Fallyn’s POV

I turned and saw Garth standing at the doorway.

“I’m just organizing some documents,” I replied evenly.

Before he could speak, a voice suddenly came from behind him.

“What documents are you working on, Fallyn? Didn’t you stop going to the company after you got married? Don’t tell me… you’re secretly chatting with another man behind Garth’s back?”

Peeking her head out from behind him, Heisley spoke with a voice dripping with malice.

I didn’t answer. My eyes just stayed fixed on Garth.

To my surprise, a flicker of suspicion passed through his gaze before he finally looked at me.

“Heisley’s baby is in the hospital. Since our place is closer, I told her she could stay here for now,” he explained dryly, obviously already bracing himself for the outburst he expected from me.

Because of the previous generation’s grievances, my relationship with Heisley had never been good.

And after my mom’s fall from the cliff, my ex-fiancé had chosen her without a moment’s hesitation.

From that point on, we were sworn enemies.

Garth knew I would get mad and had already planned how to coax me.

But to his surprise, I didn’t lose my temper—instead, I simply nodded.

Hesitation flashed in his eyes. I reached over and handed him the divorce papers.

Just as he was about to read the contents, a pair of hands suddenly covered his eyes from behind.

Heisley’s gaze fell on the divorce agreement, and her eyes actually lit up.

In a deliberately sweetened voice, she said, “Why bother reading the papers your wife gives you, Garth? Just sign them right away. Don’t hurt her feelings.”

He paused in the motion of prying her hands away, and then he smiled at her indulgently.

“Alright. Whatever you say.”

The next second, he picked up a pen and signed his name without hesitation.

I carefully put the divorce agreement away, and only then did Heisley remove her hands.

She looked at me smugly, her expression silently mouthing the words, “Well, at least you know your place.”

Garth, oblivious to her gesture, opened his mouth as if to say something to me.

But Heisley stepped forward first, looping her arm through mine with a bright smile.

“Garth, let me have a good chat with Fallyn. After all, it’s been such a long time since we last saw each other,” she said, her grip on my arm tightening painfully, digging in until I felt warm blood beading under her nails.

I winced and struggled to pull away, but the next moment, she stumbled backward and fell hard to the floor.

In that instant, panic flashed across Garth’s face. He rushed over and scooped her into his arms.

With tears brimming in her eyes, Heisley looked up at him.

“Why would Fallyn do this to me, Garth? I just wanted to talk to her...”

The moment her words fell, his gaze toward me turned to anger.

If she weren’t still in his arms, I was certain he would have come at me.

“It wasn’t me!” I burst out. “You can check the security cameras! She’s the one—”

“Enough!”

His roar cut me off. Then, seeing the expression on my face, his own flattened into a cold mask.

“I believe Heisley,” he said with a deep frown. “Honey, you shouldn’t have done this. Apologize to her!”

When I didn’t move, he stepped forward and seized my arm in a bruising grip.

“I told you, it wasn’t me! I won’t apologize!” I protested.

His hand tightened so much it felt as if he might snap my arm.

When he realized I truly wouldn’t give in, he suddenly flung me to the floor.

“In that case, you won’t be attending tomorrow’s family party. I’ll be bringing Heisley with me instead.”

My eyes widened.

He knew perfectly well that the family party was a major event.

If the woman by his side was Heisley, it would mean, in the eyes of the entire family, that she was the official wife.

Did he have any idea what position that would leave me in?

Fury shook through me, but still, I gritted my teeth and refused to apologize.

In the end, he looked at me with disappointment before carrying Heisley away.

Once I was sure they were gone, I took the signed divorce agreement and walked out of the study without a second thought.

Fallyn’s POV

The next day, I dressed neatly and was about to head out when I ran into Garth coming back with Heisley.

Seeing me ready to leave, he suddenly stepped forward.

“I’ll give you a ride, honey,” he offered.

I hadn’t even replied before he went on, speaking as if my answer didn’t matter.

“About what happened yesterday, you were indeed in the wrong. But I’ve already apologized to Heisley on your behalf. Just don’t let it happen again, alright? Anyway, you’re going to the hospital to see your dad, right? Well, you’re right on time. Heisley’s going there, too.”

With that, he grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the car.

Heisley was quicker than me, slipping straight into the passenger seat. And then she looked back at me with open provocation.

“I get carsick, Fallyn,” she explained. “Please let me sit here, okay?”

Garth nodded in agreement beside her.

I swallowed the bitter laugh that rose in my throat and said flatly, “Whatever.”

When we reached the hospital, I ignored them entirely and went straight into Dad’s ward.

He was still asleep, so I didn’t wake him. Instead, I turned to find a doctor and get an update on his condition.

His previous attending physician had already been sent abroad by Garth. At least now, I could finally get the truth.

A while later, I returned to the ward, gripping Dad’s medical report tightly in hand.

I hadn’t even stepped fully inside when I saw Heisley leaning toward him, speaking in a low voice. Garth stood a short distance away, watching them.

In the next instant, Dad’s eyes flew open, and his face flushed a dangerous red.

I froze for a moment, and then I rushed forward and shoved Heisley away.

“Dad! Dad, what’s wrong?” I cried.

He pointed at Heisley, gasping for breath.

“S-She…”

Before he could finish, he clutched his chest and collapsed.

I didn’t have time to think. I shot to my feet, calling frantically for help.

By the time he was rushed into the operating room, I spun on my heel and stormed toward Heisley.

“What the hell did you say to my dad?!” I demanded.

Before I could even touch her, Garth stepped in front of me, blocking my way.

His entire face was tense as he turned to check on the woman behind him, as though worried I might frighten her.

She gazed at him with pitiful eyes, though a glint of triumph flickered deep within them.

“Garth, I really didn’t do anything!” she swore.

“Garth! Let go of me!” I demanded.

But instead of releasing me, his grip only tightened so hard it felt like he might break my wrist.

I looked into his face, and a wave of despair swept over me.

In his heart, I was worth far less than Heisley. Whether I was right or wrong, he would always take her side.

The thought drained the last of my strength. I let my hand fall limp in his grasp.

For a moment, he seemed to falter when he saw the hopelessness in my expression.

But before he could say a word, Heisley suddenly rushed forward and slapped me across the face.

The force was so strong a sharp crack rang out in the corridor.

My head snapped to the side, and I even tasted blood in my mouth.

“Fallyn!” her eyes brimmed with tears. “I told you, I didn’t do anything! Why did you have to kidnap my mom and my dad?!”

I stared at her, utterly stunned.

Fallyn’s POV

“I did not!”

I shouted it with every ounce of strength I had.

Garth paused when he heard me.

Noticing this, Heisley’s gaze flickered with a hint of malice. She pulled out her phone, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded toward him.

“Garth, please… please make her release my parents. I’ll beg and apologize to her as long as she’s willing to let go of them!”

Garth glanced at the video on Heisley’s phone, his expression unreadable.

The next second, he began walking toward me, each step slow.

“Fallyn. Apologize to Heisley,” he said. His voice was calm, even tinged with exhaustion.

“Tell me,” he asked, “where did you take her parents?”

A chill seeped through me. My voice came out hoarse and strained.

“I didn’t fucking kidnap them!”

The next moment, his hand clamped around my chin, hard and unyielding.

“Why?” His deep, shadowed eyes bored into mine. “Why would you do something like this?”

“If you don’t tell me the truth right now,” he warned, “I’ll have no choice but to stop your dad’s surgery.”

My eyes widened in disbelief. I stared at him, unable to believe what I’d just heard.

“Garth! That’s my father!”

He let out a long sigh, but his tone was chillingly damn serious.

“You’re the one who chose to disregard the lives of Heisley’s parents. Now, cooperate with me—tell me where they are, and nothing will happen to your dad.”

I glared at him, my heart twisting in bitter realization at how laughable all my devotion to him had been.

“Garth,” I rasped, forcing the words out, “I told you—I didn’t do it. Why won’t you believe me?”

Something flickered in his eyes. He released me suddenly, and for the briefest moment, guilt crossed his face.

But almost instantly, Heisley’s sobs rose from behind him.

She crawled closer on her knees, tears falling as she choked out, “Fallyn… my parents can’t hold on much longer. Please, I’m begging you, let them go! I’m begging you—just please…”

Before her words had even faded, Garth’s face darkened.

He waved a hand sharply. And in an instant, bodyguards rushed toward Dad’s operating room!

The next second, the red light above the door went dark…

And then, the chief surgeon was dragged out by force!

My vision went red. I lunged forward, trying to shove the surgeon back inside, but Garth’s grip locked around my wrist like iron.

“Let me go! I told you I didn’t do it! Let the surgeon back in! Hurry!”

My voice broke into a hysterical shout.

But Garth only stared at me with indifference, his grip not loosening in the slightest.

“Apologize to Heisley, tell me where her parents are, and your father’s surgery will continue,” he demanded.

“Otherwise…” he warned, “that red light above your father’s OR will never come on again.”

My whole body trembled like a leaf in the wind.

“They’re in the basement of the West Hill Villa.”

Clinging to the last scrap of hope, I lied.

Garth studied my face for several seconds, and then he finally released me.

I rushed to the surgeon, shoving him back through the doors of the OR.

But only minutes later, he came out again.

He sighed, shaking his head.

“I’m sorry. We couldn’t save him.”

My pupils trembled. My eyes went wide.

“No… No, that’s impossible. Dad wouldn’t just die…”

I couldn’t hold myself back any longer. I stumbled into the room, only to be met with Dad’s lifeless, pallid face.

All strength drained from my body, and I collapsed to the floor.

Even Garth froze for a moment at the sight.

He reached out, as if to comfort me.

But then Heisley’s choked voice came from the doorway.

“Garth, can we go find my parents now? Please, I’m really so worried about them…”

His outstretched hand stilled in midair.

A few seconds passed before his voice came, rough and low.

“Sorry. Lives are at stake.”

With that, he turned and strode away, his steps urgent and eager to rescue Heisley’s parents.

That made a cold laugh escape from my throat.

“Garth. If you walk out that door, I swear, I will never forgive you for the rest of my life!”

His stride faltered for a split second. But in the end, he didn’t hesitate. He left.

I stared after his disappearing figure, feeling the hatred burning in my chest.

So Heisley’s parents’ lives mattered, but my dad’s didn’t?!

Thank God… Thank God, I had already prepared for this.

I felt Dad’s faint and shallow breath, and tears spilled down my face.

Calming myself, I sent a single message.

Within minutes, someone came to take him away.

In just four more days, I would be able to leave this hell for good!