Chapter 3

"Quickly copy all of the surveillance footage." Wesley's voice echoed in the parking lot. "This is proof of Brian Walton's doing. We'll have leverage over him in the future." He didn't even look at me. "Wesley, Sophie is terribly injured…" Michael Charleston said with hesitation. "She won't die," Wesley curtly interrupted him. "We'll deal with her once we finish this. Now that Brian is in my hands. Let's see if he would dare to fight with me again in the future." Another subordinate of Wesley said, "Truth be told. We see how much Sophie has done for you over the past five years. She had taken knife attacks for you. Drink on your behalf, and clean up after you mess. Don't you feel a thing for her?" Wesley snickered. "Feel for her? For that lapdog?" He finally glanced at me, albeit filled with disdain. "I only care for Janine. Sophie? She's nothing but a useful tool." Michael sighed. "But she dove into the sea for you. She even got an abortion. Today, she even…" "That's because she's delusional," Wesley interrupted. After copying the surveillance footage, Wesley was about to leave when Michael stopped him. "Hold up. Are you going to let her die here?" Wesley was silent for a moment before waving his hands impatiently, "Just dump her at some clinic. Don't let her die." I was brutally stuffed into the trunk of the car. Before completely losing my consciousness, I heard Wesley saying on the phone, "Janine, don't be mad. I'll be there right away." At that moment, I finally understood. For the past five years, I have fallen for a monster. If I were to survive this ordeal, I would surely stop loving him. I had paid him back everything with my life. When I opened my eyes once more, all I saw was the hospital ceiling. My entire body hurt. I turned and was surprised to see Wasley sitting on the chair by the side of the bed. He looked messy. His suit was crumpled up behind his chair. His collar unbuttoned. A five o'clock shadow shaped his jaw, and his eyes were bloodshot. When he heard movements, he suddenly looked up. When our eyes met, I saw a complex of emotions that I didn't understand. It seemed like worry, yet also… relief? "You're up." His voice was completely hoarse. "The doctor said that you lost too much blood. If we were half an hour later, you would have…" I looked at him quietly. Looking at the man who stood by the side and cruelly watched me die, pretending to be a devoted, loving man at that moment. How ironic. "Did you get the footage?" I asked quietly. His expression stiffened for one split second before resuming normal. "What footage? You were seriously injured. You must have hallucinated." He always did this. Just when I thought he might have some conscience in him, he would always destroy my fantasy with his lies. "Mr. Walton…" I continued. "He has been dealt with," he interrupted me and reached his hand out to me, trying to touch my forehead, but I swerved. His hand hung awkwardly in mid-air. His gaze dimmed. He said, "Sophie, you knew I had to ensure the safety of the documents. I can't let Janine be caught up in danger. She's innocent. Those men were coming for me. You—" "Wesley," I cut him off in a voice so calm I even surprised myself. "I heard your conversation with Michael while I was lying in the parking lot." Silence hung thick in the room. He went through a flurry of emotions before saying, "You've misheard. You had lost a lot of blood back then. You must have hallucinated." I snickered. "What is my life worth to you…" I looked him dead in the eye.