Bella turned off her phone and buried her face in the pillow.

Her cheeks still throbbed, but her heart ached even more.

It wasn't because of Mason, but because of her own helplessness—she was the one who had been bullied, yet she was the one who had to apologize.

She wanted to go home. She wanted her parents.

But for the sake of the land, she had no choice.

She thought self-deprecatingly: It’s just ten slaps and a bit of a bad reputation; at least she had earned twenty million.

Chapter 5

In the study next door.

Mason sat behind the expansive desk, files for a merger case spread out before him, yet he couldn't read a single word.

On his phone screen was the statement Bella had just published.

The comments were growing at a visible rate, filled with vile, filthy language.

He frowned, instinctively wanting to call the PR department to control the narrative, but his finger stopped on the dial button and hesitated.

He couldn't intervene.

This was what he had promised Linda. He had to let Bella "learn her lesson" and protect Linda’s reputation.

He had to prove that he had no lingering feelings for Bella.

He loosened his tie in frustration and lit a cigarette.

Through the swirling smoke, the image of Bella’s profound despair in her swollen, reddened eyes from earlier inexplicably flashed before his eyes.

Along with the fractured, choking sound of her voice.

Something in his heart felt like it had been pricked by a tiny needle.

For these past three years, they had lived under the same roof.

When he was sick, she had made congee; when he suffered from insomnia, she had taken him for runs; when he missed Linda, she encouraged him to stay the course—

He knew he had gone too far.

Far more than just "too far."

He had hit her.

More than once.

Ten slaps.

Slapped across the face of a woman who had committed no errors and had worked meticulously for three years to help him maintain his image.

He had promised her that during the duration of their agreement, he would give her enough face and a sense of security.

But...

But Linda had waited for him for three years.

He had sworn he wouldn't let her suffer any more grievances.

As for Bella—it had been a transaction from the start. A clean exchange, getting what they each needed.

He had hit her, and he had provided compensation.

He had done his duty.

He didn't need to feel guilty.

He didn't have to feel guilty.

As for that insignificant feeling of discomfort, it was merely due to the fact that they had lived under the same roof for three years, a bit of professional courtesy.

He loved Linda. In the past, he lacked the power and couldn't protect her.

Now, he had sufficient power; naturally, he couldn't let her suffer a single grievance.

Yes. That was exactly it.

Chapter 6

Two days later, Bella applied a thick layer of foundation to cover her bruises and returned to the family estate with Mason.

She coaxed the old lady into high spirits just as she always did.

As usual, the old lady insisted they stay the night.

In the past, when staying over, Bella would always take the initiative to sleep on the sofa, joking with a smile:

"This is our 'revolutionary friendship' of sharing a room. If I ever fall on hard times in the future, will you pull me up based on this friendship?"

Although Mason never replied, he felt at ease.

In his heart, he had decided that if Bella ever needed help in the future, he would not stand idly by.

But this time, Bella silently slept on the sofa.

She didn't say another word to Mason.

Mason looked at her cold demeanor, wanting to say something, but swallowing it back down.

Ever since the incident, the two seemed to have transformed from friends into strangers.

Strangers in a way that made him feel uncomfortable.

The night passed in silence.

The next day, under the watchful eyes of the old lady, Bella climbed into the passenger seat of Mason’s car.

After the car drove out of the estate, Mason received a phone call and pulled over in a quiet corner.

Before he could speak, Bella tactfully exited the vehicle.

Mason looked at her through the car window: "My assistant will come to pick you up in a while."

Bella nodded and said politely, "Thank you."

If it weren't for the fact that this villa area made it impossible to hail a taxi, she really wouldn't want to accept his kindness.

An hour passed while she waited.

The assistant’s phone wouldn't go through.

She thought about returning to the estate, but she couldn't afford the consequences of doing so.

She sighed.

There weren't many days left; she just had to hold on a little longer.

After Bella walked for an hour with her high heels in hand, finally exiting the massive villa complex—

A car accelerated and rushed toward her.

She instinctively tried to dodge, but how could a person's speed possibly outrun a car?

Before losing consciousness, she saw Linda’s triumphant, smiling face in the driver’s seat.

In that moment, Bella thought: If I die, will Mason try to back out of the land deal?

When Bella woke up again, she found herself lying in a hospital bed.

Her head was wrapped in gauze, and her entire body ached as if it had been shattered.

Arguments drifted in from outside the ward.

"I just wanted to see if you would feel bad if I hit her with the car."

It was Linda’s voice.

"Linda, that’s intentional harm! If anything happens to her, you’ll go to prison!"

Mason’s voice suppressed his rage.

"You would protect me, wouldn't you? Didn't you say you would protect me forever?"

"This is different."

"Mason, you feel bad, don't you? Over these three years, you’ve developed feelings for her, haven't you?"

Mason’s voice was weary:

"I haven't. But Bella is innocent; you shouldn't have done that."

"Innocent? She’s occupied the position of Mrs. Quinn for three years, stealing what should have been mine—how is she innocent? Mason, if you feel so bad for her, then just let me go to prison."

"Linda, don't use that to hurt me; you know I can't bear to let you go."

The argument outside gave Bella a headache.

She reached for her phone; she had to call the police.

This was attempted murder by Linda.

Just as her hand touched the phone, the ward door was pushed open.

Mason walked in, surprised to see Bella awake.

Seeing her movement, he stepped forward instinctively and snatched the phone away.

"Bella, I suggest you settle this privately. Linda didn't mean it; she was just impulsive for a moment."

Bella smiled: "Mason, do you believe that? There are surveillance cameras on the road."

Mason’s expression stiffened: "The cameras were broken."

Bella wasn't surprised.

For Mason to shield Linda, a single broken camera was nothing.

He had the ability to clear any hidden risks for Linda.

"Mason, do you know what you are doing right now? You are aiding and abetting a crime."

Mason pulled a document from his briefcase:

"This is an agreement. Sign it, forget this incident, and I will compensate you."

Bella looked at Mason in anger.

"Mason, how much money do you intend to pay to buy my life?"

Mason frowned: "Bella, don't be so sarcastic. Without evidence, even if you don't sign, Linda won't face any trouble."

"For the sake of Linda, have you lost all sense of right and wrong?"

Mason shoved the document into Bella’s hand.

"Bella, instead of getting angry and questioning me, think about it: do you have the leverage to make a scene? If you want to make trouble, we have witnesses and testimony. The doctor checked you out; you only have a concussion and some superficial wounds. Linda was very measured; she was just testing my feelings for her."

He paused: "I know you could tell Grandma. But the day your grandmother finds out, I will have the construction crew move onto the site. Bella, don't throw a tantrum. I know Linda went too far, but no matter what happens, I will stand by her."

Bella gripped the agreement.

"Mason, you were the one who found me and asked me to be your contract wife. You were also the one who said that during the agreement, you would protect me and not let me suffer any harm."

"But it was also you who slapped me a dozen times and then let Linda hit me with her car. Now you want me to let Linda off the hook?"

"Your promises are truly laughable."

"I have already given you compensation, what else do you want?" Mason disliked Bella’s aggressive stance.

She was perfectly fine, and he had already given her so much money.

Yet Bella wanted to nail him to the pillar of moral shame.