After word got out that I wanted to divorce Andrew, I was labeled a heartless ingrate.

The nurse who came to change my dressing jabbed the needle into my vein with undisguised anger.

I winced in pain. "Ouch."

She rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "Serves you right, ungrateful scum."

She spoke just loud enough for me to hear. I couldn't be bothered to respond, choosing to file a complaint instead.

Andrew's senior colleague, Cheryl Kane, dropped by for a visit.

Patting my shoulder, she said in a sincere, measured tone, "Tessa, you need to be grateful. Andrew gave up a chance to go abroad for an academic exchange because of your surgery. You shouldn't act rashly and break his heart."

After listening to what she had to say expressionlessly, I said, "That was his decision. What does it have to do with me?"

My response left Cheryl speechless. In the end, she could only shake her head and leave.

Dad came in with a bowl of chicken noodle soup. He set it down hard on the bedside table.

"Now everyone in the hospital knows that you are a jerk who's divorcing the man who saved your life! You've completely embarrassed me!" he exclaimed.

"What exactly is going on in your head, Tessa?" he couldn't help questioning in the end. "What did Andy even do to deserve this?

"You've been married for over a decade. Even when you refused to have kids, he agreed to it. And no matter what I said to persuade you guys, he kept saying your needs came first.

"And what do you do in return? Be honest with me. Is there someone else?"

With a playful tone, I said, "You're pretty smart, so why don't you take a guess, Dad?"

"Are you serious?" He let out an infuriated laugh. "Don't tell me there's not only another man but also a child."

A knock sounded right then.

Andrew and Helen walked in for their rounds, interrupting our argument.

He acted professionally, as if nothing had happened the day before.

"You're recovering well," Andrew said calmly after checking my pupils with a flashlight.

Standing behind him with a notebook, Helen quickly jotted something down. She then naturally took out a thermos from her bag before handing it to Andrew.

"Dr. Rollins, you pulled an all-nighter reviewing materials again, didn't you? I can see the dark circles under your eyes. Have some warm water for your throat."

"I'm fine."

Andrew unscrewed the thermos and took a sip.

I scoffed loudly, remarking sarcastically, "Yeah, Dr. Rollins sure has it rough. Having to save his 'ungrateful' wife while also needing to supervise such a 'thoughtful and attentive' resident must be exhausting."

Dad stared at me in shock.

Helen's expression darkened. She said righteously, "Mrs. Rollins, please be more respectful when you speak! Dr. Rollins hasn't slept because of your condition, and instead of being grateful, you're making sarcastic remarks? Do you not have a heart?"

Andrew's cold voice rang out, his eyes carrying a hint of warning. "Helen."

Helen pursed her lips, clearly dissatisfied.

Andrew bent down to tuck me in with an exhausted and helpless look on his face, as if he were dealing with a difficult patient.

"Get some rest, Tessa. Try not to overthink things. We can have a proper talk after you're discharged."

I shoved him away before pulling out the divorce papers from the drawer. "There's nothing to talk about. Just sign these once you've read them."

He staggered slightly, prompting Helen to support him. She then snatched the divorce papers. "What? You want Dr. Rollins to leave with nothing? Why should he?"

Raising my chin slightly, I shot back, "And who are you to question me about this?"

Helen choked on her words for a moment, then spoke with a hint of wounded indignation, "Dr. Rollins, don't waste your breath arguing with trash like this. Let's go."

"You two—" Dad was about to say something when a loud commotion cut him off.

A middle-aged man stormed in, pointing an accusatory finger at me as he shouted, "So you're that ingrate Tessa? Dr. Rollins pushed back my daughter's surgery to save your life, and yet you have the nerve to bring up divorce? You're a monster!"

The more he yelled, the more worked up he got. Then, in a fit of rage, he grabbed the bedpan from under my bed and splashed its contents all over me.

The pungent, nauseating smell hit me instantly. I froze on the spot.

Andrew dashed into the bathroom, grabbed a towel, and hurried back to wipe me with it.

Ignoring his attempt to help, I snatched the towel. I wipe my face and hair with it before snapping, "Damn it. The divorce needs to happen immediately."

Andrew was stunned. "Tess, what's gotten into you? Can you stop throwing around the word 'divorce'? What exactly have I done wrong? Just tell me, and I'll fix it."

I firmly said, "Yeah, right. Just sign the divorce papers already, you bastard."

He looked completely taken aback, probably because he wasn't used to hearing me swear.

In less than ten minutes, Andrew's entire extended family showed up, crowding the room.

"Tessa, what's wrong with you? Andrew is such a good man. Why would you want a divorce?" Shirley Leblanc, Andrew's uncle's wife, demanded aggressively.

His aunt, Sarah Rollins, chimed in, "Yeah. Look at the state you're in. If it weren't for Andrew, you'd be dead already!"

"He even gave up his chance to train abroad for you. Do you not have a conscience?" his other aunt joined in.

My mother-in-law, Juliana Smith, sat by the bed, wailing dramatically. "Tessa, are you trying to drive me to my death? How could you treat Andy like this? He's been nothing but good to you, and yet you…"

I rubbed my throbbing temples, unwilling to deal with them anymore. "This is between Andrew and me. It has nothing to do with any of you."

Shirley shot up to her feet. "How could it not? What will happen to our reputation if you divorce him? Andrew is the pride of our family!"

"She's right. If you dare divorce him, we'll go make a scene at your workplace every day!" Sarah threatened.

The constant stream of criticism made my head ache like crazy.

"Get lost already," I growled.

The crowd then swarmed me, grabbing and hitting me. I couldn't fight them off alone. The IV stand and everything on the table crashed to the floor.

The nurses eventually came and ushered them out after clearly having watched long enough.

At midnight, I had just dozed off when a sharp pain woke me with a start. I cried out, feeling like my abdomen was about to explode.

When I forced my eyes open, I saw Andrew's sister standing by my bed, a wooden stick in her hand.

I asked weakly, "What are you doing?"

She sneered. "You bitch, how dare you leave my brother? I'll kill you! Since you don't know what's good for you, I'll make sure you do!"

Before she finished speaking, she hit me with the stick again on the head.

Everything went black, and I lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, my head was wrapped in thick bandages. The pain was so intense, it made the room spin.

Sitting by my bed, watching me intently, was a young, sharp-looking man.

The moment Dad came in and saw him, he charged over like he'd seen his enemy. "So it's you, huh? You're the guy who wrecked their marriage! How dare you show your face here!"

As he shouted, he tried to grab Joel Huffman by the collar. Joel sidestepped with a frown.

"Dad, he's my assistant."

"Sir, I'm Ms. Patton's assistant."

We spoke at the same time.

Right then, Andrew and Helen walked in. The moment Andrew saw Joel, he went pale, and he swayed slightly.

Helen immediately steadied him, then shot me a hostile glare. "Tessa, you've gone too far! Dr. Rollins has worn himself down for you, yet you bring your side piece here?"

Andrew started shedding tears as he looked on. The last time I saw him cry like that was over ten years ago, back when we were in college.

Back then, the person Andrew loved was Jennifer Sherwood, my roommate and my best friend.

They had been the perfect couple. I had a crush on Andrew at the time. Although it hurt, I was genuinely happy for them.

If they had a fairytale ending where they lived happily ever after, I would have had no place in the story.

Alas, fate played a cruel joke. In our junior year, Jennifer jumped off a building. Later, we found out she had been suffering from severe depression.

While I lost my best friend, Andrew lost the love of his life. I stayed by his side through the darkest days in his life.

He refused to eat or drink. All he did was lock himself in his room, crying all night long.

I never left him. I cooked for him, talked to him, coaxed him to sleep like he was a child.

Eventually, we got together. I knew he still loved Jennifer, but I believed my love could heal him.

When we got married, Andrew suggested we remain childfree, and I agreed to it. During those days, we lived peacefully and happily. I thought we'd go on like that forever at the time.

I found myself staring at Andrew for a long moment, but I no longer felt the same way as I did before, despite how much more handsome he looked now.

Joel handed me a tablet and a folder of documents before whispering something in my ear.

Andrew choked out, "What have you been hiding from me?"

Letting out a cold laugh, I opened the video on the tablet. "How shameless of you two to accuse me of the very thing you're doing. Aren't you the ones hiding secrets?"

Turning to Andrew, I held the tablet in front of him. "Why don't you take a look at this, my dear husband?"

The moment Andrew saw what was on the screen, his face turned as white as a sheet.