Chapter 4

The hatred in my heart intensified as Adam and Lindsey continued to flirt with each other behind me. I wanted nothing more than to tear them to shreds.

A few moments later, Adam took his seat on the lounge chair again. Meanwhile, Lindsey spat on me before crouching down before me with a wicked smile.

"You've already drunk the wine. I won't be able to live with myself if I don't let you have a taste of Adam's and my sweet relationship."

The crowd began to holler their encouragement.

"You sure know how to make things entertaining, Lindsey."

The bodyguards hauled me to my feet before I could figure out what was going on.

Lindsey grabbed a chair and ruthlessly smashed it against my waist, sending me flying a few feet away like a broken rag doll. However, she wasn't done with me just yet. She ordered the bodyguards to pick me up again before repeatedly attacking me with the chair until I couldn't straighten my back anymore.

Adam seemed to recall something at that moment. He looked excited as he approached me, saying, "Oh my god. How could I forget? You once told me that you wanted to be with me for the rest of your life. Even if I don't love you anymore, you still love me."

I gritted my teeth and scoffed. He'd become so horribly narcissistic because I gave him too much freedom and affection in the past. I had to put him in his place.

Adam waved his hand, prompting a maid to carry a massive dog toward us.

"I paid a fortune teller a lot of money to determine when would be a good day to get married. You really lucked out. Lindsey and I got this dog when we got together. You're so fortunate to be able to marry our dog."

I realized what Adam was trying to do when he ordered the bodyguards to restrain me. I struggled desperately, refusing to yield and cooperate, but I wasn't able to resist for long. The bodyguards forced me to face the dog while Adam made a mockery of the wedding vows, declaring us husband and wife.

Adam started laughing like a maniac. "It's done. This dog is your husband now. You have to take good care of him and give birth to his puppies."

Disgust roiled in my stomach, and bile rose in my throat. I braced myself against the ground and threw up.

Adam shot a look at one of the bodyguards, prompting him to punch me in the face.

"You're just a convict. How dare you insult my dog like that? He's an excellent dog," he said. "Beat her. Don't stop until the great Ms. Smith acknowledges my dog as her husband."

I had always been fond of reading religious texts. On top of that, I also held my spiritual and emotional values in high regard thanks to my family's influence. It was obvious that Adam was trying to completely break my spirit.

The bodyguards hit me with metal bats over and over again. In the beginning, I could still feel the overwhelming pain of my bones cracking upon impact. However, after being hit one too many times, my body turned numb, just like my heart.

Lindsey grabbed a fistful of my hair. "Are you going to acknowledge the dog as your husband?" she demanded.

I forced a smile onto my face, hoping the immense pain would overpower the numbness in my heart.

"If you've got the guts, beat me to death right now. If you don't, I'm going to make you suffer the pain I'm going through a thousandfold."

The smile on Lindsey's face turned hideous. "What? Did I hear that right? Not only is your ex useless, but she also likes to toot her own horn, Adam."

Just then, Adam gestured for the bodyguards to stop. A spark of warmth spread through my traitorous heart for a split second. I wondered if he actually still cared for me, even just a little.

However, I found out his true intentions in the next second. I was so appalled at myself that I wished I could go back in time and slap myself.

"Oh, dear. How could I forget that you need a cake when getting married?"

Smug smiles stretched across Adam's and Lindsey's faces as they exchanged glances with each other. When the bodyguards hauled me up again, I was too badly injured to fight back.