Part 1Sacrificed in the Rain for Her Lover

As an exploration geologist, I'm caught in a landslide during a mission, and one of my arms is crushed.

Before we set out, our exploration team has accurately predicted the weather. There's no chance of heavy rain that day.

It isn't until I overhear my wife, Diana Nelson, talking to a doctor friend that I learn the truth.

"Diana, you knew Adam was going out on a mission that day, yet you spent a fortune on creating cloud seeding just to get him injured and eventually cost him an arm. You really went too far for Flynn."

Diana frowns. "Who told him to care so much about that exploration project? The only way the project can go to Flynn is if Adam gets disabled.

"Otherwise, Flynn will be sent to Nambara. You think I can bear to let him suffer in a place like that?"

What she doesn't know is that the Nambaran assignment will go to either Flynn Cooper or me. Before leaving, I put my medical report, which states that I've lost my reproductive ability, into a box.

The day Flynn makes a name for himself, the box will be delivered to Diana as a gift.

* * *

Adam's POV

"Don't forget, Diana. Adam's lifelong dream has always been to start his own exploration team. Now that he's lost an arm, can you bear to—"

My wife, Diana Nelson, cut her doctor friend off without hesitation.

"He's had it easy his whole life! He wanted to marry me, and he did by just sweet-talking my family. Then he went on to make a name for himself in the exploration team.

"But Flynn didn't come from a good background. How could I just stand by and watch him get sent to Nambara?"

Separated by nothing but a door, I could hear the pain in Diana's voice when she spoke about Flynn.

The hallway fell silent for a moment before she finally composed herself. "You're an orthopedic surgeon, but that's not why I came to you. Do me a favor and find a drug that can numb the nerves. I want to make sure Adam's arm never regains any feeling."

Her doctor friend realized there was no talking her out of it and sighed deeply. "As your longtime friend, I'm telling you this because I don't want you to regret it."

Hearing the truth, I broke down in tears.

I didn't know the woman I had loved for six years had been this unwilling to be with me. She was even willing to sacrifice one of my arms just to clear the way for Flynn Cooper's future.

What she didn't know was that the storm had taken more than an arm from me. It took away my ability to have children, too.

A young nurse who had overheard the conversation looked at me with pity.

I numbly shook my head and forced the words out through the pain. "Put the diagnosis in a box for me. She deserves to know."

The nurse wrapped the surgical tissue in gauze. Just as she was about to open the door, Diana walked in. The smell of blood reached her, and she instinctively covered her nose.

Only after the nurse left did she lower her hand. When she saw the tears streaming down my face, she gently came over and wiped them away.

"Oh, Adam. Please don't cry," she said softly. "You might have lost an arm, but you still have me. I'll be your other hand. I will never let you suffer."

Ironically, she was the one who had caused my greatest suffering.

I frantically dug my nails into my right arm, but it was limp and useless, like a slab of dead fish. I couldn't feel a thing.

Diana quickly covered my arm and pulled me into a tight hug. "Stop it, Adam! I promise things will get better!"

If I hadn't overheard what she said in the hallway earlier, I might've been so moved that I would've kissed her. But the truth had found me. The woman I had loved for six years was nothing but a cold-blooded monster.

Just then, Diana's doctor friend came in with a syringe.

I fought desperately to break free from her arms, but she held me tighter. "It's okay. It's okay. The doctor is here to treat you. You'll be better in no time."

Somehow, her gentle voice was completely devoid of warmth.

Like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, I finally stopped fighting.