Chapter 4

"What are you doing?" Zoe was clearly taken aback, and she instantly clung to Herbert's arm. Soon after, she regained her composure and held her head high. "Don't forget your place! You married into the Chesire family, not the other way around! How dare you raise your voice at me? You—"

"Why did you deceive me?" Alexander snapped, interjecting Zoe mid-sentence. "Did you bring me into this family? And who is Amber? Explain everything, now!"

Zoe was taken aback and stammered, "Y—You know about that?"

Alexander clenched his jaw, and his gaze burned with anger. It was all coming together, just as he suspected.

Olivia was not lying, and his judgment was right.

There had indeed been a conspiracy during his wedding!

What were Zoe and the Chesire family plotting?

"Zoe," Herbert chimed in. He then glared at Alexander arrogantly and continued, "He's nothing but a worthless man, so why fear him discovering the truth? Tell him that you'll soon become mine! As for him, he's just a pitiful little good-for-nothing, oblivious to the fact that he's been played with."

Zoe chuckled softly and dropped all pretense. She nestled in Herbert's arms and puckered her lips into a coy smile. "Since we're getting a divorce anyway, I see no reason to hide anything from you," she said to Alexander. "Did you think I was your savior? Haha! I'm not as naive as Amber! Back then..."

Back then, the Chesire family sought a son-in-law. With no male heir left in the family and only Amber as their granddaughter, Zoe—as an elder cousin of Amber—was adopted into the Chesire family. This propelled her to a position second only to Amber, changing her life overnight for the absolute better.

To ensure the Chesire family's lineage continued, their grandfather, Donovan Chesire, established a rule. Whichever of the two granddaughters bore a son first would immediately become the heir and take control of the family.

It was around this time that the Kanes met with a tragic accident where Amber saved Alexander, and he married into the family...

"Know your place, you fool!" Zoe giggled, taunting Alexander with a mocking grin. "You were just as naive as my sweet Amber! The fire injured her throat while she tried to save you, rendering her mute. I took advantage of the situation and played along with you during the wedding, got you intoxicated, and sent you into the bridal suite..."

Zoe continued, "My dear, innocent Amber believed that if she slept with you and had a child, she could secure her position and inherit the Chesire family. Well, she can ditch that! Whether she had a boy or a little girl, they'd all be legally adopted under my name. I'll be the only heir of the Chesire family and inherit everything! Grandpa Donovan even chased her entire family out. Did she really think she could challenge me? She's mute! What wishful thinking!"

Alexander clenched his fist tightly, his eyes filled with fury. He could not believe how evil Zoe was, believing that this level of deceit was unforgivable.

"You seem pretty angry, but there's more to be furious about." Zoe observed Alexander's expression and added mockingly, "Now that you've learned the truth, do you intend to defend those two? Don't be ridiculous! Just take a look at who's by my side."

With that, she turned to Herbert adoringly, then turned to Alexander with a look of disdain. "Herbert is the heir of the Dorvall family, and he's going to marry me. As for this little Olivia, I've already promised her to Herbert's cousin. When the time comes..."

Swoosh!

In a flash, a lightning-fast hand grabbed Zoe by her throat, choking off her words.

"You…should go to hell," Alexander growled ominously as if he were the grim reaper, here to drag Zoe into the pits of hell.

With his left arm cradling Olivia, Alexander applied steady pressure with his right hand, gripping Zoe's throat tightly.

The bones cracked audibly as if they might shatter at any moment. In less than a second, Zoe's face turned a deep shade of purple, her eyes bulging wide with spasms. She was visibly horrified as if she were on the brink of death.

The hand on her throat felt as cold as iron, and Zoe knew he could crush her bones if he wanted to.

He could really kill her!

"How dare you act this way in front of me? You've got some nerve!" Herbert roared and aimed a brutal punch at Alexander's face. "Son of a bitch, I'm going to—!"

Thump!

Alexander expressionlessly kicked Herbert's chest.

Herbert was sent flying several meters before crashing to the ground, writhing in agony as blood spurted from his mouth. Then, he lay there motionless, unconscious.

"Killing you in front of Olivia would only traumatize her," Alexander stated coldly, his gaze locked onto Zoe. "I'll leave it to Amber to decide on your fate!

"She can't speak, you say? That's fine. A simple nod or shake of her head is enough to determine your fate. Now tell me: Where is my woman, Amber?"

Zoe gasped for breath, losing consciousness as her body grew cold. She felt an indescribable fear wash over her from the very core of her being.

Alexander was supposed to be a worthless man! How did he become so terrifying? He seemed like a reaper from the depths of hell.

How could someone like him exist?

"D—Daddy..." Olivia's face was pale from fright, shocked by Zoe's condition. "I know where Mommy is. S—She works at the Imperial Bathhouse."