Chapter 3

I looked again at Kenzie's cabinet filled with luxury items. There were handbags, shoes, and a collection of limited-edition cosmetics.

Each one came from my business partners. Kenzie and Colton seemed to have swept up every item I disliked each season.

I clapped my hands with a smile and said, "Impressive. You are really something. You are sure that I never look at the things I don't like, so you've been shamelessly rummaging through my leftovers. That's all you're good for-picking up things I don't want."

"Elianna!" Colton finally exploded.

He rushed in front of me and snatched away the crystal cup. His voice trembled with anger. "You've trespassed into my home and meddled with my things. Get out immediately!"

"Your home?" I looked at him and enunciated each word slowly. "Colton, who paid for this house?"

The living room fell silent for a moment.

Every guest's eyes turned toward Colton and me. Those young people who were laughing and joking just moments ago now held their breath.

Colton's gaze started darting around. He was clearly guilty.

He then leaned in and whispered a warning, "Stop making a scene. Go home quickly. Remember, the company's stock prices have been volatile lately. It's only stable because of me."

Suddenly, it all clicked. So that was why he was so bold.

I had intended to restructure the company's shares, so I had collaborated with the upper management on a year-long scheme to make everyone think I was losing influence in the company.

Even my poor husband, Colton, could overshadow me.

I hadn't yet caught the seasoned schemers in the company, but unexpectedly, I uncovered Colton's affair.

He was so eager to control me after he just got 30 percent of the shares.

I was amused by my discovery. But before I could say more, Jaxton interrupted us. "Mr. Thomas, who exactly is this woman?"

Colton gritted his teeth.

I saw cold sweat forming on his forehead as his fingers unconsciously clenched. His suit sleeves trembled slightly.

But in the next moment, he took a deep breath and seemingly made up his mind. He said loudly, "She's the caregiver I hired when my mother was ill."

"What?" A collective gasp filled the room.

Everyone looked at me with shock and disdain in their eyes. They seemed to be watching an overambitious fool.

Colton seemed to start a good story and continued more smoothly, "She looked after my mom for three years. We pitied her and took extra care of her. But when she saw my family's wealth, she started pestering me relentlessly."

He pointed at me and said firmly, "She insists on using the favor of caring for my mother as leverage to force me to marry her. I've rejected her multiple times, yet she is not willing to give up. She even chases me here today."

Kenzie immediately played along. She squeezed out tears as she clung to Colton's arm and said with trembling sobs, "Is that true? Colton, why didn't you tell me sooner? Have you been harassed by her for three years? Oh my God. That's terrifying..."

She turned to me, and her eyes were filled with tears. "Please, ma'am, stop pestering him. We're truly in love. Could you let us be?"

Her acting was impressive.

If it weren't for the inappropriate setting, I'd want to applaud her with my hands on her face.

Jaxton's gaze shifted from disdain to disgust. "I knew it. She is dressed so poorly, just aiming for something out of reach."

His female companion chimed in, "Take a look at yourself. Mr. Thomas would never be interested in a caregiver like you. Just leave now. Stop embarrassing yourself here."

"Where's the security? Aren't you going to throw her out?" Jaxton's gaze shifted from disdain to disgust. "I knew it, dressed so poorly, just aiming for something out of reach."

His female companion chimed in, "Take a look at yourself. A man like Mr. Thomas would never be interested in a caregiver like you. Just leave already. Stop embarrassing yourself here. Where's the security? Aren't they going to throw her out?"

Colton took a deep breath and seemed to have made up his mind. He avoided my gaze and gestured towards the door.

Jaxton caught on immediately and showed a ruthless expression. He shouted towards the door, "Security, are you deaf? Didn't you hear Mr. Thomas's words? Drag this troublemaking woman out."

Several uniformed security guards quickly streamed in, armed with batons. They surrounded me with unfriendly expressions.

"What are you doing?" I asked coldly.

"What are we doing? We're escorting you out." The lead guard reached to grab my arm.

I sidestepped, but another guard shoved me from behind.

I stumbled forward, and my knee slammed onto the floor. The pain from the freshly healed wound turned my vision dark.

"Hold her down," Jaxton shouted from the side. "Don't let her touch anything here again."

Several guards swarmed over and eagerly twisted my arms and dragged me towards the door.

My coat was torn in the struggle, and my hair was disheveled.

"Let go of me." I struggled desperately. But against their numbers, my efforts were futile. In the chaos, someone jabbed a baton into my abdomen, and it was activated. The dull pain caused me to curl up instantly. I convulsed and lost strength.

They pushed me into the villa's courtyard fiercely.

I landed heavily on the stone path outside. The old wounds compounded with new ones made me gasp out of pain. I couldn't muster the strength to stand. Watching the blood spread from my knee, I almost fainted.

The music in the living room had stopped. Those guests crowded at the door and the large windows. They were pointing at me like I was a spectacle.

A few seconds later, Colton seemed to make up his mind.

He pushed through the crowd and walked towards me, step by step.