Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Callista’s Plan

...

The force of his grip was so strong that Elena’s wrist turned red. Alexander’s firm hand held her with crushing strength.

One of his hands remained on her cheek. Their bodies were dangerously close as he lowered his face to look at her more closely.

His sharp gaze seemed to be searching for something. He stared intently and seriously at the face illuminated by the moonlight.

Her round blue eyes, clear and beautiful like a pristine coastline, looked back at her husband in confusion and shock.

But a few seconds later, she shut her eyes tightly, as if she already knew this man was about to take her roughly again.

'Let it end quickly… let it be over soon…'

'This pain is nothing. It’s better like this…'

Elena whispered inwardly. She closed her eyes in surrender, a woman with no other choice, showing how utterly desperate she was.

Alexander saw all of it.

A woman with such a beautiful face, when his fingers pressed against her pale skin, red marks immediately appeared.

Her face was delicate. Her nose and lips were exquisitely shaped. Even with her eyes closed, she looked beautiful.

'What’s wrong with me? Why is this happening? Why is this woman so helpless in front of me?'

'What did she mean when she said it was better with me? Why do I feel this anger? Is this really my anger?'

'I don’t understand. This is driving me insane.'

Alexander did not understand what he was feeling. He did not understand the emotions inside him. He assumed it was anger because Elena was not what he had imagined.

His breath brushed against Elena’s face. Uncontrollably, he wanted to kiss her. His lips were only a breath away from touching hers—

—but a few seconds later, he stopped.

Alexander felt Elena’s hands clench tightly. Her body trembled, and her breathing grew frantic from fear.

After realizing that, Alexander released her and shoved her away from him.

“Hah… Hah… Hah…”

Elena’s breathing sounded tight and strained, as if she had just resurfaced after holding her breath underwater for too long.

Alexander frowned. He could see now that his wife was not pretending. Everything he had seen and felt was real.

“I still hate you. I do not accept you by my side.”

“Today, I will assume what you said is true. But if you truly complain again, I will make you drown until you learn your lesson.”

“Do you understand?”

Alexander spoke in a heavy tone. His hands were clenched, his sharp gaze showing that nothing had changed. He still hated her deeply and did not accept her beside him.

Elena, shivering from the cold air in the room, curled into herself and nodded while covering her body.

“I swear I told the truth, Sir. I have never lied.”

Elena replied.

At that moment, Alexander’s gaze drifted to his wife’s naked body. Unconsciously, he swallowed and immediately shut his eyes to restrain himself.

He did not want to touch her while feeling like this. He would only do it when drunk or when venting his anger.

He did not want to feel pity or anything at all for his wife.

Quickly, Alexander grabbed the cloth from the sofa and threw it over Elena, covering her body up to her head.

Elena was about to pull the cloth away from her face, but her husband immediately stopped her.

“Do not remove it. Do not show your face to me. Leave now, and do not come unless I call for you.”

Alexander ordered as he picked up his cigarette again.

Elena immediately lowered her hands and nodded.

“Yes, Sir. I’ll leave now.”

Elena hurried out. She ran lightly and closed the door softly, afraid of disturbing him and making him angry again.

“Tch. She left so fast.”

“I don’t care. I know she didn’t come into my room intentionally a month ago, but I still hate her because I had to marry her!”

“That woman… I will never accept her!”

Alexander growled as he stood before the grand glass wall. He stared sharply at his wife clutching the large cloth he had thrown at her.

He watched as Elena ran as fast as she could toward the small house located far from the main mansion.

Alexander exhaled smoke and clicked his tongue, savoring the faintly sweet taste of the cigarette. His eyes noticed that the lights in the small house had turned on.

He did not know what he was thinking, yet his gaze remained fixed on that room.

As if he wanted to know what his wife was doing now.

...

On the other side,

Callista was making a phone call. After her husband had fallen asleep, she spoke seriously with someone through the phone.

“Report everything that happens there to me in detail. I don’t want a single piece of information missing.”

“You must also make that woman suffer until she miscarries.”

“If that child is born, Robert will certainly divide his assets for the baby. And since it would be his first grandchild, it could mean all the companies fall into Alexander’s hands.”

“That cannot be allowed. That woman must disappear along with her baby.”

“But you must do it carefully. Alexander is meticulous. If he finds out, you will bear the consequences alone.”

Callista instructed firmly. Behind her beautiful and gentle smile, she was actually a cunning woman who wanted all of the Kingston family’s wealth.

She wanted the company to fall into her son’s hands—not Alexander’s. She knew that if Alexander gained control, he would eliminate her without hesitation.

“Yes, Madam. I will carry out your orders.”

Dorothy replied. She was the head housekeeper at Alexander’s residence.

She was Callista’s subordinate—a loyal spy.

After the call ended, Callista stood silently on the balcony of her bedroom for a moment. She gazed into the distance and smiled victoriously.

“Alexander… Alexander, do you think you can defeat me? Soon you will be nothing but a beggar. You and your mother will end up in my hands.”

Callista whispered confidently. Then she returned to her bedroom, wearing her gentle smile once more, as she would soon lie beside her husband.

Where she had to be elegant, soft, and fragile in his presence.

...

Time passed quickly. Three days had gone by since Alexander and his wife returned from Robert Kingston’s residence, and Alexander had not called for Elena even once.

It was obvious that Alexander wanted to avoid his wife.

Of course, Elena felt sad. Although this marriage had never been what Alexander wanted, she still hoped it would gradually improve.

But that was only her hope. She knew Alexander’s heart would never choose her.

As usual, Elena painted in the backyard of the small house. There, she felt calm, the gentle wind brushing against her as she painted.

But in that peaceful moment, several servants suddenly arrived—they had been sent by Dorothy to carry out their plan.

“How dare you relax like this? Already feeling like the Lady of this mansion?”

“A woman like you does not deserve to be Mr. Alexander’s wife. Soon enough, you’ll be divorced!”

“Mr. Alexander hates you. We all know that!”

One of the servants shouted, startling Elena. She did not understand why they were suddenly speaking so harshly.

Elena knew that most people in this residence hated her, but this was the first time several servants had openly insulted her.

“What is it? Did I do something wrong?”

“Why did you suddenly come here to insult me?”

Elena asked in confusion.

But her reaction only made the servants angrier.

“Shameless woman! You trapped Sir Alexander by wearing a servant’s uniform and letting him sleep with you just so you could get pregnant!”

“As a woman, you are disgraceful!”

“We came here under Mr. Alexander’s orders. We were told to make you uncomfortable so you would leave on your own!”

“Sir Alexander also ordered you to do housework. You must handle the laundry and clean every room in the mansion!”

The servant’s words shocked Elena again. She knew Alexander hated her, but assigning such work meant he was truly serious about making her suffer.

Unable to refuse because it was Alexander’s order, Elena followed the servants. She was assigned to complete an enormous amount of laundry—white bed sheets and several massive curtains.

She let out a long, heavy sigh.

But she knew it was not the time to complain.

She rolled up her sleeves, tied her hair back, and began doing the laundry skillfully.

---

At the same time,

While his wife worked like a servant in his residence, Alexander buried himself in work. He was also preparing to meet his close friend.

Alan had arranged the meeting. They would party on his yacht to mend the tension that had arisen at Alexander’s residence.

“Sir, I’ve prepared the vehicle as instructed,” Albert said respectfully. Albert was Alexander’s personal assistant, handling many important matters on his behalf.

“Good.”

Alexander replied. He had finished his work.

He did not want to go home. Somehow, whenever he returned, he found himself standing before the glass wall of his study, staring at the small house where his wife lived.

He did not like that.

And he wanted to have fun tonight—to forget the unrest stirring inside him.

...

To be continued…