Chapter 3

In the following days, Mona called me to take care of her every day, using the excuse that I used to be a slave and had experience taking care of others.

Bleiz comforted me, saying that if I went along with Mona’s wishes, we could leave sooner, and taking care of others wasn’t difficult for me anyway.

I gave a bitter laugh. He had said he would never make me a slave again.

Mona always called me over at specific times, but only let me stand outside the door. Sometimes, I saw Bleiz looking down and coaxing his daughter, his eyes gentle, while Mona leaned on his shoulder, smiling sweetly.

Sometimes, Bleiz stayed by Mona’s bedside late at night. Sometimes, Bleiz personally fed her soup. And sometimes, Bleiz held their child, his eyes full of doting.

Every time I saw it, my heart felt like it was being carved out with a knife.

But as the pain went on, I suddenly realized that I couldn’t feel the pain anymore.

Perhaps my heart died completely the moment I was thrown into the ice pond.

I was just about to go out for some fresh air when Mona sent someone to call me again.

“Do you want your token of love? Come and get it if you want it.”

What she said... it was the bracelet.

I suddenly stood up, my vision momentarily blackening, but I couldn’t care less and rushed out immediately.

Inside the room, Mona was gently humming to the child in her arms: “Daddy loves baby the most, doesn’t he? Daddy will come to see us every day.”

Mona looked up and saw me, her smile widening: “Nancy, you’re here. You’ve seen everything, haven’t you? These past few days, Bleiz hasn’t dared to go anywhere, just staying here to take care of me and our daughter.”

My nails dug deeply into my palm, unwilling to listen. “Where is it?”

Mona slowly picked up the bracelet from the bedside and shook it. “This?”

Mona curled her lips, her smile cruel. “How about this: you kowtow to me three times, and I’ll give it back to you.”

I trembled all over. “Why are you being so harsh?”

“I am surely harsh!” Mona’s eyes were full of disdain. “Nancy! You’re just a humble slave, while I am the daughter of Beta, the Alpha family’s designated next Luna! How humble you are! Dreaming to stand next to me? Letting you kowtow to me is already a compliment!”

Mona pretended to loosen her grip. “I’ll count to three; if you don’t kowtow, I’ll smash it.”

“One, two—”

I bit my lip hard, my eyes red, and my knees hit the ground heavily.

Three resounding kowtows made my vision black out.

Mona laughed. “You look so pathetic when you kowtow.”

She stood up, looking down at me condescendingly. “However, I’m not going to give it to you.”

Having said that, she raised her hand—

Smack!

The bracelet hit the ground and broke.

I was trembling all over, and just as I lunged forward to pick it up, the door was suddenly kicked open!

Bleiz, Alpha, and Luna stood in the doorway, their faces gloomy.

“What are you doing?!” Alpha asked sternly.

Mona’s face changed instantly, and she rushed into Bleiz’s arms crying. “Bleiz! I don’t know what happened, she suddenly rushed in and started pinching and hitting the child...”

Mona pulled open the child’s clothes, revealing several bluish-purple pinch marks!

I couldn’t believe it. “I didn’t!”

I shook my head frantically but saw Alpha already striding over.

Smack!

The slap made my vision black, my ears were ringing, and blood seeped from the corner of my mouth.

“Nancy!” Alpha’s voice seemed to come from a very far place. “You would even harm such a small child!”

Luna said coldly, “The punishment last time was too light. Drag her out and give her twenty lashes!”

Bleiz suddenly clenched his fists and stepped forward. “Mom—”

“You still want to protect her?!” Luna interrupted sharply. “She harmed your daughter! Even if you want to abandon Mona in the future and elope with the lowly slave, it won’t change the fact that the child will always be yours!”

I was trembling all over and instinctively looked at Bleiz.

He was still standing there, his slender fingers clenched white, his knuckles turning blue.

He looked at me, his eyes so conflicted, so full of pain... Finally, they slowly calmed down.

He slowly turned his face away.

I stared blankly at his averted face, my heart feeling like it was being torn apart.

But the next second, the corners of my mouth slowly lifted, and I laughed out loud.

I laughed at my foolishness, actually believing he would take me away.

I laughed at my stupidity, actually thinking those vows could withstand the bond of blood.

I laughed at my naiveté, still hoping he would choose me at the last moment.