In our three years of marriage, my wife hypnotized me three times. The first time, when her childhood friend and I were competing for a board position at the company, my wife personally broke both my hands, turning me into a cripple. The second time, when her childhood friend needed liquid capital, she sold my luxury cars and mansion, and took out massive loans in my name. The third time, when her childhood friend was severely injured in a car accident, she forcibly harvested our son’s eyes and liver for transplantation. Each time, I furiously demanded a divorce, wanting to cut all ties with her. But she would cling to me, crying, saying she’d go insane without me. She even forcibly hypnotized me to forget everything, just to keep me by her side as if nothing had happened. It wasn’t until the day of our son’s funeral that I accidentally discovered the whole truth. “Ms. Chloe, this is the fourth hypnosis session. One more could cause irreversible damage to your husband’s brain. He might become mentally unstable. Are you sure you want to proceed?” the doctor asked. “He must forget what happened today! If not, he’ll definitely leave me. I can’t allow him to pose any threat to Marcus!” Chloe insisted. The doctor sighed, “Why do you need to trample on your husband’s sincere love to this extent?” “I have no choice. Who told him to possess exactly what Marcus needs? For Marcus’s happiness, I’m willing to be the villain,” Chloe replied coldly. Hearing this conversation, I felt as if my blood had frozen. My fists clenched involuntarily, but I kept my eyes tightly shut, pretending to be asleep. I had only been looking for my absent wife at our son’s funeral when I accidentally stumbled upon her hosting a lavish birthday party for her childhood friend at a five-star hotel. Before I could confront her, someone knocked me unconscious. When I came to, I overheard this conversation between the doctor and my wife. The doctor continued heatedly, “But your husband’s hand injury was severe. You made the hospital deliberately misalign his tendons. He endures excruciating pain every day.” “You lied to him, saying he had a gambling addiction and owed debts. You told him there wasn’t enough money for pain medication, yet you emptied his bank account to throw this extravagant birthday party for Marcus! Do you really hate him that much?” Chloe shook her head, “How could I possibly hate him?” “It’s all for Marcus. His greatest dream is to be the company’s leader, so I’ll be the woman who silently supports him from behind.” “As for Jack, if he must blame someone, blame him for shining too brightly and blocking others’ paths. I had to turn him into a helpless cripple to feel at ease…” The doctor wanted to say more, but Chloe coldly cut him off. “Enough. Watch your mouth. If you let slip even half a word to Jack, I won’t let you off easy!” “Hurry up and erase his memory. Make him think he caused some trouble today. That way, he’ll stay by my side out of guilt, never leaving me.” Chloe’s hand gently caressed my face. But I could no longer feel any of the love I once thought was there. Five years ago, when Chloe’s family company went bankrupt, I gave her a billion dollars to help her rebuild. When Marcus was kicked out of his family for being an illegitimate child, I was the one who kindly took him in at the company, gradually promoting him to a high position. At the time, Marcus knelt before me, saying he would repay this life-saving kindness someday. Chloe also confessed her love to me, saying she had liked me for a long time. But I never imagined that later, Chloe would steal my assets for Marcus, then trick me into believing I had gambled away all my money. She even put on a complete act, moving with me to a tiny apartment in the poorest part of town, living a life of extreme poverty to save every penny. Later, when Marcus was in a car accident, she cut open our son and harvested his organs to save Marcus’s life. While our son was dying in agony, Chloe was busy wiping Marcus’s body and feeding him. I had angrily argued with her countless times. Each time, Chloe would kneel and beg my forgiveness, pleading with me not to leave, saying she would go crazy without me. If I insisted on leaving, she would use hypnosis to make me forget everything. I had already forgotten three times, and this was nearly the fourth. When I opened my eyes after the hypnosis ended, I saw Chloe looking at me with reddened eyes. Seeing me awake, she hugged me and burst into tears. “Jack, thank goodness you’re awake,” she sobbed. “You were so devastated by our son’s death that you got into a fight at the hospital. When I saw your head bleeding, I thought I would go mad. If you left me too, I really couldn’t go on living!” The concern in her eyes seemed so genuine, but I no longer felt any trace of being moved. Chloe didn’t notice anything amiss. She turned and took out a takeout container from a cheap plastic bag, holding it preciously before me. “Jack, you must be hungry. Look what I brought you! I snuck this out while working as a cleaner at the hotel. It’s high-grade steak and Wagyu beef.” Ever since our family went bankrupt, Chloe would always cry about how all the money she earned from work went to pay off debts. Feeling sorry for her, I would eat very little each day, enduring dizziness and hunger pangs. But today I had clearly seen at Marcus’s birthday party how abalone and sea cucumber were served endlessly. This steak was merely scraps. Marcus had even deliberately stepped on the container and spat in it, telling the waiter to add raw blood to make it disgusting and inedible, saying it was food for dogs. In the past, the so-called gourmet food Chloe brought back always tasted terrible, but I would force myself to eat it all, not wanting to waste her kindness. Now I felt nauseated. I discreetly pushed her hand away, not acknowledging her gesture. But Chloe wasn’t angry. Instead, she looked surprised and delighted as she grasped my hand, examining it closely. “Your hand can move now?” she exclaimed.
“That’s wonderful, you’re finally starting to recover!” “You used to always say your hands were useless, that you didn’t want to be my burden and wanted a divorce. Let’s see if you still dare say such discouraging things now!” She excitedly found a hot water bottle to warm my hands, then gently massaged them. She looked as happy as a wife seeing her husband recover. But I could no longer trust her. I forced a smile and pushed Chloe away from me. “Don’t you have to go to your part-time job? Hurry along, don’t be late for work.” She paused at my unusual reaction, but after carefully checking that I seemed normal, she just kissed me on the cheek and hurried out the door. “Wait for me at home!” Shortly after she left, I went out too. I had been holding my son’s ashes before being knocked unconscious. Now they were gone, presumably left at the hotel. I needed to find them. But I had only walked a few steps when I suddenly felt dizzy. When I opened my eyes again, it was pain that woke me. Someone had viciously struck my wrist with a club. Agonizing pain spread throughout my body. In the darkness, I couldn’t make out the attacker’s face. I only heard him speaking into a phone in a thick accent. “Ms. Chloe, I’ve crippled that man’s hand. This time I guarantee he’ll never be able to lift it again.” “We were very discreet. We didn’t let him see our faces.” A cold female voice came through the phone, devoid of emotion. “Last time you guaranteed the same thing, yet he was able to lift his arm again after just three years. Are you certain it’s completely ruined this time? I want to ensure he has no chance of recovery ever again!” After getting confirmation, Chloe finally sounded satisfied. “Very good. I’ll double your payment!” “I’ve drugged his water with enough sedatives to last all day. Just leave him there barely breathing. I’ll go deal with him after I finish up things with Marcus.” My heart was pounding with shock. I was already crippled, yet Chloe still wasn’t satisfied. She was willing to go to such lengths to destroy me for Marcus! But for all her calculations, she never anticipated that I had only taken one sip of that water. After the man hung up, he turned to give my hand another blow. I seized the opportunity to strangle him unconscious with the iron chains on the ground, then staggered out. Once outside the room, I realized this was the underground warehouse of Lin Corporation. Just as I was about to leave, I saw two people talking in the garden. Chloe was leaning against Marcus, her head buried in his chest, seemingly full of endless affection. She sighed, “Marcus, your embrace is so warm. I wish I could stay in your arms forever. If only this moment would never end.” “I’m in so much agony. Countless times I’ve wanted to divorce Jack, but I’m afraid that once we divorce, he’ll be out of my control and pose a threat to you.” “For the sake of him once saving you, I can only grit my teeth and care for that cripple.” Marcus didn’t push her away, but instead wrapped his arm around her waist. He sighed, “You’ve suffered so much for me, Chloe. I’ll always remember everything you’ve done.” “But I set my life’s goal long ago to focus on my career. If I can’t achieve great success, I’m afraid I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.” “I’m about to negotiate a deal with a major corporation. I heard their CEO has a grudge against Jack. What if I hand Jack over to him? Wouldn’t that help seal the deal? I just don’t know if you’d be willing…” Chloe replied without hesitation, “Of course I’m willing. Just tell me when you need him. Back when my family went bankrupt, it was you who gave me a billion dollars to help. Otherwise, Lin Corporation wouldn’t be where it is today.” She paused, then added, “Just… no matter what they do to him, make sure to leave him alive in the end.” “You can’t bear to let him die?” Marcus asked. “No, it’s because his blood type and bone marrow match yours. In case anything happens to you, he can donate blood or organs.” I laughed coldly. So Chloe believed that billion-dollar investment came from Marcus. No wonder she was so obedient to him, treating him like her savior. I wondered how she would react if she knew the truth. I took out my phone and dialed a number I hadn’t called in years. “Dad, I’m done being stubborn. I admit I was wrong.” “I’ll agree to your demand to divorce Chloe. Please send someone to pick me up and bring me home.” After hanging up, I prepared to leave. But just as I exited the company, I ran into Marcus. He stood with his arms crossed, looking at me with a mocking expression. “Did you enjoy eavesdropping? The once high and mighty Jack, how have you fallen to such a pathetic state? Covered in blood, thin as a rail. Didn’t eat the gourmet meal I specially prepared for you?” My clothes were stained with blood from the attack, and I looked utterly disheveled. My wrist throbbed with pain at the slightest movement. I could only be grateful I had stopped that man from striking a second time, or my hand might truly have been beyond saving. I didn’t want to engage with this ungrateful bastard. I just gave him a cold look and prepared to leave. But Marcus pulled out a small urn, dangling it before me. “Looking for this?” he asked.
The urn was tiny, barely the size of his palm. He mused, “Who would have thought a six-year-old child would be reduced to just a small handful of ashes? Just days ago, he was standing before me alive, calling me uncle. Too bad Chloe soon cut him open.” “Chloe said his only value in life was to be my blood bank and spare organ donor. Now that he’s dead, you’re next. Looks like you father and son have a hereditary occupation.” He burst out laughing, tears of mirth in his eyes. Rage ignited in my heart. I lunged at him, trying to snatch the urn. “Give it back! That’s my son!” But my strength was no match for his. He easily dodged me. “I can’t just give it to you for free. After all, Chloe wanted to throw it away, but I kept it for you. You should be thanking me!” As he finished speaking, several bodyguards suddenly appeared and kicked the back of my knees, dragging me to the company lobby. It was bustling with people, including many former colleagues and acquaintances. They all stopped to stare at my wretched state. “Isn’t that Jack who disappeared? I thought he had retired after making his fortune. How does he look like he’s on death’s door? He’s practically a cripple!” “I heard he gambled away all his assets and got his hands broken by loan sharks. He even caused his own son’s death. What a burden on poor Chloe!” “He’s probably here to beg Marcus for money, playing on their past relationship. Those two are so unlucky to be saddled with him.” Contemptuous and scornful gazes fell on me, their disdain nearly drowning me. Marcus smirked, “You want your son’s ashes? Then crawl between my legs to get them! I’ll give you five seconds. Time’s up after that!” He started counting down, “Five, four, three…” As I gritted my teeth, agonizing over the decision, he paused midway and laughed. Then he suddenly opened the urn and dumped all the ashes into a nearby flower pot. The white fragments and powder scattered, then were ground deep into the soil by his raised foot. In an instant, they vanished without a trace. Now there was no way to retrieve them. I could no longer contain my fury. I raised my hand and punched him hard in the face. “Marcus, he died for you! How can you be so heartless? Aren’t you afraid of karmic retribution?” Marcus sneered and said in a low voice, “Are you trying to tickle me? A cripple is still just a cripple.” “No wonder your wife says you’re useless, completely unable to satisfy her. Yesterday we went at it until the bed nearly collapsed. She kept praising me, saying how amazing I was. She screamed in pleasure so loudly the whole office outside could hear clearly!” He grinned maliciously, “You know what? Back when you were kidnapped and tortured, we watched the whole livestream from outside. She felt guilty midway and wanted to send someone to save you. But after I pressed her down on the couch, she was too caught up in ecstasy to care anymore. In fact, the more we heard your agonized screams, the more aroused and thrilled she became.” My whole body shook with rage. Memories of being tortured to the brink of death flooded my mind, making me sick with anger. But Marcus suddenly grabbed my hand and used it to punch himself hard in the face. “See, that’s how you throw a punch!” he taunted. Just then, we heard Chloe’s piercing scream. She quickly shielded Marcus behind her, then slapped me across the face to avenge him. Her face was colder than I had ever seen as she said, “Jack, stay away from Marcus. If a worthless cripple like you hurts him, he’d wake up dissatisfied even in his dreams!” “If you dare touch him, I’ll pay you back tenfold!” I laughed mockingly, “Didn’t you cause me to become a cripple in the first place?” A flicker of panic crossed her eyes. She frowned, “What are you talking about? Stop being ridiculous!” But Marcus held her back. “Chloe, Jack did me a favor in the past. Let’s consider this punch as repayment for that kindness. We should be magnanimous and not quibble with petty people!” He took Chloe’s hand and left. Their backs as they walked away together stung my eyes. But I didn’t chase after them to beg. Instead, I went home to pack my bags. The doorbell suddenly rang. A courier had delivered a package. When I opened it, a bloody, mangled finger fell out. From the birthmark, I immediately recognized it as my son’s. The note inside read, “Chloe accidentally chopped this off while harvesting his liver. A keepsake for you.” Just then, my phone rang. Chloe’s voice came through, “Jack, I was a bit hasty earlier. Don’t take it to heart. Marcus told me he picked out a gift to apologize to you. Do you like it?” Suppressing the hatred in my heart, I said in a trembling voice, “I love it. Tell him I’ll return the favor.” I hung up and left behind divorce papers, then departed from the place I had called home for years. Chloe, thinking I had finally learned my lesson, hung up with satisfaction. She was accompanying Marcus at the company, waiting for their business partner. But as the appointed time passed, there was still no sign of them. Just as Chloe was feeling uneasy and about to make a call, a panicked employee rushed in. “M-Ms. Chloe,” he stammered, “Someone saw our business partner leave by helicopter with Jack! And Jack asked me to tell you something before he left.” “He said he now knows everything you’ve done to him. His biggest regret was giving you that billion dollars five years ago to help you rebuild. If he could do it over, he’d rather have fed that money to dogs!”
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