Chapter 2

2

My heart had long since gone numb from the pain.

I used to believe Silas fell for me at first sight.

When he was courting me, he insisted on being Enzo's primary doctor.

I thought it was out of love for me.

Now I realized he didn't care about me at all.

He was just securing a biological match for Scarlett.

Scarlett was Silas's protégée from his college days.

She came from a poor family and was practically raised by the Montgomerys as a charity case. They were childhood sweethearts in everything but name.

Whenever Silas mentioned her, his eyes shone with admiration. He called her a genius plagued by bad luck and poor health.

I used to cry and argue, but Silas would just lose his patience.

"I've told you a thousand times, she's like a sister to me! Stop being so petty!"

But in the end, he murdered my brother for that "sister."

Hate surged through my veins. I wasn't going to let them get away with it.

I drafted a post titled "The Butcher Doctor Who Steals Lives" and hit send. I wanted to use the power of public opinion to crush him.

At the same time, I started hunting for any scrap of physical evidence left behind.

But to my horror, the internet didn't turn on him. It turned on me.

I was confused until I saw Silas's public statement.

"She stalked me once she found out I was a surgeon. She even threatened to accuse me of assault if I didn't marry her. I felt I had no choice but to give in."

"After the wedding, she refused to pay a single cent for her brother's medical bills. I covered everything out of the goodness of my heart."

"I know she's grieving her brother's death, but every surgery carries a risk. She's simply unstable."

Silas posted forged documents, and the trolls swarmed my page.

"You evil woman, why don't you just die?"

"How can someone be so disgusting? Her brother probably died just to get away from her."

"Scum of the earth. Go to hell and stop ruining lives."

I tried to explain, but my hands were shaking so hard I could barely type. Suddenly, my account was locked. A hacker had taken over.

Before I could react, my front door was kicked open.

The police were standing there.

"Ms. Quinn, you are under arrest for felony defamation. Come with us."

At the station, I screamed my lungs out.

"I didn't lie! Silas Montgomery is a monster!"

"He ignored my dying brother and cut him open for a kidney! He let him bleed out!"

the officer looked at me coldly. "Ma'am, we need evidence, not stories."

I felt a wave of hopelessness wash over me. "He cremated Enzo before I could get an autopsy! He destroyed the evidence!"

Silas appeared at the station, looking calm and professional.

"Don't listen to her. She suffers from delusions. She's lost her mind."

"I'm sorry for the trouble she's caused you officers."

I thought my truth would be enough to win.

But against a giant like Silas, I was nothing but a speck of dust.

Nobody believed me. I collapsed onto the floor, my energy completely spent.

Silas looked down at me with an indifferent gaze.

"Paige, stop these useless struggles. They mean nothing."

He lifted my chin with a long, slender finger. "Remember your place. Be a good little trophy wife."