Chapter 2

The hidden live stream started after the secret cameras were set up.

My husband, Arthur, was kneeling by my bed, holding a bowl of soup, his voice gentle.

"Scarlett, sweetheart, won't you eat a little?"

"This is your favorite creamy tomato soup. I stood by the stove, stirring it for three full hours, just so it wouldn't be too cold or too hot, and it'd be just right for you."

My eyes, empty, stared at the ceiling. Then I violently waved my hand, knocking the porcelain bowl from his grasp.

"Clang!" The bowl shattered.

The steaming hot soup splattered all over him, leaving rice and bits of meat a mess on his white shirt.

But he didn't care. He just grabbed my hand, checking it anxiously.

"Did you get burned? Scarlett, is your hand okay? It's all my fault, I shouldn't have brought it so hot."

He mumbled apologies, pulling out a tissue to wipe the drops of soup from the back of my hand.

The live chat instantly exploded.

[OMG! This is intense from the start!]

[My heart aches for the male lead! This crazy woman is having another episode!]

[Ten years! A full decade! How has Arthur endured this? He truly is a saint!]

[If this woman had an ounce of decency, she wouldn't do this!]

[If I were him, I'd have run away on day one. Who the hell can stand a psycho like this?!]

[#CancelScarlett Let's get this trending!]

Just then, Mrs. Reed, my mother-in-law, rushed in, her eyes red-rimmed, and yanked Arthur to his feet.

"Arthur! My son! Look at you, for this crazy woman, what have you done to yourself?!"

She pointed at me, trembling with rage.

"What terrible karma did our Reed family incur to make you marry such an ungrateful thing! She won five million dollars herself, didn't give you a single cent for your leg, and turned around and gave it all to that rapist!"

"She doesn't have you in her heart at all! She's tearing your heart out with a knife! Wake up!"

Arthur gently held his mother, his face filled with pain and internal struggle.

"Mom, please don't talk about Scarlett like that… She's sick, she can't control herself. She's suffering more than anyone."

He turned back to me, his eyes filled with an unbearable depth of affection.

"It's not her fault. It's all my fault, I'm useless. I didn't protect her well enough."

Mrs. Reed pounded her chest, speaking with disappointment.

"My foolish son! You lost a leg for her, you were even willing to cut ties with us! You gave up a full scholarship to an Ivy League school, a brilliant future, and now you're dragging that injured leg every day to be a delivery driver, then a rideshare driver late at night, just to earn money for her exorbitant medical bills!"

"And her? If she had even an ounce of love for you, she wouldn't treat you like this!"

"This family, because of her, is almost ruined!"

Mrs. Reed's tearful accusations pushed the anger in the live stream to its peak.

[I'm crying! He gave up an Ivy League scholarship! He became a delivery driver to pay for his crazy wife's treatment! Where can you find a good man like this?!]

[My heart aches for the devoted husband, Arthur. I'm literally weeping!]

[Scarlett is not only crazy but heartless! I suggest doxxing her and canceling her socially!]

[This woman's psychology is completely twisted. She's taking out all her resentment for not being able to get revenge on the rapist, on her husband who couldn't save her.]

[The analysis above is spot on! But Arthur is so innocent! So pitiful!]

I sat on the bed, my lips slowly twisting into a cold, eerie smile.

Arthur keenly caught my smile. His body stiffened, then the pain in his eyes deepened.

He walked over and took my hand again.

"Scarlett, I know you hate me. You hate that I didn't get there sooner, that I was useless…"

As soon as his hand touched me, I opened my mouth and bit down hard on his wrist.

My teeth dug deep into his flesh; I could taste blood.

"Ah!" Arthur cried out in pain, but he didn't pull his hand away. Instead, he let me bite him, his face showing even deeper heartbreak.

"Bite me, Scarlett. Whatever makes you feel better, you can do to me. Hit me, curse me, anything."

"But please, stop torturing yourself, okay? Seeing you like this… it's worse than killing me."

I released his wrist, looking at the deep teeth marks, and muttered, "Dirty… so dirty…"

The netizens couldn't sit still. A flood of live comments filled the stream.

[I'm sobbing! I'm a grown man crying like an idiot in front of the screen!]

[Tears in my eyes, what kind of angelic husband is this?! Scarlett, you have no heart!]

[He takes all the blame upon himself… He truly… loves her so much…]

[Scarlett! He's throwing away all his dignity for you!]

[I can't take it anymore, I'm going to send Arthur money! Let's crowdfund for his leg treatment!]

[Scarlett, you don't deserve him at all!]