Ruin Me, Ruin Himself

On the day of the wedding, Galen Shaw forces me to crack walnuts with my bare hands for his so-called female buddy.

My expression goes cold, and I refuse outright. "My hands are for holding a scalpel, not cracking walnuts for her!"

He only chuckles and orders someone to hold me down. Then, he glues the walnuts to my palms himself. One by one, he slams them against the ground. "You cheated while studying medicine. Now that you've married me, forget about ever being a doctor again!"

I grit my teeth through the pain. My fingers are aching, but I try to explain. "I went abroad to study medicine for you!"

His so-called female buddy sneers in a shrill voice. "All that talk about the Shaw family's hereditary disease is nonsense! Galen has been perfectly healthy for over 20 years. Don't tell me you just want another excuse to cozy up with your precious senior?"

The moment those words leave her lips, the faint thought of having someone bandage my hand disappears. A shadow crosses Galen's face. "Looks like you haven't learned your lesson!"

He throws me into the basement and locks me there for three days. By the time I crawl out, my hands are completely ruined.

Later, when Galen's hereditary disease finally surfaces, the doctor tries to comfort him. "This disease may be terminal, but there is still a way. Dr. Robinson has just returned from overseas. She's the only one in the world who can perform this surgery.

"I hear that she's your wife."

Walnut shards dug into my flesh, and sharp pain shot through all ten of my fingers.

Galen Shaw's eyes were cold as he clamped my chin, forcing me to look up. "Sabrina, you belong to me! If you dare reach out to him again, don't blame me for what happens! And from now on, you're not allowed to set foot in a hospital!"

The moment I heard that, my mind, which was hazy from shock, snapped back to reality. "No!"

Galen's face darkened, and his grip nearly crushed my bones.

Celine Baker watched with glee, though her voice carried fake concern. "Sabrina, you're way out of line. You just ruined a perfect wedding. The ceremony isn't even over, and look at you already making a scene. How shameful for Galen."

Her words almost made me laugh through the pain. My fingers were broken, and I was being publicly humiliated. Yet, somehow, I was the one being accused of causing trouble. She made it seem like I had ruined everything on purpose because I wanted to escape this marriage.

Galen pulled away, wiping his hands with a tissue. His voice was flat. "If she won't be the bride, then you'll be the bride."

Celine's expression flickered with victory even as she feigned hesitation while slipping her arm through his.

He shoved me aside like trash. I was left on the stage with nothing but the sound of whispers from the guests.

"How could she be so disgusting? She's married, and yet she still carries on with another man."

"Mr. Shaw's far too soft-hearted. I'd never take a cheating woman as my wife. I would've dumped her long ago!"

"Serves her right! And she calls herself a doctor? Imagine her in an operating room. She'd probably kill someone!"

Their words cut deep. Galen didn't look back. He walked away with Celine, heading for the bridal suite.

I watched his retreating figure. The words I wanted to shout lodged in my throat, choking me until all that came out was a bitter, silent laugh.

No matter how many times I tried to explain, he never believed me. He never believed that I had gone abroad to study for him.

I had discovered the truth not long after we got together. His family carried a hereditary disease. It was a rare condition that might lie dormant for years, but once it showed itself, it was fatal. Modern medicine had no cure for it.

The day I found out, I didn't hesitate. I switched my major to medicine. Even if the chances were slim, I wanted to try. I wanted to save him.

However, while I buried myself in research, Celine, his so-called female buddy, took every chance to whisper poison into his ear.