Chapter 4

The laughter and whispers around us gradually faded, as everyone was now watching Colton and me.

He crouched in front of me, and his polished shoe tips almost touched my bleeding knee.

He reached out, not to help me up, but to gently touch my swelling face with his fingers.

"Does it hurt?" he asked, his voice surprisingly calm.

I didn't reply, just stared at him.

Suddenly, he laughed cruelly. "I asked you, damn it! Do you realize your mistake?"

My pupils contracted slightly.

Before I could answer, he stood up. To my disbelief, he lifted his foot and pressed down on my injured knee.

"Ah!" The excruciating pain swept through me instantly.

My wound seemed to be crushed repeatedly. The moment the agony hit me, my vision darkened. I almost fainted, and my fingers dug into my palm. I couldn't help screaming.

He pressed down slightly.

I instantly collapsed to the ground in pain.

Colton looked down at me and asked coldly, "Do you understand your mistake? Will you dare to pester us again?"

In that moment, I suddenly remembered the wedding ten years ago, which people still talked about now.

Colton was so nervous that his palms were sweaty. Yet he held my hand tightly in front of the priest, solemnly and with all his strength. "I swear, I will cherish Elianna Murphy forever. I will be there for her, in wealth or in poverty, in health or in sickness, until death parts us."

His gaze was passionate and sincere back then, almost scorching me.

Ten years had truly worn down promises to dust and turned a lover into an enemy.

I looked at him and suddenly laughed. I tasted blood. I didn't know if my lip was broken or if the blood from my heart had surged to my throat.

I looked at him, laughing silently. "Colton, my greatest mistake was to believe ten years ago that you would love me forever."

Colton froze for a moment. Jaxton sneered, "This woman is still dreaming of being with Mr. Thomas. Let me deal with her."

Those men and women laughed and surrounded me. Jaxton crouched down and pulled my hair to force me to look up. "Doesn't she look like a homeless dog?"

Laughter erupted around me.

Those who had just been toasting in the living room were now gathered in the courtyard and looked down at me.

Someone was recording with a phone, and the flash pierced my eyes repeatedly.

Colton stood at the forefront of the crowd and held Kenzie's waist.

His face was expressionless, and his gaze was as cold as ice.

"Colton," I said hoarsely, "you will regret this."

He ignored me and turned to Jaxton. "Hurry up and deal with her. Don't upset Kenzie."

Kenzie immediately snuggled closer to him and said with sobs, "Honey, I'm so scared... The way she looked at me was terrifying..."

Colton patted her back and said, "Don't be afraid. She dares not to come here."

Jaxton grew even bolder after Colton's words.

He released his foot from my knee and found a dog leash in the yard.

Jaxton dangled the leash and grinned as he asked those around him, "How about we put this on her neck and take her for a walk?"

"Great idea!" a young woman with pink hair clapped and laughed. "Make her bark like a dog. If she does it well, we'll let her go."

"That's great. Record it and post it online. The news is titled 'The wife catches mistress but ends up being treated like an animal.'"

"Mr. Thomas, what do you think? It will help Kenzie vent."

Colton didn't speak, just nodded slightly.

In that instant, my heart felt gripped by a cold hand.

I was married to Colton for ten years, over three thousand days and nights. I thought that I knew him well and that even if he betrayed me, he had some basic decency.

But I still didn't understand how terrifying the depths of human cruelty could be.

Colton lacked basic human decency as soon as his mask was removed.

Jaxton put the leash around my neck.

I struggled desperately, and my nails scratched his arm. He winced at the pain and slapped me hard.

My ears rang, and my cheek swelled instantly. My mouth was filled with the taste of blood.

"She is quite tough," Jaxton spat.

The others laughed and pressed me down. "Hold her down and see how tough she can be."

Three or four pairs of hands pinned me down simultaneously, and I struggled like a fish out of water, unable to break free.

The cold touch of the metal chain pressed against my neck, and the clasp clicked shut.

Jaxton yanked the chain hard, and I was instantly suffocated. As my head was forced to be lifted, I heard his mocking voice.

"Bark. If you bark well, I'll let go of you."

Those people were all jeering.

They laughed uproariously and praised that Jaxton was quite the player.

I closed my eyes, and my nails dug deep into my palms.

I couldn't cry.

I couldn't plead with them.

I couldn't shed a single tear in front of them.

"Not barking?" Jaxton pulled the chain forcefully, and I coughed and was suffocated. "Then don't blame me for being rude..."

Just then, the villa's outer gate swung open again.

Ruben Shaw, Kenzie's father, walked in.

He wore an ill-fitting suit, and the watch on his wrist was one my father had discarded.

But even though it was a discarded watch, it was expensive for Ruben.

After all, he was a cleaner at my house a few months ago.

It was only after Kenzie graduated that he resigned in disgrace.

In the blink of an eye, his daughter seduced Colton.

He was stunned at the scene in the living room, and his gaze swept between Colton and me.

"Dad!" Kenzie immediately rushed over. She grabbed Ruben's arm and said with sobs, "You're finally here. This crazy woman broke into our house and stole things. Colton was just about to throw her out."

Ruben looked at Kenzie and then at me, who was pinned to the ground. His gaze flickered with a complex expression.

He recognized me.

Over the years, he had cleaned my home, and we had met countless times.

He had called me Ms. Murphy more times than I could count.

His residual respect for me was still visible.