Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The increasingly tense atmosphere made everyone anticipate who was standing by the wall.

Christopher, seeing that the girl was still lowering her head without showing her face, grew slightly annoyed.

“What are you doing? Come here and show your face.”

He immediately grabbed Elena’s hand and pulled her to stand in front of everyone.

Alexander’s eyes widened in shock when he saw Elena there, standing weakly with her beautiful face flushed red.

Her hair, simply braided back, made her appearance look modest yet incredibly beautiful because of its natural charm.

‘Since when was she there? Don’t tell me…’

‘Ah, I don’t care! Her feelings mean nothing to me!’

Alexander snarled inwardly. His eyes sharpened when he saw Elena still standing in silence, with a little melted ice cream left at the corner of her lips.

Yes, Elena had hurried back to the mansion on foot. She didn’t want it to get too late, so she ate her ice cream along the way.

But when she arrived, she heard her husband talking with others—and in the end, she accidentally heard the entire conversation.

At this moment, Elena’s eyes widened. She held back her tears, but her beautiful blue eyes were already glassy.

The golden sunlight made her eyes look both stunning and fragile at the same time.

“Wow, she’s so beautiful!”

“Who is she? Is she your maid, Alexander?”

“She’s incredibly beautiful and delicate at the same time!”

Christopher, finally seeing Elena’s face, was mesmerized by her beauty. Her small face and cheeks that looked naturally flushed with a soft pink glow—even without makeup—were breathtaking in person.

Regard was also stunned. He released his girlfriend’s hand, while the two women now looked at Elena with irritation and jealousy.

“What’s your name? Why are you here?”

Alexander had not answered Christopher’s question, so Christopher stepped closer and asked Elena himself.

Tap… Tap…

Elena quickly stepped back. She lowered her head, her hands trembling as she held her grocery bags.

“Huh? Ummm... I-I’m just a gardener, Sir.”

“Uhm, I…”

Elena pressed her lips together for a moment because it hurt so much to say this. Tears were already on her cheeks, her voice trembling, but she continued.

“I’m just a gardener, so… please forgive me. I need to leave.”

Elena said shakily, bowing her head before walking away, hiding the bitterness in her heart—hiding the immense pain inside her.

She ran, even though her legs still hurt. It hurt so much that the tightness in her chest stung.

“Wow, a gardener? How could a woman that beautiful be a gardener?”

“Alexander, give her to me! I’ll take good care of her. A beauty like that shouldn’t be stuck behind this mansion!”

Christopher exclaimed, still staring at Elena’s retreating figure.

At first, Alexander remained silent. He tried to calm himself by drinking his wine. But gradually, when he noticed Christopher’s gaze still lingering on his wife, anger surged inside him.

Especially after hearing Christopher’s words, Alexander slammed his hand onto the table. His breathing grew heavy.

“This is strange. I shouldn’t be angry!”

“That woman means nothing to me. So why am I this furious that I want to kill him?”

“I want to beat him to death!”

“Is it because I’ve marked her? Is it because I consider her my toy, so no one else is allowed to have her?”

“Yes, that must be it! Nothing else!”

“That woman is still nothing!”

Alexander growled as he unconsciously stepped forward, intending to confront Christopher. But Alan, who seemed to understand the situation, quickly stood up and spoke.

“It’s time for us to head home.”

“We’ll leave now, Alexander. Call me if you need anything.”

Alan immediately dragged Christopher and Regard away. The two women hurried after them, frightened by Alexander’s sudden rage.

Alan had acted wisely. He knew Alexander might attack Christopher. He didn’t want Alexander to get into trouble while competing for power against his half-brother, so he quickly pulled his friends away.

After they left, Alexander could no longer restrain himself from walking toward the small house behind his mansion.

With every step, all he could think about was how his wife had pretended to be a gardener in front of his friends.

“Why did she do that? Did she do it to make me feel pity?”

“That woman?!”

Alexander growled as he arrived at the small house, now clean and fragrant because of Elena.

Near the doorway, he saw Elena cooking with an empty expression.

Earlier, Elena had indeed bought some cooking utensils so she could prepare her own meals.

Something exploded inside Alexander. He was furious, yet he didn’t understand this madness.

Roughly, he grabbed Elena’s arm and forced her to face him.

“WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? WHY WERE YOU THERE JUST NOW?”

Alexander roared, staring at Elena’s face that still looked wounded and deeply sad.

Elena had been holding back her tears because she was very hungry and needed to cook.

She could cry later—after she ate. That was what she thought.

“I wanted to eat ice cream, so I went to the mini market.”

Elena replied softly. She did not look at Alexander because it would hurt too much if she did.

Hearing that, Alexander’s grip tightened unconsciously. He felt something he did not understand.

A burning sensation of emotion that made him furious at Elena.

Alexander knew the mansion was very far from the main road. There was indeed a mini market, but it was quite far away. And it seemed Elena had not asked anyone for help and had walked alone.

His eyes shifted to Elena’s feet, which were red from walking too long. Seeing that made his chest tighten—and the only reaction he knew was anger.

“Tch! Annoying!”

“So what are you doing now? Cooking? You look so calm.”

“ARE YOU ENJOYING ALL OF THIS?!”

Alexander shouted.

Hearing his shout, Elena lifted her face. The tears she had been holding back finally fell—just as Alexander had said from the beginning.

That she would always cry by his side.

“I’m hungry. I’m very hungry, so I have to cook so I can eat.”

“I’m very tired. My legs hurt, but I’m hungry. I just want to eat. Why are you yelling at me?”

“Please let me eat first. Even if you hate me so much, there’s still your child in my womb.”

“So… wait for a moment.”

“Just leave me alone for a little while.”

Elena cried helplessly. Her hands trembled, and her heart felt painfully empty.

She was simply very hungry, so she didn’t have time to cry or be sad. Yet even then, she was still being yelled at by her husband.

Hearing that, Alexander fell silent.

He realized that since their marriage, Elena had not eaten at all.

After that realization, his grip loosened.

As if nothing had happened, Elena continued cooking.

For now, she was only preparing instant noodles.

...

To be continued…