Chapter 3

When I woke up again,

Mom and Dad were by my bedside. Seeing me awake, they both let out a sigh of relief.

“You scared us to death, darling. Why on earth were you out in the rain? You have a high fever…”

Mom cried, pulling me into a tight embrace.

“You’ve suffered so much, my child.”

Dad was furious, cursing Hugh under his breath.

I stared blankly at the ceiling, my mind consumed by Buddy.

*Ding-dong*.

I picked up my phone. It was a video from Seraphina.

Bloody. Blurry.

I could faintly make out Buddy, alone and helpless, being abused by someone.

My hands trembled.

Suddenly, without warning, I dry-heaved.

Tears mixed with vomit, leaving me a wretched mess.

Mom and Dad gasped in alarm.

They rushed to clean me up.

I clutched my head, sobbing hysterically.

But moments later, the hospital room door was kicked open.

People from the corporate investigators stood at the doorway, staring coldly at Dad.

Dad’s face instantly paled.

He gave Mom a look, then walked out with them.

Mom’s eyes were bloodshot, and she held me tightly.

She hadn’t wanted to tell me.

But after I pressed her repeatedly,

She finally explained everything.

Mom and Dad couldn’t stand to see me suffer.

How could their daughter, whom they’d doted on since childhood, be treated so horribly?

So they stood up for me, ending their partnership with Hugh.

But they never expected.

Hugh to be so ruthless, using corporate sabotage tactics against our family.

“It’s very tricky.”

Mom said, worried, but still tried to reassure me.

“It’s okay. As long as you’re well, that’s all that matters.”

I clenched my fists, couldn’t help but throw back the covers and get out of bed.

I was going to confront Hugh.

Mom couldn’t stop me, but she was too worried to let me go alone.

So she followed closely behind me.

I returned to what used to be our marital home.

Hugh forgetting me was one thing,

But how dare he put my parents’ company in jeopardy?

How dare he cause Buddy’s horrific death?

*Beep—*

The sound of an incorrect fingerprint echoed.

I bit my lip and tried the password.

Still wrong.

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Mom patted my shoulder, about to resort to force when.

The door opened from inside.

Seraphina stood there in matching pajamas, hickeys clearly visible on her neck.

She saw me and, for once, actually smiled, greeting my mom.

“Hello, Eleanor. Come on in.”

Seeing her act like she owned the place, Mom was furious, about to turn and leave,

But I remembered we were here to solve a problem. I quickly pulled her inside.

Hugh was sprawled on the sofa, holding a wine glass. He paused when he saw me.

A flash of excitement and joy flickered in his eyes.

But then he clutched his head, his brows furrowed, pain making him look lost and helpless.

After a long moment, he looked up.

His eyes were arctic cold.

“What are you doing back here?”

Seraphina gave him a playful glare, then smiled and motioned us in.

“I might have been a bit out of line yesterday. I was actually planning to apologize to you today, but you beat me to it.”

She smiled, pointing to the dining table.

“Let’s talk things over after we’ve had something to eat. Why don’t you try my cooking?”

Hugh sat expressionless at the head of the table, not sparing me a glance.

Mom looked at me, worried.

I patted her hand, shaking my head.

“I’m fine.”

I also wanted to see.

What she was planning.

I pulled out a chair and sat down. Seraphina actively served me a bowl of meat soup, then smiled sweetly at me.

“Want a taste?”

I took the bowl, suspicious.

But the moment the meat touched my tongue,

I knew something was wrong.

The taste was utterly strange, unlike anything I’d ever eaten.

Seeing me take a bite, Seraphina grinned.

Her eyes gleamed with pure malice.

“Chloe, how do you like the taste of your own dog?”