With those words, she waved her hand, and a man suddenly walked over.

Bella wanted to cry out for help, but the man covered her mouth.

Linda walked up to Bella and patted her face.

"Bella, after today, everyone will know you are a slut. Everyone will know that you were messing around and angered Old Madam Quinn to death. Ha-ha."

Linda turned and left.

While Bella’s body felt limp, she was dragged into a room by the man.

The man rubbed his hands together and lecherously reached to pull at the strap of Bella’s evening gown.

"Little beauty, don't be afraid. Brother will treat you well..."

"I am Mrs. Quinn; if you dare touch me, the Quinn family won't let you off..." Bella was weak, but still trying to fight for herself.

"Ha-ha," the man laughed aloud. "A woman who has contracted AIDS—how could she possibly remain Mrs. Quinn..."

Bella hadn't expected Linda to be so ruthless, planning to use a sick man to ruin her.

Inadvertently, she spotted a camera placed in the room, and she broke out into a cold sweat.

This wasn't just about ruining her; she was going to broadcast it to the world. If Mason’s grandmother were to see her in such a lewd state...

Bella didn't dare to imagine the old lady’s condition.

No wonder Linda said she would be the one to anger Old Madam Quinn to death.

Did Mason know? Did he know the woman he loved had such a snake-like heart?

Wishing to claim his own grandmother’s life.

The man was clawing at her clothes, making her feel nauseous.

She didn't want this. She didn't want it.

She wished someone would save her.

If Mason realized she hadn't returned for such a long time, would he come looking?

After all, she was still Mason’s wife in name.

She tried to resist, calling out with all her might.

But there was still not a sound at the door.

She had to save herself.

She couldn't let Linda succeed.

She strained to reach for a vase on the nightstand—if she couldn't kill the man, she would kill herself, using all her strength on her carotid artery.

The moment she grabbed the vase, she slammed it into the man's head with all her might.

The vase shattered upon impact, and her hand was covered in blood.

The pain seemed to inject a sliver of strength into her body.

She grabbed a shard and held it against her own throat, stumbling out of bed, watching as the man clutched his head and approached her.

"If you dare come closer, I will die. If I die, you’ll have to pay with your life."

"We’re just going to have a little fun, why are you so stubborn?"

The man clutched his head, standing there.

Having a "fun time" was one thing, but paying with his life was another.

Though he was sick, he valued his life.

Bella gripped the shard tightly, letting it pierce her palm; the pain helped keep her consciousness somewhat clear.

She moved bit by bit toward the door, opening it quickly, only to see Mason.

In that moment, she felt a sliver of fortune, glad that she hadn't given Mason any attitude earlier today.

"Save... save me..."

"Bella?" Mason frowned. "What happened to you?"

"I’ve been drugged..." Bella was incoherent.

"Linda... there’s a man in the room. He has AIDS. You need to be careful..."

Mason’s face changed, and he looked toward the room she had burst out of.

The man chased after her and, seeing Mason, froze.

"Mason, this woman seduced me..." the man tried to argue.

Mason stared at him: "Who are you?"

"I... I am a waiter..." the man’s eyes darted around.

Bella clutched Mason’s arm: "Take me to the hospital... I beg you..."

Mason kicked the man. "I know what kind of person Bella is. Wait for me to settle this with you when I get back."

He picked up Bella. "Bear with it, I’ll take you to the hospital immediately."

But just as he turned around, Linda blocked him.

"I drugged her. I won't allow you to take her to the hospital."

Mason was momentarily stunned, losing his temper at Linda for the first time.

"Linda, how can you be so reckless?"

He tried to leave, but Linda continued to block him.

"I’m not reckless. I’m thinking about our future. Your grandmother has always opposed our marriage, which is why we’ve wasted so many years."

"Even if you divorce Bella, can Grandma agree to us being together?"

Mason knew that even if he divorced Bella, his marriage to Linda was not something that could be resolved in the short term.

Initially, the contract marriage with Bella was just to avoid being forced by his family to marry someone of equal status.

Merging the businesses would have made divorce too complicated.

But Bella was different—from a poor background, and she had saved Grandma; Grandma liked her.

She was the most suitable candidate.

As for Linda, his grandmother sincerely disliked her.

"Linda, this has nothing to do with Bella."

Mason said through gritted teeth.

"You saved her, but what if she bites back and exposes me?"

"Rest assured, I will make Bella shut her mouth. It won't have any impact on you."

Mason bypassed Linda, but was grabbed by the arm.

"Mason." Linda was full of tears.

"If Bella’s scandal is exposed, by comparison, I will be a hundred times better than her. You will also have a reason to persuade Grandma to marry me."

Mason remained stubbornly insistent. "Linda, I will definitely resolve our affairs. I will persist, persist until Grandma agrees to let me marry you."

Linda released Mason, wiped her tears, her eyes full of resolve.

"Mason, but I don't have time. My father said I have to be married into a business union within a month. I can't wait."

"Today, it’s her or me. You can only choose one. If you take her to the hospital, I’ll marry someone else. If you sacrifice her, we can be together for the rest of our lives."

Mason’s heart throbbed in pain.

He absolutely could not let Linda marry someone else.

He lowered his head to look at Bella.

If her reputation was ruined, by comparison, Linda’s excellence would become even more apparent.

By then, his grandmother would have no reason to refuse his marriage to Linda.

Everything would be solved.

Bella struggled to keep herself conscious; seeing the hesitation in Mason’s eyes, a bad premonition arose in her heart.

"Mason... please take me to the hospital... I have never done anything to let the Quinn family down... I cooperated with you to double the assets of Mason Enterprises... I even saved your grandmother... when you were sick, I even cooked porridge for you. We aren't enemies; we can at least be called friends. I will convince Grandma to let you marry Linda..."

Linda interrupted her, grabbing Mason’s hand:

"Mason, for the sake of our future, let’s be ruthless just this once. We can just give her a sum of money she’ll never be able to earn in her lifetime. It’s just sleeping with someone, she won’t lose out."

"But that man is sick." Mason said.

Linda was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered:

"So what? We can just have her take post-exposure prophylaxis afterward. We’ve already come this far; I don't want to fall short at the last minute. I don't want to marry anyone else; I only want to marry you."

Mason looked down at Bella.

He thought of the three years, how she had smiled time and time again saying:

"Mason, you really are a faithful man."

"Mason, Linda must be a beautiful and kind-hearted girl, otherwise how could you be so hung up on her."

"Don't worry, I will definitely help you fend off those bad influences and ensure you stay 'clean' for Linda."

For three years, she had been helping him cover his tracks.

Helping him deal with his family.

And now, he was about to destroy her entire life.

Bella gripped the shard of porcelain, but even pain couldn't stop her gaze from drifting.

Looking at Mason’s behavior, her last glimmer of hope was extinguished.

"Mason... if Grandma finds out, she certainly won't be able to take it. Are you trying to..." she began.

"Bella, don't be alarmist. Grandma is in good health. Only when she knows how despicable you are will she stop opposing Mason and me."

Linda looked at Mason again. "Mason, the choice is yours. Whatever you say, goes. I respect it. Even if I can't be with you in this lifetime, I accept it."

Mason was silent.

Bella knew she was done for.

Mason would unwaveringly choose Linda.

"Mason... for the sake of the thousand-plus days we spent together, I beg you... choose a different man... I want a clean man..."

"Mason, there’s no time! If someone comes, it’ll all be for nothing!" Linda urged.

Mason looked at Bella, a flicker of extreme reluctance and struggle flashing across his eyes.