Chapter 3

I took a deep breath, pushing down the emotions churning in my chest.

Steeling myself, I pushed open the Harper family's front door.

In the living room, Dylan's grandparents sat on the sofa.

Seeing that I'd come alone, the smiles on their faces instantly cooled.

"Where's Dylan?" Grandma spoke first, her tone clearly displeased. "The family dinner is such an important occasion—he's not even coming?"

Grandpa frowned too. "Getting more irresponsible by the day. Does he not care about us at all anymore?"

I stood at the entrance, feeling helpless.

"He had an emergency at the company and couldn't get away." I forced myself to explain. "He sent me ahead to keep you company."

"An emergency?" Grandma clearly didn't believe it. She scoffed. "What emergency could be more important than a family dinner?"

Her gaze fell on me with scrutiny and dissatisfaction.

"You must have upset him again."

"Our Dylan wasn't like this before. Ever since he married you, his mind hasn't been on family!"

Grandpa also sighed, looking at me with disappointment in his tone.

"Violet, I don't mean to criticize, but as Dylan's wife, you should be more understanding and caring toward him."

"Men work hard out there. You need to learn to be considerate of his feelings."

"If he refused to come to the family dinner today, you must have done something wrong."

I opened my mouth to explain, but the words stuck in my throat.

What was the point of explaining?

In their eyes, I was always the one at fault.

I was silent for a few seconds, then nodded gently. "It's my fault."

Grandma still seemed unsatisfied. She scoffed.

"Since you know you're wrong, go kneel as punishment."

She pointed to a spot in the center of the living room.

"Kneel for two hours and reflect properly."

"When you've thought it through, then you can get up and eat."

My knees already had old injuries.

Two years ago, when Dylan's mistress pushed me down the stairs, I'd damaged the bone.

Over the years, whenever the weather turned cold, the pain would be excruciating.

Now I looked at the cold floor of the living room.

For a moment, I felt resistant.

But I didn't dare refuse.

After all, my own grandmother was lying in a Harper family hospital, receiving treatment.

If the Harpers were unhappy, my grandmother's days wouldn't be easy either.

She was the only family I had left in this world.

Resigned to my fate, I walked to the center of the living room and knelt down on the cold floor.

The moment my knees touched the ground, piercing pain instantly spread through them.

It felt like countless needles were simultaneously stabbing into my bones.

I clenched my jaw and made no sound.

My gaze fell on the dining table not far away.

Grandpa and Grandma had already resumed smiling, discussing tonight's dishes.

As if I didn't exist at all.

I lowered my head, staring miserably at the floor.

In that moment, the last remnants of feeling I'd had for Dylan completely shattered.