Chapter 2

I stared at the information on the screen, my fingertips shaking so badly I could barely hold the mouse.

The severed bone at my amputation site throbbed with pain, but that was nothing compared to one ten-thousandth of the pain in my heart.

How could this be?

For the past month, Diallo had been by my side day and night, bringing me water and feeding me.

My wife Victoria had also canceled all her work to stay by my side, wiping my body daily with meticulous care.

Their companionship had been the only light in my dark days.

How could they do this to me?

An absurd sense of being torn apart instantly swept through my body. I was suffocating.

With trembling hands, I took out my phone and called my ex-wife Lamoris.

The call connected quickly, and I heard her somewhat joyful voice:

"Hello, Theodore..."

I cut straight to the point: "Lamoris, was Diallo the one you cheated with?"

Lamoris fell silent. Silence was the best answer.

My heart felt like it had been torn in half, the pain making my soul tremble.

After a long while, Lamoris slowly spoke:

"It was him, Theodore. I was possessed back then. I truly regret it.

I wanted to tell you the truth long ago, but Diallo said if you knew it was him who betrayed you, you'd completely fall apart and couldn't handle the blow. That's why I kept it hidden..."

I couldn't listen anymore and abruptly hung up.

Tears fell uncontrollably onto the desk, spreading into cold puddles.

In a daze, I seemed to return to four years ago.

I had been working on a project non-stop, neglecting Lamoris.

After finishing, I planned to make it up to her, but found men's underwear in her pocket that didn't belong to me.

Back then, I had been just like this, tears streaming down my face, clutching my chest as I asked Lamoris:

"Who was it?"

But she just pulled at her hair remorsefully, refusing to say the name.

Later, I divorced. Victoria, who had been abroad, rushed back upon hearing the news.

She was the heir to the Williams family and my childhood friend who had secretly loved me since we were young.

Afraid I'd spiral into depression, she begged me with red eyes: "Don't shut yourself away. I'll be with you. From now on, I'll take care of you."

I fell seriously ill and underwent major surgery with Diallo's company.

After the surgery, I was physically and mentally exhausted, weak all the time.

As my good friend, Diallo looked at me with heartache and tried every way to cheer me up.

Victoria didn't mind the dirt or fatigue. She washed clothes, cooked, served tea and water, taking care of every detail. She even personally blew on each sip of water to cool it before bringing it to my lips.

Back then, I thought they were my most trusted support.

But now, I'd been betrayed twice in a row by the people I trusted most, working together.

I felt the world had completely collapsed, leaving only bone-chilling cold in my heart.

I suddenly remembered two years ago when I finally relented and agreed to Victoria's proposal.

She was as happy as a child, throwing herself into my arms and swearing:

"Theodore, I'll spend my life protecting and loving you."

Diallo had also looked sincere: "Me too, Theodore. As your friend, I'll protect you for life and never let anyone bully you."

Turns out their "lifetime" was surprisingly short.

Just two years, and it shattered completely.

I covered my tearful eyes and let out a shrill, desperate laugh.

With trembling hands, I pulled open the drawer and took out the bottle of pills used to suppress phantom limb pain.

I shoved the pills into my mouth.

One handful, then another.

Until the bottle was empty, not a single pill left.

But the excruciating pain in my severed limb and heart didn't lessen at all, as if it would devour me.

My throat turned sweet, and I suddenly spat out several mouthfuls of blood.

Hurried footsteps came from outside the door, followed by heart-wrenching shouts:

"Theodore!"