The Lie Of That Night Chapter 17
When he woke up again, a searing pain radiated from his lower body.
The doctor looked grave. “The injuries are too severe. We can’t save your left leg. We must amputate immediately.”
Terrence’s heart trembled, and he nodded.
After the surgery, the attending physician frowned deeply. “Your injuries were too severe. The blood vessels and nerves in your left leg were badly damaged, and the infection had spread… To save your life, we had no choice but to perform an above-the-knee amputation.”
The operation barely saved his life, but from then on, he walked with a limp and needed a cane.
Once a commanding presence in the business world, Terrence seemed to have lost his backbone overnight.
He began to fear crowds, avoided mirrors, and didn’t even dare to look others in the eye.
He always felt there was pity, mockery, or scrutiny hidden in those gazes.
He made excuses to skip shareholder meetings and found every possible way to avoid necessary business engagements.
Finally, at a signing ceremony he couldn’t avoid, his limping figure was caught on camera and quickly spread.
Not long after, the board of directors removed him from the core decision-making team, citing “poor health and the need for long-term rest.”
As for Roderick, though his life was saved, a high fever had damaged his brain, leaving his intellect forever at the level of a three-year-old.
He no longer remembered those complicated grudges, only repeating all day long: “Mama… want Mama… find Mama…”
Sometimes, Terrence was so worn out by him that he couldn’t help but lose his temper.
But when he saw Roderick cowering in fear, looking at him with those eyes so much like Gretchen’s, full of grievance, overwhelming remorse would instantly drown him, and he would hold the child, hoarsely repeating, “I’m sorry.”
Late at night, Terrence spent a large sum of money to obtain Gretchen’s contact information.
With trembling hands, he composed a long message, describing Roderick’s condition, pleading in every sentence, and finally wrote:
“Greta, I know I have no right to ask you for anything. But the child… Ricky may not have much time left. He only wants to see you one last time. Please, for the sake of your own flesh and blood, come see him, will you? I’ll be waiting for you at the old place.”
He knew Gretchen well; even if she hated him, she could never harden her heart against the child.
She would definitely come.
The next day, an unexpected visitor showed up.
The man was one of Sebastian’s mortal enemies overseas, known as “Viper,” ruthless and ambitious, and had coveted the Ashford family’s territory for a long time.
He had thoroughly investigated the entanglements between Terrence, Gretchen, and Sebastian.
“Mr. Mendez, I’ve heard so much about you.”
Viper lounged comfortably, his eyes glinting like a snake’s. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend. How about we work together? I’ll ‘invite’ your wife back for you. You help me deal with Sebastian. Once it’s done, Sebastian is mine, Gretchen is yours. We each get what we want — perfect, isn’t it?”
Terrence’s internal alarm blared. No matter how desperate he was, he would never dare make a deal with a tiger, putting Gretchen in danger.
But a mad idea seized him in an instant.
Perhaps this was his only chance to get close to Gretchen, maybe even to turn things around.
He suppressed his fear, letting just the right amount of struggle and greed show on his face, and said hoarsely, “Fine. But you must guarantee Gretchen’s safety — not a single hair on her head can be harmed.”
“Of course.”
Viper smiled with satisfaction.
A few days later, Gretchen replied, “Okay.”
Terrence’s heart nearly leapt out of his throat, wild joy and deeper terror intertwining.
He knew Sebastian must have arranged layers of protection around Gretchen.
If Viper’s people wanted to succeed, there would be a fierce battle.
On the night Gretchen arrived, everything went according to plan.
Viper’s men struck ruthlessly, tearing a hole in the Ashford family’s tight security net and abducting Gretchen.
Terrence was ‘arranged’ to ‘assist’ from a distance, listening in through a bug.
In an abandoned warehouse, Gretchen’s hands were tied behind her back as she glared fiercely at Viper.
Viper connected a video call with Sebastian, grinning viciously as he made his demands: Sebastian must sever his own arm in exchange for Gretchen’s safety. At that moment, Gretchen suddenly struggled and screamed, “Seb, don’t! Don’t worry about me.”
The despair and determination in her voice made Terrence’s heart lurch, and he almost rushed out.
He forced himself to hold back.
The plan…
His plan…
On the video, Sebastian’s face was ashen, and he seemed to be hesitating for real.
Just then, Gretchen rolled to the ground and grabbed a fallen dagger with her mouth.
Her eyes were resolute as she bit down on the knife and stabbed fiercely toward Terrence.
He stared in shock, forgetting to dodge.
The sharp blade plunged into his side, and a wave of agony shot through him.
He looked down and met Gretchen’s eyes, brimming with hatred.
“Greta…”
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his voice weak. “I’m sor…”
Before he could finish, the warehouse doors burst open with a crash.
Fully armed enforcers of the Ashford family flooded in like a tide, subduing the kidnappers in an instant.
Sebastian strode in, first glancing at Gretchen, who was quickly shielded by his men, confirming she was unharmed.
“Clean it up.”
Sebastian’s voice was utterly cold.
“Seb… you all…”
Her voice trembled.
Sebastian’s tone softened. “We played along. Otherwise, how could we catch all these rats in one go?”
Gretchen understood instantly.
All of this, from the moment Terrence sent that message, might have happened with Sebastian’s tacit approval.
“Look… at… me…”
His lips moved, his breath barely a whisper.
Gretchen turned her face away, her heart churning with complex, indescribable emotions — her hatred not gone, but now mixed with a heavy sense of absurdity.
Terrence gazed at her profile, the light in his eyes gradually fading.
At last, he could hold on no longer. Darkness closed in, and he lost consciousness completely.