Chapter 2

He raised the bottle, ready to smash it over my head. I braced myself, closing my eyes.

But the bottle didn't hit me. Cody grabbed his wrist, smiling as he, "We're just here to have a good time, No need to be pissed off. If she's out of line, it's my fault for not training her well. Take those two with you to cool off. As for her... "

Cody's sinister gaze landed on me, his smile sending chills down my spine.

"I'll make sure she understands the consequences. Once she's properly trained, I'll send her to you to vent your anger."

I knew Cody wouldn't let me off the hook for messing up today.

I was prepared for it, but when I saw the car stop in front of my mother's nursing home, panic set in.

"Cody! What are you doing?"

He dragged me to my mother's bedside with a cold demeanor and ordered someone to turn off her ventilator.

"Emma, this is what happens when you disobey."

"No, please! I'm begging you!"

I lunged toward the bed, but Cody held me back firmly. I could only watch as my mother's body stiffened and began trembling while struggling to breathe. "Cody! She'll die!

Don't do this! Kill me instead, do whatever you want to me! Just don't hurt my mother! She'll really die!"

I knelt before Cody, crying, begging him without any dignity.

He looked at me coldly, seemingly satisfied. Finally he restored my mother's ventilator.

Seeing her breathing stabilize, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Cody's fingers brushed my cheek. "Never think of challenging my limits, Emma. You're only here to atone for your and your father's sins."

"I'll do whatever you want."

I stared blankly at Cody, having witnessed his ruthlessness. How could I dare challenge his limits again?

I became Cody's pawn, doing whatever he commanded.

He dismissed all the servants, leaving the villa empty, with only me left.

Until that day, when Lily appeared.

She was nothing like the disheveled girl who had been expelled for cheating and fled abroad years ago. Now, she was glamorous, frequently appearing on social media. It seemed Cody, now with great power, had brought her back and was investing heavily in her.

In contrast, I was no longer the vibrant and confident person I once was. Standing before her in a thin nightgown, with disheveled hair and a pale face, barefoot, I was a mere shell of who I used to be.

Lily's scrutinizing gaze felt like a laser beam.

"Emma, long time no see. It's only been three years, and you've turned yourself into this a ghost."

I ignored her, lost in my thoughts.

"You took Cody from me, ruined my reputation, forcing me to leave the country. And for what? You thought you won, but look at you now, completely broken."

"So, is that why you're here today? To show your victory? You can leave when you are done."

Perhaps frustrated by my indifference, Lily didn't let it go.

"Cody personally brought me back from abroad. He said he wants to make up for all the lost years. Look, this is the ring he proposed to me with. Emma, you're nothing but a cast-off now."

"Divorcing him is exactly what I want. I'll gladly give you this position."

How could she think that after Cody destroyed my family, I would still fear losing him?

I only regretted my past naivety, believing that deep love could win him over.

Back then, I proposed marriage to him during his toughest times, intending to help him.

But to him, I was just using my family's power to force him into love.

I didn't understand why he accepted my proposal if he didn't want it.

Why didn't he tell me he loved someone else?

Why did he enjoy the resources my family provided while secretly resenting me, betraying me when we were all unaware?

"What do you mean, give it to me? You lost to me, Emma! You pitiful shit."

When she leaned in, her necklace caught my eye.

"That's my mother's necklace! Why do you have it?"

"Huh." Lily smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Cody gave it to me, of course."

"That was my grandmother's gift to my mother! Give it back!"

I reached for it, but she dodged.

"Why should I? It's mine now. Emma, you won't take anything from me again."

Lily removed the necklace, flaunting it in front of me.

"Do you want it so badly? Then I won't give it to you."

She even moved to the window, ready to throw it out.

My heart sank; I couldn't let my mother's belongings be desecrated by Lily.

"Give it back!"

I grappled with Lily, focused solely on retrieving the necklace, unaware it was a trap she set for me.

It wasn't until Lily fell to the ground, crying out in feigned distress, calling out to Cody behind me, that I realized this was all an act for him.

The moment Cody appeared, I knew it was over.

The slap landed hard on my face, making me stagger and fall, my head spinning.

As my head buzzed, Cody was already comforting Lily in his arms.

"Cody, I just wanted to protect the necklace you gave me. But she hit me for it, and my foot hurts."

Cody's gaze was icy and furious, as if he wanted to devour me.

"Emma, you're asking for it."

He picked up Lily to leave, and I gritted my teeth, grabbing his arm.

"Can you at least return my mother's necklace?"

Cody's face darkened, and he kicked me in the belly.

The pain was excruciating, leaving me breathless.

When I looked up, Cody had already disappeared with Lily.

The pain in my stomach intensified, and I lay on the floor for a long time before struggling to get up.

A warm flow trickled down my leg.