Chapter 3Bone-Deep Betrayal,sir, I Won't Forgive

Just as I was about to be swallowed by this boundless darkness, a sliver of light pierced through.

That day, I was pruning flowers in the garden when a sudden, tearing pain shot through my left leg.

Unable to stand, I collapsed heavily to the ground, the garden shears flying far away.

“Are you alright?”

A gentle male voice spoke above me.

I looked up. Silhouetted against the light, I saw a young man in doctor’s scrubs, wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

He had a clean-cut and refined aura, and his eyes held concern as he crouched down to look at me.

“I… I’m fine.”

I tried to get up on my own but failed again due to the pain in my leg.

“Don’t move. Your leg is severely injured.” He pressed my arm, his voice firm.

“I’m the new family doctor, Dr. Nolan Reid. Let me take a look.”

His fingers were warm and dry as he gently pressed my left leg, examining the injury.

“It’s an old fracture of the tibia and fibula, severely dislocated, and there are signs of infection. You need immediate surgery, or you could lose the leg, and it might even lead to sepsis.”

He spoke gravely, his eyes filled with a mix of confusion and pity.

“Why hasn’t this been treated?”

Why?

I lowered my head bitterly. Because the person who holds my life in their hands simply doesn’t care if I live or die.

Dr. Nolan didn’t ask further. He helped me to a nearby bench and skillfully treated the scrapes on my knee from the fall.

His movements were gentle, imbued with professional focus and kindness.

“Thank you.”

I murmured, the long-forgotten kindness making my eyes prickle with tears.

He looked at me, his gaze complex.

“I’ll inform Mr. Blackwood about your condition.”

“No! Don’t!”

I instinctively grabbed his sleeve, my eyes wide with terror.

“Please, Dr. Nolan, don’t tell him! I’m fine, really!”

Dr. Nolan observed my frantic reaction, then sighed after a moment of silence.

“Alright. But I have some anti-inflammatory and pain medication here. Take them as prescribed. If the pain is severe at night, you can ice it.”

He handed me a small packet of medicine, carefully writing down the dosage and instructions.

Just then, a voice, cold as ice shards, cut through the air behind us.

“What are you doing?”

Matteus stood not far away, his face terrifyingly dark.

His gaze, like a knife, flickered between Dr. Nolan and me.

It finally settled on my freshly bandaged knee and the small packet of pills in my hand.

As if burned, I yanked my hand back, and the pills scattered across the ground.

Dr. Nolan stood up, his expression composed.

“Mr. Blackwood, this young woman’s leg injury is very serious and requires immediate—”

“Dr. Nolan,” Matteus cut him off, his voice laced with a dangerous edge.

“Your job is to look after Veronica. As for anyone else who doesn't matter, don't waste your concern.”

He emphasized the word "doesn't matter."

He strode over to me, looking down arrogantly, his eyes filled with undisguised contempt and fury.

“Scarlett, I truly underestimated you. It’s only been a few days, and you’ve already mastered playing the victim to lure men? Hmm?”

He lifted his foot and viciously ground the white pills scattered on the ground.

The powder mixed with the dirt, as if crushing the last sliver of hope that had just bloomed within me.

“It seems the work here is too easy, leaving you with time for such filthy schemes!”

“No, Mr. Blackwood, we were just…”

I endured the intense pain and fear, attempting to explain.

“Shut up!”

He roared, grabbing me roughly.

“If your leg is fine, then go pick up all the fallen leaves in the backyard by hand! If you don’t finish, you won’t eat tonight!”

My injured leg couldn't withstand his harsh tug. A sharp pain flared, and I nearly fell again, but he dragged me forcibly towards the backyard.

Dr. Nolan tried to intervene:

“Mr. Blackwood, her leg can’t be treated this way—”

“Dr. Nolan!”

Matteus turned, his eyes cold as steel.

“Remember your place. Meddle again, and you’re out!”

Dr. Nolan froze, watching as Matteus dragged me away like a sack of garbage, his eyes filled with powerless rage.

The backyard was covered in thick layers of fallen leaves, reflecting my desolate heart under the gloomy sky.

I knelt on the cold, damp ground, picking up leaves one by one.

The pain in my left leg surged in waves. The freshly bandaged wound on my knee began to bleed again, staining the withered leaves red.

Tears fell silently into the mud.

The tiny spark of light Dr. Nolan had brought was utterly, completely crushed by Matteus.