Chapter 6

"It's too stuffy in here, Caesar. I'm stepping out for a breather." Halfway through the party, Josephine gave Caesar a heads-up before walking out of the banquet hall, leaving him to help her attend to the guests. However, the peace was soon disrupted by a phone call. "Some thugs have cornered me in the restroom, Caesar. Hurry up and save me! I'm scared!" Josephine sounded like she was about to cry, and her plea made Caesar's expression shift drastically. Without hesitation, he abandoned the business partners he was conversing with and made a mad dash for the restroom. Nadia's heart sank when she heard Josephine's words. An ominous feeling welled in her, and she hurried after Caesar. When she got to the restroom, she saw him carefully pulling his coat around Josephine's shoulders. Half her gown had been ripped off. She curled up in his arms and wept. Every word that left her lips pointed accusingly at Nadia. "I heard those thugs say that Nadia paid them and brought them in here so they could violate me. I know she doesn't like me, but couldn't she have been frank about it? Did she have to pull something like this to humiliate me?" Caesar's heart twisted painfully when he saw her like that. Her words made his blood boil, and he turned when he heard footsteps. His anger peaked when he saw it was Nadia. "I only agreed to be with you because I saw how desperately you loved me, Nadia. I always thought you were kind and obedient, but it turns out you're evil and cruel! How dare you try to hurt Josie? From this day forth, our engagement is off!" he snapped. He didn't bother listening to her explanation before condemning her. Her ominous premonition became a crushing reality, and she panicked. When she saw Caesar lift Josephine into his arms and turn to leave, she hurriedly grabbed his sleeve and tried to explain. "It's not like that, Caesar! Let me explain! I have no idea where these thugs came from. I didn't do it! You can take your anger out on me however you like; I won't complain even if you hit me! All I ask is that you don't call the wedding off… Caesar!" He shook her off heartlessly, unwilling to listen to her explanation. He strode off with Josephine in his arms, leaving Nadia's pleas behind him. She ran after him all the way to the banquet hall's entrance; she was one step away from getting to her knees and begging him for mercy. However, he didn't turn back, no matter how she pleaded. He abandoned her outside the banquet hall. From that day onward, Caesar refused to see Nadia. She didn't give up, though. She kneeled outside the Gray residence daily, repeating the same thing. "I'm sorry, Caesar. I really am! You can punish me however you like. Please don't call off the wedding…" She was filled with despair when the door remained shut. She almost wanted to end her life but didn't dare to. The mission would fail if she were to die, and there would be no chance of reviving Theodore… Initially, Caesar ignored Nadia's pleas. However, he later saw her prostrating on the ground to the point that her knees started bleeding. They would form scabs after a few days, but she would continue kneeling, making them bleed again. Only then did he open the door with a frown. He had mixed feelings as he asked, "Don't you have any dignity?" Tears blurred her vision, making it impossible to see his face clearly. The days of groveling had expended all her energy, but she felt like she'd grasped a lifeline when she heard his voice. "I don't need dignity as long as I can marry you!" Her voice was hoarse yet filled with desperate determination. Caesar knew Nadia loved him deeply but didn't expect it to reach this extent. He gave her a complex look and fell silent for a moment. Then, he said, "Fine, then. Atone for everything you've done to Josie if you want me to forgive you." Nadia felt like weeping tears of joy when she saw that Caesar seemed to be relenting. She nodded vigorously. She was afraid that he would go back on his word in the next second. She got into the car with him and watched as their surroundings became more remote. Finally, they stopped at the foot of a mountain. When he waved, someone carried a bag up the steps and poured its contents down. She saw countless thumbtacks gleaming underneath the sunlight. Caesar said, "Josie said that she'll forgive you once you kneel up all 3000 of these steps. If she can forgive you, I can let this matter slide, too."