Chapter 4

Hearing my words, everyone froze.

Melody stood to the side, narrowing her eyes at me. "You're saying you're Tristan's wife?"

I said seriously, "That's right. You're just the substitute he found. If he finds out you hurt me like this, he'll never forgive you."

I revealed the truth, thinking Melody would back down.

But instead, they all burst into laughter at the same moment.

"This bitch has lost her mind trying to climb the ladder!"

"Just because she looks somewhat like Melody, she dares to twist the truth and call OUR Melody her substitute?"

"Everyone knows Mr. Blackwood takes Melody everywhere. You snuck in here, you plastic surgery freak, and you dare call yourself his wife?"

Melody smiled with sinister amusement. "I thought you'd have some tricks up your sleeve since you managed to get surgery to look like me and seduce Tristan. Turns out you're just a brainless idiot."

"I've been with Tristan all this time. I didn't know he had a wife. How many lives do you have? How dare you tell such an outrageous lie?"

"If you're really Mrs. Blackwood, why would you be completely unknown? Why would you live alone in this deserted villa?"

With that, Melody snorted and ordered her friends, "Keep stripping. Leave nothing on her!"

Her friends didn't hesitate. They violently tore at my clothes again.

Clearly, they had no idea that this entire area was deserted because Tristan had bought all the land for miles around. No one could enter without his permission.

Originally this villa had bodyguards and housekeepers. But because Tristan was insanely jealous, he dismissed everyone.

He never announced my identity publicly because he didn't allow others to look at me.

Even discussing me was a violation in his eyes.

I never imagined these facts would become reasons for them not to believe me.

Seeing my clothes torn to shreds, I panicked. I shouted again, "I really am Tristan's wife! Call him if you don't believe me!"

Hearing this, they didn't stop. They became even more violent.

While frantically tearing my clothes, they slapped me repeatedly.

"You lying bitch! Still lying? We'll beat some sense into you today!"

Soon my face was burning hot and swollen.

My hair was disheveled and my clothes barely covered me, exposing large areas of skin.

Seeing this, Melody's eyes gleamed. She spoke slowly, "This bitch's hair is an eyesore. It's blocking the view of her body."

With that, she smiled wickedly and pulled out a lighter.

She set my hair on fire.

The flames spread rapidly across my head. Intense burning pain engulfed me.

My cheeks, ears, and entire scalp felt the searing agony.

The pain was unbearable. I instinctively tried to pat out the flames, but my hands were held down firmly.

In moments, my hair was completely burned away.

My scalp was covered in burn marks.

Finally satisfied, Melody laughed triumphantly. "Hah! Let's see you seduce men looking like a bald freak!"

Her friends laughed and applauded too.

I glared at them, trembling all over. "You'll regret this!"

For years, Tristan threatened me with my family's lives and kept me prisoner. I lost my freedom.

Day after day, I could only stare at the empty villa in a daze.

This left me with pent-up frustration.

And now I had to endure this torture from his substitute.

The frustration in my heart instantly transformed into deep hatred.

Melody walked up to me and pressed her foot heavily on my face. "Still dare to challenge me? Since your filthy mouth can't say anything I want to hear, you won't need to talk anymore."

"Cut out this bitch's tongue!"