Chapter 3

Over the next few days, Nick paraded Susie through every high-profile event in the city.

She refused designer gowns and diamond jewelry, choosing instead to wear simple dresses in soft neutral tones. Her long black hair was always either straight or tied up in a clean ponytail, and she never wore makeup. In a world obsessed with glamour, she became the picture of effortless purity.

Nick adored her publicly, calling her unique and irreplaceable. Soon, socialites and heiresses began copying her understated style, and designers started creating new collections inspired by her image.

To treat Susie’s weak eyesight, Nick spent tens of millions flying in the best specialists from around the world. The doctors couldn’t reverse her condition, but they found ways to keep it from worsening.

When they told him there was no cure, Nick lost his temper so badly he nearly injured his own eyes, claiming he wanted to “share her pain.”

Meanwhile, Lisa lay alone in her hospital bed, scrolling through her phone as endless headlines flashed across the screen. Photos of Nick and Susie smiling together, interviews filled with affection and praise. Each one felt like another cut to her chest.

She realized then that Nick’s love wasn’t unique. Everything he had once done for her, he could just as easily do for someone else.

Later that afternoon, Lisa went to visit her younger brother, who had been in a coma for three years. He had been hit by a car on his way to school. Nick had flown in a world-class medical team back then, saving the boy’s life, but only barely.

Her brother never woke up. Machines and medicine were the only things keeping him alive.

Lisa sat beside him and held his hand, tears stinging her eyes. “Carl,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “I’m leaving soon. But before I go, I’ll take you somewhere new.”

She paused, looking at his peaceful face. “I used to think Nick was my happiness, but I was wrong.”

The words poured out of her in a rush. The pain, the betrayal, the exhaustion she had been carrying for years. She stayed like that until well past lunchtime, speaking to him as if he could still hear her.

When she finally stood up, she wiped her tears, gave him one last lingering look, and quietly walked out of the hospital.

Lisa’s first stop was the records office, where she filed paperwork to change her and her brother’s name and start the process of moving abroad. She paid for expedited processing that would be completed within a week.

Next, she went to the private villa Nick had given her — the one he used to call her sanctuary. She gathered every luxury gift he had ever showered her with, contacted an auction house, and arranged to sell them. Then she visited a small law firm to transfer the property back to Nick’s name.

Finally, she returned to their old home. In the stillness of the house, she pulled out the things she had once made for him by hand. They were simple, sentimental gifts — nothing valuable — but Nick had once treasured them as if they were priceless.

Now she tossed them into the fire one by one. The flames rose higher, and in the shifting glow, flashes of their past came back — his laughter, her smile, the way they had once believed their love could survive anything.

But happiness, she realized, was as fragile as glass. When the fire finally burned out, so did everything they had been.

At some point, tears blurred her vision. She wiped them away, turned around, and froze.

Nick stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable. Susie stood beside him, cool and composed.

“What are you burning?” Nick asked.

Lisa hesitated, then answered quietly, “Just some things I don’t need anymore.”

Nick nodded casually. “Find the emerald bracelet I gave you. Give it to Susie.”

Even though she had told herself she no longer cared, her heart twisted. That bracelet had been a family heirloom, traditionally reserved for the first daughter-in-law. And now he was giving it to another woman.

Her fingers trembled slightly, but she managed a calm nod. “Alright. I’ll get it.”

They were divorced now. The bracelet no longer belonged to her.

Susie followed Lisa upstairs. As she looked around at the rows of designer dresses and glittering jewelry, envy flashed in her eyes before she quickly hid it behind a neutral smile.

Lisa retrieved a polished wooden jewelry box and handed it to her, unaware of the cold glint in Susie’s gaze.

“Lisa,” Susie said with a sneer, “you’re divorced. Why are you still here? Don’t you have any self-respect?”

Lisa glanced at her calmly. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be gone soon.”

“I don’t need your pity,” Susie snapped. “You didn’t give me anything — I earned this myself. No one will stand in my way.”

Her voice hardened, her polite façade slipping away.

She pulled out the bracelet, threw it to the floor, and shoved Lisa hard.

“Ah—”

Lisa screamed as she tumbled down the stairs, her head hitting the steps. Blood streamed down her face.

Susie quickly sat down, grabbed a shard of the broken gem, and slashed her own leg. “Mr. Horden! Help! Lisa’s hurt!”

The crash brought Nick running. He took one look at the scene — the blood, the shattered jewelry — and his expression darkened. But instead of rushing to Lisa, he walked straight past her and lifted Susie into his arms.

His gaze landed on the blood running down Susie’s leg. “She did this to you?”

Susie nodded without hesitation, her voice calm. “I know I didn’t deserve the bracelet,” she said softly. “She’d rather destroy it than give it to me. I just didn’t expect her to throw herself down the stairs to frame me.”

Nick glanced briefly at Lisa, then told the staff to tend to Susie’s wound. “I’ll get you bandaged first. I’ll deal with her later.”

Moments later, he ordered the guards to drag Lisa to the living room.

“Baby,” Nick said coldly, looking down at her, “why do you keep disobeying me? I told you not to touch her.”

Lisa forced herself upright, meeting his gaze through the blur of blood. “She pushed me,” she said, her voice shaking.

Nick let out a cold laugh. “Still lying? If you won’t admit your mistake, you’ll be punished the hard way.”

“Nick, please—check the security cameras,” she pleaded, panic rising.

“There’s no need,” he said flatly. “Susie wouldn’t lie to me. You’ve been too jealous lately. It’s tiresome.”

He waved his hand, and the butler appeared, holding a leather whip.

Lisa trembled. His favoritism had turned into cruelty she could no longer comprehend.

The first strike ripped through her skin, and blood soaked her back. She bit her lip to keep from screaming as tears streamed down her face.

Under Nick’s cold stare, she stopped begging. She simply closed her eyes and took the pain in silence.

She remembered the man he used to be — the one who had endured brutal beatings from his own family just to marry her. Three hundred lashes, three sleepless nights, yet he never gave up. Even when unconscious, he had whispered her name, promising that she was the only one he would ever love.

He had once said she meant more to him than his own life, that he would never let her suffer, that the world would know she was his wife.

And now, that same man was standing over her, punishing her for something she hadn’t done — all because of another woman.

Nick Horden, she thought bitterly through the pain, was this really just a game to you?