Chapter 3

Shadow stretched out his tongue to lick my palm, his gentle eyes full of reluctance.

"Shadow, hang on. I'll take you to find a doctor right now."

Tears streamed down my face. I frantically tried to run out with Shadow in my arms, but was pinned down by security guards.

Zachary stepped on my shoulder, looking down at me from above.

"Pure black dog blood is the most nourishing. I lost so much blood."

"Killing this beast to replenish my body is only right, isn't it, Isabelle?"

I glared at Isabelle with reddening eyes and roared.

"Isabelle Jensen, you know perfectly well that Shadow is the only thing my mother left me. He even saved your life!"

"Do you have any conscience? For this enemy, you'd even kill Shadow!"

Isabelle slightly avoided my gaze and argued unreasonably.

"If you hadn't impulsively injured Zachary, he wouldn't have had to die."

"He was just an old beast about to die anyway. Dying while contributing to people, accumulating some merit-maybe he'll be reborn into a good life."

Zachary laughed loudly. As I watched with splitting eyes, he chopped off Shadow's head with one axe blow. He laughed triumphantly.

"Adrian Stone, so what if you've licked her boots for eight years?"

"In her heart, you'll never compare to me!"

He looked at Isabelle, his tone frivolous.

"You've already completed two of the three promises. For the last one, I want you to register our marriage with me."

I didn't hear his words. I just stared blankly at Shadow's corpse. Endless hatred grew in my heart. To hell with parting amicably.

I looked at Isabelle with bloodshot eyes, cursing her word by word.

"Isabelle , you bitch! If your parents' spirits in heaven saw you bearing a child for their enemy, they'd probably regret ever giving birth to you!"

"Five years ago, Shadow shouldn't have risked his life to save you from those criminals. He should have let you be violated to death."

"Isabelle Jensen, you're not worthy of anyone's love!"

Isabelle's expression changed drastically, as if my words had struck a painful spot. She spoke impatiently.

"You keep talking about gratitude. If we're talking about that, the Jensen family's kindness to you is greater!"

"My parents supported you growing up. Helping me was your obligation from the start. Don't try to guilt-trip me!"

I laughed loudly at Isabelle. Through my blurred vision, I seemed to see again the woman who once cried and promised to love me forever. In another blink, what I saw was her hypocritical, selfish face.

Overcome with anger and grief, I passed out directly.

When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital bed. I struggled to leave but was stopped by security guards. Isabelle had imprisoned me in the hospital.

She didn't arrive until evening, handing me an urn. She said softly.

"Shadow's ashes."

I took the box and held it tightly in my arms, speaking sarcastically.

"Should I thank you for collecting his remains?"

Isabelle looked at my cold eyes, feeling a slight stabbing pain in her heart. I had always been gentle and considerate toward her. She was very uncomfortable with this coldness.

She comforted herself that I was just angry. Once she completed the three promises, she would properly soothe me.

With this thought, her heart settled. She held my hand and spoke gently.

"Adrian, my heart isn't made of stone. After eight years together, I've long since fallen in love with you."

"Once I fulfill my last promise to Zachary, I'll live a good life with you."

"I'll give you a grand wedding, even grander than the one with Zachary."

I looked at her mockingly.

"What gives you the illusion that I'd still be with you?"

A flash of anger appeared in Isabelle's eyes. She raised her voice.

"You're a penniless househusband now. If you don't stay with me, where can you go?"

I thought I wouldn't be hurt by her anymore, but these words still stabbed my heart.

Back then, I willingly returned to domestic life for the sake of the child, wanting to create a warm and happy family of three.

All those beautiful visions had now turned into arrows, piercing my heart until it bled.

"Get out! I don't want to see you anymore!"

I roared, chasing her away. Isabelle wasn't angry. She gently patted my hand.

"I'll give you time to accept reality. No matter what, I won't abandon you."

"Just be good. While Zachary and I are preparing for the wedding, don't appear. It'll save us from uglier rumors spreading."

After saying this, she turned to leave. Before going, she didn't forget to tell the security guards to take good care of me.

Hearing her hypocritical concern, I felt physically sick.

After she left, I tore off the necklace I'd been wearing. The built-in alarm was triggered.

Half an hour later, all the security guards Isabelle had left were subdued. I looked at the butler, Mr. Morrison, standing respectfully before me and said coldly.

"I agree to return and inherit the family assets. But first, investigate all of Zachary's and Isabelle's interactions over these years!"