Chapter 9

Two bodyguards stepped forward and grabbed Lena by both arms.

"Shane Steele! Let go of me!" Lena thrashed wildly. "Don't you dare!"

Shane didn't even cast a glance in her direction. He turned back toward his car. "Throw her in. Let her soak overnight and pull her out tomorrow morning!"

"Yes, sir."

Lena was dragged down to the riverbank.

The late-autumn water was bone-chilling. The moment she was shoved in, uncontrollable shivers wracked her entire body.

She tried to swim back to shore, but the bodyguards stood at the edge, shoving her back into the water with poles every time she drew close.

"Shane Steele! You bastard! I hate you! I will never forgive you as long as I live!"

Her cries echoed across the surface of the river, but they met only silence.

After an agonizing stretch of time, a sharp, twisting pain shot through her lower abdomen.

It clicked then. Her period was due right around these couple of days.

The icy water combined with severe menstrual cramps created a double torture that nearly drove her unconscious.

Gritting her teeth, she tried to haul herself ashore again and again, only to be shoved back down every single time.

In the end, she didn't even have the strength left to struggle. She curled her arms around herself, shivering uncontrollably in the frigid river.

Before her consciousness faded away, she overheard the bodyguards talking on the bank.

"Mr. Steele said to keep her soaking all night."

"The water's freezing, though. What if something bad happens?"

"What could happen? Mr. Steele just wants to teach her a lesson she'll remember."

Lena let her eyes fall shut.

A lesson to remember?

Right, she really needed to learn her lesson.

She needed to remember how ruthless Shane was, how stupid she had been, and how their three-year marriage had been a complete joke from start to finish.

By the time Lena was pulled out the next morning, she had completely lost consciousness.

Running a high fever alongside infected wounds and acute pelvic inflammatory disease, she remained bedridden in the hospital for a full week.

Throughout that entire week, Shane didn't come to visit her even once.

It wasn't until the day she was discharged that Cody arrived to pick her up. He spoke with utmost caution. "Ms. Chapman, the Steele family is hosting a family dinner tonight. Mr. Chapman insists that you attend."

Lena stayed silent for a long time before softly humming in agreement.

…

The family banquet was set at the Steele residence.

When Lena arrived, Shane was already there.

He sat in the head seat, maintaining his usual indifferent demeanor, looking as if nothing had ever happened.

Elders from both families were present. Everyone maintained a façade of harmony, though each side had their own agenda.

After a few rounds of drinks, Shane's father, Aaron Steele, put down his wine glass and looked toward Lena and Shane. "You two have been married for three years now, haven't you?"

Lena's grip on her spoon tightened.

"It's about time you considered having a child," Lewis chimed in. "You two are the only ones of your generation in both families. Start a family soon, and let us hold a grandchild."

Shane's hand paused as he reached for another bite, but he said nothing.

Lena kept her head down, her fingernails digging deep into her palm.

A child… Her child had already been murdered by his own father.

"Tell you what." Shane's mother, Emerson Crosby, said, her smile warm. "After dinner, you two should head to that charity auction. Bid on a few items and bond a little. Then go home together tonight, alright?"

Frowning, Shane was about to refuse when Lewis cut in, "It's settled then. Lena, did you hear that?"

Lena looked up, forcing a stiff smile. "Yeah."

Shane cast a complicated glance at her, but in the end, he said nothing.

…

The auction hall was alive with dazzling lights and glitzy company.

Lena and Shane sat in the VIP section, exchanging zero words.

Midway through, Shane answered a phone call and stepped outside.

Lena didn't bother with him. She just quietly watched the items up for bid on stage.

A while later, Shane returned, accompanied by someone else—Yasmine.

Lena's fingers instantly dug into her dress.

"Shane said the auction was boring, so he asked me to keep him company," Yasmine said with a sweet smile as she sat down beside her. "Ms. Chapman, you won't mind, right?"

Lena said nothing. She simply lifted her glass and downed the wine in one gulp.

The rest of the auction turned into a public humiliation.

Whenever Lena lingered her gaze on an item for a second longer, Yasmine would say, "Oh, this is so pretty. I love it."

Then, Shane would raise his paddle, win the bid, and gift it to Yasmine.

He had gotten her a set of fine jewelry, a painting, and even an antique vase.

With every strike of the gavel, the people around them cast glances filled with implicit judgment or pity.

Lena sat there, her back as straight as a board. Her face was completely expressionless, looking as though she couldn't care less.

Yet only she knew that the frozen wasteland inside her was shattering.

As the auction neared its end, Yasmine suddenly claimed she had an errand and pulled Shane outside.

Watching their receding backs, Lena finally stood up, preparing to take her leave.

She had had enough.

Yet right as she reached the exit, Shane and Yasmine walked back in.

Holding a catalog of auction items, Yasmine pointed to the last page and cooed, "Shane, this jewelry set was my absolute favorite. It's such a pity someone else won the bid for it just now."

Shane looked in the direction she pointed. The bidder who had won the jewelry set was a notorious playboy, Yael Baxter. He was notorious in their circle for his promiscuity, sleeping around with both men and women, and having a terrible reputation.

Shane frowned, but seeing how dejected Yasmine looked, he walked over anyway. "My partner really fancies this jewelry set. Would you be open to letting it go? The price is negotiable."

Yael leaned back against his chair, swirling his wine glass, but his eyes bypassed Shane entirely and landed directly on Lena standing not far behind him. His gaze was filled with undisguised lust and greed.

"Since you're asking, normally I wouldn't dare refuse to show respect. However… I happen to like this jewelry set quite a bit myself. How about this? I can pass the set to you at cost or even throw in a discount. But I have one condition."

He raised a finger and pointed straight at Lena. "I've admired Ms. Chapman for a very long time but never had the chance to get acquainted. Why not have her join me for dinner just for tonight?

"If she agrees, the jewelry is yours immediately, free of charge. Consider it a gesture of friendship. What do you say?"