Chapter 4

Adrian stared at the whip in front of him but didn't move. Beside him, Lydia burst into tears again. "Adrian, I know you and Ivanna are deeply in love. Forget it, just let it go... After all, you two are getting married soon. When that day comes, I'll have no choice but to leave your side." Felix cut in, "Adrian, think this through. If you don't assert yourself now as her husband, then after the marriage..." He then trailed off deliberately. That single unfinished sentence was enough to make Adrian reach out and take the whip. Then, he walked behind Ivanna. With trembling arms, he struck her back. Ivanna bit her lip hard, refusing to make a sound despite the beads of sweat rolling down her forehead. "Don't blame me, Ivanna," Adrian softly said. "I'm doing this for us..." Yet with each strike, his grip on the whip only tightened. For a moment, the living room was silent except for the hiss of the whip cutting through the air and the sound of it landing on Ivanna's back. Ivanna's skin split open, and blood streamed down until her back was covered in scarlet. The taste of iron filled her mouth too. After a few more whips, light spots also swam before her eyes, and her face turned ashen. She looked as though she had just been dragged from the depths of hell. No one knew how much time had passed before the tenth lash finally fell. After that, the two bodyguards released her, and Ivanna collapsed onto the floor. "Ivanna!" Adrian rushed forward to help her up, but her weak voice stopped him. "Adrian, I've repaid you the debt of saving my life." Adrian's hands froze in midair as the memories came flooding his mind. Ten years ago, Ivanna had run away from home and had been targeted by traffickers. If he hadn't been secretly protecting her and fought off those men, she might have been taken away. After that, Ivanna was hospitalized for a week. It was from that day onward that her feelings for Adrian began to stir. Suddenly, Felix said, "Adrian, Lydia, you two go home. I still have a few words for Ivanna. She's my daughter, after all. I won't actually kill her." Lydia quickly slipped her arm through Adrian's, pulling the dazed man away with her. After the two of them left, Ivanna slowly forced herself up from the ground. Sweat soaked her face, but it didn't dim the determination in her eyes. Felix didn't look at her. He simply said in a cold tone, "The Kirk family said they'll come for you in five days. Ivanna, don't cause any more trouble." To that, Ivanna said nothing. Step by heavy step, she simply dragged herself out of the villa. Blood mixed with sweat dripped down behind her with each step, sharpening her consciousness with pain. That night, she went to the hospital alone to have her wounds treated. … The next day, the troupe had a performance. So, Ivanna had asked the doctor to apply stronger medicine and use more bandages. After all, the performance was too important, and no matter what, she had to see it through. When Ivanna arrived at the theater, she immediately saw Lydia holding a huge bouquet of roses, her smile bright and sweet. "Lydia, are those roses from your boyfriend? They're gorgeous!" "They really are. He's so romantic!" Lydia's face was redder than the roses. She softly said, "Thank you. I never expected him to give me flowers. We've been together for so long. There's no need for this..." Then, she lifted her head and met Ivanna's gaze. She quickly hurried over and said, "Ivanna, how's your body? If you're not feeling well today, don't push yourself." Ivanna said nothing. She simply lowered her head and swallowed two painkillers. Just then, the troupe leader, Kaleb Gibson, walked in and clapped his hands. The chattering dancers immediately fell silent. Ivanna returned to her place, but then, she heard Kaleb loudly call out, "Ivanna, you won't be performing in today's show. Someone else will take your part." Her head snapped up. "Why? I attended every rehearsal for this performance. Why are you removing me now?" "It was my decision." Adrian walked in from outside, his expression full of concern. Using what he thought was a considerate tone, he said, "Ivanna, there'll be plenty of performances. You don't need to push your body too hard. After what happened yesterday, it's better for you to rest today." Ivanna couldn't understand on what grounds he could speak to her like this. He was the one who raised the whip on her, and now, he was pretending to care for her. "Adrian, do you have any idea how much this performance means to me? This is the dance my mother choreographed. It's the legacy she left behind!" Her emotions spilled out unrestrained, and she almost shouted at him. Tears began filling her eyes, and finally, they spilled over. But Adrian stayed silent. The situation was already set in stone. No words could change it now. Ivanna took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Adrian, we're done..." Adrian grabbed her hand and was about to speak when a stranger's voice came from the doorway. "Excuse me, who's Ms. Lydia Hale?" "I am," Lydia quickly said. The man walked over, snatched the roses from her arms, and said, "Apologies, these were delivered to the wrong person. Which one of you is Ms. Ivanna Powell?" Ivanna stayed silent and sensed every head in the room turn toward her. The man then stepped forward and placed the bouquet in front of her. "Ms. Powell, these flowers are from Mr. Kirk." There was just one word written on the card—"Kirk." Ivanna instinctively took the flowers and softly said, "Thank you." After the man left, she looked up and found herself meeting Adrian's furious eyes. "Who is he? Who's the one who sent you flowers?"