Chapter 3

After the details were settled, everyone left.

Shirley had just stepped into the yard when Myra shrank back, hiding behind Oscar.

"I'm sorry, Shirley. I shouldn't have made such a scene. I should've stayed in my room. It's just… I heard you all talking and got curious…"

Before Myra could finish, tears started streaming down her face.

Anyone watching might have thought Shirley had bullied her.

"Ms. Shirley, Myra didn't mean it. Don't take it out on her," Oscar said sharply, shielding her. "I know our engagement is set. As long as you promise to treat Myra better, I'll marry you."

Myra's face went pale as she trembled in Oscar's arms.

Shirley couldn't help but sneer. She wasn't even sure what she had done to make Oscar think she had hurt Myra.

Seeing the tattered dress Myra was wearing, she asked, "What are you wearing? Didn't Mom and Dad give you money for clothes? If you run around like that, people might think we're mistreating you."

"N-no, I just didn't want to spend the money. It's nobody's fault."

Before Shirley could respond, a man came charging straight at her.

"Go to hell, Shirley! I'm gonna make your family pay!"

Shirley immediately recognized him—Dominic Douglas, the CEO of Douglas Enterprise, the Bishops' longtime rival.

After the Bishops crushed Douglas Enterprise, Dominic went bankrupt and never fully recovered mentally.

In her past life, he had been the one to attack Shirley and cause her infertility.

As he rushed forward, Shirley's first instinct was to look at Oscar.

But like in her past life, he held Myra tightly against his chest.

"Get down! Myra, I got you!"

Those simple words stabbed straight into Shirley's heart.

The next second, a sharp blade cut into her arm.

Bright red blood splashed across her face, and pain shot through her like fire.

Shirley was about to call out to Oscar, but Myra had already wriggled free from his arms.

"Oscar, you're Shirley's bodyguard! Why are you protecting me? Ah, Shirley, you're hurt!"

"Die! I'll kill every one of you Bishops!" Dominic roared, swinging his knife at Myra.

But before Dominic could reach Myra, Oscar threw himself in front of her.

"Myra, watch out!"

The knife sliced into his back, blood soaking his white suit instantly.

The scene erupted into chaos. Someone shouted, "Protect Ms. Bishop!"

As Shirley panicked, Dominic's eyes locked on her again.

He raised his knife, ready to strike. Shirley shut her eyes and yelled, "Oscar, have you forgotten? You're my bodyguard!"

The blood-stained blade almost reached Shirley when a man yanked her into his arms just in time.

Shirley looked up and saw his cold, sharp jaw.

"Are you crazy? Don't you know how to dodge?"

The next second, he let her go and spun to fight Dominic.

Shirley finally realized—it was Jamie.

He had always said he hated her and wished she would die so he could be free.

But when danger came, he was always the first to jump in and protect her.

His fighting skills rivaled Oscar's. In a few moves, he had Dominic pinned.

Dominic had a knife, so Jamie got hurt in the process.

Seeing the blood on his arm, Shirley moved forward, but he stood with a smirk and said, "I'm fine. I'm just glad you're not dead."

Then he walked away without looking back.

Shirley started warming up to him.

"Are you okay, Shirley? Please don't blame Oscar. He protected me first because I was closer to him." Myra's sobs sounded in her ear.

Shirley looked up to see Oscar walking over, holding Myra safely.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Shirley… I—"

Oscar tried to explain, but Shirley cut him off coldly, "No need to explain yourself. I got hurt, and according to the rules, you have to be punished."

Oscar's expression barely changed when he heard that. His face stayed calm, distant, and cool as ever.

"Sure, I'll take the punishment."