When Love Turns the Knife by Miley Chapter 04

When Love Turns the Knife by Miley Chapter 04

Chapter 4 Freedom by the Sea

Half a month later, I had finally settled down in a small seaside town.

I sold my wedding ring and got a sizable sum of cash in return. From then on, my days were filled with good food and beautiful

views.

Certain parts of my body would throb dully from time to time. I didn’t know how long I had left to live, so I treated every single day as if it were my last.

I was lying on a beach lounger one lazy afternoon, listening to the waves roll in and break, when I had an epiphany. I realized that I had never felt so free and so comfortable in my skin for the past 27 years of my life.

Just then, I saw a figure walking toward me across the sand. It was my divorce attorney, Victor Langford.

Word was that his nickname in the legal world was the Rainmaker. He would take any case as long as his client could fork up the cash. Judging by how he was the only one bold enough to take on my divorce, I’d say that rumor rang true.

He looked reckless and dissolute; his features were also prettier than most women’s. The top two buttons of his shirt were always undone.

When he ambled down the beach with his hands stuffed into his pockets, he looked less like a lawyer and more like a scion who never did an honest day’s work.

He studied me before saying solemnly, “I’ve talked to him. Mr. Holt says he won’t agree to a divorce. He wouldn’t sign the papers even if you walked away without a single dime.

“He’s stopped going to the office and is practically losing his mind trying to find you. I barely managed to shake him just to see you. It looks like you still matter to him.”

A soft, mocking laugh escaped my lips. “He’s always been good at putting on a show. In reality, he’s just afraid something might go wrong when Madeline gives birth. He’s only keeping me around as insurance. I’m just his backup supply of organs. Well, Madeline’s backup supply.”

Victor asked, “So, what are you planning to do next?”

“I know he won’t let me go easily,” I admitted. “Tell him that if he refuses the divorce, I’ll make everything public.”

“And what if I still refuse?”

That familiar, cold male voice came from behind me.

I lifted the hat off my face and met a pair of dark, intense eyes.

He looked far worse than he had half a month ago. His beard was unshaven, and his clothes wrinkled. Frankly, he looked like a

vagrant.

I stood up to leave, but he grabbed my hand and choked out hoarsely, “Could you forgive me just this once?”

I yanked my hand free. The pain surged in my chest again. After a few seconds, I managed to steady myself and said quietly, ” Winston, can you please let me go?”

I mailed my medical examination report to his office half a month ago. I had held out a sliver of hope that he would spare me the indignity after seeing how badly my body had been destroyed.

Alas, he was still haunting my life like a wraith.

I lifted my shirt and pointed at the horrific surgical scars crisscrossing my abdomen, my voice shaking with fury I could no longer suppress.

“Winston, do you want to add a few more scars to my body? Was I born just to be Madeline’s organ donor? Am I not allowed to have a life of my own?

“You already took my kidney and my uterus. Is that still not enough? Do you have to hollow me out completely and give everything to Madeline before you’re satisfied?”

“No. Never again. I won’t hurt you anymore.” Winston suddenly stepped forward and wrapped me tightly in his arms.

Then, he started pleading his case, saying, “I’ve realized I can’t lose you. I ended up truly falling in love with you while pretending to love you. I was a rotten man to you in the past. I’m guilty of everything you’ve laid at my feet. So, please… please give me a chance to make amends.”

“No. I won’t.” I struggled wildly, my face flushed red. “You’re a butcher. Get away from me. Don’t touch me.”

My breathing grew ragged.

My vision went dark.

Soon, I lost consciousness.

When I finally came to my senses, I found myself in a private hospital room. The logo on the wall told me I had been dragged

back to Fairmont.

I vaguely heard a man’s furious voice outside my ward. “She’s been unconscious for two days. Why hasn’t she woken up?”

“Mr. Holt, please calm down,” the doctor replied. “The patient’s only remaining kidney has failed. She needs to wait for a suitable donor.”

“A donor?”

They were being incredibly noisy, and it made my head hurt. So, I reached out and pressed the call button beside the bed.

Winston rushed in the very next second. He cupped my face, his expression frantic. “You’re finally awake. How do you feel? Does it hurt anywhere?”

I jerked my head away from his hands and said flatly, “Sign the divorce papers. Just looking at you makes me sick.”