The attention burning into my skin made shame rise in my throat, and it also snapped me awake. I looked at Cassandra and held my ground. "I want to take time off—"

A loud smack echoed through the office.

Cassandra had slapped me across the face. "You're impossible. Are you trying to drive me to an early grave?"

For a second, my mind went completely blank.

She hit me.

Cassandra was still furious, and she raised her hand again.

Just then, Xavier rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her.

"Cassie, don't be mad. It's my fault. I'm the useless one who led him astray," he said. "Give me another three months off and one million dollars as living expenses, and I'll disappear to the farthest country. I won't corrupt him ever again."

Cassandra pulled out a card and threw it at him. "Ten million dollars. Take it. Keep your promise and get as far away as possible."

The sharp edge of the card knocked his forehead and left a red mark, but he broke into a wide grin. "Cassie, your money hits so good. I'm so happy. Love you!"

He even blew her a kiss.

Cassandra's mouth curled in disgust, but her eyes held a hint of indulgence.

Something inside me cracked.

I had too many words stuck in my chest, and none of them could find their way out. I held my burning cheek and turned to go downstairs.

It was then that the lines of text floated into view again.

"Don't be sad, Harvey. Cassandra can't stand Xavier either. She's only putting up with him because she owes him. Look, you just left, and Cassandra's already chasing after you. She's even holding a gift for you."

I froze, staring at the words.

Before I could process them, Cassandra was already in front of me, touching my face.

"I'm sorry. I lost control," she apologized. "Honey, I just didn't want to see you get led astray and ruin everything you've worked for all these years."

When I didn't respond, she held out a pure gold pendant. "I had this specially requested for you. It'll keep you safe and steady."

I was rather touched, and I almost reached for it.

Then, the lines of text appeared again.

"Cassandra's unbelievable! She clearly requested the pendant for Xavier. It even has his initials engraved on it."

"He saved her life. What's wrong with her requesting something for him? You people are so ungrateful."

My face drained of color as I flipped the pendant over. The letters "XL" were engraved on it.

Cassandra seemed to think I was happy to receive the gift.

"He's just a nobody. I don't care what happens to him, but you're my husband," she said. "You're the person closest to me. When you love someone, you hold them to higher standards. Everything I do is for your own good."

Her words barely reached me. All I could see were the words in front of my eyes.

"She shouldn't have given Harvey something Xavier didn't want. That's downright humiliating!"

"Cassandra has no choice. Xavier owes too much money. She wants to pay it off quickly so he'll stop clinging to her. In fact, she's saving money by doing this."

"Saving money? Harvey's phone broke once, and he wanted to spend a thousand dollars on a new phone, but Cassandra refused. She only spent 200 dollars to buy him a used one.

"Meanwhile, Xavier gets ten million dollars for vacations, swaps phones twice every month, and even buys the latest headphones the second they drop. Cassandra pays for all of it. Why didn't she try to save money then?"

As it turned out, even the apology gift was something Xavier didn't want. Moreover, she had spent so much on him behind my back.

A bitter smile tugged at my mouth. The favoritism couldn't be any more obvious, and she still claimed to love me?

Cassandra urged me to go back to work again.

Disappointed, I handed the pendant back. "I'm not going."

Her face darkened immediately. "What are you doing? You used to be so obedient!"

I stayed silent.

Even the lines of text that had been defending me started pushing back.

"Harvey, what are you doing? Once you finish this project, the money will be enough for Cassandra to pay everything off. After that, she can finally love you wholeheartedly. You made it through five years already. Why give up right when it matters most?"

"That's right. Cassandra counts the days, too. Seeing how exhausted Harvey is, she cries every day."

Really?

But I was dying of cancer. There was no future left for me to wait for. I didn't want to keep waiting either.

"I'm sick," I said.

Saying it out loud felt like finally exhaling after holding my breath for too long.

Cassandra, however, didn't believe me. She let out a cold laugh instead.

"You're sick, alright. Fine. You want half a day off? I'll give it to you. But don't think acting unreasonably will earn you anything more. This leave will be made up later. For the next ten days, you'll cut one hour from your sleep each night to compensate."

"Does Xavier have to make up his leave too?" I retorted.

She answered without hesitation, "He's different."

So that was it. He didn't have to make up for lost time.

Her response lit the fuse on everything I'd been holding down. "Is he different, or does he just matter more to you?"

Cassandra studied me for a moment, then sighed. "I didn't want you overthinking this, but since you already are, I might as well tell you.

"Five years ago, when I was working abroad, I ran into trouble. Xavier took 18 stab wounds while trying to save me. He nearly died. I tolerate him because I owe him my life. It has nothing to do with romantic feelings. Do you understand now?"

Five years ago was also when she had returned home, distracted and hollow-eyed, and started her elite training on me.

I'd thought she was shaken by truly exceptional people abroad. It turned out she was only using me to repay a debt.

Even though the lines of text had already hinted at the truth, hearing it stated so plainly still sent a sharp pain through my chest. I clutched at it and slowly sank into a crouch.

Cassandra's expression changed. "What's wrong with you?"

She was just about to help me up when Xavier suddenly rushed over, his eyes red as he pointed at me. "Harvey, you took the flash drive with the confidential files, didn't you? Stop pretending to be sick to dodge responsibility!

"Getting fired is one thing, but if those files fall into a competitor's hands, the company could go under. If you hate me, curse me or hit me, but don't gamble with the company's future."

Cassandra's face darkened immediately. "Where did you hide it?"

The pain had already drained all strength from my limbs.

Before I could answer, Cassandra's hands were on me, searching roughly through my clothes. I stared at her, stunned. "Cassandra, do I really not deserve even a little trust from you?"

She didn't ask a single follow-up question. She believed Xavier without hesitation.

She pulled the neatly-folded diagnosis report out of my pocket. Just as she was about to look at it, she glanced at me, disappointment flickering across her face.

"When we were in school, you used to steal love letters other people wrote to me. I thought after all these years, you'd really changed. Alas, a leopard never changes its spots."

I'd done stupid things back then because I liked her, but I'd admitted my mistakes long ago and apologized to everyone involved.

She'd even comforted me, saying that knowing one's faults and correcting them mattered more, and that she believed I wasn't a bad person at heart.

Yet, even after seven years of dating and five years of marriage, I was nothing more than a thief in her eyes.

Xavier snatched the report from her hand, glanced at it once, and tossed it into the trash. "It's useless."

Cassandra's patience finally ran out. "If it's not in your pants pocket, then it must be in your jacket."

She told Xavier to hold me while she cut open my coat and searched every inch of my body.

In the end, even my undershirt was stripped off.

The cold air was nothing compared to the weight of strangers' stares and the phones raised to record everything.

Suddenly, my symptoms hit me. I broke out in a cold sweat and curled forward, barely able to stay upright.

Cassandra, however, didn't soften in the slightest.

"Do you think playing the victim will make me stop? Don't be naive. If it's not on you, then tell me where you hid it," Cassandra demanded.

At that moment, Xavier handed her his phone and sighed. "Cassie, I noticed Harvey's been chatting with another woman. I didn't want to interfere in your private matters, but I'm worried he might have handed the files to her."

Cassandra scrolled through the screen, her face growing darker with every second. She shoved the phone toward me. On the screen was a screenshot.

"'Good night, Babe. Sweet dreams.' Harvey, have I given you so much rest time that you still have energy to flirt?"

The screenshots were fake.

I wanted to explain, but my body wouldn't cooperate. I forced the words out through clenched teeth. "I didn't do any of that."

Xavier raised his voice. "Harvey, the evidence is right here. Stop denying it."

He then turned to Cassandra. "Cassie, don't worry. Men make mistakes all the time. My friend runs a training center that specializes in correcting disobedient men.

"Sheila's husband used to mess around constantly. After spending seven days there, he couldn't even stand the sight of another woman."

Cassandra was displeased. "Don't compare my husband to trash like them. He wouldn't betray me. He was just misled and had a rebellious bout."

Xavier nodded eagerly. "You're right, Cassie. I misspoke. But don't worry. Leave him with me for seven days, and you'll have your obedient Harvey back."

Cassandra hesitated only briefly before agreeing, "No corporal punishment. Don't starve him either. He's my elite husband. If you turn him into a sick wreck, I won't let you off."

He reassured her, "Relax. We're a legitimate institution. We educate. We don't punish."

I wanted to resist, but I was completely drained of my strength.

As my eyes closed, the last thing I saw was Cassandra's back as she walked away without looking back.

…

When I woke up again, I was in a basement.

Xavier grabbed my hair and forced a spoonful of writhing insects into my mouth, clamping a hand over my mouth, so I had no choice but to swallow.

"I had people catch these straight from a latrine. They're packed with protein. I wouldn't even eat them myself. I'm treating you so well, and you won't even thank me?"

The insects squirmed against my tongue, bitter and rancid, making my stomach churn.

I looked at him coldly and rolled my eyes.

Xavier flew into a rage. "How dare you glare at me? Fine. Turn on the shock. There isn't anyone I can't train!"

The switch came down. Electricity surged through my body, and my scream tore out of me.

For seven days straight, I drifted in and out of consciousness under the current. Even when my body gave out, even when my lips were bitten raw, I never gave in.

"Harvey, don't be afraid. Seven days will be over soon. Cassandra will come save you."

"Once Xavier's true colors are exposed, Cassandra will avenge you. Hang in there!"

When I still refused to break, Xavier ignored everyone's protests and turned the machine all the way up.

Foam spilled from my mouth, and the pain faded into numbness.

In my haze, I saw Cassandra from our high school days. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail, her expression distant and proud.

"Harvey York, you'd better think twice if you want to confess to me," she said. "After all, my partner has to be better than me."

If I could start over, would I still choose her?

I tried to open my eyes and think it through, but I was too tired.

I just wanted to sleep.

The lines of text scattered and vanished as my world went quiet.