Chapter 4

I didn't tell anyone about my hospitalization because I was afraid my mother would worry.

While I was in the hospital, Benjamin actually came to visit me on his own for once.

"I'll marry you, but only on the condition that you stop hurting Rebecca."

He handed me a jewelry box. Inside was the bracelet I had liked that day.

"You don't have to." I gave a faint smile. "You and Rebecca are much bet—"

Before I could finish, the sudden sound of the door opening cut me off.

"Isn't this the bracelet I threw in the trash? How did it end up here?"

She looked at me mockingly.

"Queenie, if you like digging through trash so much, I'll just throw things straight to you next time. That way, no one will have to see the Beaumont family's second daughter rummaging through the trash and embarrassing herself!"

I used every ounce of strength I had to keep the smile on my face. My fingernails dug deep grooves into my palms, and beads of blood seeped between my fingers.

"Benjamin, let's go."

Rebecca shot me a disdainful look. "There's a nasty smell in here."

Benjamin said nothing more. He simply took Rebecca by the hand and led her away.

Before I had even fully recovered, I received the news that my mother had broken a bone.

I rushed to the hospital. Seeing my mother lying motionless in the hospital bed, tears began to fall before I even realized it.

"Mom, did Rebecca hurt you again?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Ever since Rebecca came into our family, she had constantly bullied my mother. She claimed my mother was the reason my father hadn't been able to be with her mother. She called my mother a shameless homewrecker.

But the truth was that her mother had run off with another man, abandoning my father.

For years, I had stood up for my mother. Yet whenever she got hurt, she would always smile and tell me it was okay.

I found Rebecca and demanded to know why she had hurt my mother.

She said nonchalantly, "Because I felt like it. I don't like her, so I pushed her.

"What? You got a problem with that?"

I slapped her hard across the face. Then I grabbed her by the neck and warned her never to hurt my mother again.

"Queenie, how long are you going to keep this up?"

Benjamin suddenly appeared and pulled Rebecca away from me.

"Benjamin, thank God you got here in time." Tears glimmered in Rebecca's eyes as she looked at him helplessly.

"Otherwise, Queenie would've strangled me to death. She said that only after I was dead could she marry you openly."

"Queenie."

Benjamin stomped hard on my chest. "I told you to stop provoking Rebecca.

"I'll let you off this time, but next time, I'll make you pay!"

When Rebecca took over as president of Beaumont Group, my father forced me to attend the ceremony.

The moment Rebecca saw me, a mysterious smile flickered across her face.

"Queenie is incredibly talented. She's also an excellent violinist. Why don't we have her perform for everyone today?"

She put me on the spot by making the suggestion in front of everyone.

Under my father's threatening gaze, I walked toward the stage.

The moment I stepped onto it, a car suddenly came crashing through the building's glass facade and slammed into me.

As I slipped into unconsciousness, I heard Rebecca coo sweetly to Benjamin. "Benjamin, I'm scared. Let's get out of here.

"Don't worry about Queenie. If she hasn't cried out in pain, she must be fine!"

I watched the two of them walk away before losing consciousness.

When I woke up again, my mother was the only one by my side.

"Quin, Mom's here. Don't be afraid," she said, trying to comfort me.

I managed a faint smile, shook my head, and told her I was fine.

"As soon as Louis heard what happened to you, he immediately brought in the best doctor in the world to treat you.

"Maybe Louis isn't as terrifying as everyone says."

I looked out the window without saying a word.

Whether he was terrifying or not no longer mattered.

The day I returned to our new home to pack my things and leave, I discovered that my belongings had already been packed up and thrown outside.

The house was now filled with Rebecca's things.

The walls were covered with pictures of the two of them, including their wedding photos.

I called Benjamin because I wanted an explanation, but he didn't answer.

A moment later, he posted a photo of the two of them on social media.

In the photo, Rebecca was kissing Benjamin on the cheek, and they were both smiling happily.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I had sworn I would never cry over him again.

"Louis, come get me."

Benjamin, if you didn't want to see me, then you'd never have to see me again.