Two Years in Prison for His Crime

Chapter 2 Shattered Pride

"Can't you see how your existence affects everyone? You have no parents and you've been to prison. Why didn't you just die in there? If it were me, I would have smashed my head against the wall long ago."

With that, she slammed the box onto the floor and played the recording from her phone.

Nia heard Adrian's voice clearly, dripping with impatience.

"A woman who's been to prison…who else would want her besides me? Who knows what went on in there? The place is full of all kinds of people. I'm only putting up with her for now, one day at a time. Lunchbox? Hmph. That's all she's good for…nothing more than a maid's work."

The recording ended, and Nia's tears were already streaming down her face.

Melody laughed sharply, tilting her head to reveal the faint mark on her neck.

"Just a few days ago, Adrian was talking in his sleep about this. He said if he had known you'd cling to him like this, he'd never have let you do him that favor, not even in death."

Nia shook her head, trying to convince herself, crouching to pick up the spilled food.

"That's not true. Adrian and I are in love… he loves me…"

Melody kicked the lunchbox away, then shoved Nia in the shoulder.

The stairs were right behind her. Off balance, Nia tumbled down, rolling helplessly.

Two years in prison had left her body frail. She hit the ground hard, feeling as if she might fall apart. Her knees and palms were scraped, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead, and she couldn't get up.

The nurses' station wasn't far. Nia could hear their mocking voices clearly.

"Can't even handle a staircase. Think she's acting?"

"Who knows? Maybe she's waiting for her prince to appear."

"She clings to Dr. Locke all the time. No one can stand her."

"This hospital really needs to get its act together. Anyone can just come here to do chores."

"Shh, don't say it, she might throw the lunchbox at you next."

The hallway was empty, and their laughter rang harshly in the silence.

Nia froze for a long moment, then gritted her teeth and got up, limping away.

She wasn't just good at preparing lunchboxes; after prison, no one let her save patients, so she had to start by trying to please everyone.

But she hadn't caused the surgical error. Going to prison didn't make her a bad person. Why did everyone treat her like this?

Even now, the only person she trusted and loved was starting to resent her existence. If she stayed, what was the point?

Adrian saw her tears, but he only paused briefly before slipping back into his usual impatience.

"A hospital cannot tolerate crying staff. You're scaring the patients. If you can't meet the most basic expectations, maybe you shouldn't come to work here at all."

In the past, Nia would have immediately wiped her tears and begged Adrian not to send her away.

But now, she didn't want to humiliate herself any longer. Ten minutes had passed since Adrian had stood in front of her, long enough for him to see the scars on her body, but all he showed was impatience. Not even a word of concern came from him.

Nia nodded, then slowly removed her white coat.