Chapter 2

After some time, a high fever set in. I could feel my whole body burning.

Still dazed, I was dragged into a car and taken back to Harker Manor. Once we arrived, some men threw me into the main hall roughly. I swayed so badly that I could barely stay on my feet.

Countless eyes fell on me. I saw mockery, pity, and arrogant disdain in the gazes directed my way.

"So, this is the true love Mr. Harker spent seven years pursuing? Tsk. She's nothing special."

"True love? She's just a woman from the slums who sold herself for a good price."

"Look at the miserable Voucher Wife. She schemed her way into the Harker family, only to end up without a single penny to her name. How pathetic."

When everyone noticed Yannick's gradually darkening face, the whispers slowly died down.

Tracy smiled sweetly as she accompanied Yannick around the room, toasting the guests one by one.

When she reached me, she bit her lip and put on a conflicted expression. "Are you still mad at me, Colette? You went over your spending limit this month. I was worried you'd develop bad spending habits, so I canceled the rest of your vouchers. It's all my fault.

"I prepared this banquet and surprise for you to make up for it. Can't you forgive me?"

Under everyone's amused gaze, Yannick's expression darkened further. He grabbed my chin and forcibly poured wine into my mouth. Then, he picked up the rest of the red wine and dumped it over my face.

He snapped, "Who exactly are you giving that attitude to? If you still don't know your place, then get out and come back after you've come to your senses!"

The alcohol stung my eyes so badly that I couldn't open them.

Amid the chaos, a trembling voice cried, "Blood... Her legs are covered in blood!"

Yannick froze. The moment he saw the rapidly growing pool of blood at my feet, his pupils contracted sharply.

Instinctively, he reached out toward me.

But before he could touch me, Tracy suddenly said, "Colette, did you refuse to spend even a penny of your own money on a pack of sanitary pads when you couldn't use the vouchers? Even if you're trying to make Yannick feel sorry for you, you shouldn't dirty yourself on purpose… It's disgusting."

Contemptuous snickers echoed throughout the hall.

A loud buzz filled my mind, and an overwhelming sense of humiliation swallowed me whole like a tidal wave.

Fighting the sting in my eyes, I stammered, "No... That's not it. I didn't..."

"Enough! Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?" The concern in Yannick's eyes vanished, replaced by deep disgust and revulsion.

He took half a step back and ordered the maids sternly, "Take her upstairs and get her cleaned up!"

I opened my mouth. Then, I gave up trying to explain.

Yannick would never believe me.

As four or five maids dragged me upstairs, I looked back at Yannick one last time.

Tears slipped down my face without warning. After seven years of loving him and one year of marriage, our relationship ended. All that was left for me was my broken body and the fact that my mother and my baby were both gone.

"Yannick, I don't owe you anything anymore," I thought sadly.