Chapter 4

Her husband was like a completely different person. Hazel knelt on the floor, large tears silently falling.

Faced with such baseless accusations, she had initially wanted to explain, but then she remembered their twisted relationship, and all the words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat.

*Forget it.* Whatever she did, she knew it was all part of their game. Why bother with such pathetic efforts?

Seraphina was discharged three days later, and Hazel had knelt for three days.

Upon returning home, Julian perhaps remembered his role as a loving husband and tried to comfort Hazel. “Hazel, I punished you for your own good. Otherwise, how would Seraphina’s parents see you? Do you want them to withdraw their funding from the orphanage?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll always be your husband. As long as you’re obedient, I’ll love you as always.”

“Seraphina, after all, is your nominal sister. Can you just be a little more accommodating to her? I believe you can do it. My wife is a generous and kind person!”

If she had heard these words before, Hazel would have been moved to tears. But now, hearing them, she only felt like he was treating her like an idiot.

For the past two days since they returned, Julian had resumed his act of an affectionate, loving husband, though his performance was even more clumsy than before.

Clumsy as it was, it only made Seraphina’s gaze toward Hazel even more venomous.

Hazel continued to quietly pack her belongings in her room, admonishing herself not to let those two affect her emotions anymore.

Yet, the thought of her three years of devotion being utterly wasted made tears stream down her face, her heart filled with bitterness.

Perhaps only the people at the orphanage truly cared for her in this world?

Thinking this, Hazel decided to visit the orphanage before she left.

The thought of Director Evans and the children at the orphanage brought a flicker of joy to Hazel’s bitter heart.

Director Evans had always been wonderful to her since she was little, like a mother. And the children were like her younger siblings.

Though an orphan, she had never felt lonely at the orphanage; instead, she had been incredibly happy.

The next morning, she quickly tidied her things, composed herself, and prepared to leave.

As she went downstairs, she saw Seraphina and Julian playfully bickering.

“Julian, look, does this dress look good on me?”

“Beautiful, beautiful!”

“What about this jacket?”

“Beautiful! Everything looks beautiful on you!”

Hazel noticed the sofa piled high with shopping bags, all filled with expensive luxury brands.

Julian had bought Seraphina many clothes, shoes, and handbags.

She couldn’t help but glance at her own outfit, all inexpensive items that cost just a few hundred.

Julian had once said he disliked women covered head-to-toe in luxury brands, and that he loved her simple, unpretentious style.

Now she saw it was just because he didn’t want to spend money on her.

Where there was love, there was money.

Julian truly didn’t love her at all.

Just then, the two of them noticed Hazel about to walk out the door.

Julian frowned. “Where are you going with all those bags?”

Hazel answered truthfully, “I… I want to visit Director Evans and the children at the orphanage.”

Seraphina feigned innocence, asking, “Oh, why do you need to take so many bags to the orphanage? Hazel, you’re not taking the things Julian bought to give to the orphanage, are you?”

“No, it’s not! These are all things I bought myself, just some children’s clothes and shoes!”

To prove she wasn’t taking anything from the house, Hazel immediately opened her bag. Inside were indeed children’s clothes and shoes.

However, Seraphina then whined, “Julian, what does Hazel mean? What do you mean ‘she bought them herself’? Didn’t you give her the money? And now she’s using your money to buy so many things for the orphanage? How can she be so wasteful?”

Julian’s eyes narrowed, and he demanded angrily, “Hazel Miller, have you been using my money to help the orphanage all this time? What do you take me for? An ATM?!”

“No, no!” Hazel hurried to Julian, carrying the large and small bags, looking rather disheveled.

She said sincerely, “Julian, I didn’t spend much. These clothes and shoes are all very cheap. The children at the orphanage aren’t picky; they can wear these inexpensive clothes!”

She then weakly pointed to one of the luxury brand shopping bags on the sofa. “Just one bag of clothes from here would be enough to buy ten bags of children’s clothes and shoes…”

Who knew Seraphina would interject again: “Children’s clothes and shoes may be cheap, but no matter how cheap, it’s still Julian’s money, isn’t it? Don’t you think it’s too much to just take his money and buy clothes for the orphanage?”

Before, Hazel might have righteously declared she was Julian’s wife, so what if she used his money?

But ever since she learned their marriage certificate was fake, she could no longer utter such words.

She hung her head, looking embarrassed and humble, asking, “Julian, can I give these clothes and shoes to the orphanage?”

Julian’s heart skipped a beat. When had he ever seen Hazel so humble?

Perhaps out of reluctance, he was about to agree, but Seraphina interjected again: “Julian, rules are rules. Do you want to raise Hazel to be a wasteful Mrs. Thorne? Whose money just grows on trees?”

She paused, then put on a show of magnanimity. “How about this? I’m not stopping you from giving these clothes and shoes to the orphanage. After all, I care about those children even more than you do. But you can’t just spend money without earning it, can you? You need to put in some labor!”

“Labor? What kind of labor do I need to put in?”

Seraphina pointed to the newly bought clothes. “You can wash all these clothes. But the fabric of these clothes is very delicate, so you’ll have to hand wash them!”