After escaping from the casino, Scarlett Richardson’s first stop was the police station. Captain David Morgan looked at her with confusion and said, “Ms. Richardson, you barely managed to escape from that casino. Why would you want to act as bait? Those criminals are extremely vicious and ruthless—one wrong move and you could lose your life.” Scarlett silently covered the scar on her wrist, then nodded firmly at David. Over the past three years, she had endured unbearable torture at the casino. Now, death would actually be her greatest relief. But she wouldn’t die easily until that criminal gang was caught. After leaving the police station, Scarlett relied on her memory to walk toward the address she had longed for during those three years. With no money on her, she walked for a full four hours on foot before reaching the front door of “home.” The villa’s main gate stood open, and a party was being held inside. Looking at the familiar surroundings, Scarlett froze. She walked in, but no one noticed her presence. As soon as she reached the entrance, she saw that familiar face. Anthony Morris held a wine glass, leaning lazily against the sofa. The dim lighting cast shadows on his stern face, and his entire being radiated an aura that warned people to keep their distance. A woman suddenly stood up from the corner and whispered something in Anthony’s ear. Anthony pulled the woman into his arms, then lifted her chin and kissed her. The moment their lips met, Scarlett finally saw clearly—the woman was her sister, Natalie Richardson. Cheers and whistles erupted around them, growing louder by the moment. A man called out, “Looks like Anthony’s got some good news coming. When are you planning the wedding? Don’t forget to invite us when the time comes.” Anthony didn’t release Natalie until her cheeks turned crimson. He said, “Will do.” Scarlett’s face went pale as memories flooded back like a tidal wave. Three years ago, she had been Anthony’s legal wife. She and Anthony had gone from campus sweethearts all the way to the altar—they were everyone’s idea of the perfect couple. But then Anthony was unfortunately kidnapped by a criminal gang. The kidnappers demanded one billion dollars for his release. The Morris family gave Scarlett the billion dollars and sent her to the designated location to ransom Anthony back. During the exchange, however, Scarlett suddenly had a change of heart. She kept the billion dollars for herself and refused to hand it over to the criminals. At that point, Anthony had been tortured nearly to death, but he still managed to force open his bloodied mouth to ask her why. Scarlett would never forget the look of devastation and despair in Anthony’s eyes as he stared at her. She nearly crushed her own bones with the force of her grip, but she still smiled mockingly and said, “I never loved you. I was only with you for the money. Now I have a way to both leave you and walk away with a fortune. Why wouldn’t I take it?” After Anthony was rescued, Scarlett’s name became taboo—no one dared mention it. Her name became synonymous with malice and heartlessness. But only Scarlett knew that her refusal to pay the ransom wasn’t because she wanted to run away with the money, nor had she approached Anthony for financial gain. That day, when she went to pay the ransom, the criminals had a last-minute change of plans. They knocked her unconscious and brought her to where Anthony was being held, forcing her to watch from a hidden spot as they humiliated and tortured him. In just half an hour, Scarlett had nearly cried herself dry. Such a proud man was being beaten and abused by a group of thugs, the blood from his mouth staining his shirt red. The criminals told her that even if she paid the billion-dollar ransom, they would still cut off Anthony’s legs before releasing him. Unless she was willing to trade herself for Anthony and put on an act in front of him, pretending she abandoned him for money. Anthony was born perfect, and losing his legs would destroy his entire life. Scarlett knew she wouldn’t fare well after being captured by those criminals, but for Anthony’s sake, she agreed. After being imprisoned, those people weren’t satisfied and directly beat her until she miscarried at three months pregnant. They then forced Scarlett to write a suicide note and had someone deliver it along with that pool of blood and flesh to the Morris Villa’s doorstep. After tormenting her enough, they took her to an underground gambling den, where she spent three full years before escaping. Originally, Scarlett wanted to take one last look at Anthony before ending her own life. But she saw news reports saying Anthony had received threatening letters from those criminals three years ago. She couldn’t let Anthony fall into danger again. As someone who had escaped from those criminals, Scarlett was the perfect bait to draw their attention. As long as she stayed by Anthony’s side at all times, Anthony would be safe. Being able to die protecting Anthony would give her life its final bit of value. Nanny Maya Cruz was the first to notice her figure, saying in surprise, “Mrs. Morris?” Instantly, the entire hall fell silent. Everyone’s gaze focused on Scarlett. She clearly heard the sound of a wine glass shattering. “Scarlett.” The hatred in Anthony’s voice almost became something tangible, piercing through her chest. Her heart trembled as she awkwardly avoided that sharp gaze. Someone said with a mocking tone, “Scarlett, you actually dare to come back? You’re truly shameless.” Scarlett’s nails had already dug deep into her palms, but she still had to smile and say, “Of course it’s because I’ve run out of money. Anthony is the richest among all the men I’ve dated, so naturally I had to come back to find him.” Her soul had already died three years ago. Now, only one thought remained in her mind: protecting Anthony. She would bear all the pain and truth herself. Others began cursing her one after another. A man roared angrily, “You vicious, evil woman actually dare to appear before Anthony. Damn it! You ran away for three years, and the moment you come back, you’re asking Anthony for money.” Others chimed in as well. The man who spoke first wanted to vent for Anthony and continued, “You want money, don’t you? As long as you kneel down and loudly say ‘I’m a cheap woman who only loves money,’ I’ll give you ten thousand dollars for each time you say it.” After speaking, he threw his wine glass at her feet, and it shattered into pieces. During those three years in the gambling den, Scarlett had endured far worse harm than this. As long as she could stay by Anthony’s side, this pain meant nothing to her. Under everyone’s gaze, Scarlett knelt down. The shattered glass dug deep into her knees, blood staining them red. She gritted her teeth and said with difficulty, “I’m a cheap woman who only loves money.” Contemptuous gazes fell upon her as everyone burst into laughter. The man said, “As expected, for money, you’re willing to do anything. Keep going.” A stack of hundred-dollar bills was harshly slapped across Scarlett’s face, the sharp edges of the bills cutting her cheeks painfully. Anthony hadn’t spoken since saying Scarlett’s name, but she could feel that hate-filled gaze constantly on her, stabbing her heart with pain. Scarlett didn’t know how many times she shouted it; by the end, she had gone numb. Hundred-dollar bills were scattered all over the floor. The man who first spoke still wasn’t satisfied. He said, “Now, crawl like a dog and pick up all the money, and I’ll give you another twenty thousand dollars.” Scarlett’s lips were nearly bleeding from biting them, but she had no choice. The prolonged kneeling combined with the wounds on her knees left her entire body swaying, barely able to stand. Her hands, pressed against the floor, trembled uncontrollably. Just as Scarlett was about to take her first step, a glass shattered precisely in front of her. A deep, icy voice rang out: “Get out!” Scarlett’s heart clenched violently. Flying glass shards cut her cheek, but she seemed oblivious to the pain. Only one thought consumed her mind—she couldn’t let Anthony throw her out. However, before she could speak, Anthony swept his icy gaze over those present who were waiting to watch the drama unfold. He said coldly, “All of you, get out!” Everyone was startled but didn’t dare object, immediately walking out of the Morris Villa’s front door. With the outsiders gone, Anthony grabbed Scarlett’s wrist with enough force to break her bones. The piercing hatred in his eyes felt like a massive stone pressing on her heart, making it hard for her to breathe. Anthony said coldly, “Scarlett, three years ago, you ran away with the ransom money and aborted my child. Now you actually dare to show up in front of me. How dare you?” Every word was filled with rage. Caught off guard, Scarlett stumbled as Anthony yanked her. The glass on her knees dug deep into her flesh, making her gasp in pain. After a long moment, she recovered and forced a pale smile. She said, “Because you have money. I can get money from you. Why wouldn’t I dare come back?” Anthony’s grip on her hand tightened continuously, his eyes bloodshot and filled with fury. He said, “You want money, do you? Fine. Starting today, you’re a servant at the Morris Villa. Whatever I say, you must do.” With that, Anthony pulled out a card and threw it at Scarlett’s face. Then he continued, “The first thing you’ll do is clean up this hall. I don’t want to see a speck of dust when I wake up tomorrow morning.” Anthony swept his cold gaze over the other servants present. He said coldly, “None of you are to help her. Give her all the work in the villa. Also, she’s not Mrs. Morris. I don’t want to hear anyone call her that again.” The servants all bowed their heads in agreement. Scarlett picked up the card with her bloodied hands and said hoarsely, “Alright.” She knew Anthony was keeping her as a servant to humiliate her, seeking revenge for when she had abandoned him and fled with the ransom money three years ago. But she didn’t care. As long as she could stay, she was willing to accept any role. Anthony carried Natalie upstairs in his arms. Scarlett struggled to her feet, enduring the pain as she picked out the glass shards embedded in her knees and palms piece by piece. That night, she wiped down the entire hall inside and out with a cloth. The unbearable panting and a woman’s pleasured moans from upstairs echoed in her ears all night long. At first, Scarlett felt like her heart was being carved out alive. Later, she became numb. She had been the one to abandon him. Now he had someone new by his side. It was only natural, wasn’t it? The sounds from upstairs didn’t stop until morning. Anthony commanded, “Come upstairs and help Natalie bathe.” He was wrapped in a towel, his chest covered with conspicuous red marks. The sight stung Scarlett’s eyes. Once, she had been the only one who could leave marks on his body. In the end, she said nothing and silently went upstairs. Clothes were scattered all over the floor, along with seven or eight opened condom packages, showing just how intense their night had been. Scarlett’s heart was already shattered. She helped Natalie wash her body bit by bit. After three years apart, they were no longer the intimate sisters who once shared a bed and whispered secrets. Natalie was the first to break the silence. She said, “Scarlett, actually, I fell for Anthony a long time ago. Back then, he was your husband. He only had eyes for you. I could only secretly bury this feeling in my heart and silently bless you both. But why did you abandon Anthony? Do you know how brutally the kidnappers tortured him? After he was rescued, he stayed in the hospital for a whole month. Even now, he still needs regular psychological therapy. These three years, I’ve been by his side, helping him get through that painful past.” Natalie paused, looking at Scarlett with deep-seated jealousy hidden in her eyes. Then she continued, “Actually, the first time he and I were together was because he was drunk and mistook me for you. He kept calling your name in my ear over and over again. I never thought that after you heartlessly abandoned him, he would still think of you. But I didn’t care. As long as I could be with him, that was enough. You know what, Scarlett? We’re planning to get married. You shouldn’t have come back. Please leave Anthony, okay?” Scarlett never knew that her only sister had feelings for Anthony. Thinking back carefully now, every time she brought Anthony home, there seemed to be a different light in Natalie’s eyes. But Scarlett hadn’t returned to the Morris Villa to steal Anthony back from Natalie. Her entire soul had been worn away during those three years at the casino, leaving only an empty shell. Now, Scarlett’s only reason for living was to prevent Anthony from suffering any more torture. Once she cooperated with David to catch that criminal gang, she would leave this place. Scarlett said, “Natalie, I will leave, but not now. I still have things to do.” Natalie’s expression gradually turned cold. She said coldly, “Scarlett, then don’t blame me. I won’t let you destroy my happiness.” Before Scarlett could react, Natalie grabbed the showerhead, turned the water temperature to its lowest setting, and poured it over her head. Then she screamed, “Ah! Anthony!” The screaming left Anthony no time to think. He kicked down the door and carefully lifted Natalie into his arms. Anthony felt Natalie trembling all over, her face turning deathly pale. He roared, “Scarlett, you ruined me before, and now you want to hurt your own sister? Three years later, you haven’t changed at all. You’re still the same ruthless, heartless woman.” Scarlett’s body shook, but she didn’t speak up to defend herself. The deeper his hatred for her now, the less it would hurt him when she left. Seeing Scarlett’s silence, Anthony assumed she was admitting guilt. He gritted his teeth and told his bodyguards, “Throw her in the lake for three hours.” It was winter, and the lake’s surface was covered with thick ice. The bodyguards mercilessly threw Scarlett into the lake. The broken ice shards cut her thighs, and blood stained the surrounding water red. The bone-chilling cold seeped through her wounds into her body. Scarlett gritted her teeth and endured the pain. She had spent three years at the casino, and her body was already weak. After just five minutes in the water, she was swaying and could barely hold herself up. Anthony held Natalie in his arms, watching her coldly from the shore. He said, “This is your punishment. You have to bear it.” With that, Anthony turned and left, instructing the bodyguards to keep watch on the shore. As Scarlett soaked longer in the icy water, her body grew colder and colder. Only when the bodyguards said the three hours were up did she drag her pale body step by step onto the shore, shivering all over. Just as she reached the entrance of Morris Villa, Scarlett used up all her strength and collapsed. When she woke up again, there was a hot towel on her forehead. On the bedside table sat a fever reducer and a piece of candy. Scarlett had never liked taking medicine since childhood, usually relying on her immune system to fight off illness. After Anthony learned this habit of hers, every time he gave her medicine, he would magically produce a piece of candy and hold it to her lips. Over time, she developed the habit of eating candy after taking medicine. Maya carefully pushed the door open, and seeing that Scarlett was awake, she breathed a sigh of relief. She said, “Mrs… Ms. Richardson, I’m glad you’re awake. Please take your medicine quickly. Your fever reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit. I remember you used to have the habit of eating candy after taking medicine, so I specially prepared some for you.” Scarlett smiled stiffly. Anthony hated her so much now—how could he have prepared candy for her? She was overthinking it. Scarlett took the medicine, then unwrapped the candy and put it in her mouth. But that little bit of sweetness still couldn’t mask the endless bitterness in her mouth. After the medicine took effect, Scarlett fell into a deep sleep and naturally didn’t hear the conversation outside after Maya closed the door. ***** Over the next few days, Scarlett’s temperature never came down. She had recurring fevers, and Anthony never came to see her. She lay in the servants’ quarters in a daze. In her confusion, Scarlett seemed to feel burning eyes watching her, but when she struggled to open her eyes, there was no one by the bed. Until one night, agonized roars from upstairs woke Scarlett up. She recognized that voice—it was Anthony’s. Scarlett forced herself out of bed. By the time she reached the second floor, the pain in those roars seemed even more intense. She couldn’t care about anything else and pushed open the door. Anthony was acting like a madman, frantically beating his own head. Natalie was crying anxiously beside him, wanting to approach Anthony but being pushed away by him. Scarlett had never seen Anthony like this. She quickly asked Natalie what was wrong. Natalie answered, “Ever since the kidnapping, Anthony has suffered from severe PTSD. He has episodes from time to time and hurts himself. But this year, his condition had been well controlled—he hadn’t had any relapses. I don’t know why this is happening today.” Her words hit Scarlett’s heart like a sledgehammer. Scarlett understood that it was likely because of her appearance that Anthony was reminded of those painful experiences during the kidnapping. Anthony’s eyes were red as he threw off the covers and banged his head against the wall. Seeing that his forehead was already bleeding, Scarlett bit her lip and hugged him tightly from behind. Anthony, in the midst of his episode, couldn’t tell who was holding him and kept struggling. But Scarlett held on, refusing to let go. Unable to break free, Anthony grabbed her right hand and bit down hard.
Scarlett could clearly feel Anthony’s teeth piercing through her skin, the pain nearly making her let go. But seeing the cold sweat constantly breaking out on Anthony’s forehead, she held on. After what felt like an eternity of biting, Anthony finally quieted down. Watching Anthony close his eyes again, Scarlett endured the pain and helped him onto the bed, then suddenly felt all her strength drain away. She looked at her trembling right hand, where a bleeding bite mark was clearly visible. Natalie looked at her with a complex expression and said softly, “Scarlett, tonight, I was the one who calmed Anthony down, right?” Scarlett remained silent for a moment. Then she said, “Yes.” After speaking, Scarlett covered her injured arm and left wearily. The next day, Anthony heard that he had hurt Natalie during his midnight episode, so he sent her many gifts that nearly filled the entire room. He and Natalie also became more intimate. Even when he had business dinners, he would bring Natalie along, unwilling to be separated from her for even a moment. People around them teased about how close they were, but Anthony accepted it all with a smile. However, no matter where they went, Scarlett would follow behind them. When Natalie wanted chocolate cake, Anthony would send Scarlett to buy it from 10 miles away. When Natalie wanted coffee, Anthony would have Scarlett brew it over and over until Natalie was satisfied with the temperature. When Natalie was eating, Anthony would have Scarlett stand nearby, serving Natalie like a servant. Many people in their circle knew that Scarlett had been Anthony’s wife three Christmases ago. Now, seeing her following behind them, some couldn’t help but ask curiously. To this, Anthony would smile coldly and say, “You’ve got the wrong person. How could she be worthy of being my wife? She’s just a servant in my house.” Scarlett’s heart, which had become like stagnant water, still couldn’t help but ripple upon hearing these words. Three Christmases ago, he had held her like a treasure, introducing her to everyone as his wife. Now, she was just a servant. As for the identity of Mrs. Morris, she wasn’t worthy of it. At that evening’s dinner party, Natalie left early. Just as Scarlett was about to follow, Anthony called out to her. He said, “Come here and drink for me.” The private room was full of Anthony’s business partners. Seeing this scene, they couldn’t help but cheer. One man said, “Mr. Morris, you really have quite the charm. Your fiancée left, but you still have a beauty to drink for you. It’s pretty boring for us men to drink alone. Let’s see how well Mr. Morris’s person can handle her liquor, shall we?” Another man chimed in, “I agree. It’s only interesting when you have both fine wine and beautiful women. Mr. Morris, don’t be stingy.” As they spoke, they had someone pour 99 full glasses of liquor. Anthony chuckled softly, his fingers tapping the table rhythmically. He said, “Why would I be? It’s her honor to entertain you all.” In the past, during business entertainment, Anthony never let Scarlett drink, always helping her finish the drinks himself. But now, she had no other choice. Scarlett smiled and picked up a glass, downing it in one gulp. She heard exclamations from everyone around, while Anthony’s gaze seemed to grow colder. Scarlett didn’t stop, drinking glass after glass. During her time at the casino, she often went hungry, and her stomach had long been damaged. The continuous intake of strong liquor made her stomach burn with each gulp. By the end, Scarlett’s hand holding the glass was visibly trembling. After setting down the last glass, Scarlett staggered a few steps, nearly unable to stand steady. Her stomach churned violently. Not caring that Anthony was still present, she quickly pushed open the door and stumbled toward the restroom. Before this drinking session, Scarlett hadn’t eaten anything. All she could vomit was acid and the liquor she had just consumed. When Scarlett returned to the private room, the dinner party had already ended. She shook her dizzy head, wanting to find Anthony. But just as she stepped out of the private room, a tall figure pressed toward her. The man said, “Beauty, Mr. Morris doesn’t know how to treasure you. How about being with me instead? I promise to treat you well.” His greasy hands wandered all over Scarlett’s body. His breath, reeking of alcohol, sprayed on Scarlett’s neck, instantly pulling her back into those painful memories from the casino. Scarlett desperately tried to break free from the man’s grasp. But having just consumed 99 glasses of liquor, her body had no strength left. She could only cry out helplessly to passersby, “Help! Save me!” But such incidents were common in the club, and no one wanted to cause trouble for themselves over a stranger. The man’s behavior became increasingly bold. The club’s heating was turned up high, so Scarlett was only wearing a thin camisole on her upper body. The man easily lifted her shirt up to her navel. He smiled wickedly and said, “Beauty, Mr. Morris has already left. No one can save you. You might as well behave and come with me.” Scarlett’s shirt had been lifted to just below her chest. The man’s breathing became heavy, and his movements grew urgent. Scarlett used all her strength to pound against him, but it was useless. Her heart was nearly filled with despair. She had thought that during these final moments, she could at least leave with her dignity intact. Couldn’t she even fulfill this one wish? Just as the man’s hand was about to touch Scarlett’s chest, he was suddenly kicked to the ground. A fist slammed hard into his body. Then, an angry roar rang out: “Who gave you permission to touch her?” Anthony grabbed the man by the collar and kept beating him. The man begged for mercy continuously, blood streaming from the corner of his mouth. Scarlett hastily straightened her disheveled clothes, worried that someone might die if the beating continued, and quickly stepped forward to grab Anthony’s hand. “Stop hitting him,” she said. Anthony’s fist, about to land another blow, froze mid-air. His knuckles cracked as he clenched his fist, his gaze piercing Scarlett like a blade. Her wrist suddenly ached, and before she could react, Anthony had pulled her into the car. In the cramped vehicle, Anthony gripped her wrist tightly, pressing her against the seat, his face dark with rage. He roared, “Scarlett, how long have I been gone? Are you already this eager to seduce other men? If I hadn’t come back, would you have abandoned me again and left with him?” Scarlett knew Anthony had misunderstood, but she just turned her head away with reddened eyes, offering no explanation. She wanted him to hate her like this. That way, when she left, he wouldn’t feel heartbroken. Scarlett’s silence completely enraged Anthony. He grabbed her chin and kissed her forcefully. “Scarlett, you brought this on yourself,” he said. Anthony’s familiar, dominating presence invaded her mouth, making Scarlett’s nose sting as tears nearly fell. This kiss was passionate and lingering, making her want to lose herself in it. But she bit down hard on her tongue, forcing herself to stay alert. Anthony suddenly stopped, looking at her with a dark expression. “You can obediently let other men touch you, but you act pure and innocent with me?” he said. Scarlett smiled bitterly. “Too dirty,” she said. Scarlett felt she was too dirty. How could she face Anthony with such a filthy body? Anthony’s eyes reddened as he said harshly, “Scarlett, you’re calling me dirty? What right does a woman who abandoned her husband and caused her child’s death have to say that about me?” With that, he began tearing at her already thin clothing without restraint. “No!” Scarlett frantically tried to cover her body. Over the past three years, she had suffered harm every day. Her entire body was covered with permanent bruises and scars that could never be erased. She didn’t want Anthony to see any of this. Scarlett only hoped that in Anthony’s memory, she would always remain as she was three years ago. But the bruises covering her body were still seen by Anthony. He froze, his trembling hand wanting to touch those scars, his throat seeming blocked by something. “You… what happened to these injuries on your body? Where exactly have you been these past three years?” Anthony asked. After seeing the bite mark on her right arm, Anthony seemed to recall some scattered fragments, but couldn’t quite remember what they were. “Who bit this mark?” he asked. Anthony’s voice trembled slightly, with a barely perceptible hint of hope in his eyes. Seeing the expectation in his eyes, Scarlett forced herself not to look at him, then spoke with icy words. “Of course it was left by my new boyfriend from the past three years. Mr. Morris, you don’t actually think I still had you in my heart and stayed chaste for you, do you? With a billion dollars, naturally I can find as many men as I want. This is just bedroom fun. You don’t even understand that much, do you?” she said. The hint of hope in Anthony’s eyes instantly vanished, replaced by fury. He gripped her neck tightly, using considerable force. Then Anthony roared, “Scarlett, are you really this shameless? Wasn’t I good to you back then? Did you ever love me at all?” Scarlett was being choked and couldn’t breathe, but she stared at Anthony’s bloodshot eyes and said with difficulty, “No.” Anthony threw her to the ground, his eyes filled with nothing but ice-cold hatred. He said, “I’m such a fool for letting you deceive me for so long. Not only did you nearly get me killed by those kidnappers, but I also lost the child I’d been longing for.” Scarlett collapsed on the ground, clutching her throat and coughing desperately. Upon hearing his words, she actually laughed. She said, “Anthony, if you still have feelings for me, I’d be more than happy to stay with you. I don’t mind serving you alongside my sister. You’re the richest man I’ve ever dated, and we were even married. Getting back together would be nice, wouldn’t it? I want your money, and you want my body. I’ll spend a night with you for two hundred thousand dollars. How about it?” Anthony threw his suit jacket over her and never looked at her again. He said, “Scarlett, I truly regret ever loving you.” With that, Anthony slammed the car door shut and drove away quickly. The car soon disappeared, so Anthony didn’t see the tears streaming down Scarlett’s face. She silently put on the suit jacket and struggled to her feet. From now on, Anthony shouldn’t have any lingering feelings for her, right? Clutching her heart that ached to the point of suffocation, she staggered toward the Morris mansion. Perhaps because he was too furious, Anthony stopped bringing Scarlett along when he went out over the next few days. Left with no choice, Scarlett secretly messaged David, asking him to assign people to protect Anthony’s safety. But on this particular day, Scarlett went out alone. She had learned from Maya that the Morris family had bought a burial plot for her unborn child and even erected a headstone. Following the address Maya had given her, Scarlett arrived at the cemetery. Before coming, she had made a detour to buy many snacks that babies would like and fresh flowers. This was Scarlett’s first visit to see this child in three years. She didn’t know if the child still remembered her or harbored any resentment. She approached the headstone. Unlike other graves, this one had no photograph—only the words “Anthony’s Child” carved into the stone. With trembling hands, Scarlett gently caressed the headstone. Anthony hated her so much that he would even strip away her identity as the child’s mother? She whispered, “Baby, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. It’s not that I didn’t want to safely bring you into this world, but I couldn’t watch your father lose his legs. You understand me, don’t you? Wait for me—I’ll come to be with you soon.” Scarlett leaned against the headstone, tears streaming down her cheeks. She carried so many burdens in her heart, yet couldn’t confide in anyone around her. Only here, beside her child’s grave, did she finally have the chance to pour out everything. But before Scarlett could speak again, she was yanked up by a powerful force. Anthony roared, “How dare you come here?” Seeing Anthony’s dark expression, Scarlett felt bitter inside. She said, “I just wanted to visit the child. I am his mother, after all.” Anthony’s mother, Harper Morris, who had been walking behind him, became agitated upon seeing Scarlett and slapped her hard across the face. She screamed, “How dare you mention my grandson? You’re the one who killed him with your own hands. Back then, our family treated you so well, but not only did you run away with the ransom money, you nearly got my son killed. And while my son was hospitalized recovering from his injuries, you had an abortion and sent the news to break his heart. How can there be such a vicious woman like you in this world? You murderer! You heartless woman! Get out of here!” After Scarlett became part of the Morris family, Harper had loved her almost like her own daughter. So when she learned of Scarlett’s betrayal, she simply couldn’t accept it. Harper was so furious that she gave Scarlett a hard shove. The recent ordeals had left Scarlett’s body even weaker. She couldn’t steady herself and her forehead struck the headstone hard, blood trickling down her cheek. Anthony frowned and pulled her up. He said coldly, “You don’t deserve to appear before this child’s grave. How can someone as vicious as you be his mother? Leave now.” Scarlett left in despair, tears mixed with blood dripping from her face. The words “you don’t deserve” echoed repeatedly in her mind. In a daze, Scarlett remembered the joy she and Anthony had shared three years ago when they learned of her pregnancy. Anthony had said excitedly, “Scarlett, I’m going to be a father, and you’re going to be a mother. I hope our child is an adorable daughter just like you. I’ll spoil her into the most envied little princess in the world.” Scarlett had replied, “I won’t play favorites like you. I’ll love both sons and daughters equally. I want to be the best mother in the world.” Those words from the past still seemed to ring in Scarlett’s ears, but everything had changed. Everyone hated and resented her. But she had also lost her child. That child had stayed in Scarlett’s womb for three whole months, connected to her by blood. How could she not feel heartbroken? More than anyone, Scarlett had wanted to see the child born safely. But compared to an unborn child and herself, Anthony meant more to her than anything else. Even today, Scarlett didn’t regret the choice she had made back then.
Harper gasped for breath, her eyes red as she looked at Anthony, who remained silent beside her. She said, “In the past, I stopped you from being with Natalie because I didn’t want you to have any connection with the Richardson family. But I never expected Scarlett to come back, and you even kept her by your side? I’m telling you, I will never allow a woman who nearly killed my son and aborted my grandchild to marry you, not unless I’m dead. You either marry Natalie or arrange a marriage with someone else. Anyone can be your wife, as long as it’s not Scarlett.” Anthony stared at the words carved on the tombstone. After a long while, he finally heard his own voice: “Fine, I’ll marry Natalie.” ***** After returning to the Morris mansion, Anthony handed Scarlett a divorce agreement. Looking at the document in her hands, Scarlett momentarily forgot to maintain her facade, her eyes reddening slightly. She had thought her marriage to Anthony had already been dissolved. According to the law, if spouses are separated for two years, either party can file for a forced divorce. Scarlett had been gone for three years, long meeting the criteria for a forced divorce, yet Anthony had never filed. “Scarlett, are you reluctant to get divorced?” Anthony asked, noticing her reddened eyes while suppressing his rapidly beating heart. Scarlett bit her tongue to clear her head, then put on a greedy expression as she flipped through the property division section. She deliberately pointed to several properties and said, “I just think you’re giving me too little money. Give me a few more houses, will you? After all, these properties are worth quite a lot.” Anthony’s eyes filled with anger: “Scarlett, how can you be so greedy?” When the revised divorce agreement was delivered to Scarlett again, she signed her name without hesitation. Given their three-year separation, they received their divorce certificate the same day they signed the agreement. Scarlett and Anthony’s brief four-year marriage had come to an end. After leaving the courthouse, Scarlett received a text from David: [We’ve received word that the criminals might make their move in the next couple of days. Be careful.] Scarlett stared blankly at the message. She thought, “Is it finally going to end?” Coming back to her senses, Scarlett called out to Anthony, who was about to leave. She said, “I’m Natalie’s sister. I should at least see her get married before I go, right?” Anthony didn’t turn around, standing silently for a long time. Just when Scarlett thought he would refuse, she heard his voice: “Fine. Scarlett, you truly are heartless.” Scarlett’s heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly by a large hand, making it hard to breathe. Yet her face still maintained a smile. Anthony and Natalie’s marriage would surely be a happy one. During the wedding preparations, Scarlett stayed close to them both. She watched them select wedding dresses, finalize guest lists, and take wedding photos. Everything she and Anthony had experienced before, Anthony and Natalie were now experiencing again. Watching them embrace intimately in their wedding dress and suit, Scarlett’s ears were filled with praise for the couple. One woman said, “Mr. Morris and Miss Natalie Richardson are such a perfect match.” Another woman agreed, “Yes. They’re sure to be the happiest couple.” Natalie shyly buried her head in Anthony’s chest. She said, “Marrying Anthony is the happiest thing in my life.” In a daze, Scarlett felt as if she had returned to when she married Anthony years ago. Everyone had envied how their years-long romance had finally reached fruition. At their wedding, they had vowed to each other never to part, never to separate for life. But who would have thought that four years later, the bride by his side would be someone else, while she could only offer her blessings. On the way back after the photo shoot, Natalie excitedly clung to Anthony, discussing the day’s wedding photos. She said, “Anthony, let’s pick the best shot and put it right in the center of the villa’s first floor, okay? I’d like to hang the beach set in our bedroom.” No matter what Natalie said, Anthony always responded with an indulgent smile, gently ruffling her hair in agreement. Natalie glanced at Scarlett, who had remained silent, and said, “Scarlett, tell me—where do you think Anthony and I should go for our honeymoon after the wedding? And when should we start trying for a baby? Scarlett, you have experience with this. You could teach me.” Scarlett dug her nails into her palms, forcing a strained smile. Just as she was about to speak, a black car suddenly shot out from the side, slamming hard into their vehicle. Their car was thrown against a roadside utility pole, the body crumpling inward with a massive dent. Anthony, sitting in the driver’s seat, took the worst of the impact. Blood streamed down his forehead as he lost consciousness. Natalie screamed, frantically trying to call 911. But Scarlett felt ice-cold, as if all the blood in her body had frozen. With just one glance, she recognized the people in the black car—the same criminals from three years ago. They had tortured her for half a month straight, and she would never forget their faces for as long as she lived. With trembling hands, Scarlett quickly sent a message to David. When they’d gone for the wedding photos today, Natalie hadn’t wanted too many people following them, so Anthony had dismissed all the bodyguards. Now, only the three of them were in the car. God knew how long it would take for the police to receive word and arrive. Watching the black car slowly approach, Scarlett had only one thought—she absolutely could not let Anthony be captured by them again. Gritting her teeth, Scarlett struggled to pry open the mangled car door, then shouted at the panicked Natalie in the back seat, “We need to get him out of the car, now!” Thinking Scarlett was planning to abandon them and flee alone, Natalie’s eyes turned red as she screamed, “Three years ago, you left Anthony behind and ran away. Are you going to abandon him again today?” Scarlett didn’t have time to argue with her. She pulled Anthony directly from the driver’s seat. Seeing that Natalie was still frozen in the back seat, Scarlett grabbed her and dragged her out regardless of her struggles. Then Scarlett said, “Stay here and watch him. The police will be here soon.” Without waiting for Natalie’s reaction, she climbed into the driver’s seat. Since the police hadn’t arrived yet, Scarlett couldn’t just sit there waiting—otherwise, all three of them would be captured. Behind the black car stretched a bridge spanning the river. Scarlett’s eyes filled with grim determination. She restarted the engine and, before the black car could get any closer, floored the accelerator and drove straight toward them at full speed. With a thunderous crash, the massive impact sent Scarlett’s car careening into the black vehicle, both cars smashing through the guardrail and tumbling off the bridge. Scarlett’s consciousness began to fade as she watched the icy river water slowly rise over her head. Her brief life flashed before her eyes, finally settling on the last words Anthony had spoken to her: “Scarlett, you truly are heartless.” Using the last of her strength, Scarlett managed her first genuine smile in ages. She thought, “Keep hating me, Anthony. You and Natalie will live happily ever after. I’ll never appear in your lives again.” As the river water completely covered her head, Scarlett slowly closed her eyes. She thought, “Anthony, I still owe you an apology. And… congratulations on your wedding.” When David arrived at the scene, he only saw Anthony unconscious and Natalie holding him tightly. He looked around but didn’t see that familiar figure, and urgently asked, “Where’s Scarlett? What about those criminals?” Natalie was still terrified. Thinking of Scarlett’s resolute figure from moments ago, her heart felt like it was blocked by a huge stone, making it hard to breathe. She had originally thought Scarlett would abandon them and flee alone, just like three years ago. But she never expected that Scarlett would choose to use her own body to stop the criminals. For a moment, Natalie’s mind was in chaos, not knowing what to say. Under David’s pressing gaze, after a long while, she finally spoke with difficulty: “To stop the criminals, she drove her car into theirs. Both cars fell off the bridge up ahead.” David immediately became tense and quickly arranged for rescue through his radio. When he reached the top of the bridge and saw the horrific scene on the road, his heart had already sunk. There was an extremely deep scratch mark on the road, and the guardrail was broken in the middle. This indicated that both cars had collided at high speed before falling into the water. The river below this bridge was very turbulent, and after such a violent impact, the car doors would easily deform, making it very difficult for anyone inside to open the doors and escape. Moreover, under such severe impact, people would easily get injured and lose consciousness. In other words, the possibility of Scarlett surviving was extremely slim. But David still held onto a glimmer of hope and ordered the rescue team to begin salvage operations immediately. Before Scarlett came to the police station offering to be bait, David, like everyone else, had thought that three years ago Scarlett had taken the ransom money and left, abandoning Anthony. However, when he saw the deathly look in Scarlett’s eyes, he realized things weren’t as they had imagined. After hearing about her ordeal at the casino, even David, who had been a police officer for twelve years, couldn’t help but take a deep breath. He cursed those vicious criminals in his heart. They were the real culprits who had torn apart this once-happy family. Whether it was Anthony or Scarlett, they were both victims. Scarlett had endured pain she never should have experienced, all for Anthony’s sake. During these three years, the torment she suffered was no less than Anthony’s. David didn’t want to see Scarlett, who had finally escaped from the devil’s clutches, lose her life. Her life shouldn’t end so suddenly like this. Moreover, if the truth ever came to light one day, wouldn’t that be an indescribable agony for those still living? After a day and night of rescue efforts, the two cars were finally salvaged. When the almost completely deformed cars were lifted and placed on the ground, everyone fell into deep sorrow. The cars had been submerged underwater for a full 24 hours and were so badly damaged that their original appearance was unrecognizable. Every detail told everyone present that there was no possibility of survival for those inside. David remained silent for a long time before finally having someone contact the coroner. Even if it was just a body, he had to find Scarlett. The car was cut open, revealing the interior that had been compressed to almost no space. The corpse, already swollen and pale from being submerged, appeared before everyone. Endless guilt and regret filled David’s heart. If he had arrived with his team earlier, perhaps Scarlett wouldn’t have had to pay with her life. But now Scarlett was dead, and they couldn’t bring back this vibrant life. ***** In the hospital, Anthony’s forehead was wrapped in thick bandages, and his face was somewhat pale. When he regained consciousness again, he was already lying in a hospital bed, with only Natalie and the Morris family members by his side. Anthony only remembered getting into a car accident on the way back after taking wedding photos, then losing consciousness the next second. The police called to tell him that it was the same group of criminals from three years ago who had acted again, planning to kidnap him. However, they got their comeuppance and had already died after falling into the river. The moment he learned this news, the nightmare that had haunted Anthony’s mind for three years was finally dispelled. But… Anthony pressed his lips together and looked around, but still didn’t see that familiar figure. He asked, “Where’s Scarlett?”
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