Of course she couldn't possibly admit it. "No! Zaden, this wasn't me. You have to believe me!" "Shut up." Zaden's voice wasn't loud, but it cut like an icy blade. "Do you really think with my resources, I can't find out what you've done?" Maya's face turned pale. All words died in her throat. He already knew! Maya completely crumbled. She choked out between sobs. "Zaden! Zaden, listen to me! I didn't mean it! I was forced into it. I was jealous of Athena. I just lost my head for a moment! Please, for the sake of what we used to be ... " "Used to be?" Zaden cut off everything she was about to say. He walked closer step by step, looking down at the woman crouching on the floor, crying without a shred of dignity. His eyes held not the slightest trace of sympathy, only endless disgust and coldness. "Maya." He let out a derisive laugh filled with utter mockery. "What 'used to be' is there between us? To you, I was nothing more than a calculated choice weighing pros and cons. Since you chose to leave back then, you should bear the consequences." He crouched down, his icy gaze boring directly into Maya's terrified eyes. Each word was clear and cruel. "Maya, you went after the person I treasure most in this life. You almost killed her." "No! I only ... " Hearing Zaden call Athena the woman he treasured most, Maya's heart ached with unbearable pain. What hurt her most was Zaden's coldness. He truly had no feelings left for her whatsoever. He was as cold as a complete stranger!"What you intended to do means nothing to me." Zaden's tone was calm. "The result is that she's lying in a hospital bed right now, having lost so much blood! And that result was caused by you." "So ... " He slowly stood up, pulled out his phone, and played a recording. It was the scarred thug's confession. "A woman named Maya paid us ... " Maya's face turned pale. She'd thought these criminals wouldn't dare to expose her. She'd also thought they would succeed. So she hadn't bothered hiding her identity at all! Perhaps it was her arrogance that led to her exposure. "Hiring thugs to commit assault, attempted murder, and your previous crimes ... " Zaden put away his phone, his tone as flat as if discussing something utterly trivial. "You'll spend the rest of your life 'reflecting' in prison! I'll make sure everything is arranged so that every single day you spend there will be rich and colorful." With that, he didn't spare her another glance. As if even one more look would dirty his eyes, he turned and left without hesitation. Behind him came Maya's utterly desperate, hysterical wailing and screaming. "Zaden, you can't! You can't do this to me! I need to see my father and brother." Soon, the bodyguards gagged her and dragged her away. Rowan stepped forward and asked in a low voice. "Mr. Storm, what if the Rices ask about this?" "Tell them to come find me directly!" Zaden's voice was ice-cold. This time he wouldn't let anyone hurt Athena. He would also get justice for her. "Yes, Mr. Storm." ... In the corridor outside the county hospital operating room, time seemed frozen. The red light representing life and death glared above like a warning beacon, a shard of glass piercing Zaden's vision. Athena's condition was critical. She'd been taken in nearly two hours ago. With a ruptured kidney, internal bleeding ... Zaden leaned against the cold wall, his expensive shirt still soaked with Athena's blood. It had already dried by now, turning a dark brown color that clung to his skin. He looked like a man abandoned in the depths of despair. Only his slightly trembling fingertips betrayed the panic that was nearly tearing him apart. Just then, the operating room doors opened. It wasn't the surgery ending. Instead, a nurse rushed out in a panic, her face pale, her tone urgent. "Mr. Storm! The patient's blood pressure is dangerously low. She urgently needs a transfusion! You said you'd arrange for blood to be transferred. Has it arrived?" Zaden froze. A chill shot from the soles of his feet through his entire body. He frowned. "Didn't we just get a transfer?" "Mr. Storm, our county hospital blood bank has limited inventory to begin with. We've also had fewer Type B blood donors recently. The blood that arrived was already transfused into Ms. Hall, but her injuries are severe. It's nowhere near enough!" The nurse's voice carried an edge of tearful despair. There wasn't nearly enough blood! Zaden's mind went blank with a buzzing sound, as if struck by something heavy. He grabbed the nurse's arm, his grip so tight it nearly crushed her bones. "Take mine! As much as you need!""Mr. Storm, we already tested your blood type. You're Type A. It's not compatible!" The nurse quickly explained through the pain. "We must find someone with the same blood type as fast as possible! Otherwise ... " Otherwise ... The nurse didn't finish, but Zaden understood. It meant losing her forever. It meant the warmth he'd just held in his hands would turn completely cold.