Chapter 5

Jane shot Claire a cold glare. "Get lost. You think you're worthy?"

Claire's eyes instantly welled with tears, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry, I just never saw such a beautiful piece before."

Seeing Claire's frightened act, Nathan's expression darkened. "Honey, I'm giving you everything from this auction. Letting Claire have this one piece won't hurt."

Jane ignored him and walked away with the hairpin.

Claire suddenly stood and bumped into her.

The hairpin fell, shattering into pieces on the floor.

Jane's heart clenched. She raised her hand and slapped Claire.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it! I didn't see you," Claire whimpered, clutching her face as she fell, tears pooling in her pitiful eyes.

"Jane, that's enough!" Nathan rushed to help Claire up. "You dropped the hairpin. Why take it out on her?"

"She bumped into me on purpose. One slap isn't enough to satisfy me." Thinking of her parents' ashes, Jane raised her hand and slapped Claire again.

When she lifted her hand a third time, Nathan grabbed her wrist.

He shoved her back, his voice icy. "Jane, know your limits."

Her lower back hit a sharp chair edge, and she winced in pain.

Claire clung to Nathan's arm, pouting. "Nathan, it's natural she doesn't like me. Don't fight with her because of me."

"Don't worry, you're my woman." Nathan soothed Claire gently, then signaled his bodyguards to restrain Jane. "Two slaps, Claire. Return them."

The auction room was filled with prominent figures, now whispering as they watched the scene unfold.

"Mr. Cross is humiliating his wife, letting his mistress strike her?"

"A lion in the dirt is just a cat. If the Rivers family were still powerful, Jane wouldn't be treated like this."

Claire's eyes gleamed with smugness.

She stepped forward and delivered two slaps, leaving Jane's cheeks burning.

Humiliation and shame flooded Jane, her nails digging into her palms.

"Honey, take your anger out on me next time, not Claire," Nathan said.

"And if I want to target her?" Jane met his gaze, her back straight. "That hairpin was my mother's only one. I'd rather take Claire's life to pay for it!"

Nathan's face grew colder, his voice laced with danger. "Have I spoiled you too much, letting you speak like that? Looks like I need to teach you a lesson."

He ordered his bodyguards to escort her to a secluded villa in the outskirts.

Jane knew this place. Beneath the villa was a basement where Nathan kept all kinds of snakes.

Once, he had used this place to punish the thugs who attacked her.

Now, he threw her inside.

In the dim, windowless basement, the heavy door slammed shut. Nathan's voice came from outside. "Honey, reflect in there tonight. I'll let you out tomorrow."

In the fading light, Jane saw countless snakes slithering across the walls.

Her body shook, terror surging from her feet to her scalp.

Snakes were her greatest fear.

Nathan's footsteps faded outside.

In the darkness, the hissing of snakes grew louder.

When a cold, slimy sensation brushed her leg, she screamed uncontrollably.

The next day, when Nathan released her, Jane's mind was in tatters, the sensation of being coiled still lingering.

When he reached to touch her, she flinched back instinctively.

Seeing her terrified, disheveled state, Nathan showed a rare trace of pity. "Do you know your mistake?"

"Mistake?" Jane's voice was dazed, her red, defiant eyes peering through tangled hair. A pale, bitter smile crossed her lips. "Of course I made a mistake. Nathan, I should've died with my parents instead of being with you!"

Last night, her only anchor was the resolve to escape him and avenge her parents.

"Honey, you..." Nathan's heart twinged with pain, but he said nothing more and took her back to the villa.

Claire emerged from what used to be Jane's master bedroom.

She rubbed her stomach, looking at Jane with a boastful air. "Nathan said this room is spacious, perfect for me to rest for the baby, so I moved in. You don't mind, do you?"

Jane tried to step past her, but Claire grabbed her arm and whispered in her ear. "Oh, by the way, a little secret. I was the one who gave Nathan the idea to ruin your family. And the day your parents jumped, I made the final call, threatening them with your life."

"What did you say?" Jane stared at Claire, fury erupting within her.

Claire was also responsible for her parents' deaths, and Nathan still protected her!

Jane raised her hand, but before it landed, Claire let out a cry, clutching her stomach and stumbling back toward the spiral staircase.

She tumbled down the steps.

Nathan, preparing food for Jane in the kitchen, rushed out and saw the scene.

He caught Claire in his arms, then looked up at Jane standing on the stairs, her face full of hatred. He understood instantly.

Claire's face was pale, her voice weak. "Nathan, I don't know what I did to upset her. My stomach hurts so much. Will our baby be okay?"

"Don't worry, I'm taking you to the hospital now!" Panic flashed in Nathan's eyes as he scooped her up.

Before leaving, he shot Jane a look, his eyes dark with menace. "You'd better pray Claire's okay."