Strange Love: My Wife Is My Sworn Enemy

"Caroline!"

Caroline Hughes was jolted awake by a sudden roar in her ear. Her eyes flew open in shock and met a pair of malicious eyes glowering at her.

It took her a few seconds to gather her surroundings before she realized she was lying stark naked on Rafael Patel's bed.

Caroline could feel a dull ache all over her body from the ravages of the violent sex last night. When Rafael's sharp eyes fell on her slender figure, his pupils contracted abruptly, and his jaw tightened. He hastily grabbed the quilt and threw it on her.

Caroline wrapped herself in the quilt, her face as pale as the sheet, and hot tears welled up in her eyes as the situation dawned on her.

She saw Rafael stand up, turn around, and make his way to the bathroom without sparing her a glance. She was at a loss but managed to find her voice to call out to him, "Rafael..."

Her voice had barely faded away when Rafael cast a sharp glare at her. "What did you call me?"

His tone was harsh, like a cold stab in Caroline's heart, making her tremble. She hurriedly corrected herself, "Mr. Patel..."

Last night, when she returned home, all the lights had been turned off, plunging the house in complete darkness. Before she knew what was happening, Rafael had caught her and dragged her into the bedroom.

She wasn't sure if he was drunk or not. Blinded by the gloom, she caught a whiff of alcohol and blood. She tried to protest as best she could, crying and resisting, but Rafael was too strong. He didn't care for her tears and tortured her through the night, wild like an irrational beast.

Now, it was too late. Last night was burned into Caroline's mind like a harrowing nightmare. She was in so much pain that she felt like her bones had been twisted and shattered.

Caroline opened her mouth to explain but suddenly caught sight of a blood stain, about ten centimeters wide, on the back of Rafael's strong waist.

Before she could look at it properly, Rafael whipped around and stormed back to her, to the edge of the bed. He reached out his hand and pinched her chin between his long fingers, forcing her to look up into his eyes. His deep voice reverberated gruffly as he said, "Caroline, did you think I will keep you by my side if you do this? Huh?"

"No, I..." Caroline hurriedly tried to deny it.

But she barely said a word when she saw the flash of revulsion in Rafael's eyes.

Observing his undisguised expression, Caroline felt a pang of sorrow in her heart. Her refutation died in her throat, and she froze.

Just then, a voice came from outside the door. It was Iris, a servant, who could be heard exclaiming in surprise, "Isn't this Caroline's dress? Why is it lying here at the door?"

Rafael released Caroline from his grip. He pulled out one of his shirts and flung it to her. Then he commanded in a low voice, "Change into that and get out."

Was he telling her to leave right now?

But there were so many people outside who would see her and figure out what happened!

Caroline was so flustered that she couldn't help trembling. Her body ached, and tears fell down her cheeks. Desperation building in her chest, she grabbed one of Rafael's arms and looked at him with wet, pleading eyes, begging, "Rafael, listen to me, okay? Last night, I..."

However, Rafael was not hearing it. He jerked off her hand and, with a frosty expression, snarled at her, "Caroline Hughes, you're as cheap as your mother."

He shoved her away so roughly that Caroline was thrown back onto the bed. Her bruises throbbed, and her bones seemed to wail in pain.

However, what hurt her more was the sentence Rafael snapped at her just now.

When Caroline was six years old, her parents divorced. Her mother, Bella Moore, was driven by ambition and took her to the Patel family. Determined to secure a place in the Patel family, Bella urged Caroline to curry favor with the cold young man. And she did.

Caroline knew that Rafael didn't like her and disliked her sticking to him.

But even though he was withdrawn by nature and disapproved of her being around, he had never treated her with such contempt.

Caroline didn't know what was wrong. Her mind was blank. She couldn't wrap her head around why Rafael had changed so suddenly and how he turned out like this after only a few days. The last time they saw each other before he left, he promised he would return with her favorite cake.

"I'll give you ten seconds. Get out of here!"

Gritting his teeth, Rafael said threateningly, his deep voice laced with impatience.

Caroline couldn't collect her thoughts and looked at him in a daze, her palms cold and clammy.

After Caroline put on the shirt with trembling hands and pushed open the door, she walked out of the room into the midst of Patel family members crowding the corridor. They were taken aback to see Caroline in nothing but a shirt, covered in hickeys, and treading barefoot.

Caroline could feel their gazes like daggers piercing her skin, so painful that she wanted nothing more than the ground to swallow her up right there.

Iris immediately came to her senses, wrapped Caroline's trembling figure in a blanket, and ushered her past the cold gazes and back to her room.

Caroline was in a daze. She sat in her room, staring into space, and overheard a conversation from the next room. "Many people saw Caroline walk out of your room in that state. You will take responsibility for her, won't you?"

"Responsibility?" Rafael sneered in contempt. "Then I'll do as she wishes!"

That afternoon, someone from the Hughes family arrived at the house.

Caroline's luggage was hastily packed and thrown out of the house like rubbish.

It had become the Patel family's sole priority to drive Caroline out of their home and back to her biological father.

Drops of heavy rain battered down on Caroline as she stood outside shivering and devoid of an umbrella. She turned her pale face to look at the man standing on the veranda, staring at her with an icy expression.

"Rafael..." Caroline's lips trembled uncontrollably, perhaps because of the cold or her despair, and she could barely keep her eyes open in the heavy rain. She tried to beg Rafael for the last time, hoping desperately that he'd find a glimmer of clemency in his heart.

She knew the reason why Rafael had forcefully slept with her was that he was set up by someone. He didn't mean to do it, and she didn't blame him for what he had done to her. But how could he blame her and push her away so ruthlessly? He was driving her back to the Hughes family when he knew that the last place she ever wanted to go was there!

As cold as the stormy grey sky, Rafael was indifferent to her plea and turned his back on her to return to the house. The intricately carved metal door slammed shut before Caroline.

Over the next few days, news that Caroline and Rafael had slept together spread through Ardver like wildfire.

Rumor had it that Caroline's mother had fled with a billion dollars stolen from the Patel family, leaving Caroline alone with the Patel family. To protect herself and continue to leech off of the Patel family, Caroline had done such a shameless thing.

A month later, Caroline was discreetly sent abroad. The Patel family and the Hughes family chose to remain unresponsive to this matter. Considering the high status of the Patel family in Ardver, no one mentioned it again.

Three and a half years later, at the Hughes family's home

"The driver went to the airport to pick up Miss Hughes, and they have returned," the servant reported diligently to Killian Hughes in a hushed whisper.

Killian peered down at the Audi parked below without saying a word.

Originally, Caroline wasn't supposed to return home this early. She hadn't completed her school studies yet and had every intention of continuing, but Ashton Hughes, her grandfather, had suddenly fallen seriously ill and insisted on seeing Caroline for it might be the last time. Killian was reluctant to bring her here but had no choice but to summon Caroline back.

It was a dull day with rumbles of thunder accompanied by heavy rain. The Audi's door swung open, and a woman's shoes clicked on the sodden ground as Caroline got out of the car with a black umbrella in hand.

When she stood straight, the umbrella tilted back slightly as she raised her head to look at the house. Her eyes happened to meet with Killian's. The two of them looked at each other for two seconds until Caroline withdrew her gaze expressionlessly.

It rained on the days she was kicked out of the Patel family and sent abroad. It was raining somberly again on the day she returned. What a coincidence.

"Caroline, you're back." Eloise Hughes, Killian's second daughter, greeted Caroline at the door with a sweet smile.

"Yes," Caroline replied indifferently, closing the soaking umbrella with a brisk snap.

Then she hauled her luggage through the door and strode into the Hughes' residence with her head held high.

On the way here, Caroline was informed by the Hughes family's trusty butler that Eloise had been admitted to the Film and Television School. She was a well-studied sophomore and obtained many resources for her success. Not long ago, she had just finished shooting a big-budget costume drama, a show destined to become a hit before it was even released.

It was said that the Patel family had personally stepped in to help Eloise obtain the resources for her budding project. Because Eloise was the future daughter-in-law selected by the Patel family.

The pang she used to have in her heart at the thought of the Patel family was gone. Caroline was calm and apathetic now.

What was the relationship between the Patel family and the Hughes family? Was Eloise going to marry that powerful man in Ardver? The question did pop into her head out of curiosity, but she could not care less what happened between them.

After visiting her sickly grandfather in the detached building behind, Caroline returned to the living room. Killian was patiently waiting for her as he seemed to have something to say.

"Since you're back, you might as well stay here," Killian said to Caroline. Something was weighing on his mind, and it showed on his brow.

Caroline walked to the sofa and sat down, leaning back leisurely and crossing her legs. She looked at Killian as a light smile appeared on her lips. "What's wrong? Do you need my help with something?"

It had been nearly four years since the last time Killian had seen her, and he felt that Caroline had changed drastically. He frowned and replied curtly, "You will attend a dinner party tomorrow. There will be several big shots, including Mr. Clark. Hopefully he will like you and even marry you. Rest well tonight."

A dinner party? Killian obviously just wanted to trade her for benefits, right?

Caroline's confident smile didn't falter. Her calculating eyes surveyed him as she said, "Mr. Hughes, I am a woman of ill repute. Who would dare to marry me? It caused a stir back then. Don't you think it was a disgrace to the Hughes family?"

Caroline's bold words caused Killian's face to darken.

Caroline shared a resemblance with her mother, Bella. One the one hand, with her full and curvy figure, she exuded a natural charm that would draw anyone in. On the other hand, with her pouty lips, doe eyes and pure face, she gave off the impression of an innocent young girl.

The last time he saw Caroline, she was still young when she left to go abroad. Now, she had matured into a beauty.

She might be reprehensible to some, but she still had an advantage. She was young and beautiful. There were always some older wealthy businessmen who eyed youthful ladies and would take a fancy to her just for her lovely appearance.

After all, that was what happened to Killian. He married Bella simply because he liked her appearance.

Like mother, like daughter. Bella was unabashed and would stoop to any low for her ambitions, and Caroline was not a good girl either. She wasted no time climbing into Rafael's bed as soon as she came of age.

Caroline was unperturbed by his disdained glares. She had long gotten used to Killian's blatant dislike toward her, so her eyes skimmed over him indifferently.

"Several big shots will attend this dinner, so be on your best behavior. It will all come down to it," Killian said with a cold face. "Your grandfather hopes you can go there. This matter regards your marriage."

With a tone of finality, he abruptly stood up and turned to leave the living room without a second glance, leaving Caroline no chance to refuse.

Watching his receding back, Caroline scowled darkly.

Before he left, she suddenly said with a glint in her eye, "Since I have to attend the dinner party, I must dress up, right?"

Killian stiffened, his mouth twisting in revulsion. He then impatiently took out a glossy bank card from his coat pocket and handed it to Caroline.

He had learned early on that Caroline not only shared Bella's looks but her greed for money, too. As long as he had cash to spare for her, she was willing to agree to do anything.

"Thank you." Caroline took the card without hesitation. She stood up and walked out of the door with an indifferent expression.

When Sarah Hughes went downstairs, she happened upon this scene. Her disgust was clear in her demeanor as she sneered, "She doesn't have any trouble mooching off Eloise's hard-earned money."

Killian felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He felt sorry for Sarah. He promised her he would divorce Bella and make a clean break with Bella and her daughter. But Caroline still stuck around in their lives like an annoying flea, and they still couldn't get rid of her.

"It's just until tomorrow. After tomorrow, everything will be fine. Don't worry. There will be several people with high reputations at that party. No matter who Caroline ends up marrying, our family won't suffer any loss. We'll get a treat worth at least hundreds of millions instead," he coaxed in a soft voice.

"I hope so, or else how long will we have to be forced to support her?" Sarah snorted.

Outside the door, out of sight, Caroline eavesdropped on their conversation in silence. The bank card in her pocket dug into her palm as she grasped it tightly.

She had gone outside to leave but stopped when she realized she had forgotten to bring the PC mouse with her. She turned to look at the looming house, intending to go back inside and upstairs to get it when she overheard their conversation.

The thought of Killian wanting to sell her off and reap the benefits of her use rushed through her mind.

A sneer appeared on her lips as she turned on her heel and left the Hughes residence.

The World Mall was bustling with life, shoppers and families rushing to get where they needed to go.

A notification popped up on her phone screen. King had sent a message. "Have you arrived yet?"

"Yes. I'll find a cafe," Caroline replied quickly. Putting away her phone, she glanced around and walked through the mall's entrance.

In search of a suitable cafe, she neared the large spiral escalator, and a group of bustling people suddenly swarmed in front of her, pulling up warning tape to block off the area. "Make way! Please get out of the way!"

Caroline subconsciously glanced at all the commotion and assumed it was some kind of escalator accident.

"Is that Mr. Patel? I heard Mr. Patel was visiting World Mall today to talk over the acquisition plan. Guess it must be true!" Two reporters were in front of Caroline, raising heavy cameras and abuzz with excitement, trying their best to squeeze forward without tumbling over the warning line.

"Plus, World Mall is the tenth company that Whirlpool Group has merged, isn't it? It took Mr. Patel merely four years to help the Patel family make such a great comeback. He is really a genius in business!"

Mr. Patel?

Caroline frowned. She raised her eyes to gaze at the top of the spiral escalator, which spanned across three floors, a unique aspect of World Mall.

Except for several bodyguards clad in black at both ends, there was only a tall man in a suit standing on the escalator. He held a little boy who looked two or three years old in one arm. With an austere face and broad shoulders, he looked as powerful as an emperor.

Caroline only had to take one look to recognize the man as Rafael.