Maybe Love is An Unexpected Injury

As soon as we arrived at the Laird residence, Tina instructed someone to clean the car.

She cast me a scornful glance and told me to wash up before coming inside.

It was only when I got to the bathroom that I noticed I was still wearing our wedding ring – a priceless antique worth millions.

Its brilliance, however, was dulled by dried blood and grime, and, in the end, it hadn’t been worth even a scrap of bread when I was starving.

Once I’d showered and dressed, I was led into the living room.

Tina, who had originally mentioned a welcome-home dinner for me, changed her plans after a brief exchange with Vincent. Instead, a maid brought me a meager plate of leftovers.

A few scraps and a watery soup – things that, before, would never have been allowed near my table.

But this time, I devoured it all as though I couldn’t taste a thing.

When I finished the last morsel, I looked up to find Tina standing over me, Vincent by her side, supporting Old Mrs. Laird.

The three of them stood together, the picture of a happy family, all wearing identical expressions of disdain as they looked down at me, the unwelcome intruder.

Old Mrs. Laird spoke first. “James, look at yourself – just look at what you’ve become.”

I clutched the empty plate in my hands, still feeling the faint warmth from the food.

In simpler times, they used to joke that I was the Laird family’s “little ward.”

I’d assumed then, so naturally, that I was being groomed to be the family’s future head.

But faced with life and death, I now understood just how insignificant I was.

My fate – my life, even – was at Tina’s mercy.

When she was in a good mood, she could hand over that priceless wedding ring to humor me.

When she wasn’t, she could cast me aside just as easily, into a living hell.

Old Mrs. Laird placed a set of papers on the table in front of me.

“I know you’ve loved Tina for years, and I know you’re recently married, but what happened this time is your fault, James. The Laird family head cannot have a history so… disgraceful.

“After the divorce, you’re welcome to continue living here. I’ll treat you like a son, and financially, you won’t want for anything.”

In a single month, all those who had once treated me like family now wore entirely new faces.

They all believed this accident was my doing – that I had endangered Tina and nearly got Vincent hurt.

No one mentioned that Tina had arranged the honeymoon.

No one blamed them for abandoning me.

Not one person had asked me what I’d endured over the past month.

I wanted to explain, but one look at Tina’s icy gaze set me trembling.

“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”

With shaking hands, I reached for the divorce papers on the table.

Before I could touch them, though, Tina’s hand shot out, and instinctively, I flinched, closing my eyes and curling into myself.

“Please… don’t hit me!”

“James…”

Slowly, I opened my eyes and met Tina’s stunned expression.

She was holding the papers, and her voice was flat. “I don’t plan to divorce you.”

Not divorcing?

I knew Tina despised me; she’d gone to great lengths to shake me off, a burden who’d trailed her for a decade.

How could she possibly not want a divorce?

I looked up at her in surprise.

She spoke coolly, “Now isn’t the right time to divorce.

“Doing so would reflect poorly on Laird Corporation.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

They’d used my suffering to generate publicity, and now a divorce would make the Laird family look heartless.

It wasn’t me she was concerned about.

It was her reputation, her standing, and her future with Vincent.

Vincent exchanged a knowing smile with Old Mrs. Laird. “Mrs. Laird, there’s no rush for some things.”

He went over to Old Mrs. Laird and massaged her shoulders, casually showing off the family’s ancestral emerald ring on his finger – the ring that symbolized the Laird family head.

For a moment, a flicker of anger rose within me.

In the past, I would have demanded answers.

But now, I simply lowered my head, swallowing my heartache and frustration in silence.