Chapter 5

Penelope didn't understand why Gavin would throw away such a pretty thing. But she had a feeling it must have had something to do with Giselle. However, she was reluctant to admit she had a madwoman for a mother. She walked to the window and looked down toward the spot where Gavin had tossed the cufflinks. Then, without hesitation, Penelope took off the amulet necklace around her neck and threw it out, too. If Gavin didn't want anything that belonged to Giselle, then she wouldn't want anything that belonged to her either. "Time for bed, Poppy." "Okay, Daddy." Penelope ran back, climbed onto the bed, and fell asleep snuggled in Gavin's arms. Fast asleep, she looked so small, smelled so sweet, and felt so soft. Gavin turned on his side to look at her, and his expression softened. Giselle's greatest contribution had been giving birth to Penelope. … After breakfast, Giselle took a cab to the Farrell residence. The Farrell residence was nestled against a mountain, and it stood solitary with a traditional design within its own courtyard. Along with eight other mansions, they formed a pattern like stars encircling the moon. The mansion that sat right at the center of the formation belonged to the Simmon family, a prestigious family with a century-old legacy. Giselle's birth family was one of the eight surrounding households, so she had spent her childhood here. While she used to see the other seven families often, encounters with the Simmons were rare. The cab stopped outside the compound of the Farrell residence. Giselle got out, paid the fare, and walked in. She had only taken a few steps when a large, bulky Rottweiler lunged straight at her. It bared its fangs, aiming to sink them into Giselle's eyes and nose. Giselle's eyes widened as a primal terror shot through her. She knew very well that a full-grown Rottweiler could kill an adult. She suppressed the scream rising in her throat because she was aware that dogs took screaming and running as provocation or a signal to flee, which would only heighten their aggression. At the critical moment, Giselle turned her face away and threw her arm up to protect herself, letting the canine's teeth sink into her forearm instead of her face. Agonizing pain shot up her arm, but she held still. With her free hand, she grabbed her canvas bag and yanked it over the dog's head. The Rottweiler thrashed violently. Instead of retreating, Giselle pressed forward, gripping the bag tightly and forcing the dog down against the ground. The Rottweiler kicked and scratched wildly, leaving many scratches on her arm. Giselle grabbed one of the bricks stacked by the roadside and smashed it down onto the canvas bag with one hand. After just two strikes, a panicked voice came from a short distance away. "Giselle! How dare you hit my son! I'll make you pay with your life!" Ruby Lockwood, the daughter of the Lockwood family, rushed over in a panic. Seeing the blood already seeping through Giselle's canvas bag, Ruby's eyes reddened. "Giselle, you monster! You're inhuman! How could you be so cruel to a poor little dog? Let go of my baby!" Giselle had used all her strength fending off the dog. So when Ruby pushed her, Giselle fell over. But she got up immediately and wiped her face. Ruby hastily pulled the canvas bag away, but the Rottweiler's mouth was already covered in blood. She wailed loudly, "How could you be so cold-blooded, Giselle? I won't let you get away with this!" Ruby looked at Giselle with a venomous glare, as if Giselle were her mortal enemy. Giselle leaned forward, gave Ruby a light pat on the cheek, and curved her lips into a cold smile. "Go ahead and try. I'm mentally ill. Murder isn't a crime for me." Ruby shuddered and gave Giselle a hard shove. Giselle pulled out a tissue, wiped her hands, and then threw the tissue at Ruby. "This dog must have done terrible things in a past life to have ended up with you now. This is karma." With that, she walked toward the Farrell residence without looking back. The moment she stepped inside, Marina came toward her, beaming with joy. But when she saw the wounds on Giselle, Marina was stunned. Standing under the sunlight, Giselle gave her a small smile. Her voice was gentle and calm. "I might have to trouble your private doctor to give me a rabies shot. I just got into a fight with a dog outside." Marina quickly pulled Giselle inside and had a good look at her. Giselle had lost a lot of weight, and the wounds on her neck made Marina's heart ache so much that her eyes reddened. "How did you end up like this? Oh, come in quick, you poor child." She guided Giselle into the house and quickly instructed the butler, Bruno Jefferson, to call the private doctor and have him bring the rabies vaccine. Giselle said, "Marina, I'm a mess. Let me take a shower first." Marina nodded hurriedly, holding Giselle's hand. "Go shower in your room. All your clothes are still in the wardrobe. I haven't let anyone touch them." Giselle smiled and headed upstairs. Then, Marina turned to Bruno and said, "That scoundrel! Gavin has lied to me all this time, saying Gigi was traveling, when in fact he'd sent her to a psychiatric hospital! What kind of place is that for a normal person? Look at what's become of Gigi!" But what could Bruno say? Marina could badmouth Gavin, but he couldn't! So he smiled and said, "Mr. Farrell was just trying to keep the peace at the time. After all, Ms. Chantelle nearly lost her life." Marina spat in disdain. Furious, she said, "It's all because of Chantelle! Gavin must have been blind and senseless! How could an outsider be more important than his own wife? And the Whitmans are no better! How could a stepdaughter matter more than their own flesh and blood?" While Bruno dared not gossip about Gavin, the Whitmans were fair game. He whispered to Marina, "Don't they always say that once there's a stepmother, a stepfather won't be far behind? Mr. Whitman used to treat Ms. Giselle like a treasure before he remarried. But after he did, it was like he became a whole different person." Marina huffed irritably. "That's why I say all men are jerks!" Bruno chose to remain silent at that. … Giselle washed the bite wounds clean with soap and water for a long time. Then, she picked up a familiar-scented body wash, worked it into foam with the bath sponge, and smoothed it over her skin. After rinsing off, she slipped into a silk robe, tying the belt as she stepped out of the bathroom. Gavin just so happened to walk in as she emerged. They were just three steps away from each other when their eyes met. Gavin let out a derisive laugh. It was just yesterday that she asked for a divorce, and now she had chased him all the way here? Giselle was startled to see him, but she calmly finished tying her robe. "Since we've run into each other here, let's discuss the divorce. Gavin, I'm giving up custody of Poppy. In return, I want one-third of your post-marriage income." Gavin's expression was unreadable, his eyes dark and unfathomable. He walked toward her slowly. Giselle stayed where she was, forcing herself to appear composed. Gavin stopped half a step away from Giselle, grabbed her hand firmly, and pulled her toward him. Giselle stumbled, colliding into his chest. He lifted his other hand, and his fingers slid beneath the hem of her robe, trailing up along her neckline. His movements were bold and deliberate. Utterly humiliated, Giselle slapped him hard across the face.