My wife’s male assistant spilled a cup of hot coffee all over me.

Before I could say anything, the assistant’s eyes welled up with tears and snot.

“Brother, I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I’ll wash your clothes for you.”

The hot coffee had scalded my arm badly, raising large blisters. I pushed the assistant away, telling him it was fine and that he didn’t need to bother.

Moments later, Sophia Bennett came storming in with an air of hostility.

“Nathan Cole, you’ve gone too far. Look at what you’ve done—Eric Dawson’s hand is red from the burn, and you even forced him to wash your clothes.”

“Do you even have a conscience?”

I frowned. Oh, fine—Eric Dawson’s hand had only been splashed with a few drops of hot coffee, leaving the skin slightly red, and yet Sophia’s heart ached for him.

And me? My arm was raw and bloody, but I didn’t deserve her concern.

She knew full well that I made my living with my hands—that I was a renowned performer—and that my hands were more important than anything else.

I raised my arm to show her, but all I got in return was a mocking laugh.

“Nathan, don’t tell me you think I’ll fall for your little sympathy act.”

“Hurry up and apologize to Eric Dawson.”

When I firmly refused, Sophia only said, “Fine.”

I thought that was the end of it, but when I next opened my eyes, I found myself inside an octagonal cage.

Outside stood Sophia Bennett and her group of girlfriends.

Her expression twisted with malice, Sophia pointed at a pitiful-looking Eric Dawson. “Apologize to him, or I’ll make you wish you were dead.”

I shook my head, then pulled out my phone.

“Brother, help me get revenge.”

…

Sophia’s friends covered their mouths and giggled.

Sophia herself laughed so hard she was out of breath.

“Nathan, what’s gotten into you? Your brother’s long dead—jumped from the twenty-eighth floor. Have you forgotten?”

“Or do you still think you’re that world-admired performer?”

“If you miss your brother that much, why don’t you just go to hell and join him?”

Her friends mocked me mercilessly, their heavily made-up faces hideous despite the expensive cosmetics.

I still remembered how, back when I first got together with Sophia, they had practically groveled before me—

secretly adding me on social media, sending me explicit photos in the middle of the night, and messaging things that would make anyone blush.

Things like “I’m so lonely tonight,” and the like.

To prove that my heart belonged only to Sophia, I showed her every such message.

And yet now, those same women had become her accomplices.

Sophia walked up to the edge of the cage, looking down on me from above.

“Nathan, I’ll give you one last chance—learn to behave.”

She stood tall, and I knew exactly why—she had always looked up at me, but now she’d found a chance to humiliate me.

I raised my hand, displaying the hideous wound on my arm.

“What did I do wrong? Was my mistake not kneeling to beg for your forgiveness?”

Sophia gave a cold hum. “Nathan, you’re insolent. Unrepentant. You deserve punishment.”

“Release the dogs!”

Two burly men appeared, each holding a fierce dog on a leash.

The moment the dogs saw me, they began barking furiously.

Eric Dawson gripped Sophia’s hand, his voice trembling. “Ms. Bennett, these dogs are too vicious. They’ll hurt Nathan—please, spare him.”

I nearly laughed out loud at that. Other people might not know what kind of man Eric was, but I knew all too well.

I knew these two dogs were his, and that he had trained them with me as their imaginary enemy. In his villa, he had over a dozen mannequins modeled exactly after me.

He even had my stolen clothes put on them so they would carry my scent.

At that moment, Eric Dawson looked like he was speaking up for me, but in truth, he was savoring my misfortune.

Sophia Bennett gave a cold snort. “Eric, stop defending him. A malicious man like that doesn’t deserve it. You’re great in every way, but you have one fatal flaw—you’re too kind.”

Too kind? Ha!

Sophia turned her head to give me a frosty glare, clearly waiting for me to lower mine.

When I stayed silent, she sneered, “Ungrateful mutt.”

With a wave of her hand, the wild dogs charged into the octagonal cage, their target obvious—me.

The vicious animals, brimming with feral energy, leapt high into the air, one sinking its teeth precisely into my arm.

I drew in a sharp breath—injury on top of injury—pain that pierced straight to the bone.

The other dog lunged, knocking me to the ground, its teeth tearing into my flesh.

Eric Dawson shouted, “Nathan’s a renowned performer! If the nerves in his hands are damaged, he’ll never be able to play again—that’s a loss to everyone. Ms. Bennett, this is too cruel. Stop it!”

Oh, he knew, all right.

He even knew about the nerve damage—clearly, he’d studied my vulnerabilities well.

Stopping them would take nothing more than a single word from him. These dogs had been his for years, trained to obey his every command.

So why the fake chivalry? Disgusting.

I knew my hand was already done for—that I’d never perform again, never set foot on a stage.

And Sophia knew exactly how much the stage meant to me. She’d once claimed she admired me, loved the way I looked when I performed, and that was why she had pursued me so relentlessly.

At first, I rejected her advances outright, but she chased me like a moth to a flame. Under her constant persistence, I finally accepted her.

I never imagined there would come a day when she would trample my dream so mercilessly.

Sophia said coldly, “A performer? Don’t make me laugh. If it weren’t for his brother’s influence, who would ever fawn over him?”

“It’s only brainwashed little fangirls, fooled by paid publicity, who’d like him.”

“Everyone should see the real him.”

My skills were solid—I had won countless awards both at home and abroad, been invited to perform in numerous countries, and my concerts were always sold out. Sophia had no grounds to deny that.

I wrenched my arm violently to shake the dog loose.

Eric called out loudly, “Ms. Bennett, please let Nathan go! Those rabid dogs are going for his vital parts. If he can’t have children, that’s a serious matter.”

Sophia snorted. “Who would want to carry his child? The thought alone makes me sick.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Her brows shot up, her voice sharp. “What’s so funny?”

It was very funny, actually.

The day we officially became a couple, she couldn’t wait to climb into my bed. She told me she had prepared herself as a gift—choosing seductive lingerie, bathing in scented oils, even doing full-body care so she’d be in her best condition.

From that day on, she repeatedly expressed her desire to have my child, saying that having a baby with me would be the most beautiful thing in the world.

She wanted not just one, but at least three—both boys and girls—and promised to raise them well.

She clung to me every day during that time, especially during her ovulation period, physically keeping me from leaving the bed.

When she couldn’t get pregnant, she eagerly sought out traditional medicine, adjusted her health, and even suggested IVF without fear of harming her body.

Now she had conveniently forgotten all that obsession and was full of nothing but disgust toward me.

Women could truly be fickle.

Sophia Bennett saw that I was still laughing, and she gave a cold snort.

“Nathan Cole, you’d better keep laughing. Back then, I only humbled myself to please you because of your brother’s domineering ways. Don’t misunderstand—I never had feelings for you.

I would never have your child. Your inferior genes disgust me.”

Eric Dawson gave a light cough. “Ms. Bennett, don’t say that about Nathan. He is, after all, your legitimate husband.”

Sophia pulled Eric closer. “If I have children, it will only be with you.”

Eric lowered his head and murmured shyly, “Ms. Bennett, don’t say that, you’ll make me blush.”

Then, with a discreet flick of his hand, Eric gave the command, and the two rabid dogs lunged at me once more.

I sneered. Unless Eric destroyed me completely, he couldn’t rest easy.

In truth, he had nothing to worry about—I had already seen Sophia’s true nature. Even if she begged me, I wouldn’t touch her again.

I was ready. When the dogs leapt, I kicked out hard, striking one square in the head and sending it flying.

Eric’s eyes went wide; he nearly gasped out loud.

Sophia snorted. “Nathan, you’ve got a stiff spine, huh? Beat him!”

Several burly men flung open the cage door and rushed in, pummeling me with fists and kicks. Blood blurred my eyes and my vision, and soon my body lost all strength.

“Bite him!” Sophia ordered.

Her girlfriends chattered excitedly. “Just biting him is too easy. Nathan always acts so cold and untouchable—no one’s ever seen him humiliated. Leave it to us.”

Sophia’s eyes lit up at the suggestion, and she smiled. “Ladies, he’s all yours.”

They approached with sinister grins, crouching down to tear at my clothes, squeezing my muscles, and teasing, “Nice body—solid. Let’s see how long you last.”

I said coldly, “What are you trying to do?”

From their malicious smirks, it was clear they were up to no good.

“Nathan, you’ve always been cold to us, so ungrateful. Now’s your chance to make it up to us—please us.”

So that was it—they’d been nursing a grudge over my earlier indifference, and now they’d found a chance to settle the score.

“Keep dreaming,” I said flatly.

They burst into laughter.

“Nathan, you’re really stubborn. You mean you’re not afraid at all?”

Gritting my teeth against the pain, I said, “Whatever you’ve got, bring it on.”

One of them kicked off her high heels and planted her foot on my head, grinding it into the ground.

“How’s that feel? I’m wearing silk stockings—feels extra thrilling, right?”

I frowned. “Haven’t washed your feet in days, have you? Smells sour and foul.”

She leapt back like she’d been bitten by a snake.

“Liar! I just took a shower—my feet smell nice!”

Sophia couldn’t watch any longer and coughed twice.

Her friends kept smirking at me.

“Nathan, if you don’t obey us—if you won’t be our dog—we’ll get rough.”

“You’re so serious online, always putting on that aloof act. Let’s see if steel wool can make you scream.”

“And that’s not all—we brought plenty of toys. We’ll make sure you’re begging for more.”

I knew exactly what kind of “games” Sophia’s girlfriends played. They often hired male escorts, and more than ten times had sent them to the hospital, all thanks to the “toys” they bragged about.

They thought they’d hidden their dirt well, but I knew everything they’d done.