Chapter 6

Cecilia felt a chill run through her.

Damian had actually stooped so low as to threaten her with Elliot!

In the past, she would have thought he was only trying to scare her. But now, as she looked at his expressionless profile, her fear kept growing.

He really would hurt Elliot, just as he had let Yvette get away with killing Marika three years ago.

The car stayed silent for a long time. Finally, Cecilia forced herself to speak, her voice hoarse and broken. "Fine. I'll go."

As soon as she said that, Damian relaxed his furrowed brow.

He pulled her into his arms and rested his hands on her waist, speaking lazily. "I'll pick out a gown for you myself, and I'll buy you a set of jewelry."

His hot breath brushed her ear.

Damian rested his forehead on her shoulder and said in a muffled voice, "Honey, you've been acting like a different person lately."

Cecilia forced a faint smile and lowered her eyes to hide her hatred and disgust.

Yes, she had changed.

She was no longer the foolish woman who had obeyed him without question and believed every word he said. She had become her own person.

She was now someone who could hate, fight back, and endure in silence. She would even send Damian and Yvette to hell.

…

In the kitchen, Cecilia washed, prepared, and cooked the food alone.

She tried to ignore the sounds from the living room, but Yvette's heavy breathing and moans kept reaching her through the glass.

"Uncle Damian, please be gentle.

"Oh, that feels so good! How are you so good at this?"

Her words got Damian all hot and bothered, and he slowly eased the pressure of his hands. He glanced back at the kitchen without thinking, but all he saw was Cecilia's straightened back.

"Uncle Damian, do this leg too."

Yvette rested her other leg across Damian's lap and hugged his arm, acting cute.

"I'm exhausted from running around to my promotional events every day. Come on, give me a good massage."

Damian didn't take his hands off Yvette's legs until the food was ready and brought to the table. Only then did Yvette's soft moans stop.

As soon as they sat down, Yvette noticed the amethyst bracelet on Cecilia's wrist.

"Aunt Cece, your bracelet is so pretty. Can I see it?"

The amethyst bracelet was the last thing Marika had left Cecilia.

She treasured it and had always kept it locked in a safe. She put it on again once she decided to leave Damian. That way, she could keep Marika close wherever she went.

"Cecilia, let Yvette see it. She's curious about everything."

Damian had already taken Cecilia's hand and removed the bracelet from her wrist.

Yvette took it and slipped it right onto her own wrist.

"Aunt Cece, my birthday is coming up. Why don't you give this to me as my birthday present? It's not the best quality, but I don't mind."

Cecilia jumped up in alarm, knocking over the hot stew. It splashed across her skin, leaving it red and swollen. But she barely noticed the pain as she reached for Yvette.

"You can't have that. Give it back!"

Yvette looked at Damian with tears in her eyes, pretending to be frightened as she hid behind him. "Uncle Damian!"

He wiped the tears off Yvette's face, then turned to Cecilia with a dark look.

"It's just a bracelet. Do you really have to scream at Yvette like that?"

"She can have anything else, but not that bracelet!" Cecilia shouted.

She stepped forward and grabbed Yvette's hand.

Before she could even touch the bracelet, Yvette let out a scream. "That hurts! Aunt Cece, if you want it back, I'll give it to you. Why did you pinch me?"

As soon as she said that, Damian grabbed Cecilia and yanked her away. He used so much force that she was thrown across the room.

She crashed into the corner of a cabinet, and a large bruise bloomed on her stomach.

As she curled up on the floor in pain, she watched Damian cradle Yvette's hand. "Does it hurt? Should we go to the hospital?"

When Yvette shook her head and refused, he sighed and kept rubbing her hand. "I'll blow on it, then it won't hurt anymore."

He treated Yvette with the utmost care, as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

Cecilia felt utterly crushed.

For the past three years, Damian had kept up with his act perfectly. He had never failed to show Cecilia kindness and concern.

But whenever Yvette was around, even his best acting couldn't hide how anxious and worried he was about her.

Yvette pulled her hand away and took off the amethyst bracelet with a wounded look. "Here! Take it back!"

She threw the bracelet at Cecilia and stormed out without looking back.

Cecilia watched helplessly as the bracelet sailed through the air and hit the floor with a loud crack. It shattered into pieces.

At that same moment, the door slammed shut. Damian had rushed out after Yvette.

In the empty dining room, Cecilia was left crouching before the broken pieces of amethyst.

Her hands trembled as she clutched the pieces in her palm. Blood ran down her arm to her elbow.

"Mom, I'm so sorry. It's my fault. It's all my fault! If only I hadn't come to Harborcrest City and fell in love with Damian… If only I hadn't brought you here."

But there was no changing what had happened.

Cecilia would never forgive Damian and Yvette.

Never!

Her phone lit up on the table. Cecilia read the message from an unknown sender, and her hatred sharpened into focus.

"The encrypted file you sent contains key secrets about Lane Group. It can be cracked in three days."