Framed for Leaking Secrets, I Ruined Them Instead novel
Before I could explain my part, my wife stepped forward and bent one of my fingers backward until it broke.
Robert! How shameless can you be? she shouted. I feed you, I support you, but now you stab me in the back?!
The company's success today was entirely due to my hard work and dedication. My fingers were my whole-life.
I shoved Beatrice away, protecting my hands and glared at her through the extreme pain. Beatrice, I never said any of those words in the recording. Do you really trust someone who joined the company barely six months ago more than me?
Syl never lies! Beatrice cut me off sharply. Robert, you always brag about your achievements. Im sick of it. Since you wont admit your mistake, I need to teach you a lesson!
Before I could react, Sylvester grabbed me with a twisted grin and forced me onto the floor.
Beatrice then picked up a knife and stabbed it into the center of my left palm, then ground her high heel down on the wound.
Robert, today Im ruining your hands. I sure hope you'll behave yourself after this!
I looked at my bleeding hands and spat toward Beatrices feet.
Fine. I swore her company wouldn't survive without my hands.
Unfortunately, seeing my anger only fueled her anger. Beatrice stormed into the office, grabbed the expensive golf club I had bought for her and rushed toward me.
Beatrice, dont
Before I finished, she swung the golf club down on my right hand. I could hear my bones snapped and with it unbearable pain shot through my entire body.
My right hand went limp like tofu and got completely crushed after the incident.
I had been drawing all my life. My hands mattered more to me than my own life. And Beatrice sure knew that.
With tears and rage filling my eyes, I struggled to take out my phone to call an ambulance. If I didnt get treatment soon, I might never hold a brush again.
Using my injured left hand, I pressed the numbers slowly. 9 1
Just as I was about to press 1, Beatrice kicked the phone out of my hand.
You still want to call an ambulance after what you did? Robert, I paid your expenses even phone bill! Do you think I'd let you spend my money while betraying me?!
Her company's biggest income came from my paintings. People were lining up every day willing to spend millions on my work and I rejected all of them. I only allowed my paintings to be shown at her companys exhibitions.
Because of my art, her exhibitions had become impossible to get tickets for.
Robert, apologize to Syl! Right now! Or youre not getting any medical help today!
I stared at my own wife whose life I had helped build up with my own hands. Beatrice my hands are my life. You know that
She glanced at my bloody fingers. Of course I know. Thats why, if you want to keep your life, youd better apologize.
Around us, my coworkers started whispering.
He did something wrong and still acts so confident. Just because he has a little talent?
Talent? Without our companys exhibitions, his paintings wouldnt even be noticed. Breaking his hands will teach him a good lesson.
I think Syl is really talented. Just look at his handshes clearly going to be a top artist!
Of course. Director Goldreich never chooses the wrong person
The other employees' mocking voices pushed my heart into an icy pit.
Most of the people in the company were people I had once picked up from different parks. They all had dreams of becoming artists, but they could not even feed themselves. They had to do hard labor, serve tables, or work in bars to pay for their dreams.
I was the one who brought them into the company. I supported them for many years and only then did they finally get the chance to shine on the path of their dreams. I can still remember them crying and almost kneeling to thank me as if it happened just yesterday.
And now all of them humiliate me.
While I turned around, Sylvester suddenly rushed out from behind Beatrice. He kicked my knee, forcing me to kneel and held me down tightly.
Robert, he shouted, Ms. Goldreich is already giving you a chance for an apology. If you stay stubborn like a rock and make her angry again, I won't hesitate to make you more misserable!
I threw Sylvester off me, clenched my fist and punched him right in the face. Blood instantly burst across Sylvesters face from that punch.
I work out all year. Dealing with this little brat is nothing.
When Beatrice saw her 'loyal' assistant injured, she hurried to help him up.
Her eyes were full of worry. Dont be scared, Syl. I'll stand up for you.
Then she turned to me. Robert, you
Beatrice, lets divorce, I said.
She froze in response.
I did not have time to argue with her. My hand could not wait any longer. While she was still stunned, I borrowed the cleaning ladys phone.
Beatrice, you didnt pay for the cleaning ladys phone bill, right?
Ignoring the stabbing pain in my palm, I called an ambulance. Then I looked at her and said, Beatrice, Im willing to leave with nothing. When we got married, I had 27,400 dollars in my account. That is my own money. I will use my own money to fix my own hand. From this moment on, you have no right to control me anymore.
Without waiting for her reaction, I left the office and sat on the sofa in the hallway.
Theres a hospital less than one kilometer away. The ambulance should arrive quickly. For the sake of my hand, I couldnt leave yet.
Beatrice stayed inside the company making calls about something, but that no longer had anything to do with me.
While I waited, my phone beeped with a new message:
[Robby, we truly appreciate your talent and we are ready to pay for it. We have decided to invest 450 million dollars in Director Goldreichs company. Tomorrow we will visit the company to talk to you in person.]
I suddenly remembered. Today was the day the investors would give their final answer. Sylvester ruined everything.
I should have explained the situation to them, but now my hand couldnt type anything. So they would just have to come tomorrow.
The sound of fast footsteps pulled me out of my thoughts. The doctors finally arrived.
The lead doctor looked at my right hand and let out a sigh. Who did this to you? Good thing you called the ambulance in time. I don't think we could save your hand if it were too lete.
The doctor quickly turned to pick up his tools, ready to treat me.
But just as he was about to start, Beatrice rushed out of the office.
Beatrice grabbed the medical tools from the doctors hands and threw them into the trash.
I stood up quickly and pushed Beatrice into the corner with my shoulder. My eyes were red with anger as I glared at her. Beatrice, what is wrong with you?!
Robert, I just bought this entire building. If you want to act tough, then dont treat those hands that betrayed me on my property! she said.
The doctor suddenly stood up behind us, his eyes full of anger. Maam, if we dont treat this mans hand now, it will be completely ruined! I dont care what happened between you, but as a doctor, I am here to save lives! Please step aside. We need to treat his injury!
He tried to walk toward me, but before he could get close, Sylvester pushed him away. Then the companys security guards came forward together, blocking all the doctors outside.
Sylvester smiled, opened his phone camera and pointed it at me.
Robert, if you admit that you leaked company secrets, well take you to the hospital right away. Well even use Director Goldreichs helicopter to send you to the best orthopedic hospital in the Capitol. If you refused, you can wait until youre disabled.
I stared hard at Beatrice. Beatrice
She rubbed the place where I had pinned her earlier and said calmly, with a proud smile, Why are you looking at me? Syl already gave you a choice. If you dont want it, thats your problem.
Behind me, the doctors shouted anxiously, Mr. Kleinn, if you wait any longer, your hand really cannot be saved! Protecting your hand is the most important thing!
Thinking about the career I had loved my whole life and remembering the satisfaction in my fathers eyes when he realized I could inherit his artistic skill, I held back my tears.
Facing Sylvesters camera, I forced myself to speak. I admit I leaked the companys secrets.
I repeated the entire script Sylvester had prepared.
Right after I finished, one doctor rushed forward and grabbed Sylvesters arm. Weve already lost too much time. Earlier you mentioned your companys helicopter
The pilot, Mr. Parks nephew, went back home for a wedding. The helicopter cant fly.
Beatrice cut the doctor off. She looked at me with a smile full of pride and disgust, then walked away.
The surgery on my hands lasted eighteen hours.
When they finally pushed me out of the operating room, I met a different doctor whose face pale was with exhaustion. She bowed to me.
Mr. Kleinn, we really tried everything, but the results are not good Im afraid you wont be able to draw again.
The salty taste of my tears slid into my mouth, filling me with endless bitterness. But I forced myself to smile and looked at her with pleading eyes.
Its okay. Please give me some painkillers now. I need to be discharged. There are still many things I must do.
No. If we give you more anesthesia, your hand will definitely be ruined forever!
I fell to my knees with a thud. Please Im begging you.
Two hours later, the painkillers took effect.
Smiling, I walked out of the hospital with my bandaged hand soaked in blood. If they destroyed me, then none of them would have peace either.
First, I went to the exhibition that my company was hosting in the city and tore apart all of my paintings.
Then I went back to the company and deleted all my ideas and sketches from my computer.
While I was destroying the unfinished paintings in Beatrices office, the door burst open. Beatrice and Sylvester rushed in.
When she saw the paintings torn into pieces on the floor, Beatrice completely lost control.
Robert, what are you doing?! You tore the paintings from the exhibition! What about the tens of millions of dollars worth of tickets we already sold?!
She continued shouting, And what does ripping THESE paintings mean?!
She looked at my hand that was covered in bloody bandages. Soon, a cruel light flashed in her eyes. She grabbed the fresh wound right after my surgery.
Robert, answer me.
Even with all the anesthesia, the sudden pain was unbearable. Cold sweat instantly covered my forehead.
I pushed Beatrice away and looked at the shredded paintings on the floor. I smiled.
It doesnt mean anything. I just want to destroy you... just like you destroyed me a few hours ago.
Rage burst in Beatrices eyes. After a few seconds of silence, she suddenly laughed out loud.
Destroy me? Robert, youre so na?ve. The copyright of those paintings you ripped? They were transferred to the company long ago. Theyre not your paintings anymore! Forget tearing them, if you had dirtied even one corner, youd have to compensate!
I did a rough calculation. You tore forty-five paintings. At the current market price for each one
Beatrices words exploded in my head like a bomb. I couldnt hear anything after that.
With trembling hands, I took out my phone and checked the copyright records. When I saw that the copyright had been transferred half a year ago, my heart fell into a bottomless pit.
So she planned this long ago Half a year ago... that was exactly when Sylvester Duskwood joined the company. Maybe they had planned this together from the beginning.
Sylvester laughed mockingly in front of me. Did you hear that, Robert? In total, 12.7 million dollars. When will you pay it back?
I hadnt eaten for a whole day and night. I had lost a lot of blood. My emotions were shattered. My vision went dark and I collapsed onto the torn pieces of my own artwork.
Beatrice looked down at me from above, her voice cold. Scared, Robert?
Dont be. Even though you betrayed me, even though you asked for a divorce, Ill give you a chance, for the sake of our eight years together.
She exchanged a look with Sylvester. A few minutes later, my fathers most beloved painting was brought in and placed right in front of me.
Give me your fathers painting and well erase your debt.
I shot up from the floor, stumbling forward as I lunged toward the painting.
Beatrice, keep dreaming! You think you deserve to touch my fathers work?!
But before I could reach it, Sylvester kicked me hard in the stomach. The back of my head slammed against the corner of the coffee table.
Everything went black for a moment. Warm, sticky blood ran down my neck into my shirt.
Before I could react, Beatrice gently placed her foot on my bandaged hand.
Robert, Ill ask you one more time. Are you giving me your fathers painting or not?
No! You bitch! Even if you kill me, I wont give it to you! I spat a mouthful of blood onto her white dress. The red stain spread like a blooming flower.
Smiling through the pain, I glared at her and said through my teeth, Beatrice, forget my fathers painting. Even this company you have, its going to collapse soon.
Heaven sees everything. Beatrice, you will get what you deserve, I continued.
Shut up! Robert, youre disgusting! Beatrice slapped my cheeks hard.
Beatrices sharp high then heel pressed down hard on my open wound. Blood soaked through the bandages instantly. The pain shot from my hand through every part of my body.
The doctor must have lied to me. Why wasnt the anesthesia working at all?
Tears slipped down my face uncontrollably. But I couldnt worry about my hand now. So, I stumbled and crawled toward my fathers painting.
I had only moved the length of one hand when Beatrice grabbed the back of my collar.
A twisted smile appeared on her lips. She pulled open a drawer, grabbed a knife and rushed toward my fathers painting.
Beatrice, no!
I pushed myself up with my injured hand and threw myself toward her, but I was too late. The cold blade had already cut a deep line across my fathers painting.
Beatrice smiled as she looked at me, tears filling my eyes. Then she slashed the painting again. And again. She hacked at the painting like a madwoman.
It was my fathers favorite painting. The very one he asked to protect for him before he died
Beatrice, youre an animal Using the last of my strength, I staggered toward her. But after only two steps, my body gave out and I collapsed to the floor again.
At that, Beatrice let out a mocking laugh. Robert, do you think you can fight me? Youre still too weak.
Let me tell you. This company wont fall apart. Without a traitor like you, I can run this place even better!
From today on, youre nothing but a rat in the sewer. Youll lie there, pathetic, watching me get rich and live a perfect life!
She spat on me before leaving.
Just then, the company receptionist rushed in. She was pale with panic.
Beatrice barked, What could be so important?! Dont you know how to knock?!
The receptionist saw my destroyed hands and went even paler. Director Goldreich something big really happened.
That investor youve talked to for five yearsshes in the meeting room right now. She
What about her?! Speak!
S-she asked to see Master Kleinn by name. He said if Master Kleinn paints a self-portrait for him, hell invest 450 million dollars into the company
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