Chapter 4

For a moment, it was as if the woman in front of him were still the wife Elias loved with all his heart.

"Then why don't we have your husband come up here and take on a game challenge with you? If you win, you'll get tickets to the star's concert!"

Adeline flushed bright red with excitement, and Elias didn't need to think twice to know she wanted those tickets. He was hesitantly getting ready to go up when Adeline suddenly pointed in the complete opposite direction. "My husband's right over there!"

The words had barely left her mouth when Ansel, standing not far away, strolled onto the stage.

Elias' lips parted as he watched, shocked.

The host explained the game's rules. As long as the two of them kissed in front of everyone for more than an hour, they'd win the tickets. Before Elias could react, Ansel cupped Adeline's face and kissed her.

People around him began to chatter.

"Wow, what a gorgeous couple. They're perfect together!"

"The husband even bought his wife a kitten. He must really love her."

Elias stood frozen below the stage as a chill spread through his body. When he could no longer bear to watch, he turned and went to the restroom. He stayed in there for a long time, smoking one cigarette after another.

When he came out, he ran straight into Ansel. Elias tried to walk away, but Ansel called after him. "Aren't you curious about what's going on between Adeline and me?"

Elias couldn't take it anymore and punched him. The corner of Ansel's mouth swelled immediately, but he didn't seem to care.

He glanced down the hallway at Adeline, who was heading their way, and a wicked smile spread across his lips. "Want to bet that if I tell her to kill the cat, she'll do it on the spot?"

With that, Ansel texted Adeline.

Elias froze and looked toward Adeline in disbelief. She was cradling the kitten in her arms with such care. She clearly adored it, so there was no way she'd actually do it.

The next second, Adeline glanced at her phone, and every trace of a smile vanished from her face. She lifted the cat over her head and slammed it to the ground.

Elias was too stunned to process what he'd just seen. That kitten was a living, breathing creature. And when he'd given it to her, she'd been so happy.

Meanwhile, Ansel burst out laughing beside him. "See that? You don't mean a damn thing to Adeline!"

Elias let out a cold laugh. "You think you're better than me? You're just a pathetic loser who needs a woman to feel like he matters."

That struck a nerve. Ansel grabbed a nearby vase and brought it crashing down on Elias. Elias didn't have time to dodge, and he fell to the floor.

Hearing the commotion, Adeline rushed over. When Ansel saw her coming, he dropped to the floor too. "Adeline, he got the wrong idea about us. I was just trying to explain, and then he hit me."

Adeline went straight past Elias and threw herself down beside Ansel. "Are you okay?"

In that moment, her concern was only for Ansel, and she didn't even spare Elias a glance. "What gives you the right to hit someone?"

Meeting Adeline's wide, furious eyes, Elias knew explaining was pointless. He'd never seen her look that worried before. So this was what it looked like when she truly cared about someone.

"I never thought you'd be this petty. I was so wrong about you!"

With that accusation, Adeline helped Ansel to his feet and took him to the hospital.

A sharp pain shot through Elias' arm. Only when he got to his feet did he notice the pool of blood on the floor. He must have been cut by the broken pieces of the vase when he fell, and they'd left exactly three cuts on his arm.

Elias let out a bitter laugh, thinking it had to be fate.