Chapter 4

Lila was dragged into the VIP room at the hospital. "Finally decided to admit your mistake?" Evan sat by the bed, looking at her coldly. Her legs were still trembling uncontrollably. The muscle spasms from the shock left every step feeling like she was walking on knives. She had to brace herself against the wall just to stay upright, and her vision kept going dark. "I'm sorry—" her voice was barely more than a whisper. "I shouldn't have released your private photos." Chloe leaned against the headboard, tear stains marking her pale cheeks. "Lila, if it were anything else, I might have let it go. But this time, you really went too far. I can't accept an apology like that." Evan immediately bent down and wrapped an arm around her, his voice unexpectedly gentle. "Then what do you want?" "At the very least, she should kneel. That's the only way to show she means it." Lila snapped her head up, only to meet Evan's cold stare. "Kneel," he ordered. "Or do you want to try another round of electric shocks?" Her body shuddered violently. She dropped to her knees, the impact making a sharp sound against the tile. "I'm sorry!" Chloe finally gave a delicate little sniff. "Fine. I forgive you." When Lila walked out of the hospital room, everything went black for a second. She nearly collapsed and had to hold onto the wall for support. After a long while, she finally managed to drag herself away. … That night, Evan brought Chloe back to their home. "Chloe's not doing well emotionally. She'll be staying here for a while," he said casually, like he was talking about the weather. Lila had no energy left to argue. "Do what you want." It didn't matter anyway. The divorce was already underway. Soon, this wouldn't be her home anymore. Evan frowned slightly, as if he noticed something off about her. But just as he opened his mouth, Chloe tugged on his sleeve. "Evan, I'm hungry." "What do you want?" he asked. "I'll have the maid make it." "It's already so late. Don't bother them." Chloe smiled sweetly, but her eyes were fixed on Lila. "Lila's here, isn't she? She can do it." Evan glanced at Lila. "Didn't you hear her?" How ironic. She was the wife, yet now she was reduced to cooking for her husband's mistress. Lila forced a smile and silently walked to the kitchen. … The thick, bubbling stew rolled in the pot, its surface shimmering with hot oil. Lila stared at the rising bubbles, numb and silent. "Is the beef stew ready yet?" Chloe's voice called from behind her. "Almost," Lila replied without turning to look. Chloe stepped closer and glanced over her shoulder, then frowned. "Lila, is this it? There's barely anything in there. And where are the seasonings?" Before Lila could respond, Chloe suddenly grabbed her wrist and forced her hand into the boiling stew. "Ahh!" Searing pain exploded from her palm and tore through her entire body. Lila screamed and tried to pull away, oil splashing everywhere. When she finally yanked her hand back, the skin on the back of it was already red and blistered. Without missing a beat, Chloe let a few drops of the hot broth fall onto her arm. Then, she flung herself to the floor with a dramatic cry. "What's going on?" Evan rushed in, alarmed. Tears welled up in Chloe's eyes as she whimpered, "I knew I shouldn't have asked Lila to cook. She got so upset… and threw the hot broth on me on purpose." Evan's face darkened. He grabbed Lila's wrist. "You just never learn, do you? Did nothing I said to you get through?" Lila's face went pale from the pain. She lifted her blistered, bleeding hand and choked out, "Evan, look at this. Who's more injured here?" Evan froze. "It wasn't me!" Chloe immediately defended herself. "Evan, she splashed me first. Then she burned herself on purpose because she knew you'd get mad!" Lila's eyes were bloodshot. "There are cameras here. Check the footage and—" Chloe's expression shifted, but before she could say a word, Evan beat her to it. "No need to check," he said, cutting Lila off. "I believe Chloe wouldn't do something like that." Chloe visibly relaxed and glanced smugly at Lila, her eyes full of provocation. Lila felt like her heart had been torn in half—half from the searing burn on her hand, and half from the pain ripping through her chest. "Lila, you're truly incorrigible." Evan's voice was cold. "Since you like burning people so much, let's give you all the burn you want." He snapped his fingers. Two bodyguards entered and pinned down Lila's uninjured hand. "No—" Lila struggled in terror. "Evan! You'll regret this—" Before she could finish, the guards forced her hand into the boiling pot of ster. Her screams pierced through the entire villa.