Giselle clung to Preston’s arm, but underneath her, the floor was being stained red by blood.

Preston’s face darkened instantly: "What’s happening? Giselle, you... are you pregnant?"

He couldn't believe it. His arms trembled as he swept her up, and he shoved Serena aside as he passed her.

The pool of fresh blood on the floor pierced Serena’s eyes.

Serena held back her tears, her heart aching. Not only had they cheated on her behind her back, but they even had a child!

The lump in her throat faded little by little. Serena returned home in a daze and collapsed from illness.

In the middle of the night, half-awake and half-dreaming, the bedroom door was suddenly kicked open.

Serena was pulled up from the bed by a powerful force, meeting Preston’s icy glare.

"Giselle lost the baby. Are you satisfied now? It’s all because of you that Giselle was hurt so badly. You’re coming to the hospital with me to apologize to her."

The word "apologize" completely crossed Serena’s line.

She shook off Preston’s hand forcefully and mocked him coldly:

"She’s a disgraceful mistress, so why should I apologize?"

"She lied to me for three years and slept with my husband behind my back. She should be the one kneeling in front of me, begging for my forgiveness!"

"Ending up like this is the karma you two deserve!"

Chapter 3

Preston suppressed his anger, his voice laced with an unmistakable chill.

"Serena, if you dare call her a mistress again, just try it."

"And what about you? Who doesn't know about the shameless things you've done out there to climb the social ladder and build connections? Those people talk behind your back, calling you a social butterfly. You don't actually think that's a compliment, do you?"

"You're no cleaner than she is!"

The cold words struck Serena’s heart like a heavy hammer.

In her memory, she had drunk until she suffered gastric hemorrhaging time and again just so Preston wouldn't be suppressed by his family and could make his comeback.

For the sake of a contract or a project, she had been willing to endure her disgust and accompany partners to dinner.

Back then, Preston had felt pained by her running around for him.

"Serena, things aren't like before. You don't have to sacrifice yourself for me anymore. From now on, if there’s something you don't like doing, don't do it. You have the right to be free when you’re with me."

Serena still remembered his expression when he said those words—gentle to the bone, not like now, calling her shameless.

During their hardest times, she navigated the social circles for him, only to have him label her a social butterfly in return.

So that was how he saw her.

Everything she did for him had been a wasted effort, and he had accepted it with peace of mind, even feeling... that she was dirty.

Slap.

Serena used all her strength to slap him across the face.

Preston licked his parched lips, completely unfazed. He gripped Serena’s wrist and dragged her into the car rudely.

She thought he was taking her to the hospital, but the car headed toward the mountains.

Suddenly, with a sharp screech of brakes, Preston tossed her out of the car. His eyes were cold and sharp. "You can choose now: apologize to Giselle, or stay here and sober up."

She stumbled, the soles of her feet pricked by the terrain, drawing blood.

"Preston, have you lost your mind?"

In the middle of the night, he had brought her to an empty, deep mountain area. She was barefoot, had no money, and no phone. To get back, she would have to yield to him.

Preston’s voice was detached. "It seems you’re still unwilling to lower your head. Then walk home from here. I want to see just how stubborn you really are."

Watching him actually leave her alone and drive away, Serena’s eyes turned red with fury.

"Preston, you liar!"

He had promised to love only her for the rest of his life!

Yet, in the end, there wasn't a single word of truth in his mouth!

In the biting cold, Serena gritted her teeth and walked forward step by step, shivering. No one ever passed through here, let alone in the middle of the night.

The soles of her feet were already raw, worn through and bleeding profusely. The stinging pain spread throughout her entire body. She clutched herself tightly, refusing to let her tears fall.

By the early hours of the morning, a torrential rain began to pour.

It was noon the next day when Serena finally reached home, barefoot and battered by the storm.

The moment she pushed the door open, she heard Giselle’s voice from inside.

"Preston, where did you send Serena? I don't want her to misunderstand me further. Can you treat her well from now on?"

Preston’s tone turned cold instantly. "Giselle, you are too kind. Even when you care for her so much, she might not be willing to get along with you. But I will listen to you and try to restrain my temper."

Serena sneered and walked in, her feet caked in mud.

She was shivering violently, her feet covered in blood and water.

Seeing this, Giselle immediately came to her and, without a word, crouched down to wipe Serena’s feet.

But suddenly, Preston flew into a rage and pulled Giselle up. "You don't need to be so subservient in front of her. It was she who harmed you, and she is the one who should be feeling guilty."

Chapter 4

Serena felt a wave of nausea at the sight of the two of them.

She pushed Giselle aside and headed upstairs, but she stopped halfway.

She saw all her belongings packed and thrown into the hallway. The servants were clearing out the master bedroom to decorate it according to Giselle’s preferences.

Serena stood on the stairs and looked at Preston sharply. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Giselle just had a miscarriage. I’m worried about her being alone, so I brought her here to stay for a while. Don't worry, she’ll move out in half a month."

Giselle wore that same terrified expression, as if Serena had committed some heinous crime against her.

A servant carried over a large treasure chest and asked Serena for instructions: "Ma'am, how should I deal with these items?"

Serena looked over. It contained all the gifts Preston had given her over the years—valuable or not, she had cherished them all.

"Throw them away. And those wedding photos in the bedroom—burn them all."

After saying this, Serena picked up her own things and walked into the guest bedroom.

Just moments ago, Serena had decided to get a divorce. Since Preston never wanted to marry her in the first place, she would grant his wish.

Serena called her lawyer: "Draft a divorce agreement and bring it over. As soon as possible."

Once everything was arranged, she showered, changed her clothes, and prepared to go out.

She saw Preston and Giselle fussing in the kitchen. Fearing Giselle was too tired, he pushed her out of the kitchen and busied himself with cooking.

Serena’s eyes stung.

Preston had never entered the kitchen for her; she hadn't even known he could cook.

Giselle turned around and her eyes met Serena’s. Her smile stiffened in fear: "Serena, where are you going? Have you applied medicine to the wounds on your feet?"

Serena ignored her and walked out the door without looking back.

She drank recklessly at a bar. Their mutual friends, upon hearing what she had been through, cursed Giselle for being an ingrate.

"Has she forgotten that if it weren't for you, she would have been sold off as a slave long ago? She actually dares to steal your man—shameless!"

"Serena, are you just going to let this go? Are you just going to let her walk all over you?"

Serena sneered. "Preston thought it was a disgrace for me to be out there facing people to secure investments and projects for him. Then let’s see what a 'white lotus' who only knows how to act pitiful can provide for him."

Just before coming to the bar, Serena had already contacted the companies that had business dealings with Preston.

Once their contracts ended, they would no longer need to cooperate for her sake.

Her friend still felt it was unfair for Serena: "If it weren't for you, would he even have the capital to make a comeback? Preston and Giselle are both ungrateful wretches. Honestly, they’re a perfect match."

Amidst the clinking glasses, Serena laughed listlessly. Only a few days ago, she never imagined that her marriage with Preston would end this way.

The private room door was suddenly kicked open.

Serena’s heart skipped a beat as she watched Preston storm in and grab her wrist.

"I knew you wouldn't be well-behaved. Why did you bring Giselle to a place like this? You knew she just had a miscarriage, and yet you forced her to drink cold beer? Is your heart black?"