Chapter 3

Caleb's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Olivia noticed the flicker of surprise in his eyes too.

After all, who in all of Joltbury would ever dare go against Caleb? He had never even gone to such lengths to protect any of the women before Shannon.

Caleb clenched his jaw, his fingers slowly curling into a fist. In the end, he still said, "Sure. I'll take those lashes for Shannon."

He spoke so casually, yet those words cut into Olivia's heart like a knife.

So Shannon really was the exception for Caleb.

Olivia suddenly let out a quiet laugh, her eyes stinging with tears. "Caleb, you really love her, don't you?"

She gripped the whip and abruptly raised her hand.

"No!"

Shannon suddenly appeared and threw herself between them, shielding Caleb behind her slender frame. Her voice was thick with tears. "I wasn't thinking straight. I was the one who seduced him! If you want to hit someone, hit me instead! Don't hurt Caleb!"

"Shannon, get out of the way!" Caleb immediately reached out to shield her. "I love you. I'll protect you if I want to. You don't get to decide."

"Caleb…" Shannon looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes.

As for Olivia, she stood there like an unwanted outsider, forced to watch the ridiculous scene unfold before her.

This was just wonderful—so much so that it made her sick.

She suddenly tightened her grip and swung the whip at Caleb with all her might.

At the last second, Shannon threw herself onto Caleb without hesitation.

The whip never hit Caleb. Instead, it came down hard on Shannon's back.

"Ah!" Shannon let out a strangled cry. Her body shuddered before she crumpled to the floor, her face deathly pale.

"Shannon!" Caleb's eyes widened in horror.

Before Olivia could even react, his hand was already around her throat. He slammed her hard against the cold, hard wall. Pain shot through her entire body.

"Olivia!" Caleb gritted his teeth, his voice low and menacing. "I already warned you not to hurt her! Do I have to say it again?"

Olivia could barely breathe, her head forced back as she gasped for air. Her face flushed red before gradually turning paler.

Just as Olivia was about to black out, Shannon called out softly, "Caleb…"

Her voice snapped Caleb back to reality, and he released Olivia instantly.

Olivia's legs gave out. She slid down the wall, collapsing onto the floor in a heap. She gasped for air as tears streamed down her cheeks, blurring her vision.

But Caleb didn't even look at her. He simply scooped Shannon into his arms and left.

Half an hour later, Shannon sent Olivia a message.

"Did you see that? If it weren't for me, your husband would've choked you to death. I'm the woman he loves most. Why do you still insist on being his wife? Isn't that pathetic?"

Shannon sent a photo of Caleb gently tending to her wounds. He looked nothing like the man who had his hand around Olivia's throat earlier.

Olivia called home with a blank look on her face. As soon as the call connected, Gerald and Vivian's displeased voices came through the line.

"Didn't we tell you not to bother us unless it's something urgent? You could drop dead tomorrow for all we care—"

Olivia closed her eyes and cut them off. "That's enough. Let's just meet up."

"What for?" Gerald and Vivian were on their guard. "Are you up to something?"

"I'll let Shannon take my place as Caleb's wife." Olivia's voice was icy. "Well? Are you going to meet me or not?"