenly realized that as long as I took this step, nothing could trap me anymore.

Back at the apartment, I turned on the printer.

The divorce papers spat out page by page, the paper still warm.

Before next Saturday, I would personally put an end to this farce.

Chapter 3

Without sleeping a wink all night, I locked myself in the walk-in closet, mechanically packing my luggage.

Only by keeping myself constantly busy could I suppress that dull, empty ache in my chest.

It wasn't until dawn broke that I dug out a sealed box from the deepest part of the storage room and found my dust-covered photography equipment.

I pressed the power button, and the viewfinder screen lit up with a faint glow.

In that exact second, a sharp ache hit the tip of my nose.

Thankfully, the camera wasn't broken. It wasn't too late for my life to start over, either.

Holding the camera and just walking back to the living room, my phone suddenly vibrated.

It was the realtor who specialized in high-security properties.

"Ms. Harper, regarding that mid-mountain villa you and Mr. Theo looked at last week, the owner has accepted our offer. If there are no issues, we can sign the papers next weekend."

I froze for half a beat, almost forgetting about this.

Recently, Theo had thoroughly purged internal rivals and secured his undisputed position as the chief surgeon.

He said the apartment was too small to fit his status and wanted to move to a single-family house with a basement and a private operating room.

He was the one who initiated the idea.

But from start to finish, touring houses, comparing layouts, handling the paperwork, and dealing with the accountants, I did it all myself.

He only barely made time to accompany me for one site visit.

That day, I pulled him up to the second floor and excitedly asked him what style he wanted for the master bedroom.

He kept his head down, scrolling on his phone, and gave a dismissive "Hmm." "You decide."

From the corner of my eye, I saw it clearly. I saw the chat window bouncing on his screen, and the avatar was Isla's.

Before we even finished touring the house, he was called away by a phone call.

Thinking of this, I spoke calmly. "We don't want that villa anymore."

"Huh? Has something changed? Mr. Theo was clearly very satisfied when he checked the security system back then."

I stroked the metal casing of the camera and let out an extremely light laugh.

"Because we are getting a divorce."

The other end of the line instantly fell dead silent.

I hung up before they could react.

By the time I stuffed the last trench coat into the trunk, the blazing sun was high in the sky.

I tossed the kraft paper envelope containing the divorce papers onto the passenger seat, stepped on the gas, and drove toward the Family's private medical center.

A five-year marriage could be ended with a few thin sheets of paper.

Clutched in my palm, they felt weightless, laughably absurd.

During the midday quiet hours, I figured Theo should be in his private lounge on the top floor and went straight up to knock on the door.

The door opened, but the person standing inside was Isla.

A flash of shock crossed her eyes. "Harper?"

I instinctively looked past the door, trying to find Theo.

She deliberately turned sideways, blocking my line of sight with her shoulder, and lowered her voice.

"Theo drained too much energy on the operating table last night and had to deal with a few old bosses this morning. He just fell asleep. Do you have an emergency?"

I stared at her.

Her long curly hair was a bit messy, and the collar of her silk shirt, whether intentionally or unintentionally, had two buttons undone.

And behind her was Theo's private sanctuary, where outsiders were absolutely forbidden to step foot.

My stomach violently churned, and my eyes stung sharply.

I gripped the file envelope in my hand tighter, forcing myself to pull my gaze back.

"I need him to sign something."

Isla glanced down at my envelope and smiled gently.

"Theo is really too tired. He finally managed to close his eyes, and I really can't bear to wake him up. How about you give it to me? I'll put it on his desk for you when he wakes up."

I instinctively wanted to refuse.

But the moment I thought about the divorce papers lying inside, I suddenly felt that I didn't want to see a single strand of Theo's hair right now.

So I directly slapped the file into her arms.

"Then please do."

I turned and walked away, my steps extremely fast.

But my mind raced, flashing back to that scene.

She was in his private space, keeping him company during his nap.

The atmosphere was so intimate, so matter-of-fact, as if she were the lady of the house.

The spasms in my stomach grew worse and worse.

I rushed all the way into the restroom at the end of the corridor, leaned over the edge of the marble sink, and dry-heaved.

My throat burned with acid, but I couldn't throw anything up.

I turned on the faucet, splashed cold water on my face haphazardly, and just as I pushed open the restroom door, a sharp, piercing cramp shot through my lower abdomen.

The corridor before my eyes instantly began to spin.

My legs gave out, and I crashed heavily onto the cold floor tiles.

When I opened my eyes again, my nasal cavity was filled with the smell of disinfectant.

A nurse saw me wake up and let out a long sigh of relief. "You're finally awake."

I propped myself up, my brain still foggy.

"What happened?"

The nurse handed a lab report right in front of my eyes, her expression grave.

"Ma'am, the test results confirm it. Your IUD shifted. It perforated your uterine wall and caused a massive infection."

"Why would you put this kind of thing inside yourself?"

Chapter 4

I gripped the paper, my knuckles turning white.

Why did I get an IUD?

Hah. Because of Theo, of course.

I watched him come out of the operating room every day, his white coat splattered with blood that wasn't his, returning home late at night with a dark, violent look in his eyes.

It hurt me to see him constantly on edge amidst the hail of bullets, so even though I desperately wanted a complete family, I compromised.

We naturally used protection after getting married, and I never brought up the topic of getting pregnant.

But just half a year ago, a tragedy occurred in the South Side.

The wife of a rival gang boss unexpectedly got pregnant. After word leaked, their rivals simply kidnapped the woman and orchestrated a horrifying bloodbath.

When Theo held me, his voice held a rare tremble. He said he would never allow me to fall into that kind of desperate situation.

I felt sorry for him, and I was also afraid that one day I really wouldn't be able to hold back.

The next day, without telling anyone, I went alone to a private clinic outside the Family's network and got this IUD placed.

I had originally planned to present this ultimate compromise to him during our fifth-anniversary candlelit dinner, so he could love me without any reservations from then on.

But I never expected that he wouldn't even give me the chance to finish a single sentence.

Fortunately, the nurse added: The device has not been in for too long, and your uterus is still healthy. As long as you undergo laparoscopic surgery immediately to remove the dislodged device and repair the damage, your fertility can be restored quickly.

Just as I was debating whether to have the surgery done right away, the ward door was pushed open with a bang.

Theo strode in, clutching the kraft paper envelope I had Isla pass to him at noon, looking completely furious.

The next second, he smashed the file envelope directly onto my bedside table.

He narrowed his eyes. "I signed it. Buying a house involves moving massive funds. Never bring this kind of stuff to the medical center again! Letting Isla see where our funds are going, do you have any idea how unsafe that is?"

I almost burst out laughing.

He thought it was the property deed for the villa. He signed it without even looking at it.

That was great. It saved me the trouble of scheming to force him to sign it.

I expressionlessly stuffed the finalized divorce agreement into my handbag. The gloom that had hovered in my chest for so long suddenly dissipated.

Seeing my silence, Theo's expression softened.

"Get some rest. I still have a surgery. I'm leaving."

I looked at his face and couldn't help but ask softly, "Theo, aren't you even a little curious as to why I'm lying in this bed?"

He clearly froze for a moment, his eyes dodging slightly, before dropping a rigid conclusion.

"What else could it be? Isn't it just your stomach ulcers acting up again?"

"How many times have I told you to take better care of your stomach?"

"Once your IV is done, have the driver take you back to the apartment. Things are tense out there lately, so don't run around outside."

"You're an adult and you still can't take good care of yourself. How can I not worry?"

I stared at him blankly, my heart feeling as if someone had squeezed it hard.

I did have an old stomach issue.

In the past, there was always a bottle of stomach pills in the pocket of his white coat.

Even if I just furrowed my brows slightly, he would immediately bring warm water and coax me to swallow a pill.

I didn't know since when my medicine stopped appearing in that pocket.

Just last week, when I sent his trench coat to the dry cleaners for him, I pulled a limited-edition women's lipstick out of the hidden inner pocket.

A glaring shade, an exquisite tube.

It was Isla's favorite color.

Forget it. I was very tired. I couldn't even muster the strength to question him.

I looked into Theo's bottomless eyes, opening my mouth slightly, wanting to just spill the truth about the IUD removal surgery.

The ward door was suddenly shoved open.

"Doc!"

A young Family medical assistant burst in, sweating profusely.

"A rival crew got into the building! They somehow tracked Miss Isla's route and have her cornered in the East Wing pharmacy trying to kill her. You need to bring your men over there now!"

Theo's face turned terrifyingly dark in an instant. Without even half a second of hesitation, he reached for the gun at his lower back and turned around.

From beginning to end, he didn't spare me another glance.

His rationality, his tension, all his instincts, they were entirely poured onto Isla.

I watched his back disappear at the end of the corridor, hearing a muffled gunshot from afar.

The last shred of reluctance in my heart was shattered cleanly by that gunshot.

Just how pathetic was I to destroy my right to bear new life for a man who could abandon me at any moment?

I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, my decision was made.

I pressed the emergency call button by the bed, summoning the on-duty nurse waiting outside. Clenching that lab report tightly into a ball, I spoke word by word. "Go prepare the anesthesia. Schedule the IUD removal and repair surgery for me."

"Now. Immediately. As quickly as possible."

Chapter 5

The surgery was finalized for tomorrow morning.

4 days left until my departure.

I took advantage of the free time to head back to the apartment.

Dusk was falling, and the walk-in closet was filled with a dazzling array of luxury goods.

Birkin bags, limited-edition watches, fine jewelry, I had added all of these piece by piece over the years to accompany him to Family banquets.

Theo never went shopping with me. I could only kill time among these cold, lifeless fabrics.

When I leave, leaving these clothes here to collect dust would just be an eyesore.

I took a panoramic photo and posted it on an exclusive underground marketplace: Flash sale, 90% off, no questions asked.

The buyers swooped in like hungry sharks. In less than half an hour, more than half of the items were snatched up.

Watching the last dress get packed into a black plastic bag, I stared at the mostly empty display cabinets.

It turned out that peeling away the past wasn't as painful as I had imagined.

I turned and walked toward the bedroom.

In the drawer, there were still several perfumes he particularly favored.

Back then, he said he liked these scents on me the most, so I hadn't changed to any other brand in these seven years.

At the time, I always thought that was love.

Looking at it now, recalling his dismissive behavior of hastily washing off my scent every time we made love, it just felt completely ironic.

What I deeply loved was nothing more than the version of Theo I had personally idealized.

Tearing open the bloody truth, I finally realized that all my sacrifices were so cheap.

I swept them all into a garbage bag and poured the liquids down the drain.

The water swirled a few times and disappeared completely, leaving behind a lingering mix of high-end perfume scents.

But soon, these scents would also disappear completely, just like my heart right now.

At eleven o'clock late at night, a noise came from the entryway. Theo was back.

His shirt collar was stained with blood, and a bullet had grazed his arm, which was now haphazardly wrapped in thick, blood-seeping bandages.

Clinging tightly to his side and supporting him was Isla.

The corners of her eyes were red, looking like she had just cried from a terrible fright.

"Harper, there was a street shootout today. Theo got grazed by a bullet trying to protect me. You have to keep a close eye on him tonight."

I cast a cold glance at her, my tone flat. "If you're worried about me doing it, you can stay and take care of him."

Isla's face instantly flushed red, and she nervously pinched the hem of her shirt.

"Harper, don't misunderstand. Theo and I are just normal supply chain partners."

Theo's narrow eyes instantly darkened. "Harper, do you have to speak so viciously?"

I found it amusing. "Which sentence of mine was wrong?"

"Isla came home with me, trembling in fear the whole way. And you are giving me attitude?"

He slammed his bloody trench coat onto the sofa, looking at me with eyes full of exhaustion and disappointment.

Isla quickly waved her hands, but tears welled up in her eyes right on cue.

"Theo, please don't be mad at her. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have come upstairs. I'll leave right now."

Covering her face, she turned and ran toward the elevator.

Theo didn't even bother to spare his own injury a glance and chased after her without hesitation.

The heavy security door slammed shut.

It took a full hour before Theo returned, his face terrifyingly dark.

He didn't even notice how many things were missing from the house, much less the mostly empty display cabinets, and immediately lashed out at me.

"Are you satisfied now?"

I snapped the lock on my suitcase shut. "Satisfied with what?"

"Protecting Isla was a direct order from the Don! She was shaking the whole way, and you just had to force her to cry to feel good about yourself?"

I pulled the zipper all the way to the end, my movements not stopping.

I was long used to this kind of drama.

In his eyes, Isla was always the innocent victim caught in the crossfire.

I was always the irrational, crazy woman who ignored the big picture.

Packing my last personal item into the box, I couldn't be bothered to waste any more words and stood up to head to the guest room.

"Stop right there." Theo reached out and grabbed my wrist, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "Where's dinner?"

I forcefully pulled my hand free. "There's instant food in the kitchen. If you don't want to eat it, go have your men buy something."

Theo lifted his bleeding arm, his brows furrowed tightly. "I'm injured, and it's bad."

I stopped and looked back at him, my eyes filled with nothing but cold indifference.

"You took a bullet for the Family, and I'm supposed to play the generous wife for another woman?"

Theo choked on his words, his face turning ashen. After a long moment, he laughed out of extreme anger.

"Fine. Harper, you are really something."

He turned, kicked open the study door, and slammed it shut so hard the paintings on the wall tilted.

I didn't even blink.

I had to go into surgery tomorrow and had no energy to waste on him.

Collapsing onto the bed in the guest room, I quickly closed my eyes.

This actually turned out to be the most peaceful night of sleep I'd had since making my decision.

Early the next morning, Jade drove over and picked me up to go to the private hospital.

"Are you really sure about this? You're taking it out?"

I touched my flat stomach, stayed silent for a few seconds, and nodded firmly.

"I made up my mind a long time ago."

Once upon a time, my world consisted solely of Theo.

For his absolute safety, I willingly sacrificed my career and even stripped myself of the right to be a mother.

But he was entirely unworthy of my unreserved devotion.

It was time to return to the sunlight and live my own passionate life.

After signing the privacy agreement, I was wheeled directly into the private hospital's VIP operating room.

The chief surgeon was looking down at my medical records, and the anesthesiologist was pushing the syringe.

Just then, the automatic doors slid open, and a familiar figure swaggered in.

I met those eyes past the surgical lights, and the blood in my body instantly turned cold.

It was Isla.

She was wearing full sterile gear, actually sporting a "Surgical Consultant" badge on her chest, and stood right next to the chief surgeon as if she belonged there.

Catching my shocked gaze, not only did she not look away, but a trace of undisguised, malicious amusement surfaced in her pretty eyes above the mask.

Chapter 6

The second I recognized Isla, every muscle in my body went on high alert.

"I want this medical supplier out of here right now."

I struggled, trying to rip off the tubes attached to me, but the chief surgeon clamped down on my shoulder.

"Ma'am, please calm down! Miss Isla is our newly appointed surgical consultant for the latest minimally invasive laparoscopic equipment. Having her assist ensures maximum safety."

I was so desperate I tried to pull the IV needle from the back of my hand.

The anesthesiologist swiftly pushed the meds.

"Deep breaths, count to three, and you'll be asleep."

The icy liquid forced its way into my veins, and my vision was quickly covered by a black fog.

The last image before my consciousness snapped was Isla standing under the blinding surgical lights, looking down at me with cold disdain.

I didn't know how much time had passed, but I was jolted awake by sheer agony.

Deep inside my abdomen, it felt like a rusty blade was brutally churning. Every breath came with a tearing, excruciating pain.

I struggled to peel open my heavy eyelids. The spacious VIP ward was empty except for Isla, who stood at the foot of the bed checking the monitors.

"My stomach hurts so much."

Isla walked over slowly and took a glance, her tone entirely flat. "The patient is adjusting to the new machines. It's a normal reading. Let her tough it out."

With that, she turned, gave a few instructions to the nurse who had just walked in, and sent the nurse out of the room.

But that life-draining cramping grew more and more catastrophic. I felt a surge of hot liquid pouring frantically from my lower body, and the vital signs monitor began blaring a sharp, piercing alarm.

I used my last ounce of strength to grip the bedsheets. "Help."

Isla looked up, putting on a fake frown. "The machine gives false alarms sometimes. I'll go check the data outside."

She dropped those words, turned, and walked right out the door.

The massive blood loss made my vision go dark in waves.

In my delirium, the ward door was slammed open violently.

"Harper!"

It was Jade.

I was too weak to make a sound and only saw double.

She ripped the blanket back, saw the bedsheets completely soaked in fresh blood, and screamed hysterically, "Someone get in here! Resuscitate her! She's hemorrhaging!"

The entire medical floor instantly erupted into chaos.

"Her blood pressure is dropping!"

"Prep the epinephrine!"

"Get blood bags from the blood bank immediately!"

The chaotic sound of crashing carts and terrified shouting filled my ears, and I completely plummeted into endless darkness.

When I regained feeling, the sky outside the window had already gone dark.

I was lying in bed, covered in tubes.

Outside the ward door, a fierce confrontation was erupting.

"Is this what you call a fucking normal machine reading?!"

It was Jade's furious voice. I had never seen the top-tier lawyer lose control like this.

"Tampering with the surgical settings during surgery caused a massive hemorrhage! If I hadn't found out in time, Harper would be a corpse right now! Is this what your medical supplier does?"

After two seconds of dead silence, Isla's pitiful, crying voice chimed in.

"I'm sorry, I really thought it was just a reading error from the product data. These probabilities happened during past clinical trials too. How could I intentionally hurt anyone."

Jade gritted her teeth in fury outside.

"Screw your excuses! You tampered with things on the operating table, and you think I wouldn't find out? The patient nearly bled dry today because of you!"

Just then, an extremely deep and cold voice cut in.

"Have you had enough?"

My breath caught sharply.

It was Theo.

"Theo." Isla sounded like she had grabbed a lifeline, her voice beyond wronged. "I was really just following protocol."

Theo lowered his voice, protecting her. "Stand behind me. I'll take over from here."

Jade let out a laugh of pure anger. "Theo, are you going to ignore human life for this vicious woman?"

Theo's voice was as hard as ice.

"I won't let you tear this Family apart without proof. She is a core supplier. As the chief surgeon, my word is law when it comes to medical rules."

Jade was so angry her voice cracked. "Theo! Do you have any idea who is lying on that resuscitation table bleeding out?!"

Theo fell silent for a moment, still maintaining that ruthless, business-like tone.

"I know Harper is your best friend. But I will absolutely not allow you to go after my people just because of your personal connection to her."

It was utterly absurd. He had no idea his own wife was having her IUD removed here today. He thought Jade was here taking on a medical malpractice case, standing up for someone else.

Jade trembled with rage at his arrogant and blind assumption, pointing at his nose, unable to curse out a single word.

Theo didn't even glance at the ward. He had already assertively pushed past the crowd, shielding Isla as they left, the sound of his leather shoes gradually fading at the end of the hall.

The remaining nurses in the hallway couldn't help but whisper.

"The Chief is truly indulgent with Miss Isla. He took the fall for such a massive incident."

"Of course. Miss Isla controls the specialty drug channels. She's so important to the Family, who wouldn't put her on a pedestal?"

"If you ask me, those two are the real power couple in the Mafia."

Every sentence was like a poison-laced blade, ruthlessly twisting in my wound.

The ward door was pushed open. Jade rushed in with red eyes. Seeing that my eyes were open, she panicked and hurried over to cover my ears.

"Don't listen to those idiots spewing bullshit."

I weakly pulled her hands down, giving a pale smile. "Jade, I'm fine."

I already had one foot in hell; what else was there to hold on to?

Just as I finished speaking, the phone on the nightstand vibrated abruptly.

The screen lit up with the caller ID: Theo.

Jade's face turned livid. "This blind bastard actually has the nerve to call?"

I took a deep breath and slid the answer button with ultimate calmness.

Theo's somewhat agitated voice immediately came through the receiver. "Harper, it's the middle of the night. You're not home, and you're not answering your phone. Where did you go?"

"Do you know I'm worried sick looking for you?"

Chapter 7

Only then did I notice I had dozens of missed calls on my phone.

"Where could I go?" I asked back flatly.

"The apartment's security system was tripped today," Theo's voice was as cold as a scalpel. "The Family security went door to door, and ours was the only one that didn't answer. The security alert went directly to my phone. Why weren't you home?"

So that was it.

I actually naively thought he had finally noticed something was wrong with me.

I gave a silent, bitter smile, laughing at myself for still hoping for something so unrealistic.

"Why do I have to stay locked up at home?" I retorted. "Can't I go out? Can't I have my own life? Can't I go on a vacation?"

Theo's tone grew darker and more suppressed.

"Harper, what exactly is wrong with you lately? You don't cook, you stay out all night, and you give me an attitude over every little thing."

"And now you dare to run off alone? With things so tense outside, have you lost your mind?"

"If something happens to you, what am I supposed to do?"

I looked at the sinking city skyline outside the window, my voice as light as a feather.

"I have not lost my mind. I am just finally awake."

The other end of the line plunged into dead silence.

After a long moment, Theo let out a cold sneer.

"Fine. Just keep throwing a tantrum."

"If you refuse to come home, I will sleep in the on-call room at the medical center tonight."

"Let's see who caves first."

The phone was brutally hung up.

Jade heard the conversation and was so angry she almost smashed the phone against the wall.

As she spoke, her eyes welled up, and she reached out to pull me into her arms. "Harper, if you want to cry, just cry. Don't carry this all by yourself."

I leaned against her shoulder, staying silent for a long time before gently shaking my head.

"I cried myself dry a long time ago."

Tears are too precious to waste on an unworthy man.

Three days later, having mostly recovered physically, I checked out of the hospital and returned to the apartment to get my last pieces of luggage.

I unlocked the door with my fingerprint and pushed it open, pausing slightly.

Theo was actually home.

Our eyes met, and the air in the living room solidified for a few seconds.

He broke the silence first. "You're back? Did you have fun these past few days?"

I ignored him, walking straight into the master bedroom, pulling open the safe to confirm my passport and ID documents.

His somewhat softened voice followed from behind.

"Weren't you always dreaming of driving a car out to film that wilderness?"

"Now that the mid-mountain villa is finalized, it's time to replace your old car too."

"Tomorrow I'll make time to go to the dealership with you and pick out the best one. Once things quiet down, I'll go with you."

My hand stopped counting the documents.

If this were the past, hearing these sweet words would have kept me up all night with excitement.

But now, everything was too late.

"No need."

Theo's brows furrowed tightly. "Why?"

Because I've already bought the beast of a car that will take me far away.

Because the world I'm going to will never have your shadow in it again.

"No reason."

Seeing my refusal to compromise, Theo's remaining patience finally burned out.

"Isla has been in my ear constantly telling me to treat you better, to be more accommodating. And you repay me with this kind of attitude?"

I let out a cold laugh, not even bothering to hide the sarcasm.

"She advises you, and you listen? Then if she tells you to point a gun at yourself, will you do that too?"

Theo's face instantly turned livid. "Harper! Since when did your mouth get so vicious?"

I looked down and continued stuffing my passport into my carry-on bag, not even sparing him a direct glance.

Theo stood rooted to the spot, his chest heaving violently, before bursting into a cold sneer after a long moment.

"Good. It seems we really both need some time to cool off."

"I'll stay at the medical center's apartment for a while. Think things through clearly on your own."

He grabbed his trench coat and forcefully slammed the security door shut.

From start to finish, I never even lifted my head.

It wasn't until the electronic chime of the door lock faded into silence that I slowly walked over to the bed.

From my handbag, I pulled out three documents.

The first was the divorce agreement, already signed by him.

The second was the consent form for the IUD insertion surgery I did behind his back years ago.

The third was the surgical record of the IUD removal from a few days ago that nearly cost me my life.

I neatly stacked them right in the center of the nightstand.

Then, I grabbed my suitcase and left without looking back.

I didn't want to stay a second longer in this apartment, which was covered in his scent everywhere.

For my last night in this city, I stayed at a hotel.

Early the next morning, my last day before leaving, I arrived at the car dealership right on time.

The sales consultant walked up with a face full of smiles. "Ms. Harper, your top-tier modified rally car is ready to go."

Just as I was about to take the contract, a familiar deep voice came from the other side of the showroom.

"How is the performance on this one?"

I looked up. In the showroom not far away, Theo was standing next to a heavy-duty off-road vehicle.

Isla was pressed close to him, leaning over slightly to study the car's specs.

She murmured something, and the two of them actually smiled in unison.

That kind of chemistry looked just like long-time, intimate lovers.

The salesman beside them flattered, "You and your wife have great taste, sir. This off-road model is perfect for couples going on self-driving adventures. Many young couples scramble to pre-order it. Would you like to take it for a test drive?"

Theo didn't offer any explanation and got straight into the driver seat.

Isla's cheeks flushed slightly. She didn't correct the "wife" comment either, walking around the front of the car to open the passenger door.

With a step on the gas, the test-drive car drove out of the showroom.

The staff in the showroom gossiped among themselves.

"They look like a power couple."

"I heard the guy is the Chief who controls the Family's lifeline, and the woman is a core supplier. They're basically a match made in heaven."

"They really are perfect for each other. One wields the scalpel to save lives, and the other supplies the goods to pave the way."

I listened to these comments quietly, my heart surprisingly calm, without a single ripple.

"Ms. Harper?" the sales manager reminded me softly.

I snapped back to reality and neatly signed my name on the contract.

Swiped my card, inspected the car, and took the heavy set of racing keys.

I revved the engine, slammed the gas, and sped off.

In the rearview mirror, Theo's test-drive car was speeding away in the exact opposite direction, kicking up dust.

I didn't look back once.

Ahead of me lay endless highways, crimson wastelands, and the camera lens I had shelved for five years.

After five whole years, I had finally brought myself back to life.