Chapter 4

When I woke up again, thick bandages were wrapped around my knees.

Anna beside me looked like she wanted to say something but held back, her eyes red.

"If you want to say something, just say it."

What else could I not bear at this point?

Seeing my resigned expression, Anna held my hand sympathetically, trying hard to comfort me:

"Madam, it was just a small miscarriage. You'll have another chance in the future!"

My heart skipped a beat. I instinctively touched my abdomen.

After a long while, I moved my arm away. Tears unconsciously streamed down my face as I calmly instructed:

"Don't tell anyone, especially not Shen."

A few days before the graduation party, Lily finally got her hands on my mermaid wedding dress as she wished.

Shen, who usually hated troublesome events, surprisingly attended a private auction that day.

By the time I was invited over, the auction was nearly over.

Lily was satisfied to receive my grandmother's jade bracelet that had been passed down for generations, exclaiming:

"I've only ever seen this on TV before. I never thought I'd be able to own such a top-tier jade bracelet. Thank you, Mr. Johnson!"

Shen naturally put his arm around her shoulders, his gaze falling on the host as he smiled lightly:

"Using it as your graduation gift is most fitting."

The people around admired Shen's grand gesture, unable to help but applaud:

"It's rare to see Mr. Johnson splurge like this for his sweetheart. How extravagant!"

"This display of affection, I bet someone is going to be insanely jealous!"

"Hey, why does this bracelet look so familiar? Isn't it the heirloom jade bracelet of the Johnson family's daughter-in-law?"

"Mr. Johnson, you didn't auction off your wife's belongings, did you?"

People spoke teasingly, somewhat wanting to see some drama unfold.

Shen didn't bother to hide anything and admitted it right away.

Everyone knew that was my most treasured possession, yet Shen deliberately auctioned it off in front of everyone to please his lover.

I stood dazed at the doorway, watching as people continued to flatter Shen, surrounding him at the center.

Lily had never seen such a grand gesture before and was instantly elated.

Just then, Shen's heavy gaze turned towards me.

I bit my lip hard, my eyes reddening at the scene before me.

The noisy, lively voices suddenly stopped. Everyone was looking in my direction.

"Shen, why did you auction off the heirloom my grandmother left me?"

"Do you hate this arranged marriage so much?"

Besides that, I couldn't think of any other reason why Shen would hate me so much.

Hearing mention of old matters, Shen's expression turned cold as he held Lily even closer.

"Rachel, you should have expected this day would come when you married me."

"Just looking at you for a second after we got married made me feel sick!"

After seven years, Shen once again spoke his true feelings. I smiled, feeling as if a weight had been lifted.

But tears kept coming unbidden, pouring out endlessly.

I begged him, almost pleading, to return the bracelet to me. I even offered divorce:

"I promise you, I can divorce you and let you never see me again. Please, can you give me back my grandmother's things?"

Shen's brows furrowed, inexplicably annoyed.

The people around once again got their fill of drama, unable to help but comment:

"Rachel has loved Mr. Johnson for over ten years. She even chose her university just to follow him. How can she talk about divorce so easily?"

"Is this a ploy to get him back? This tactic is too old-fashioned!"

"Trust me, she'll cry and make a fuss at most. By tomorrow she'll be begging to reconcile again!"

People confidently guessed all my thoughts, as if they knew exactly what was in my mind.

I couldn't blame them for thinking this way. After all, every time Shen had a fight with one of his lovers, I was always the one to actively make peace in the end.

But this time, I had no other intentions. I just wanted my things back.

"Please, Shen."

I was almost about to kneel and beg him to agree, but he handed the choice to Lily instead.

"I've said before, anything Lily wants, you have no right to compete for!"

"Unless you're willing to lower your head and beg her yourself!"

Everyone's gazes fell on Lily again, waiting for her decision.

Lily just glanced at Shen before turning to me and saying:

"This is the graduation gift Mr. Johnson gave me. Sis, can't you let me have it just this once?"

Lily seemed to be reminding me of the consequences of not letting her have the wedding dress last time.

In an instant, I felt as if I had fallen into an ice pit. The words I wanted to say got stuck in my throat.

In the end, I was mercilessly rejected by the two of them and driven out by security.