Chapter 3

I stared at him with swollen eyes. “That wasn’t an accident, Silas. It was murder.”

His expression changed slightly. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do.” My voice shook, but I refused to look away. “Riley was getting worse, and I told you I needed to treat her first. You forced me to save Vesper while our daughter was dying. Her own father took away the only chance she had!”

Silas reached for my hand, but I pulled it away before he could touch me.

“Raven, I know you’re angry. You’re grieving, and I understand that you blame me, but I never wanted Riley to die.”

“Then why did you make me choose?”

He went quiet.

Instead of answering, Silas straightened his suit and spoke as though we were discussing a business settlement. “I’ve already arranged for fifty percent of my assets to be transferred to your name. You won’t have to worry about money for the rest of your life.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Fifty percent?”

He nodded. “As compensation.”

A bitter laugh escaped me.

“Compensation?” Tears filled my eyes again. “You’re giving me money for my daughter?”

“Raven...”

“Is that what Riley’s life is worth to you?” My voice broke. “How much is she worth, Silas? Ten million? A hundred million? Half of Thorne International?”

Silas looked away.

That was enough of an answer.

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. “I don’t want your money.”

I couldn't believe this was the same man who had once begged me to marry him.

When I was nineteen, I went overseas to work with a military medical unit. Later, I specialized in toxins and nerve agents. By twenty-three, I had become one of the youngest specialists in my field.

Then I met Silas.

A rival mafia family had poisoned him during a charity gala. Someone had slipped a deadly neurotoxin into his drink, and by the time his men realized what had happened, he was already losing consciousness.

Nobody wanted to touch the case.

He was the Don of the Thorne Dynasty. Treating him meant getting involved in a mafia war, and nobody wanted that responsibility.

I stepped forward anyway.

I identified the toxin, treated him, and kept him alive until the antidote arrived.

After that, Silas started pursuing me relentlessly.

He showed up at my hospital. He sent flowers. He waited outside my office. He found excuses to see me even when I refused to meet him.

At the charity gala where he finally proposed, he stood in front of hundreds of people and told them I was the only woman he wanted.

I believed him.

I actually believed him.

Now, every memory felt like a lie.

The ward door opened again, and Vesper walked inside. Her eyes were red, and she looked like she had been crying. The moment she saw Silas, she hurried toward him and grabbed his arm.

“Silas...”

Her voice trembled.

Silas immediately looked at her. “What happened?”

“Nothing. I’m okay.”

Vesper wiped her tears and glanced at me before quickly lowering her eyes. “It’s just that people outside are saying things.”

Silas frowned. “What things?”

“They’re saying Raven only saved me because you forced her to.” She swallowed, letting another tear roll down her cheek. “And they’re saying Riley died because I was more important to you.”

I stared at her.

She looked frightened. Innocent. Completely harmless. If I didn't know what I knew now, I might have believed her.

Vesper tightened her grip on Silas’s sleeve. “Silas, please don’t fight with Raven because of me. She’s already lost her daughter. She doesn’t need more trouble.”

Silas held her closer before looking at me.

“Raven, I’ll arrange a press conference.”

I frowned. “What?”

“You’ll explain what happened yourself. You’ll tell everyone that you chose to treat Vesper first because you believed you could stabilize Riley afterward.”

My stomach turned. “Huh! You want me to lie?”

“I’m asking you to clarify the situation.”

“You mean you want me to take the blame.”

Silas’s expression hardened. “Riley died because the toxin progressed faster than expected and your treatment failed. That’s the truth.”

I stared at him.

“You were the one who forced me to treat Vesper first.”

His eyes turned cold. “And nobody needs to know that.”

My hands curled into fists. “So you killed my daughter, and now you want me to tell everyone it was my fault?! Huh!”

“Raven, watch your words.”

“No! You watch yours!”

I stepped closer to him, no longer caring that Vesper was standing beside him.

For the first time, genuine anger appeared in Silas’s eyes. Before he could speak, Vesper caught his arm.

“Silas, please.” Her voice was soft and careful. “Don’t make things worse. It’s okay. I can handle whatever people say about me.” She turned toward me, tears filling her eyes. “Raven, I’m sorry. I never wanted any of this to happen.”

I almost laughed.

She was good, really good.

Then Silas reached into his coat and pulled out several photographs. He placed them on the table in front of me.

My blood ran cold.

It was my father.

Two of Silas’s men had him pinned down. His face was terrified, and his body was shaking badly.

“Silas...”

He looked at me calmly. “You wouldn’t want these pictures spreading around Europe, would you?”

I stared at the photographs. “You threatened my father too?”

“I’m giving you a choice.”

“He’s sick!”

“I know.”

“He has PTSD. He could barely survive what your men already did to him!”

Silas didn't even blink. “Then don’t make me hurt him again.”

My eyes burned with tears.

“The child is already dead.” My voice cracked. “Riley is dead. What else do you want from me?”

Silas stepped closer.

“I want you to protect Vesper.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Even now?”

“Yes.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “Why?”

He didn't answer.

I looked at Vesper. She was still standing close to Silas, looking frightened and innocent.

But now I could see it, the tiny smile she tried to hide.

“You’ve already taken Riley from me. But you’re not going to take my dignity too.”

Silas lifted the photographs between us.

“Then it’s your choice, Raven.”

I stared at the pictures of my father, then at the man who had once promised to protect me.

Just then, my phone went off. It was a message from my friend.

[Raven, your father had another severe PTSD episode. The doctor said he can't handle any more stress. If he's exposed to another major shock, it could seriously affect his mental state.]

I stared at the message for a long time. My father had been a former Air Force officer, and he had already survived things most people could never imagine. Over the years, everything he had been through had taken its toll, and his PTSD had become worse. Now Silas had used him to control me, and I knew exactly what another shock could do to him.

I slowly lowered my hands.

What else could I do? Silas had my father in his hands. Riley was already dead, and now I had to protect the only family I had left.

I nodded quietly. “Fine.”

Silas looked at me.

“I’ll do it,” my voice empty. “I’ll take all the blame. I’ll tell everyone Riley died because of my mistake. I’ll say I misjudged the toxin and failed to save my own daughter.”

Only then did Silas seem satisfied. He reached out and gently stroked my hair. “Raven, you’re such a good girl.”

My stomach turned.

I wanted to slap his hand away, but I didn't. I simply stood there and let him touch me as if I were still the obedient wife he had married.

A few seconds later, my lawyer entered the ward carrying the divorce papers. I took them from him and handed them straight to Silas.

“Sign.”

Silas looked down at the papers. “You really want to do this now?”

“Yes.” I stared directly into his eyes. “You promised me fifty percent of your assets. Put it in writing.”

He didn't hesitate. He picked up the pen and signed every document.