Chapter 5

Pearle's POV

When I woke again, I was in the hospital.

The moment I sat up, a sharp pain tore through my thighs.

Only then did the memories of yesterday slowly return.

Thinking of the man’s leering face in that room, and how coldly Zachary Shaw had walked away, my gaze dimmed with bitter self-mockery.

Just then, a voice at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

I looked up to see Zachary Shaw.

“You’re awake, Pearle Foster. How do you feel? Does anything still hurt?”

I said nothing, merely turning my head away as though he weren’t there.

Zachary Shaw’s expression stiffened. He took my hand and said softly,

“I know you feel wronged, but… you were the one who did something wrong first.”

I pulled my hand away and sneered.

“Zachary Shaw, we grew up together. Do you really think I’m the kind of person who would do that?”

“But you were the only one who touched her glass. How am I supposed to…”

“Get out! Get out!”

I shouted at him.

Zachary Shaw frowned and was about to say more when the doctor walked in.

“She’s just suffered major blood loss. She needs peace and rest! And before this, you also…”

“Doctor!”

I quickly interrupted.

Seeing no change in Zachary Shaw’s expression, I let out a small breath of relief.

I gave the doctor a discreet look.

The doctor looked from me to Zachary Shaw, understood, and said no more.

After the doctor left, Zachary Shaw glanced at his watch and spoke slowly.

“Pearle Foster, I know you’ve been upset because Vivian and I have gotten close lately. But don’t worry. I told you I wouldn’t marry her, and I meant it. You’re the only woman I’ll ever marry. It can only be you.”

After Zachary Shaw left, my scornful laughter echoed through the spacious hospital room.

Once, hearing him say that would have made me happy. I had thought it proved he loved me.

Now, it only disgusted me. I couldn’t understand how he could carry on with another woman while promising to marry me without the slightest shame.

This Zachary Shaw felt like a complete stranger. I had even wondered whether the man beside me was really him.

In the end, though, I could only accept that his feelings had changed. On the day I was discharged, Zachary Shaw promised to pick me up. But I waited downstairs for three whole hours, and he never came.

Eventually, I had no choice but to hail a taxi. Just as I was about to get in, a pair of hands stopped me.

I looked up and saw Vivian Sullivan. Frowning, I stepped back, putting some distance between us.

My obvious disgust made Vivian Sullivan clench her fists. I looked down at her, impatience flickering in my eyes.

“What do you want?”

Vivian Sullivan smiled faintly. “Pearle Foster, do you know why Zachary Shaw didn’t come?”

When I said nothing, she continued, unbothered.

“He was about to come get you this morning, but I suddenly wanted pastries from that shop down south, and he immediately offered to buy them for me. He must have forgotten you were still waiting. Don’t blame him, Pearle Foster. You know how he is…”

Before she could finish, I raised my hand and slapped her.

Vivian Sullivan clutched her cheek and stared at me in disbelief. “How dare you hit me!”

I curled my lips in disdain. “And how dare you come here and gloat? So what if you do end up with Zachary Shaw? You’re just picking through the trash I threw away.” I dusted off my hands in a deliberate show of disgust.

I got into the taxi and slammed the door, never once sparing Vivian Sullivan a proper glance.

That evening, while I was eating dinner at home, a group of people suddenly barged in.

Before I could react, they seized me and hauled me into the living room.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

But the moment I saw Zachary Shaw, my words died in my throat.

They forced me to my knees in front of him.

He reached out and gripped my chin, his voice ice-cold.

“Where did you hide Vivian?”

I let out a scornful laugh.

“She’s your woman. Why are you asking me?”

The moment I finished speaking, his grip tightened, as though he might wrench my jaw out of place.

I fought through the pain and spoke again.

“Zachary Shaw, if you want to act like a lunatic, find someone else. Stop wasting my time!”

Zachary narrowed his eyes.

“She texted me this morning saying she was going to see you. But by the time I got back with the pastries, she was gone. If you didn’t hide her somewhere, who did?”

Only then did I understand the strange look Vivian Sullivan had given me that morning.

She had planned to frame me all along.

“You won’t talk? Fine. But your parents might have to suffer for it.”

“Pearle!”

At the sound of my mother’s voice, I whipped my head to the side.

Only then did I see that my parents had been tied up.

“Pearle Foster, tell me where you hid Vivian. Otherwise, your parents are going to suffer.”