Chapter 4
When Adeline woke up, she was lying face–down on a hospital bed. Her back was burning with pain.
“Aline!” Hugo rushed over with bloodshot eyes. “You’re awake? Does it still hurt?”
She stared at his anxious face, suddenly feeling dazed.
He used to watch over her just like this whenever she had a fever in the past, never leaving her side.
But this time, she didn’t have a fever. She had been whipped under his parents‘ orders. And he… He had just stood there and watched.
She quietly pulled her hand away, refusing to look at him.
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Hugo froze for a second, then tried to explain, “Aline, it’s not that I didn’t want to speak up. It’s just… If I had, they would’ve punished you even
worse…
Adeline rasped, “So, you believe I hurt that baby too?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed, but in the end, he said nothing. That silence was like a dull blade slicing open her chest.
She looked at him with red eyes and tears shimmering in the corners. ‘Just tell me one thing. Do you believe me or not?”
“Aline.” Hugo frowned slightly, his voice tight as a hint of anger slipped out without him noticing. “There’s a witness and evidence. How do you expect me to believe you?”
He added, “I’ve told you—just wait a little longer and things will get
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better. Why did you have to stir things up?”
Adeline’s tears finally fell. She thought she couldn’t feel pain anymore, but at this moment, her heart still ripped open all the same.
She quickly turned her head away, not wanting him to see how broken she looked.
“Just go,” she whispered, barely audible.
“Wait a little longer, okay?” Hugo’s voice softened. “Soon, everything will go back to the way it was.”
Back to the way it was?
Adeline shut her eyes, feeling her throat tighten.
Could they ever go back?
He had Steffie and two kids now.
He kept hurting her for her sake. He kept choosing someone else…
Adeline slowly turned over to face away from him, not wanting to say
another word
Hugo gently stroked her hair. “Go to sleep. I’ll stay with you.”
But before he could finish, a nurse rushed in, flustered. “Mr. Bernard! Ms. Guenet’s been crying non–stop. She insists on seeing you and says it’s
urgent…”
Hugo frowned. After a pause, he stood up. “Aline, I’ll be right back.”
But after he left, he never came back.
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Chapter 4
It was raining heavily on the day Adeline was discharged.
She stood at the hospital entrance, watching Hugo’s car slowly pull up.
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She opened the door, only to see Steffie sitting in the front seat, cradling a baby in her arms.
“Hugo…” Steffie’s eyes filled with fear the moment she saw Adeline, and she shrunk closer to him. “I… I’m still shaken from last time…”
Tears rimmed her eyes, and her voice was trembling. “She can hurt me if she wants to. But not the baby… Please… Just give me a little more time. Don’t make me ride with her.”
Standing in the rain, Adeline felt a chill seep into her bones.
Hugo was silent for a long time. Finally, he handed her an umbrella and said, “Aline, wait here for a while. Another car will be here to pick you
up soon.”
With that, Hugo shut the window, and the black car sped off into the rain.
Adeline stood frozen as she watched the car that carried the happy little family disappear into the storm.
She closed her eyes. Her chest felt like it had been hollowed out and cold wind was tearing through the emptiness. It didn’t help no matter how hard she tried to breathe.
The rain kept pouring even until after the sky turned dark, but Hugo never came back for her even after he had promised to.
She called his number over and over, but all she got was a cold, mechanical busy tone.
With the storm raging and no other choice, she finally opened the umbrella and started walking. The wind tore at the umbrella’s frame as Adeline stumbled along the slick sidewalk.
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Chapter 4
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Suddenly, her foot slipped, and she fell into a puddle. The umbrella broke in half with a snap. The rain poured down, soaking her completely.
By the time she staggered home, it was already late at night.
Dripping wet, she stepped into the entryway, only to hear Steffie’s tearful voice coming from the living room.
“Hugo, I know the one you love is Adeline…” Her tone was soft, ve is Adeline…” Her tone was soft,
trembling. “But this is really not the time…
“I’m clogged, and it hurts so much. The baby won’t stop crying for milk…” She choked back sobs. “Please… Just help me. For the baby…
“You don’t have to worry… Adeline won’t find out…”
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Adeline froze in place, every drop of blood in her body turning to ice.
Hugo had his back to the door, so she couldn’t see his face–only the tension in his shoulders.
Then, after a long silence, she saw him slowly raise his left hand, his fingers brushing aside Steffie’s collar. His right hand moved to her bare
skin.
And finally, she watched him lower his head and press his lips to Steffie’s fair, tender flesh…
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