Chapter 2

That night, my wound became severely infected, and my fever spiked to nearly 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

I went to get a doctor and settle the bill all by myself.

Behind my back, the nurses were whispering among themselves.

"Ms. Hart only has a few superficial wounds, but her boyfriend pulled strings to get her a VIP ward. Meanwhile, this poor girl is dealing with all of that by herself."

I let out a self-deprecating laugh and turned around, only for Nathaniel to step right into my path and slap me across the face.

"Caroline, you've gone way too far!" he hissed. "Who told you to settle the bill with my supplementary card? Madeline's going to figure out who you are!

"I've already made myself clear. I'll end things with her, but I just need a little time. I've already bent over backward for you. What more do you want?"

My already weak body swayed, on the verge of collapsing right then and there.

The bright-red handprint on my cheek only accentuated my bloodshot eyes.

Only then did Nathaniel finally soften his tone, stepping forward to wrap his arms around me.

"You have to know that I'm the only person in this entire world who truly loves you. You should be able to feel that. As long as you're willing to wait, I swear I'll completely commit myself back to our family."

Years ago, when I was just a discarded, unloved orphan, Nathaniel had dropped to one knee and proposed to me.

At that moment, I genuinely believed I was the luckiest woman alive.

Our entire social circle was in complete disbelief, often sighing in envy. "What did you do to deserve a man as fiercely devoted as Nathaniel?"

I had drowned in that illusion of love, utterly unable to pull myself free.

That was until…

Until the day Madeline threw a temper tantrum, and he publicly aired a humiliating video of me being bullied just to make her laugh, leaving me to be ostracized by the high-society wives.

Then came the night he abandoned me in the middle of nowhere over a single phone call from Madeline, forcing me to hike miles back home while wild animals stalked the brush.

After that, things only grew worse.

He stood by and let Madeline call me in the dead of night just to blast the sounds of their heavy breathing during intimacy.

The sheer rage from that night caused me to miscarry our unborn child. Yet, he turned the blame right back onto me, accusing me of being petty and useless for failing to carry a baby to term.

Cold sweat beaded on my face from the pain.

Nathaniel shoved his car keys into my palm. "Madeline can't focus on recovery with you around. Get yourself discharged right away."

I was burning up, my vision flashing dark in waves, but I still managed a quiet hum in acknowledgment.

A complicated look flickered in his eyes.

Just then, I received a call from Rebecca Langford, the orphanage director.

When I learned that she had suffered a heart attack, I quickly stumbled upstairs, only to find Rebecca's face was turning a suffocating shade of purple as she struggled to breathe.

As the doctor was resuscitating her, he explained, "A young woman came over earlier and got into an altercation with her. She even physically assaulted the poor woman and said some absolutely horrific things to her!"

My pupils tightened.

To a person who grew up without a mother or a father, Rebecca was closer to me than any blood relative could ever be.

I whirled around, only to see Madeline throwing herself into Nathaniel's arms, crying a river of tears.

"Nate, that old hag just snapped and started calling me a homewrecker!" she claimed. "I was only trying to explain myself, but then she threw herself onto the floor and tried to blame it on me…"

A wave of anger washed over me.

"You're lying!" I snapped.

Madeline shot me a glance, shifting her clothes to reveal a few poorly faked "bruises" on her skin as her wailing intensified.

In stark contrast, the skin on Rebecca's arms was marred by fingernail marks and obvious bruises.

Catching the smug, mocking look she was giving me, I couldn't take it anymore.

I lunged forward, my hand connecting with her cheek in a slap.

But the very next second, a far heavier blow caught me across the face.