Chapter 4

Eleanor’s furious voice came from behind me.

This scene was exactly like three years ago, when Eleanor found out Julian had gone to Seraphina on our wedding night. She had made me kneel here then too, after a night of soaking in ice water and a fever.

Her son made the mistake, yet she blamed me for everything.

If my family hadn’t still needed the Sterling family’s backing back then, I would have left long ago.

“Call Julian immediately and tell him to get back here!”

I called, but it was hung up in a second.

【Don’t bother me tonight. Seraphina’s wound got infected!】

Eleanor sneered, then, just like three years ago, she inflicted her cruel form of ‘discipline’ on me.

Whip after whip. No visible marks, but the pain went straight to my bones.

The next day, still aching from new and old wounds, I went to an animal rescue center to attend a charity event where the Mayor would also be present.

If I could get some insider tips from high-ranking officials about certain shipments, my family’s business would be secure.

Anyway, I was almost free, so I didn’t mind using this “loving couple” facade to gain some last benefits.

Julian, knowing he had publicly abandoned me yesterday, felt guilty and did show up.

I was feeding cat food with the children at the center.

The gloom of my unhappy marriage was temporarily dispelled by the children and small animals, and I found myself unconsciously smiling.

Sensing approaching footsteps, I looked up, and my eyes met Julian’s.

For some reason, he froze in place.

“He likes the pretty lady!” a child's voice chirped.

The child’s innocent remark startled Julian, a flicker of panic crossing his face. He quickly retreated a few steps.

“Stay away from me. I still need to go take care of Seraphina later. She’s allergic to cat fur.”

“Ah!”

My wounds were accidentally touched, and I couldn't help but cry out.

Julian frowned, pulling my hand to examine the injury.

“This is your own fault, you deserve it. If you hadn’t deliberately hurt Seraphina first, you wouldn’t have been caught by the glass—”

His words trailed off.

“What are these whip marks?”

“Did my mother punish you again? Were you calling me yesterday to ask for help?”

I found it a little funny, seeing Julian show a hint of remorse for me.

“Yes, but you hung up.”

“Then why didn’t you call more times? If you called more, I would have definitely answered.”

“You told me not to disturb you, didn’t you?”

Julian’s expression was odd. He mumbled,

“Whatever I said goes, you…when did you start loving me so much?”

“Huh?”

“It’s nothing. I’ll take you to the hospital later.”

If I had known I’d run into Seraphina at the hospital, I would have rather died of pain than go with Julian.

“Julian,” Seraphina said, her eyes slightly red, from the end of the corridor. “Didn’t you say you were in a meeting?”

Just as I was about to sigh about what a terrible man Julian was, Seraphina looked at me.

“Did you specifically call me to the hospital just to show me this? I already told you, I won’t compete with you, why bother going to such lengths?”

I was still at a loss for words, but Julian’s face had already darkened.

**Slap!**

He hit me hard, and my cheek instantly stung with a fiery pain.

“It seems my concern just now was completely wasted. How could a scheming woman like you ever let herself suffer? You’d even exploit a small scratch to the extreme!”

I covered my cheek, suppressing the dizzying sensation of seeing stars, and looked at Julian in disbelief.