Chapter 4

Joyce had been standing in the cold for two hours, but the driver never came. When she pulled out her phone, the first thing she saw on the screen was a new post from Bianca's social media. "It's a cold night, but my husband's giving me a foot bath." The attached photo showed Nathan with his head lowered, massaging her calves. Joyce's fingers clenched around her phone. It was less than an hour's drive home, yet she walked it through the night, arriving only at dawn. When she finally pushed open the door, disheveled, she saw Nathan at the dining table. Spoon in hand, he was feeding Bianca oatmeal. "Joyce!" Bianca blinked with surprise. "Where were you last night? The driver said he couldn't find you anywhere." "Really? I wanted to ask where the hell he was last night." Joyce tossed her heels aside and turned for the stairs, only to be stopped by the butler. "Mr. Gray Senior wants everyone in the memorial hall." … Joyce had only been in the Gray family's memorial hall twice before. The first time was when Nathan defied his family's arrangements to marry her. He was punished and made to seclude himself there for three days and nights. It was only when Edward relented that Joyce was allowed in to see him. The second time was on their wedding night. In front of all the family elders, he wrote down her name on the family tree with his own hands. His hand was still trembling when he held hers. This was the third time. Seeing the crowd in the memorial hall, unease pooled in her stomach. As he passed by her, Nathan's gaze sharpened. "Those reporters yesterday were your doing, weren't they? All of that was just to force me back to your side!" What reporters? Joyce's brows furrowed as her unease thickened. She did not have to wait long. The moment she entered, a stack of photos was thrown at her face. "Look at what you've done!" Edward snarled in fury. "You've brought disgrace to the Gray family!" Her eyes dropped to the photos. It was shots of Nathan pinning her at the restroom door. She looked up to explain, but Bianca's slap reached her first. "Joyce! I treated you like a sister, yet you wanted to steal my husband! Have you got no shame?" Bianca's chest heaved from anger as tears welled in her eyes. The accusation of Joyce being a homewrecker was set in stone. Joyce instinctively wanted to strike back, her hands raised high. But she caught sight of Bianca's rounded belly and hesitated. In that heartbeat of delay, Nathan seized her wrist. "You want to hit her? Look at yourself! I never knew you were this vile!" Disgust filled his eyes as he flung her to the floor. The injustice burned in her throat. What did she do wrong? Why was everyone accusing her? "You! Tell them!" Joyce glared at Nathan as she pointed at the crowd. "Who are you? Who is your wife? Tell everyone the truth!" Nathan's brows furrowed further with each question. A moment after, his lips parted. "I am who I am. Bianca is my only wife." He drew Bianca close. "No matter how hard you try to seduce me, I will only love her!" The words stunned Joyce. Her heart dropped, air catching in her lungs as pins and needles crept into her hands and feet. The noise in the room dimmed to a blur. She could only see him whispering to comfort Bianca in his arms. Blow after blow of the whip was what snapped her back to reality. "Joyce Campbell, we've been more than merciful!" Edward said with finality. "Now, get out—" "No!" Nathan, who had been watching at the side the entire time, interjected. "She hasn't apologized to Bianca yet!" Joyce's head turned slowly toward him. "Give it up. I will never apologize." "Never?" His jaw tightened. "Then, you'll kneel outside her door until you do. Joyce's arms trembled as she pushed herself up. She could not even speak due to the pain. She was already shattered. She just wanted to leave. It was almost time. He would come for her soon. The next second, Bianca spoke as she dabbed at the corners of her eyes. "Even if she did something wrong, she's already cut ties with the Campbell family. She won't survive if we throw her out now. Why not send her to guard that old warehouse on the outskirts? She'll have food and shelter for life." Nathan paused. "You're always too kind. I agree!" The smile on Joyce's lips froze, and the chill seeped into her bones.