ANMELDENAdriana hesitated. "I'm not afraid… but does this even matter?"She and Chris were destined to divorce. Was there really any point in fighting for legitimacy? Even if she won, it wouldn't heal the wounds she'd already suffered.Neo's eyes softened with a trace of pity. This girl's spirit wasn't meant to be this way. Samantha had once messaged him, saying that little Adriana was just as fierce as a little tiger. But after she left, no one had protected her—her claws and teeth had been worn down, dulled by hardship."It matters," he said quietly. "It matters to let people know you're not someone to be pushed around."That Miss Hill lives in your house, works right under your husband, and has harmed you repeatedly—what she's done demands a response. You have every right to retaliate. Don't give up on justice just because Chris won't act."Adriana pressed her lips together, silent. She had never thought about these things. Joan had her family backing her, and Chris to shield her. Alon
Francesco watched silently, his blue eyes like a dark sea beneath a restless sky.Adriana's pale little face—fragile in appearance—was cruel at its core."Take care of yourself. Bella will come by later."He didn't wait for a response, simply turned, and left.Adriana closed her eyes, tears slipping silently from the corners.When Bella arrived, she found her exactly like this."Francesco bullied you again?""I hurt him… again," Adriana murmured, lifting an arm to cover her eyes. "Bella, I've completely messed everything up."Bella bent down, soothing her. "It's okay, it's okay. Everything will get better."She didn't understand why Francesco, though married, still haunted her like a ghost, drifting around her life at random. Five years had passed—long enough to move on even if one had lost a partner.Adriana had taken a week off, spending five days in the hospital. On her first day back, she went to headquarters to drop off some documents.Even though the whispers were low,
Francesco’s eyes darkened as he pointed his sword directly at Adriana.“I’ll go easy on Adriana—but I won’t go easy on Mrs. Slater.”Adriana dodged nimbly. “No need. Mr. Slater is more than enough for me.”“Even if he could hurt you?”His gaze flickered as he raised the sword, testing her.She curved her red lips into a faint smile. “Everything he gives me… I accept willingly.”A scoffing laugh escaped Francesco. His eyes, deep and cold as an eternal glacier, radiated a biting chill.Strike after strike, his sword moved fast and merciless.Adriana relied on memory, evading each one.When a blade lunged straight for her chest, she abruptly stopped, even stepping forward to meet it.Francesco’s force was immense. Even with the padded tip, the sword sliced through her sweater and pierced her body.His eyes flew open wide. “Adriana! Have you lost your mind?”“If it’s not enough to satisfy your anger, you can push it further.”Adriana gritted her teeth against the pain, staring
"Adriana, want to go out with me?"Bella asked as he changed clothes, glancing at Adriana, who had taken the day off.Adriana lazily stroked her cat. "You go ahead. I'm heading to the fencing club. Can I borrow a car?"She needed something she actually enjoyed, something to get her through the next few days."I've got plenty of cars. Take whichever you want."Bella opened a drawer in the entryway, revealing five or six car keys. Adriana grabbed one at random, and the two besties headed downstairs, splitting up in the underground garage.The fencing club owner, Sharon Malark, waved as Adriana entered. "Long time no see, gorgeous.""Long time no see, pretty lady," Adriana replied.She had never known Sharon's real name; everyone here just called her that. Adriana had been calling her "pretty lady" since high school.Sharon slung an arm around her shoulders. "It's been what—five, six years? I heard you went off to be a mistress?"Though all online discussions had been deleted, s
"Did you tell Chris that this was Joan's doing?""Even if I said it, it wouldn't matter," Adriana replied, holding her cup of hot milk. The room had heating, but she still felt chilled. "The moment Joan sheds a few tears and pushes Edward into Chris's arms, he'll blow the whole thing over. No one cares enough to make a fuss."If he really wanted to investigate, he wouldn't need me to say anything. Grandma Lydia met Joan before the livestream; Heidi can vouch for that."…As Adriana expected, the atmosphere in the Slater household was tense.Chris's expression was cold as he asked, "Heidi, are you sure Lydia came here today and saw Joan?""I'm not mistaken," Heidi said firmly. "I watched her livestream myself—it was definitely her."Joan sat on the sofa, eyes red, looking at Chris with a mix of grievance and pleading."Chris, she came looking for Adriana, asking for money. You've said their family treated Adriana badly, so I just paid her a little to send her away. I didn't kn
"Adriana, what are you planning?"Bella handed her the detector and followed her downstairs."I need to confirm a suspicion." Adriana opened the car door and began scanning every corner with the device.When the detector neared the driver's seat, its red light flashed incessantly, and a sharp "beep, beep, beep" filled the air.Her arm froze. She reached under the seat, groping blindly, and felt a small, raised lump deep in the seat's recess.With a firm tug, a tiny metal piece fell into her palm.Adriana's face drained of color, her heart hammering.Bella asked uneasily, "What is it?"A tremor ran through her voice. "A tracker."During university, she had dismantled dozens of these for research projects—she recognized it instantly."Joan?" Bella inhaled sharply, anger flaring. If it had been Joan, she could have tracked Adriana anywhere, a thought that sent chills down her spine."No. Chris."Adriana clenched her hand, the cold metal pressing painfully into her palm. The te
Francesco had actually recorded their conversation!Adriana's teeth itched with frustration. Truly, fate had a cruel sense of humor.Adriana: [What do you want from me?]The video he sent was clearly a threat.Francesco: [Come to the old place tonight for fencing, or this video will appear in yo
Daisy studied Edward, a flicker of something unusual passing through her eyes. The boy looked far too much like a member of the Slater family."Mhm, I gave birth overseas," Joan said.She gently nudged Edward toward Daisy. "Edward, hurry up and say hello to Daisy.""Hello, Daisy.""So adorable,"
Francesco was supremely confident, moving without a shred of protective gear.Adriana tightened her grip on her sword, testing him with two tentative thrusts—both easily dodged by Francesco.His reflexes were lightning-fast, and soon he returned a strike of his own. Adriana couldn't evade it in ti
Daisy sat in the back seat of her luxury car, lost in thought.The driver spoke respectfully. "Madam, sir asked that you return his call."Daisy took her phone from her bag and dialed Dean."Chris isn't pretending to be sick. His face was extremely pale, and he barely had the strength to speak. I







