Chapter 3

The words had barely left her mouth when Lily raised her hand and slapped herself—cleanly, decisively.

Victor's expression twisted with heartache, and he turned on me with fury in his eyes.

"Apologize to Lily."

I let out a wretched laugh.

"Apologize?"

"Sorry for not stepping aside fast enough for your mistress, or sorry for catching you in your li—"

Before I could finish, Adrian glanced at the bodyguard behind me.

The bodyguard clamped down on my shoulders immediately, and a palm cracked across my face.

Once.

Then again.

My mouth filled with the taste of blood.

I lost track of how long it went on before they finally stopped and let me go.

I crumpled to the floor.

Victor watched me with a blank expression.

"Why do you insist on making things harder for yourself?"

"If you don't apologize, I can't guarantee what I promised you on the phone."

I instinctively looked at Adrian.

"You knew he was going to—"

"It doesn't matter."

Adrian cut me off impatiently, his voice cold as ice.

"As long as Lily's happy, nothing else matters."

Something detonated inside my skull.

I swallowed the blood rising in my throat and mechanically raised my hand. I slapped myself across the face, over and over, as hard as I could.

"I'm shameless."

"I was the one clinging to Victor."

"I'm the homewrecker."

"I'm the one who wouldn't leave even after the divorce..."

What happened after that, I can barely remember.

Lights and shadows blurred together—nothing but camera flashes firing at me from every direction.

They never intended to leave me a way out.

They didn't just want to ruin my life. They wanted to destroy my reputation so thoroughly I could never recover.

I ignored the flood of abuse pouring into my phone and collapsed on the bed, staring at the ceiling as tears rolled down my temples.

The door opened.

Victor walked in carrying a tube of ointment.

"Does it hurt? Let me put some medicine on."

He seemed to have rushed back from somewhere—his clothes were soaked through—but he dried his hands first and carefully applied the ointment to my face.

I've been terrified of pain since I was little.

The first time Lily ever hurt me, it was just a scrape on my arm.

Victor had nearly lost his mind trying to make her pay.

I once believed that was love.

But it was all just them treating me like a circus act, watching me spin in the palm of their hand.

When I said nothing, Victor's voice softened with something that sounded like remorse.

"Nora, I owe you. I know that."

"Don't blame me. I have to think about the baby Lily's carrying."

"And the public backlash hasn't fully died down yet. I want you to be my witness at the wedding. It's the only way Lily can marry me with a clean reputation."

His hand gently rubbed my cheek.

Inside, I felt nothing but cold.

No wonder he had stooped to an apology for the first time in his life.

At the end of the day, it was still about Lily.

"Tomorrow, let's go finalize the divorce paperwork."

He froze for a split second, then pulled me into his arms.

"Nora, I knew it. You still love me. You can't stand to see me in a difficult position."

"From now on, I'll set aside two days every week just for you."

His embrace should have felt familiar, but it made my stomach turn.

I pushed him away.

"That won't be necessary."

"I wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea."

He looked taken aback.

Before he could respond, the door swung open.

Lily bounced into Victor's arms with a grin, then turned and stuck her tongue out playfully at Adrian in the doorway.

"See? I told you. She'll agree to anything as long as she gets to keep hanging around you two."

She smiled with that innocent look of hers, swaying against Victor's waist.

"You both lost the bet. You promised—if I won, you'd grant me one wish."

"I want to wear the vintage wedding dress from the safe."

The moment I heard those words, my entire body began to tremble.