The next day, the doctor called me into his office, his expression stern and professional.

"Mrs. Cox, a bone marrow transplant requires a strict pre-op regimen. Why did you suddenly discontinue your medication?"

"I’m dealing with some financial constraints," I said. My voice remained steady, despite the sharp ache in my bones.

The nurses standing nearby traded skeptical, judgmental glances. Everyone knew that if I had ever asked for the moon, Diego Cox would have moved heaven and earth to provide it. But they didn't know my personal accounts had been frozen, or that the prospect of finding another donor was becoming a distant, fading hope.

As I stepped out of the hospital, Diego’s driver held the car door open for me. "Mr. Cox says you are to report to the office immediately to address your recent conduct."

When I arrived at the company, the staff whispered as I walked by.

"The one who used to be so untouchable—look at her now. Aliza really broke her, didn't she?"

"No wonder she stopped acting out. Aliza must have something on her, or maybe Mr. Cox finally tightened the leash."

"She used to be a lioness; now she’s just a broken woman."

Being dissected like this felt hollow. I kept my head high, but my resolve faltered when Aliza Cook and her entourage surrounded me. Their faces were twisted into mocking displays of concern.

"Mrs. Cox," Aliza said, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. "Everyone agrees that your past behavior tarnished the firm's reputation. We believe a formal, public apology to the staff is in order."

I took a deep breath, my face impassive. "I apologize for any disruption I caused in the past."

Aliza shook her head, a cruel smirk playing on her lips. "That doesn't sound very sincere. Why don't you get on your knees and show us how sorry you really are?"

I gripped my handbag, my knuckles turning white. "You..."

"Just do as she says," a voice commanded.

I turned around, stunned. Diego stood there, his eyes cold. I flashed back to the time I’d had that intern—the one he’d had an affair with—expelled from her university. Her parents had shown up at our home with high-priced lawyers, threatening to destroy our reputation if I didn't beg for forgiveness on my knees.

Diego, despite his infatuation with the girl at the time, had stood firmly by my side. He had told them, "My wife is exactly who she is. I’m the one who encourages her, so I’ll handle the consequences. The only way she’s apologizing is over my dead body."

He had faced those people with a terrifying resolve, even ending up in a physical altercation to defend me.

Now, he was looking down at me, commanding me to submit to Aliza’s petty power trip. My breath hitched, and I forced the words through gritted teeth: "I will not."

Aliza choked back a sob, feigning fragility. "Mr. Cox, it seems she doesn't believe she did anything wrong. And why should she? Who am I to demand an apology? Maybe I’ll be her next target soon."

Diego frowned, his gaze hardening. "I was wondering why you suddenly changed your tune. I thought you’d turned over a new leaf, but you’re just playing a long game to frame Aliza! I’m warning you—just because I’ve indulged you in the past doesn't mean I won't favor others, too."

He grabbed my arm and shoved me. I stumbled forward, and as I fell, a thick, matted lock of my hair came away from my scalp, trailing onto the floor.

Everyone gasped. Diego stood frozen, staring at the hair in shock. "What is this..."

I stood there, trembling. My medication had been cut off abruptly; my illness was clearly accelerating. I opened my mouth to explain, but Aliza’s pained cry captured his attention again.

"Mr. Cox, I think I’m having an allergic reaction to her perfume. My head is splitting."

In the next second, Diego shoved me aside, his expression cold and disgusted. "Is this another one of your schemes? Get out of this office immediately!"

Under the mocking stares of the staff, I picked up the hair I had lost. I turned around, and the tears I’d been holding back finally streamed down my face.

The moment I stepped into the elevator, my phone chimed with an urgent, critical condition notice regarding Kya Medina's mother.