“The bones are too shattered. You might lose some basic functions in your hand. It’s such a pity.” The doctor looked regretful.

I forced a smile as I stared at my heavily bandaged hand.

For three whole days, Winona did not even call me, but I saw her sweet love with Jacob trending online.

The moment I lay down, I received a phone call from Nina Marsh, my godmother. “Shaun, Winona posted online that Nathan took bribes, and he got so worked up that he was hospitalized because of a stroke!”

I hurried to the hospital.

Nathan Marsh, my godfather, was still in the ICU, and Nina cried into my arms as she trembled.

While keeping my anger in check, I called Winona. “How could you do this to my godfather?! You wouldn’t be where you are today without him!”

I grew up in an orphanage, and I only got a family after getting to know my best friend, Apollo Marsh.

Before Apollo passed away from an accident, he had asked me to take good care of his parents, and his parents treated me like their own son.

When they learned that I was getting married, they gave me all their money. In order to support Winona, they also got a lot of investments to help her. They even threw their retirement savings into her company.

Back then, with teary eyes, she had sworn, “I’ll always be good to Shaun and treat you both well!”

This was her version of treating them well?

Winona answered coldly, “Jacob was kind enough to send Zephyr over to learn how to draw from Nathan, but they chased him out. Zephyr’s eyes were swollen from crying, and he nearly died. Nathan also shouted at Jacob for being my affair partner in the residential area. If I had reached the place any later, he would have jumped into the river with Zephyr!”

I was livid. “You’re the one who cheated, and you won’t let anyone talk about it?!”

I only realized after I finished shouting that she had hung up on me long ago.

With my still-bandaged hand, I started going everywhere in search of evidence. When I finally got some results, I got news from the hospital that my godparents had jumped off the hospital building.

However, the security footage showed that it was Jacob who did it.

I wanted to deck him, but Winona stopped me. “Calm down, Shaun.”

I grabbed her collar. “They’re gone! How can I possibly calm down?!”

Winona scowled. “Jacob didn’t do it on purpose. Who would have known that your godparents were so useless? Besides, if Nina hadn’t started running her mouth, he wouldn’t have lost control over himself.”

She was absolving him of his crime just by saying that he did not do it on purpose.

She always did that.

Without any remorse, Jacob said, “I’m sorry, but their words were just too harsh, and I got so angry. I couldn’t control myself, so… Why don’t you hit me? I won’t complain.”

Right when I wanted to kick him, Winona shoved me away and said to Jacob, “It’s no big deal. You still have Zephyr to take care of. Head back first.”

I grabbed Winona’s arm. “I’m going to make him pay!”

However, whenever I filed a police report with the security footage, I was rejected. In the end, while gritting my teeth, I posted their past online.

[I worked hard for my wife, only to find that her illegitimate son was already three years old. Her affair partner even killed my parents. Please help me.]

The video quickly caught the public’s attention, and many people comforted me. Some also insulted them.

[Don’t worry. Those who do bad things won’t live long. The kid also doesn’t seem like the type who will live a long life.]

[How shameless! She should just hide her face when she leaves the house.]

Some people even threw paint at the company’s entrance.

I felt much better, but in just two days, Winona sued the people who did this.

She also falsified evidence to continue accusing Nathan of receiving bribes and being an immoral person. She even publicly held a press conference with Jacob.

“I’m sorry, everyone. Jacob and I are in love. That’s when we got Zephyr. My husband drugged me and forced me to marry him. Then, he refused to let me divorce him. It’s not easy for Jacob to raise Zephyr, and I will have Shaun apologize publicly.”

Then, she posted the videos of her sweet moments with Jacob, along with evidence of me giving her the drug.

I felt my heart clench from pain and anger. She was the one who said that she wanted to experience what it felt like to be high and had me give her the stronger drug. She had even begged for it. “Come on, dear. Let’s just try it.”

She was even the one who asked to keep a video for memory’s sake!

In the end, she twisted the truth with it.

Public opinion turned against me.

They started pitying the star-crossed lovers who could not be together. They also started leaving insults under my video.

[They say that men don’t scheme? Here’s one!]

[You have hands and legs, but you still have to rely on a woman to survive? You’re a disgrace to all men.]

[How many people have you scammed? I heard that you already have some kind of STD. Miss Winter is the one who’s an honest, down-to-earth person.]

[If you like making noise so much, do it in my bed.]

They had even found that photo, and they started spitting in my face when I walked on the streets.

Winona then dragged me over to Jacob. “Apologize!”

I refused, and she stepped on my stomach. “If you don’t want Apollo’s name to be ruined, you will do it.”

I shut my eyes, and right before everyone’s eyes, I said to Jacob, “I’m sorry.”

Jacob still felt sad and refused to forgive me. So, I was forced to keep slapping myself at the company entrance to earn his forgiveness.

The passersby could kick me whenever they walked past me. Some even treated me like I was some kind of tourist attraction. My photo was taken multiple times.

My eyes were red and dry, and I even felt like it was hard to breathe.

On the eighth day, I had appendicitis and was admitted into the hospital, so I called Winona. “I don’t have any money. Could you hire a caretaker for me?”

There was laughter in the background. After a long while, Winona snapped at me, “That’s enough. You’re in a ward that costs thousands of dollars a night. Why are you still dissatisfied? You weren’t forced to continue begging for forgiveness because Jacob is kind. I’m busy. Stop calling me.”

I clutched my phone and tasted blood. My entire body ached.

I clenched my teeth and decided to fight for myself one last time.

I reported Jacob for falsifying his degree and handed over all the evidence I found.

The next day, Winona came to me with a stormy expression. “Remove that post and say you’re sorry.”

I clenched the sheets tightly, and my face was pale. “I didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just the truth. The boy can’t have a father who committed academic fraud.”

I sneered, and Winona became frustrated again. “Shaun, he’s only doing it for Zephyr. He has already had a tough life over the years. Why do you insist on ruining him? When are you going to grow up?”

“What about me? Do I deserve to have my life ruined?” My throat and heart hurt.

“Who ruined you? This is all you deserve! You’re crazy and absolutely unreasonable.”

She then left.

My post was removed once more, and she even logged onto my account to say that I plagiarized all my designs.

My clients came to the hospital to curse at me.

Cameras were shoved in my face.

I was unable to defend myself. All of my hard work was ruined overnight, and everything I did was credited to Jacob.

She said that he needed a good status. She even wanted him to be my surgeon.

I could not believe her. “Winona, Jacob is an orthopedist!”

“I know, but he has already practiced on animals. You’ll be fine. This will prove his skills too.”

I stared at her with wide eyes, and I was filled with despair. “What about me? Is my life worth nothing?”

Winona just pinched the bridge of her nose. “Jacob is kind. He’ll be careful. You’ll be okay. Once the surgery ends, I’ll send you to Historia City to rest. When you come back, we can spend the rest of our lives together.”

Before I could argue any further, they forced me into the operating room.

In order to show that Jacob had great skills, they did not even give me anesthesia.

I could feel the scalpel twisting about in me.

As I stared at the surgical lamp, I shut my eyes.

Would I even survive the surgery?

I felt myself tearing up, but I could do nothing.

…

In order to celebrate the success of Jacob’s surgery, Winona went on a honeymoon with him.

They traveled from south to north and had fun everywhere.

However, she never received any news from Shaun. He did not even post anything.

Then, her assistant rushed over. “Miss Winter, Shaun found the sterilization medicine!”

“Book a flight. I’m going to look for him!”

Her assistant pursed her lips and hesitated. “The hospital said… your husband passed away in the operating room.”