Chapter 5

"Essie." Devon gazed at Esme with mixed feelings. Esme was still reeling from the sharp pain of having her blood drawn. Her mind was still filled with vicious thoughts about tearing Heather apart. Caught off guard, she had no idea how to explain herself. "I…" Regret overwhelmed her. Instead of tormenting Heather slowly, she should've had someone deal with her once and for all. No matter what, she couldn't let the balance in Devon's heart tilt toward Heather. Gritting her teeth, she decided to take it a step further. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" Esme sobbed hysterically and threw herself into Devon's arms. "I loathe her. I loathe her for stealing you away from me and causing us to lose our only child! You married her and made her the lady of the Harlan family, whereas I'm just a sick woman. "I lost our baby, and now you don't want me either. I'm doomed to be alone for the rest of my life…" The moment she mentioned their unborn child, intense pain flashed through his dark eyes. That had been his first child and the only one he would ever have. Essie's miscarriage had damaged her womb. He would never have another child in this lifetime. "How could I possibly not want you? She's the one who ruined our lives." Devon held Esme gently, as if he were protecting a priceless treasure. Then, he turned to glare at Heather. Hatred burned in his eyes, as though he wanted to skin her alive. "Heather, you're the one who caused Essie to lose our child. Even if she drains your blood, you deserve it!" Leaning against Devon's shoulder, Esme shot Heather a triumphant look. That child was her greatest weapon. How could you ever win against me, Heather? Rage ignited in Heather's eyes when he mentioned that child, who had never existed to begin with. Because of Esme's lie, she had wasted three years of her life. She had been tortured until she barely resembled a human being. In the end, she had even lost her life. "How dare these two perpetrators stand on some moral high ground and pass judgment on me? Who do they think they are?" Heather seethed inwardly. "Why don't you ask her whether that baby ever existed? Get her to tell you what really happened!" "My baby!" Esme screamed, afraid Devon might actually consider Heather's words. Then, she pretended to break down and look at Heather pitifully. "I'm sorry, Heather. I really am! I shouldn't have sought revenge on you. "I shouldn't have fallen in love with Devon or gotten pregnant with his child. But our baby is innocent! How could you…" Every word she spat out circled back to that nonexistent child. "You were never even—" "That's enough!" Heather was about to reveal the truth when Devon cut her off sharply. "Essie has already apologized to you. Don't push your luck, Heather!" "Am I pushing my luck, or are you covering for a murderer?" Heather shot back. "I said, that's enough!" Devon shot to his feet with a hardened expression. He seized her arm and dragged her out of the hospital room. Heather was thrown hard against the wall. Her back slammed into it, and bruises bloomed instantly. "Heather Lovegood!" Before she could even catch her breath, Devon grasped her chin and forced her to look at him, ignoring her twisted face. "You want Essie to apologize to you? Who do you think you are?" His handsome face was cold and contemptuous. "Don't forget, you're the one who killed her child. Even if she really killed you, it would still be justified. You're nothing but a sinner—" Heather gathered all her strength and struck him across the face. "You're the real sinners. I'm going to say this one last time. I never forced you to marry me, and I never harmed Esme!" Devon and Esme were the real murderers, yet they had the nerve to play the victims, standing on the moral high ground and looking down on her as they passed judgment on her. Who gave them that right? Esme spun a lie, and Devon acted as the executioner. He exploited her kindness, controlled her, bled her dry, and forced her into a dead-end time and time again until she died. The two of them deserved to go to hell. Compared to everything she had endured in her previous life, this slap was nothing. Nowhere near enough. The corridor fell into pin-drop silence. After what felt like forever, Devon turned his head. The temperature around them dropped to freezing. He hadn't heard a single word Heather said. Murderous intent surged through his dark eyes. "Heather Lovegood! How dare you—" "Oh, yeah? What's stopping me?" In her past life, she had been terrified of upsetting Devon. Hence, no matter how he treated her, she had never dared to fight back. This time, she finally released all that pent-up rage. Heather broke free from his grasp and said apathetically, "Let's just get a divorce, Devon." At that moment, her heart was calm, like stagnant water. In her previous life, she had always wanted to clear things up with Devon. She had wanted to tell him that she had never forced her to marry him, and she had never harmed Esme. Heather had clung to a sliver of hope, believing that Devon had been deceived by Esme, and even wanted him to know the truth about the nonexistent child. However, everything that happened earlier had jolted her awake. He only believed Esme. In fact, he wanted her to be guilty. Devon had wanted revenge all along. Heather must've been blind in her previous life to have ever loved him. "Is this a new trick?" Devon scoffed, dismissing her. Heather was a powerless woman who schemed her way into his family. Why would she ever agree to a divorce? Her brows drew together, and she said firmly, "I'm serious!" Just then, the couple's phones rang simultaneously. Devon's mother, Judith Crane, sent them a voice message. "We're having a family dinner tomorrow night. Come home and celebrate Grandma's birthday." His gaze turned cold. "Did you bring this up now, of all times, just to let Grandma hear about it and pressure me?" "Of course not. I merely want a divorce!" Heather hurriedly reiterated. Devon, however, brushed her off. "Heather, I hate women who play games; you'd better behave like the lady of the house, or else…" He closed in on her and flashed her a cruel smile. "I'll make your life a living hell!" Ignoring him, she lifted her gaze. "But I'm done being the lady of the Harlan family." "Is that so?" Devon sneered. He still wasn't taking her seriously. Right then, Esme cried out in agony. He immediately flung her away and rushed back inside. "I'll make sure you take this divorce seriously, you scumbag!" Heather balled her fists as she fought the urge to storm in and slap him. In her previous life, when Judith and Devon's younger sister, Janet Harlan, saw him ignore her, they followed suit and humiliated her. Heather had put up for Devon's sake. Yet, that only fed Judith and Janet's cruelty. The Harlans had believed she was dependent on them, that she couldn't live without them, and would never leave. As such, she had been utterly humiliated at that family dinner. It was time to settle the score. Heather would give the Harlans a wake-up call at tomorrow night's family dinner.