Reclaiming Her Heart

washer breaths came in rapid succession, but her mind was an eerie pool of tranquillity. The thought that her hand might be damaged beyond repair made her question her will to live. "Beep beep."

The blare of a car horn sliced through the air twice. Despite her trembling body, racked with pain, Selena managed to discern a figure approaching. It was Shelley. "Selena!!" Shelley's voice echoed in the next instant.

Upon seeing Selena's mangled fingers, Shelley felt a surge of terror. Her eyes welled up with tears, too horrified to even utter a curse or rebuke at the perpetrator.

For an artist, hands were their lifeblood. Who could have committed such a heinous act?

"I'm taking you to the hospital! Baxter Barnes from the prestigious Barnes family is back in town. He's an exceptional surgeon-one of the best. He'll know what to do."

The severity of the damage to Selena's fingers was such that only the most skilled doctors could hope to restore them. Shelley, her hands shaking uncontrollably, knew all too well the importance of painting to Selena.

To destroy her hands was akin to destroying her very existence.

Selena remained silent, her lips sealed even as she was helped into the car. The sweat on her forehead flowed freely, and her two right fingers twisted grotesquely, causing Shelley pain just by looking at them.

With trembling hands, Shelley pulled out her cellphone and dialed her father. Baxter Barnes of the Barnes family had returned last night, currently the youngest and one of the most skillful surgeons around-surely, he would have a solution. Meanwhile, at the Stone family residence, Olivia received a call from Oliver Montague.

"Olivia, it's done. The woman's two fingers are ruined."

A rush of excitement flushed Olivia's face, her lips curving into a satisfied smile.

"Are you sure her hands are beyond saving?"

"The bones were crushed to bits. My guy intended to do more damage, but there were constant calls coming in, so he only managed to break two."

Olivia rose from her chair, her eyes alight with mirth. Oliver Montague, with his brooding appearance, was genuinely fond of Olivia. Sensing her in a good mood, he saw an opportunity and asked her out. "How about dinner with me tonight?"

A flash of frost passed through Olivia's eyes, her lips pursed tightly.

"I can't tonight. I'm busy. I'll get in touch with you when I'm free."

Oliver was visibly disappointed but reluctantly agreed.

"Olivia, then I'll wait for you."

After hanging up the phone, Olivia couldn't help but feel a sense of joy. However, her joy quickly turned to frustration when she remembered that Baxter Barnes had returned to New York the night before. Baxter Barnes, who had received numerous accolades abroad, was New York's youngest and most distinguished surgeon. If he ended up treating Selena's finger, Olivia's efforts would have been in vain. With a determined heart, Olivia commanded her bodyguard to break her left finger.

"Miss, I can't do that," the bodyguard protested, knowing he couldn't bear the consequences if something went wrong with Olivia.

Taking a deep breath, Olivia pressed down on her own finger and snapped it. The pain was intense, yet her face twisted into a sly smile.

She remembered how mortified she felt the last time she lost in the battle of wits involving a certain painting, her dignity stolen away by Raymond's unsightly and overweight wife.

This time, facing off against the wretch trying to seduce Raymond, she was determined to leave no room for error. To achieve great things, one had to first endure hardship!

She was clever, though. She had broken her own left hand, which would not affect her ability to paint. Moreover, such fractures were easy to heal, unlike crush injuries where the bone shatters, potentially leaving lasting damages. With a cold laugh, she immediately called Raymond, her voice dripping with feigned sorrow and panic.

"Raymond, I've broken my hand. I was just trying to look at some bracelets and rings to see if I could remember which one Christophe had given me, and I accidentally fell. It's broken, what should I do? I need to paint, and this hand is so important to me. If it doesn't heal..."

Raymond, having had a sleepless night, felt an indescribable irritation. But hearing Olivia mention Christopher Montague softened his tone.

"I'll send Baxter to look at it; he just got back last night."

After hanging up, Raymond called Baxter Barnes. However, Baxter had just received a call from the Harper family, reporting a crushed finger bone, and they hoped he would take a look.

Baxter Barnes had intended to pay a courtesy visit to the Harpers, but due to Raymond's call, he decided to put that on hold and headed to the Stones' place instead. At the same time, Raymond also went to the Stones.

Knowing that Baxter was coming, Olivia's mood improved significantly. She knew that it would delay treatment for Selena. A sly smile curled the corners of her mouth; delaying even by a minute, or an hour, could make a world of difference. She took a deep breath and settled onto the sofa downstairs, waiting for Baxter to arrive.