Chapter 2

Just as Hollie was about to leave with the divorce papers, Will's words made her freeze. "Oh, right. Your parents haven't been in the best health recently, so I've brought them to our family's private sanatorium. Why didn't you tell me they wanted to go abroad for a vacation? As their son-in-law, it's only right that I treat them well." Hollie's knees buckled, and she quickly stumbled back. After absorbing the meaning behind his words, her eyes turned red. Her voice trembled as she asked, "What do I need to do for you to let my parents go?" Will stubbed his cigarette out and gently placed his palm on Hollie's head. "Just behave yourself. Once the surgery is completed, I'll ensure they're well taken care of." Despite his gentle tone, the threat behind his words was evident. Hollie laughed self-mockingly. She had never planned to escape the surgery for the transplant, so why was he going to such lengths? The second he finished his words, he quickly added, "Hollie, there's one more thing I need your help with." She was about to ask what he needed when a pot of boiling stew was brought before her. Will explained, "Tiffany's stubborn. I've tried to get her to move into our villa multiple times, but she keeps refusing me. So, I'll need you to suffer a little as I burn your hand. "Then, I'll ask her to move into the villa to cook for you. She'll be indebted to you after that, so she'll be compelled to move in." Hollie's eyes were filled with disbelief upon hearing Will's words. She never thought she would hear Will say something so absurd. In the past, he would panic over a single strand of hair falling out of her head, yet he now wanted her to burn herself for another woman. Looking at the boiling pot of stew, Hollie began screaming desperately in refusal. Without a second thought, Will instructed his bodyguard to force her hand into the boiling pot. He remained indifferent as he watched her hand burn and listened to her screams of pain. The bodyguard had only stopped once her hand had become disfigured. At that moment, whatever remaining feelings Hollie had for Will had vanished completely. The family doctor quickly stepped up to bandage her hand, but Will showed no signs of concern toward her well-being. Instead, he took a picture of her injured hand and turned around to call Tiffany. "Hi, Tiffany. I wasn't lying. My wife got hurt… "I'll head to the hospital to pick you up now." Once Will left, the remaining bodyguards surrounded Hollie. "Mrs. Henderson, Mr. Henderson has instructed us to send you to the hospital to get an artificial heart fitted. He also wants you to do a full body check-up." Hollie laughed bitterly in her heart. Will was the one who had hurt her, yet he was still pretending that he cared. She knew she had no right to refuse his arrangements, so she headed to the hospital. … When Hollie returned from the hospital, she saw Tiffany alone in their villa. Tiffany wore a long white dress, and her sickly complexion made her look fragile and pitiful. The second she saw Hollie, she remained calm and composed as she said, "Mrs. Henderson, although you're donating your heart to me, it doesn't mean I'm willing to be a homewrecker. Please keep your husband under control, or I'll move out immediately." Tiffany, the woman who would be receiving her heart, had dared to ask her to keep Will in check. Hollie was suddenly struck by how ridiculous her failed marriage was. She ignored Tiffany and left for her room for a nap. She was exhausted after the day's events and wanted to rest. However, when she opened her eyes again, she realized her head felt heavy. The second she opened the door, she realized that the entire villa was filled with smoke. Hollie immediately covered her nose and mouth as she made her way to the kitchen. Once she was there, she realized that the gas was left on despite the kitchen being empty. Her blood immediately turned cold. If she hadn't woken up halfway through her nap, the consequences would have been deadly. In the worst-case scenario, she might have even died in her room. By the time she swallowed her discomfort and turned off the gas in the kitchen, Tiffany came strolling back in. Upon seeing her, Hollie pointed toward the stove and asked, "Do you have any common sense? How could you leave the house without turning the gas off? Do you know I could have died if I didn't react in time?" Tears immediately began to flow down Tiffany's cheeks as she choked, "I just went out to buy some groceries. "It's not as dangerous as you make it out to be. I can just leave if I'm not welcome here. You don't have to use such an excuse just to humiliate me." With that said, Tiffany picked up her bag and ran out of the villa. But before she could make it out, she bumped into Will. Will asked, "What's wrong? Did someone bully you?" With teary eyes, Tiffany sobbed, "I just went out for a few minutes, yet Mrs. Henderson has accused me of trying to kill her. She's attacking me!" Upon hearing her explanation, sympathy filled Will's eyes as he said softly, "What do I need to do to make it up to you?" Tiffany bit her lip and said, "I decided to cook for her out of kindness, yet she ended up framing me. I don't want to see her for the next few days." "Alright," Will said affectionately. When Hollie heard their exchange, she began to explain angrily, "Will, I didn't frame her. She's the one who went out without turning the gas off. She nearly—" Will coldly interrupted, "So what if Tiffany had forgotten to turn the gas off? Aren't you doing just fine? Not to mention, Tiffany's sick. To thank you for your sacrifice, she went out of her way to cook for you. Shouldn't you feel grateful?" With that, he called his bodyguards over. "Lock her up in the study so that she can reflect on her actions. She's not allowed to come out unless she finishes copying the book, 'Etiquette for Women.'" Then, Hollie was forcefully shoved into the study, and the door was locked. Looking at the tightly closed door, Hollie leaned against it, feeling helpless. Images of Will throwing himself in front of a knife to protect her suddenly flashed across her mind. The man who had once looked at her with eyes full of love only existed in her memory, while the woman who had once believed that Will could change had become the biggest joke of all.