Chapter 1

For the first time in three months, the ghost had spoken a complete sentence. The words struck like an icy prophecy, and goosebumps rose across Nicole's skin.

But she refused to believe it.

Cedric had been in Almontane for three months. Every morning, he wished her good morning. Every night, they spoke over video calls. He had told her himself that she was his salvation.

Unexpectedly, when Nicole pushed open the doors to the darkened banquet hall, she saw Cedric beneath a brilliant spotlight, his arms wrapped around a young woman in a white dress.

And in that stolen moment, the young woman pressed a furtive kiss to his jaw.

Nicole's world collapsed in an instant.

She charged straight toward the stage.

The ghost blocked her path, her voice almost tearful. "Don't do it. She's the one closest to his heart. If you slap her, he'll—"

Unfortunately, it was too late. Nicole's hand had already passed through the ghost's translucent body and struck the young woman across the face.

The slap rang out, sharp and clear, and brought the entire party to a standstill.

"Have you no shame? Don't you know he's a married man? Don't you know he already has a wife?" she demanded.

Dead silence followed.

Nicole's palm burned as she stared at Cedric, desperate for an explanation. She waited for him to do what he always did: take her hand in his cool, gentle grasp and ask if it hurt.

However, he did not.

For the first time, Nicole saw killing intent in Cedric's eyes. His usually calm, unreadable gaze turned bloodred in an instant.

He bent down, helped the young woman off the floor, and drew her protectively into his arms.

"Apologize." Cedric's voice was icy.

"What did you say?" Nicole could hardly believe her ears. "Cedric, I'm your wife. Up on that stage, you called her the most important person in your life. Where does that leave me? I saw her kiss you, and you want me to apologize?"

Cedric neither argued nor raised his voice. "She's my sister. Harriet Jennings."

Nicole's voice trembled. "That's absurd! We've been married for three years, and suddenly you have a sister? Do you take me for a child?

"Your surname is Grisborne. Hers is Jennings. What kind of sister is that? What sister looks at her brother that way? What sister kisses her brother's jaw like that?"

Cedric did not spare her another glance. He simply bent down, scooped the tearful, trembling Harriet into his arms, and turned to leave.

Before he walked away, he paused and spoke in an icy voice. "Nicole, you can insult me all you want. But you shouldn't have touched her."

The tears Nicole had held back for so long finally spilled over, and she could not stop them.

Insult him? She could never bear to do such a thing.

At 18, she had fallen in love with him at first sight. At 23, she had done everything in her power to marry him.

She had wanted to give him the very best the world had to offer. How could he accuse her of insulting him?

But Cedric did not look back. Instead, he issued a cold command to the bodyguards behind him. "Take Mrs. Grisborne home. Keep an eye on her until I return."

The moment Nicole stepped out of the banquet hall, the bodyguards dragged her into a dark alley.

Furious, she shouted at them, "What are you doing? Let go of me!"

The lead bodyguard rolled up his sleeves, his expression blank. "Forgive us, ma'am. These are Mr. Grisborne's orders."

Before Nicole could react, a brutal slap struck her across the face. The sharp crack echoed through the alley.

The blow left her stunned. Her ears rang, and half her face instantly swelled, red and numb.

The ghost drifted out from somewhere, her expression even more anguished than if she had been crying. "Save your strength. Don't scream. You slapped the person closest to his heart, so he'll make you pay a hundredfold..."

With those words, she dissolved into a frenzy of laughter and tears once more.

The punishment did not end until Nicole had endured 100 slaps.

Her entire face had gone numb, and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

Pain coursed through her body. She felt as though her soul were being torn apart, piece by piece.

…

The bodyguards took her back to the mansion.

Harriet sat huddled on the imported sofa Nicole had paid a fortune to have flown in from overseas.

Beside her, the usually cold and imperious Cedric knelt on one knee and gently dabbed medicine onto her swollen cheek.

At the sound of the door, Cedric turned. His sharp gaze lingered on Nicole's bloodstreaked face for several seconds before he turned back to Harriet and resumed his careful attention.

Tears spilled down Nicole's cheeks before she even realized she was crying. She let out a bitter laugh. "Cedric, I've seen plenty of social climbers turn cold and heartless. If you've fallen out of love with me, just say so.

"If you're willing to walk away with nothing, we can get a divorce right now. But as things stand..."

Her voice sharpened. "So she's the sister closest to your heart? Then she can spend the rest of her life as the other woman."

Cedric acted as though he had not heard a word. He gathered Harriet into his arms and carried her straight upstairs.

…

That night, Nicole locked herself in her room and cried as though she had lost her mind.

Even so, she refused to accept what had happened.

Ten days later, she waited until Cedric left on a business trip, then arranged for several people to take Harriet away by force.

The deranged ghost blocked her path once more. Her face, identical to Nicole's own, contorted with anguish as she wept without shedding a single tear.

"Stop. I'm begging you, Nicole. Don't be a fool… The moment you act, you'll be whipped 99 times, until your skin splits open.

"And Father... He'll die. We'll be the ones who kill him..."

Nicole's hand trembled around her phone at the ghost's chilling warning.

After a long moment, she spoke in a hoarse voice. "Stop. I'll still pay you. Just leave. Don't touch her."

…

At 5:00 a.m. the following morning, Cedric stood before Nicole anyway, his entire demeanor icy.

He seized her chin in a cold, merciless grip. "I warned you not to touch her. Can't you understand simple words?"