My head felt like it was on a rollercoaster, my vision a bit blurry, but I continued to stare at the white ceiling above me.

What the hell happened?

The bar, the bandit, and... Javier.

My vision cleared, and I pushed myself off the bed so fast I immediately fell back as my body collided with something… or rather, someone.

"Should I get the nurse?" I blinked and saw a young woman I definitely did not recognize.

I need to get back. I don’t belong here.

"Where’s my phone?" I searched the annoying hospital gown, and frustration got the best of me as I couldn’t find it anywhere.

I needed to make calls.

"I’ll get the nurse," she said and ran out of the room. I got up from the bed while trying to keep my legs steady on the floor.

I needed to make calls. Did Javier get hurt? If the bastard didn’t take my gun, we wouldn’t have been in this situation and… the dinner party, Jesus! This is not going as planned.

I changed into my clothes before the nurse even arrived.

"Ma’am, we need you to..."

"Where’s my husband? Who brought me here?"

"Ma’am!" I glared at her, and her eyes remained fixed on the wound I had created on my arm from removing the tube.

"It’s not that you should be worried about. Where the hell is my husband, and who brought me here?"

"Deen… Deen brought you here. And we haven’t seen your husband. But ma’am, we need you to sit down so we can..."

"There’s no need. Where’s my phone?" I looked at her while I tried to maintain my balance.

"Ma’am, we’ll have to keep you for now. The police are doing an investigation on the case..." A bitter laugh escaped me.

"I am the police. Officer Rois. Get the hell out of my way." She moved as I showed her the badge and grabbed my phone from her hand.

Javier had just walked in when I passed out, and why the hell was he not here? And who was that lady?

I shouldn’t be worried about him. If he had ever cared, he would’ve stayed. But what the hell am I thinking? A made man caring? That’s impossible.

I had the entire hospital looking at me like I was crazy, but in fact, I was mad at that bastard for taking my gun. I took a cab home, tapping my foot restlessly, then called Matteo.

"It’s been two days. I didn’t see you at the party, and I assumed you refused to come with your husband. Or did he ditch you for the maid he brought along with him?" I swallowed, ignoring the amusement in his voice.

"My marital affairs are absolutely none of your business. I’ll meet you at the bridge in six hours. Do not be late."

"You don’t order me..."

"Do not test the patience I have left, Matteo. You have six hours to get me a file and information I can work on, and it better not be fake." I hung up and sent a voice mail that could destroy him and Father, then took a shallow breath.

The memories were still fresh in my head, but I chose to ignore them. These are memories that should not be remembered. They should always be locked away until I have the evidence I need.

The car came to a halt, and I walked into the house with my hands in my pocket. None of his cars were missing, so there was no doubt he was home.

"Javier!" I yelled as I opened the door, and to my surprise, a group of men sat in the sitting room with my lovely husband having a meeting. "...Gentlemen."

"Isabela," Javier warned, looking at me, but I honestly didn’t care.

"Gentlemen, be kind enough to leave. I want to have a conversation with my husband. Now." They all looked at me and then back to Javier, who had his eyes shut.

"Didn’t you hear her?" His voice echoed in the room, causing chills to run down my spine. But I wasn’t scared of him.

Everyone left the table, and I took a seat.

"Why did you pick my gun?" He raised his eyebrows at me.

"You ended my meeting because of a stupid gun?" He sounded pissed, but I continued to stare.

"Answer the question, Javier."

"I will not have this conversation."

"Are you serious? You picked my gun without my permission and rendered me almost dead. Then what? Appeared at the scene like some damn hero to save the day and left me in the hospital with a woman!" His iced eyes glared at me with such coldness it could be mistaken for the mist of Antarctica.

"I. Will. Not. Have this conversation." He adjusted his suit and pushed the seat back, but I stopped him.

"That isn’t your choice to make!" He took three strides and was standing in my face within seconds.

"I am sick of you." I laughed.

"Says the man who chose to buy me at the auction my stupid father put me up for. You weren’t reasonable enough to think why a man would choose to sell a woman?" His knuckles turned white as he made a tight fist.

"You have no idea what your fool of a father wanted to do to you, do you?" His calmness sent chills down my spine.

"I do not consider him to be my father."

"You know the law better than anyone, Officer. So tell me, who the hell is your guardian legally? Because it’s certainly not you." He took a step forward, and I backed away.

I swallowed, knowing the truth. Father was my legal guardian. And now him. He owns me now, and there was nothing I could do about it.

"You speak of the law, yet you are the one going against it." My hands curled into fists as he looked down on me like I was nothing, and no one.

"I want a divorce."