Chapter 5

Catherine immediately chimed in, listing one reason after another why Ian was such a wonderful husband. Zoe listened without a flicker of emotion.

Her indifference only made Richard angrier. Finally, he snatched a teacup off the table and hurled it to the floor.

"Clearly, you've forgotten your place! Someone needs to teach you a lesson! Get in here! Take this ungrateful daughter of mine to the great hall and give her a proper beating! Don't stop until she agrees to stay married!"

Two servants stepped forward and seized Zoe by the arms.

In the great hall, the cold wooden cane used for family punishments came down on her back and legs again and again, each blow sending searing pain through her body. Zoe gritted her teeth as sweat soaked through her makeup and blood seeped into her red dress, staining the fabric an even darker shade.

"Answer me! Are you still getting divorced?" Richard demanded.

"Yes." Her voice trembled with pain, but her answer was unmistakable.

Another blow landed.

"Still want a divorce?"

"Yes!"

...

Zoe lost count of how many times she'd been struck. Her vision kept going dark, and she could barely hold herself upright, but she still forced the words through her clenched teeth.

"I... want the divorce."

Richard was shaking with rage. "So you're determined to divorce him, is that it? Fine! Then give me one good reason! What the hell has Ian Grant ever done to you?!"

Zoe jerked her head up. Her face was streaked with sweat and blood, but her eyes burned with startling intensity.

"Because he doesn't love me! He's in love with someone else! Is that a good enough reason for you?! I have standards! I'm not going to settle for just any man!"

She expected her parents to look shocked, perhaps even furious.

Instead, after a brief silence, Richard and Catherine exchanged looks of unmistakable guilt.

Catherine sighed. "You... you found out?"

Zoe felt as though something had pierced straight through her heart. The pain was so sharp she could barely breathe.

They'd known?

All this time, they'd known Ian was in love with another woman.

And they'd still married her off to him. Of course they had. She was the eldest daughter, the one they no longer loved quite as much.

Yet they'd never missed an opportunity to remind her what a wonderful marriage they'd arranged, how they could have given Ian to her younger sister instead. They'd made her feel as though she'd stolen something that rightfully belonged to Zadie, as though she should spend the rest of her life being grateful for their generosity.

A low laugh escaped Zoe's lips. It grew louder and louder, filled with bitter disbelief and heartbreaking irony.

There had been a time when she'd been her parents' precious little princess, the center of their world.

She still remembered when they'd asked whether she wanted a baby brother or sister. Back then, she'd innocently asked, "If I have a little brother or sister, will you still love me as much as you do now?"

"Of course," they'd promised. "You'll always be Mommy and Daddy's precious girl."

But everything had changed after Zadie was born.

"Zoe, you're the big sister. You have to let Zadie have her way."

She'd heard those words countless times. Little by little, she'd had to share her toys, her room, and her parents' attention and affection, until there was almost nothing left for her.

That was why she'd become so arrogant, rebellious, and reckless. Why she'd constantly caused trouble and refused to behave.

All she'd ever wanted was for her parents to notice her again. Even if it meant being scolded or disciplined, at least they would be paying attention to her, caring enough to correct her the way they did Zadie.

And now, looking back, she realized what a cruel joke it had all been.

"What the hell are you laughing at?!" Richard snapped, his embarrassment turning to anger.

Zoe was about to answer when a timid voice came from the staircase.

"Dad, Mom, please stop pressuring Zoe..."

It was Zadie.

Dressed in a flowing white dress, she looked as delicate as a little white flower as she slowly made her way downstairs.

"Zadie, sweetheart, what are you doing down here?" Catherine's expression instantly softened with concern. "This has nothing to do with you. Go back upstairs and get some rest."

But Zadie shook her head and walked over to her father.

"Mom, Dad, if Zoe wants a divorce, you should just let her," she said gently. "I actually have feelings for Ian. So I'm all for them getting divorced."