9:41 Wed , Oct 15 1 On the day Bryson Lundeberg and I were supposed to celebrate our anniversary , my mother went into surgery . I thought everything was under control . But I never imagined that a procedure with a ninety percent success rate would fail . That left mom comatose . At first , I wanted to call it an accident . But when I came home late that night , I overheard the truth . "Bryson , what you did for me ... I'm really grateful . If it weren't for you , I might already be in jail . But I swear I never meant for Hedy's mom to be in danger ... " Debbií Parmelee murmured . Her voice sounded a little flirty , her body leaning against Bryson . Without any restraint , he pulled her into his arms . " What happened was not your fault , to begin with . You had good intentions in giving Hedy's mom that medicine . She ran into trouble in surgery because her body couldn't hold up . It's not on you , okay ? " he replied , patting her head to soothe her . I froze in place , listening as they bantered about my mom like it was entertainment . Only after hearing everything did I understand why my mom had fallen into a coma . Debbii had given my mom a large dose of experimental , unapproved drugs before the surgery - that drug sabotaged the surgery ! Worse , Bryson had known it all along ! I wiped away my tears , pulled out the divorce agreement we'd signed before the wedding , and took out my phone . " Take back all assets and funding we've granted Lundeberg Corporation . At the upcoming project bid next week , disqualify them . Use my shares in their company ; make sure their stock falls ! " I ordered . " In seven days ," I swore , " Bryson won't have anything left ! " 1 Hedy's POV I made up my mind . I handed the evidence over to my brother , choosing instead to stay behind at the hospital to take care of Mom . What I hadn't expected was that , later that very night , I would lose all contact with him . Just as my panic reached its peak , Bryson appeared before me - dressed impeccably 2/5 1.5 % 9:41 Wed , Oct 15 in a tailored suit , radiating an untouchable air of superiority . 93 " The evidence your brother submitted to the cops , " he began coldly , " I've already suppressed it . Now , you will write a letter of forgiveness . State that Debbii never intended harm , that you understand her . " As he spoke , he placed my mom's hospital bill right in front of me . " If the machines are removed , your mom won't last long , Hedy . Think carefully about your next move . " His unyielding expression crushed the last of my endurance , and tears slipped down my face . He had once promised me I would never suffer injustice . And yet here he was - using my mom's life as leverage , all for Debbii . I didn't answer him . Instead , I pulled out my phone to call my brother . When Bryson noticed , he didn't panic . If anything , a trace of pity curved his lips , as though he were watching an insect struggling uselessly in a spider's web . He simply waited . I dialed again and again - ten times , twenty - but all I heard was the busy tone . Behind me , Bryson let out a soft laugh , pitying , almost gentle . He patted my head and murmured , " Stop calling , Hedy . Don't you see the truth already ? From the very first call that didn't go through , you should've guessed , shouldn't you ? " My face went pale . The next moment , he answered a call right in front of me , deliberately putting it on speaker . " Sir , " his assistant's voice came clearly , " everything has been taken care of . Ma'am Hedy's brother has been arrested for bribery . I've already sent you the video of his current state . But sir ... if your wife finds out , will she- " The assistant hesitated . Bryson glanced at my ashen face , then replied smoothly , " She won't say anything . As long as she makes the right choice , everything will return to normal ." He ended the call , then bent down and brushed a kiss across my cheek . His soothing tone was just like the bedtime stories he told me before sleeping every night . For a moment , I nearly faltered , lulled into confusion . But then his fingers clamped around my chin , forcing my face toward his phone . " Hedy , " he said softly , " Kenn just sent me something amusing . I think you should see it , 1 3/5 2.2 % 9:41 Wed , Oct 15 too . " :. Despite my desperate struggles , he pressed play . I had already guessed from their words what I might see . Still , when the video lit up , I couldn't stop the scream that tore from my throat . There was my brother - the man who had raised me like a father , the one constant in my life - lying on the ground like a beaten dog . Blood streamed from his body , pooling into a small dark trench . His leg was twisted at an unnatural angle , grotesquely bent . Men surrounded him , kicking , striking , intent on beating him to death right there . My vision swam red as I stared at Bryson , disbelief shaking every word from me . " Why ? Why would you do this ? " Was Debbii truly so important to him ? She was the one who had harmed my mom , and yet he covered up for her , destroying everything else in the process . My tears fell one after another onto his hand , scalding enough to make him tremble . For an instant , pain flickered in his eyes . He even reached out , wiping my tears with slow tenderness . But his voice stayed cold , unyielding . " Hedy , Debbii grew up with me . I know her . She just made a mistake . Even if she hadn't given your mom the wrong medicine , there was no guarantee your mom could have survived the surgery . Just think of it as an accident . Wouldn't that be better ? " He leaned closer , coaxing softly . " You frightened her with those police reports . You made her cry . If I hadn't locked your brother away first , she would've broken down . Don't be stubborn , Hedy . Sign the letter of forgiveness . Then , everything will go back to the way it was ." His gaze softened as he spoke , but my heart only grew colder the more I looked at him . No. It would never go back . Even if I signed , nothing would ever be the same . Bryson was no longer the man I had married . To me , he was now a demon . In our five years of marriage , he had never treated me this way . Before Debbii returned to the country , he had indulged me in everything . I had always believed I'd found my lifelong partner . But now , I saw clearly - he wasn't my husband . He was hers . My silence dragged on , and irritation crept into his features . " Hedy , every minute you waste here , your brother suffers another minute . Or would you 3/5 2.2 % C rather I decide for you ? " As he said this , a trace of threat appeared on his face . Before I could answer , he dragged me into my mom's hospital room . The next second , he ripped the oxygen tube from her facel At once , medical staff rushed inside . I lunged forward , but Bryson blocked me with an arm . " Sign the letter , and she'll be fine , " he demanded . I looked back at him in horror . " You have ten seconds . " With a blank expression on his face , his voice dropped to a countdown . " Ten . " Suddenly , a stranger yanked my mom off the bed . " Nine . " They tore the oxygen mask away , leaving her gasping in agony . " Eight . " Dragged across the floor , her body knocked against the doorway , bruises blooming on her fragile skin . Yet , Bryson remained unmoved , still expressionlessly counting down . As the count neared its end , Mom's body convulsed , struggling for air . I could no longer control myself ; tears burst forth in torrents . " I'll do it ! " I shouted . " I'll write the damn letter of forgiveness ! " 9:42 Wed , Oct 15 Hedy's POV 2 93 After hearing my words , Bryson's expression finally softened . He gently wiped the tears from my face , his tone turning tender . " See ? If you'd done this earlier , your brother and your mom wouldn't have had to suffer . " My hand trembled as I signed my name on the letter of forgiveness . The moment he turned to leave , I grabbed his hand tightly . " I've already signed it . You should let my brother out now , shouldn't you ? " Bryson froze , taken aback by the distance and distrust on my face . His brows furrowed deeply . " Hedy , those pieces of evidence haven't passed the prosecution period yet . I can't release your brother until at least seven days later . Don't make things harder for me , okay ? " As soon as he finished speaking , his phone buzzed . I caught a clear glimpse of the screen . It was a message from Debbii . [ Bryson , did you get the letter of forgiveness ? If it's too hard on Hedy , maybe don't force her . I can go turn myself in . After all , everything is my fault . From now on , you and Hedy should live a good life together . ] The instant he read it , his entire demeanor turned frantic . He yanked his hand free from mine and bolted for the door . I bit back the pain in my wrist and caught hold of his sleeve again . " Bryson ! If you can't let my brother out , then sign this promise instead ! " My eyes locked onto his , unwavering . He stopped dead . He turned his head and looked at me in disbelief . " You don't trust me ? " I said nothing , only holding out the prepared divorce papers . Just as I expected , Bryson - anxious to go to Debbii - didn't even look at the documents in his hand . He shot me a furious glare , then scrawled his signature across the page with a hard stroke . His voice dripped with mockery . " As I thought . You still don't understand what mistake you've made . You don't value 5/5 3.7 % 9:42 Wed , Oct 15 Debbii's life , and you don't trust me . " With that , he gave me one last cold look , turned , and left without hesitation . I carefully folded the divorce agreement , a bitter smile curling on my lips . How could I still trust him ? 93 The last time I trusted him , my brother was thrown into prison , and my mom was left on the brink of death , trapped in a coma . If I offered my trust again , the only thing waiting for me might be death itself . With that thought , I arranged everything for my mom , then turned and went back to the villa . Not long after Bryson left , the screen of my phone displayed a message from Debbii . I didn't know where she'd gotten my number , but judging from today , she had been planning this for a long time . I opened the video , and there he was - Bryson's anxious figure filling the screen . " Debbii , don't worry . I've settled everything with Hedy . No one will send you to prison , no one will hurt you . I promise . " As he spoke , he pulled her gently into his arms , his eyes holding the same tenderness he once reserved for me . At that moment , I felt my heart shatter . The pain my mom , my brother , and I had endured - to Bryson , it was all nothing but a bargaining chip to please Debbii . Even after knowing the truth , he still chose to stand by her side . At the end of the video , Debbii leaned in and pressed her red lips to his . Bryson , that jerk , did not even refuse . I watched that video three times over until the ache in my chest numbed into nothing . As if knowing I had finished watching , Debbii sent another message - this time more openly provocative . [ Bitch , is that wretched mom of yours still not dead ? What a pity . She suffered so much because of a daughter like you . Yes , I gave her the drug on purpose , but Bryson still chose me over you . If you know what's good for you , you'd better leave . Otherwise , watch out for your brother's and your mom's lives !] She really had done it on purpose ! My eyes burned with hatred . If she appeared before me right now , I might not stop myself from tearing her apart ! Message after message , she goaded me , as if trying to drive me mad . My Marriage Died in the Operating Room