I reached the hospital with legs like lead, collapsing into the chair by the bedside to clutch my mother’s hand.

Her voice, muffled by the oxygen mask, sounded thin and distant, as if from another world.

"Kya... don't you dare beg him for me."

When Mom first fell ill, Diego had moved heaven and earth to get her the best private suite. He’d even cleared his calendar to ensure she was taken care of.

I remember hiding in our room for days, too paralyzed to eat or drink. Back then, he’d set his work aside just to coax me into opening the door.

"With me here, Mom will be fine," he’d promised.

But those days were long gone.

As he became obsessed with dismantling me, his flowery promises had soured into empty threats. When I checked the hospital’s patient portal earlier, my worst fears were confirmed: my mother’s medical coverage had been cut off.

I turned to see Diego and Aliza walking toward me. My eyes stung, and I stood, bracing myself to face them.

"Did you or Aliza cut my mother’s medical funding?"

Diego’s expression darkened instantly.

"So it really was you. Buying bots to smear Aliza? Calling her a gold-digger?"

I stared at him, bewildered. Aliza stepped forward, her lower lip trembling with practiced fragility.

"Mrs. Cox, the company is just cutting costs. I wasn't trying to target you. Please... just stop letting those trolls harass me."

The more she shook, the more Diego’s gaze sharpened with disappointment.

"Kya Medina, I’ve tolerated your outbursts, but Aliza is an essential part of this firm. How could you be so petty? Apologize to her right now!"

I pulled myself upright, gripping the wall to stop my knees from buckling. My voice was a hollow rasp.

"How about a divorce? I’ll sign the papers today. Whatever it takes."

My words stopped him in his tracks. He opened his mouth, but silence hung between us. Aliza began to sob, a high, thin sound.

"Mrs. Cox, please don't divorce him because of me. Diego is already drowning in the merger—I hate seeing him like this. Don't add to his stress. I’m begging you."

The nearby bystanders shot daggers at me, eyes full of judgment. To them, I was the villain. Diego rushed to console her, shooting me a look of pure disgust.

"A divorce is just a pathetic bluff, isn't it? You just want a bigger payday. What scheme are you cooking up to ruin Aliza this time? If you want your money back, you’ll grovel for her forgiveness right here!"

I froze. Diego had once sworn to provide for me for a lifetime, promised I’d never have to worry about a thing.

But that man was dead.

I bit my lip until I tasted copper, my fists curling at my sides. Aliza reached out, her grip tight and deceptively supportive.

"Mrs. Cox, you've lived in the lap of luxury; you have no idea how hard it is to earn a dollar. Since you’ve caused us so much grief, you should show some sincerity. Record a public apology for the entire firm. Once you do, I’ll transfer the funds back to your mother’s account."

Silence stretched out.

Diego’s expression was unreadable. "She's right. You need to taste the humiliation you’ve been dishing out. You like ruining reputations, don't you? Give everyone exactly what they want to see."

I looked at him in total shock.

"Diego! I am your wife!"

Just then, my phone buzzed. A notification for my mother’s critical condition hit me like a physical blow. My mind went blank.

Diego barely glanced at the screen, his voice cold as he pushed his advantage. "Well? Your mother needs that treatment, doesn't she? You’d better make your choice, and you’d better make it fast."