A voice roared from the door, right on cue.
Adeline seemed to have timed it perfectly, throwing herself onto my wheelchair, then bouncing back.
She fell heavily to the ground.
Along with her fall, blood spread.
It stained Declan’s hands.
“Brother… brother…
1:06 PM
<
M
It stained Declan’s hands.
“Brother… brother…”
Adeline slowly raised her hand, blood dripping from her delicate fingers. She gently touched Declan’s face, tears in her eyes, speaking softly, “Brother… I couldn’t save our child, it’s not sister’s fault. I wanted to eat egg custard, remembered sister liked it too, so I came to ask if she wanted some. I didn’t stand properly and fell, it’s not sister’s fault… don’t blame her…”
After speaking, her fingers slipped from above, and she closed her eyes, tears streaming down. Even from a few feet away, I could feel her despair.
Great acting! Truly, I wanted to applaud her. If Oscar doesn’t award her a statuette, I’ll feel sorry for her.
“Nora! Are you even human!”
Declan was furious.
He pointed at Adeline, lying on the floor, trembling and crying, “She saved my mother! Slept in bed for ten years, finally woke up, and couldn’t even get a bowl of egg custard. No one would make it, and when she kindly asked you, you pushed her down?”
Great performance! Absolutely outstanding! She’s so talented that it feels like an injustice if she doesn’t get an Oscar.
“Nora! Do you even have a heart?”
Declan was riled up.
He pointed at Adeline, who lay trembling on the ground, silently weeping. “She saved my mother! She slept for ten years to recover, and now that she’s finally awake, she can’t even have a simple bowl of egg custard. Not only did no one make it for her, but when she kindly asked if you wanted some, you pushed her down?”
Declan stood in front of me, shielding Adeline like an unyielding fortress.
“Just now, she told me that whether you apologize or not doesn’t matter. As long as the child is fine, she doesn’t care about an apology.”
“Nora! Do you have any compassion left?”
“I know you can’t stand my mom, can’t stand Adeline, can’t stand Declan’s family. But no matter how upset you are, no matter what you want to do, take it out on me! I’m begging you! Leave Adeline alone! Leave my child alone!”
He’s truly a martyr!
Oh no, he’s quite the protector.
In that moment, through every gesture and word, he declared: Nora, I am Adeline’s protector, and if you mess with her, you mess with me.
However,
“Declan, don’t forget, I am your wife.”
I looked into his eyes, and he stared back at me, taken aback.
in that instant, the vows from our wedding day struck my heart like a boomerang, leaving no visible mark but a deep wound.
I said it so calmly and naturally that event was surprised.
“Gentleman-”
“Beatrix! That’s enough!”
Declan had just paused but immediately moved again. He carried Adeline, turning his back on me, burdened with weight. “Madam needs to rest, please escort her to the basement for some air!”
At that moment, four burly men entered the room. Two restrained Beatrix, and the other two or
1:06 PM
<
At that moment, four burly men entered the room. Two restrained Beatrix, and the other two grabbed me. They showed no concern for my already fractured right leg as they dragged me into the elevator and tossed me into the basement.
I understood that, metaphorically, I was being exiled to a place of no return unless I had some ace up my sleeve.
I rubbed my right leg, which was already bruised, and feared it might worsen without treatment.
Dragging my weary body and the leg that threatened to give out at any moment, I moved and moved.
Finally, I reached the door.
Because there was a sliver of light visible through the crack.
I was thrown into the basement wearing only thin loungewear. It was winter now, and my long–term illness had left me frail.
I looked around; it was completely dark, and my heart felt equally shadowed. Genevieve must have ordered them to cut the power specifically to the basement.
She knew I was afraid of the dark.
“Miss! Miss!”
I drifted in and out of consciousness, not knowing how long I’d slept. I vaguely heard someone calling me and opened my eyes.
Beatrix shoved a straw into my mouth, “Miss, this milk is warm, drink some quickly.”
I thought it was the system speaking to me.
“Sys… help…”
“Miss! Miss!”
Beatrix saw me starting to babble and grew anxious. Her hand, reaching through the door crack, was trembling. She wanted to warm me but couldn’t reach.
Instinctively, I grabbed her hand, and through blurry eyes, I could see the bruises
Damn it! It’s Beatrix! They dared to hurt Beatrix!
I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer.
on her.
“Ah!”
A scream pierced my ears.
Suddenly, everything around me became bright and clear. The basement door was opened, and Beatrix, whose hand was caught when the door opened, was again dragged aside by the strong men, awaiting punishment.
It was Genevieve!
With a few loud splashes.
Two large buckets of water, along with chunks of unmelted ice, were dumped over me.
What followed were two heavy slaps from Genevieve.
Now, I was fully awake.
“For disobedience! For being stingy! For not cooking! For not bearing children! For being heartless! For endangering my grandson…”
With each accusation, Genevieve punched and kicked me, driving me into the corner, refusing to relent.
“You little wretch, if not for Declan’s family, why would I have let my son marry a barren woman like you! You not only bring misfortune to me, but you also curse Declan’s descendants, don’t you! You vile creature..”
Before, I only heard it from others, but now, it came straight from her mouth.
I had no words to defend myself.
Just a churning in my stomach, a wave of heat surged from my chest, and blood gushed out, splattering like scattered petals, instantly staining my white clothes.
“Master! Master! You can’t die! You mustn’t die now! I’ve already got the bonus, and if you die, no one will spend it!”
The system, even after all this, couldn’t resist cracking a joke.
I laughed.
“Master! Get ready!”
“Master! Countdown has started.”
