Chapter 3

There was a dull pain at the back of my neck before my vision went dark. I lost consciousness.

When I came to, I realized that I had been stuffed into a dark closet. Through the narrow gap of the door, I could see that the room outside was a bridal suite.

Veronica's pliant body was wrapped around a man's muscular waist as she cooed breathily, "Tonight is our wedding night. Be gentle, okay? It's my first time."

The muscles in Callum's neck bulged while he reached out to touch her face greedily. His demeanor was completely different from the perfunctory attitude he had shown me the night we slept together. The love shining in his eyes was practically overflowing.

"Be good, babe. I can finally have you."

Taking a deep breath, I shut my eyes and slammed my head backward with a loud thump.

Callum wrenched the closet door open, and when he saw that it was me, the rage on his face froze before briefly turning into guilt.

"Lia, what are you doing here?"

…

Callum took me to the hospital so that I could get a full-body checkup.

After confirming that I was fine, the first thing he said was, "Veronica didn't mean to do that. She's young and just thought it would be fun. I'll apologize on her behalf, so don't hold it against her, alright?"

"She thought it would be fun?" I could hardly hold my rage back. "This is called kidnapping, Callum! That's illegal!"

Callum frowned and extinguished his cigarette.

"Lia, Veronica was just worried that something would happen to her because of her face, and that's why she kidnapped you. Don't be so unreasonable."

I narrowed my eyes. My chest was heaving violently with agitation. Ever since he got together with Veronica, it was like he had become a completely different person, one without any principles whatsoever.

"Wake up, will you? Veronica isn't her! They just look alike!"

With a crash, Callum smashed a cup against the floor, shattering it. Losing his patience, he snapped, "It's your responsibility to look after Veronica! Just tell my secretary what you want as compensation. This conversation is over."

Following that, he stalked out of the room.

Veronica sauntered over from where she had been hiding in the shadows. An air of smugness was radiating off her.

"Talia, do you like the gift I prepared for you? Without me, you wouldn't have been able to see Callum's naked body."

I simply rolled my eyes at her, not even bothering to grace her with a response.

Veronica leisurely poured a glass of hot water before an indignant expression suddenly took over her face.

"You know, Talia, I actually really envy you. Although Callum refuses to sleep with you, you come from a good family and are worthy enough to marry him. With you around, I'll most likely only ever be his mistress."

My heart skipped a beat as I stared at the glass of hot water in her hand. I hastily raised my hands to protect myself, but in the next second, a shrill scream rang out.

Veronica cradled her bright red cheek, where she had splashed the water on herself. Pointing an accusing finger at me, she yelled, "Talia, I came to apologize to you. You can choose not to forgive me, but how could you throw scalding hot water at me?"

The commotion instantly drew Callum's attention, and he immediately started lashing out at me without even bothering to learn the whole truth.

I gathered my courage and pointed at the surveillance camera in the corner of the room, saying, "Just check the surveillance footage! That way, you'll know that I wasn't the one who did it."

Veronica forced a few tears. "Ah, it hurts! Callum, there's no need to check the footage. She did this to me!"

The hesitation on Callum's face faded as he turned to shoot me an icy stare.

"Talia, apologize!"

"Callum?"

"Apologize!"

I turned my head to the side, and my nose tingled. "I won't apologize for something I didn't do."

Callum wiped away Veronica's tears before sighing.

"Talia, I have spoiled and indulged you too much. You need to pay the price for what you've done."

When I spotted the two large glasses of hot water his subordinate was holding, I started to panic.

"Callum Holden, I have aquagenic urticaria and can't have any water touching my skin! I'll die!"

For a brief moment, Callum hesitated. Then, he said in an almost cruel tone, "Don't worry. I have the best medical team on standby here. You'll be fine. You have to pay for what you've done."

As the water flew through the air to land on me, a suffocating feeling seized me. My throat felt like it had closed up.

Through the noise, I could hear a doctor exclaiming, "Mr. Holden, Mrs. Holden is… She's pregnant!"