Chapter 4

When I opened my eyes again, I was still in the restroom.

No one had come to help me. I could only endure the pain radiating throughout my body. I forced myself to stand as I staggered back home.

The moment I pushed open the door, I saw Carl using a pair of scissors to cut apart our family photo. He shredded the part with me into pieces. With vicious ferocity, he stabbed at my face in the picture.

"Go die! Just die already! Only when you're dead can Ms. Short become my mommy!" he hissed.

When he saw that I was back, he made a face at me. Then, he snorted coldly and left.

At that moment, I no longer had the strength to stop him. I only wanted to get my passport and leave as quickly as possible.

During the five years I spent in prison, my health had deteriorated badly. My blood-clotting disorder made it difficult for wounds to heal. Now, my entire face was a bloody mess.

Making my way to the bedroom was an arduous task. As I reached the door, my ears picked up on Jolene's soft and aroused moans.

Sebastian was nibbling at her lips with his hands roaming all over her body. Perhaps because he was too eager to have her, he accidentally yanked off the agate bracelet I treasured more than anything. And all I could do was watch helplessly.

With a sharp crack, the bracelet shattered into pieces. My heart clenched as a sharp pain tore through it. I nearly lost my balance and collapsed to the floor.

Jolene noticed me because of my movements. She cried out even more passionately.

Only at that moment did I truly understand what heartbreak felt like.

Come to think of it, Sebastian had only touched me once. We had only ever slept with each other on our wedding night because he had wanted a child.

My mother had died during childbirth, so I had always been terrified of giving birth. Even so, I willingly got pregnant and gave birth to a son for him.

But now, the child I had risked my life to bring into this world had become a fiend wishing for my death.

Silently, I closed the door and went to the living room.

I listened to their passionate lovemaking the entire night. Eventually, I fainted from losing too much blood.

The next morning, Sebastian walked out looking refreshed and energetic. When he saw me lying pale-faced on the couch, he froze for a moment.

He asked, "Pamela, when did you come back? Why didn't you take care of your wounds? Jolene wasn't feeling well last night, so I stayed with her for a while. She's always had poor health since she was a child. Don't be jealous."

Hearing his excuses, I snorted. "Really? Does taking care of someone require holding them in your arms as you sleep?"

My words were like a tight slap to his face. I exposed his lie mercilessly.

A trace of guilt flashed across his face before anger and embarrassment quickly replaced it.

He argued, "Her body gets cold easily. She needed me to warm her up. It's perfectly normal for people to hold each other in these situations. Stop being unreasonable! If there were really something going on between us, do you think you could have become Mrs. Lester?

"Besides, with your current status…"

He didn't finish his sentence, but I understood perfectly well.

He was the richest man in the country, who was highly respected, while I was nothing more than a murderer hated by everyone.

I didn't argue anymore and simply nodded. "I get it."

Sebastian's expression softened a little as he went on, "When Jolene wakes up later, make her something to eat. She can't handle spice, so be careful with it. I still have company matters to deal with, so I'm leaving first."

All these years, I had worked tirelessly to serve him and Carl without complaint. Was she supposed to serve Jolene as well now?

Why should I?

I was a living, breathing human being too. Besides, I hadn't done anything wrong at all in the first place.

I watched Sebastian's departing figure and bade farewell to him in my heart.

"Goodbye, Sebastian," I said inwardly.

I took out my passport and packed my luggage lightly, bringing only the essentials. While Jolene and Carl were still asleep, I left the villa.