Chapter 2

I underwent the surgery in a remote clinic.

A proper hospital would have required a family member's signature, but I had no one.

My father lay unconscious in the ICU, and my mother had passed away ten years ago.

When the cold instruments entered my body, I was writhing in agonizing pain.

Yet, I clenched my lip tightly and didn't utter a word.

This physical pain was nothing compared to that in my heart.

My baby was gone.

The last bond between Wilbur and me was severed.

After the surgery, I didn't rest.

I dragged my weakened body back to the old Hayes family's mansion, which had been sealed off.

The front gate was pasted with a seal.

Several debt collectors were smoking on the steps.

Seeing me, they immediately surrounded me.

"Miss Hayes, you are back."

"You should pay the debts for your parents now."

"It is said that Mr. Chapman kicked you out. So how do you plan to pay?"

"You're attractive enough to find work at a club. You can be well paid there to pay the debts."

They said dirty words and shoved me.

I was knocked to the muddy ground.

A tearing pain surged from my abdomen, freshly operated on.

Blood ran down my thighs and stained my pale jeans red.

"Damn, why's she bleeding?"

"Let's hope she's okay. We don't want any trouble."

"Let's get out of here before it turns into a murder case."

The debt collectors scattered.

I curled up on the muddy ground and trembled with pain that made even breathing difficult.

The rain continued to pour.

I felt the warmth draining from my body.

My consciousness began to fade.

In my daze, a black Maybach pulled up by the roadside.

The car door opened, and polished leather shoes stepped through the mud towards me.

A black umbrella shielded me from the rain.

"Is she Wilbur's ex-wife, Alina Hayes?" The man's voice was deep, cold, and meaningful.

"Mr. Norris, she seems barely holding on," his assistant said in a low voice.

"Is she the key designer of the Hayes family's Northern Lights Initiative?"

"Yes, Mr. Norris. Although it was credited to Mr. Jeremy Hayes, Alina's father, our investigation shows that she was the actual designer."

The man, Theo Norris, crouched down, and his slender fingers lifted my chin.

His fingers were cool, with a faint scent of tobacco.

I struggled to open my eyes and met his inscrutable gaze.

There was no sympathy in his eyes, only assessment.

He seemed to be evaluating the worth of something.

"Alina." He called my name. "Do you want to survive?"

I looked at him and clutched his pant leg with the last of my strength. "Help me... I want... revenge."

He smiled faintly.

He gave a subtle yet commanding expression. "Good. As long as you have value, I'll give you the weapon for your revenge."

He took off his coat, wrapped my mud-stained body, and then lifted me into his arms.

"Let's head to the airport. We're going back to the Norris family."

Before losing consciousness completely, I heard him say to his assistant, "Wilbur foolishly discarded a treasure as if it were trash."