Chapter 3

In the following days, I received provocative photos from Seraphina almost daily.

In the pictures, Liam was gently coaxing Lily, his eyes soft and tender, while Seraphina leaned on his shoulder, smiling sweetly.

My fingertips trembled as I scrolled through them.

There were photos of him staying by Seraphina's hospital bed late at night, of him personally feeding her soup, and of him holding their child, his eyes full of doting affection.

Each image felt like a knife carving into my heart.

But as the pain continued, I suddenly realized I couldn't feel it anymore.

Perhaps my heart had utterly died the moment I was locked in that freezer.

I was about to block Seraphina when my phone buzzed again.

It was a picture of my vintage diamond bracelet, being playfully handled by Seraphina.

【Want your mom's heirloom? Come and get it.】

I shot up, my vision momentarily blurring. But I didn't care. I grabbed my jacket and rushed out.

In the VIP room, Seraphina was softly humming a lullaby to Lily. "Daddy loves his little baby, doesn't he? Daddy comes to see us every day..."

She looked up and saw me, her smile widening. "You're here. Did you know? Since I've been hospitalized, Liam hasn't even gone to work. He's been here, looking after Lily and me."

My nails dug deep into my palms. I didn't want to hear it. "The bracelet?"

Seraphina slowly picked up the diamond bracelet from the bedside table and dangled it. "You mean this?"

She curled her lips, her smile cruel. "How about this: you kowtow to me three times, and I'll give it back to you."

I trembled. "Don't push your luck."

"And what if I do?!" Seraphina's eyes were filled with disdain. "Evelyn! You're nothing but a lowly, despicable street vendor. I'm the heiress of Albright Corporation, the woman the Harringtons chose for Liam! What makes you think you're in my league? Asking you to kowtow is an honor!"

She made a show of loosening her grip. "I'll count to three. If you don't bow, I'll smash it."

"One, two—"

I bit down hard on my lip, my eyes stinging. My knees hit the floor with a thud.

Three loud thumps later, my vision swam.

Seraphina laughed. "You look truly pathetic, bowing like that."

She stood up, looking down at me. "But I won't give it to you."

With that, she raised her hand—

"Smash!"

The diamond bracelet hit the floor, shattering into several pieces.

I trembled, rushing forward to pick them up, when the door suddenly burst open!

Liam, Mr. Harrington, and Mrs. Harrington stood in the doorway, their faces grim.

"What are you doing?!" Mr. Harrington demanded sharply.

Seraphina's face instantly twisted. She cried and threw herself into Liam's arms. "Liam! I don't know what happened, she just burst in here, pinching and hitting Lily..."

She pulled open Lily's clothes, revealing several dark bruises!

I was incredulous. "I didn't!"

I shook my head frantically, but Mr. Harrington was already striding towards me.

"Smack!"

The slap made my vision swim, my ears ring, and blood seeped from the corner of my mouth.

"Vicious woman!" Mr. Harrington's voice seemed to come from a distance. "How could you harm such a small child?!"

Mrs. Harrington spoke coldly. "The last punishment was clearly too light. Guards! Drag her out and give her twenty lashes!"

Liam clenched his fists, taking a step forward. "Mom—"

"You're still defending her?!" Mrs. Harrington interrupted sharply. "She hurt *your* biological daughter! Even if you eventually abandon her at the old estate and run off with Evelyn, that won't change the fact that Lily is your flesh and blood!"

I trembled, instinctively looking at Liam.

He still stood there, his long fingers clenched white, knuckles pale.

He looked at me, his eyes filled with such struggle, such pain... Finally, they slowly settled into a terrifying calm.

He slowly turned his face away.

I stared blankly at his averted face, my heart feeling like it was being violently torn apart.

But the next second, my lips slowly curled upwards, and I laughed.

I laughed at myself for being so foolish, for actually believing he would take me away.

I laughed at myself for being so stupid, for thinking those vows could outweigh blood ties.

I laughed at myself for being so naive, for still hoping he would choose me at the last minute!

I was dragged to the hospital's outdoor corridor. Bodyguards held my shoulders, forcing me to kneel.

The first lash came down, and pain made my vision swim. In a daze, I remembered—

The day I learned the Harringtons were desperately trying to prevent us from being together, I, with tears in my eyes, broke up with him. That night, it poured rain, and he stood outside my apartment building all night. The next day, he had a fever of 104°F, almost developing pneumonia.

When I went to see him, he was delirious with fever, yet he clutched my hand and said, "Eve, remember, even if the whole world is against us, I only want you."

The second lash fell, and I bit through my lip, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth.

I remembered the time he flew back from abroad overnight, just because I'd sent a text saying "Miss you" in the middle of the night.

The third lash, the fourth lash...

Each lash felt like it struck my heart, hurting more than the wounds on my back.

By the fifteenth lash, I could almost hear his pained voice in my ear: "How did you get hurt again? Let me see..."

By the nineteenth lash, I was already in a daze from the pain, my ears ringing.

I vaguely heard someone calling my name, but I couldn't tell if it was reality or hallucination.

The last lash came down, and I finally couldn't hold on. My vision went black, and I completely passed out.