Chapter 4

Serena knelt on the floor, crying pitifully:

"I know I was wrong, and I wanted to apologize to my sister in person."

"I'm so sorry, I've done so many bad things in the past. Can you ever forgive me, sister?"

I looked down at Serena. Her lips spoke apologies, but deep in her eyes, there was defiance and mockery.

I tugged at the corner of my mouth and said in a detached voice:

"Get out of my sight!"

"I'll never forgive you!"

"Get lost!"

Hearing my words, Julian cursed her with disgust, even grabbing her clothes and dragging her out himself.

Serena lay on the ground, looking disheveled and miserable. Her bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at me, and she silently mouthed:

"Everything you have will be mine!"

My expression remained calm. Anything that could be snatched away wasn't worth my treasuring anyway.

Julian returned quickly. With disgust, he told his secretary to take away the food from The Grand Pavilion, then he led me to the cafeteria.

Lunch was sumptuous. Julian patiently picked out fish bones and deboned the ribs.

He meticulously served me, not caring in the least that we were being watched by everyone in the crowded cafeteria.

Employees eating around us cast envious glances. I calmly accepted Julian's ministrations, mocking him internally:

*Julian, you're such a good actor!*

Before we even finished eating, Julian's phone rang twice. I recognized that it wasn't his usual ringtone.

His expression remained normal as he hung up, but I still caught the anxiety in his eyes. Sure enough, a moment later, he said:

"Iris, an urgent document just came in. I need to go handle it."

With that, he rose and left without waiting for my reply.

I watched Julian's hurried back, clutching my phone tightly. Serena had just sent me a message:

"Want to know why Julian lets me crawl into his bed? Follow him."

I quietly followed Julian, watching his anxious figure, and couldn't help but mock myself.

He was usually very alert; he'd notice a car following him. Yet now, someone was following him, and he didn't even know it!

How desperate was he to see Serena?

I waited at the corner, and only when I heard a door close did I slowly approach.

Soon, I saw the words "Storage Room." I leaned against the wall, listening to the faint sounds coming from inside.

Serena:

"Julian, you're so cruel. You dragged me out without any mercy. I just wanted to see you."

Julian's voice was like ice:

"I've warned you many times not to show your face around Iris. Are you deaf?"

"Julian, please! Have mercy! *cough, cough, cough!*"

"I'll never do it again, don't choke me, *cough, cough*."

Julian:

"If there's a next time, don't blame me for being ruthless and selling you abroad!"

"Julian, calm down. You can do anything you want today. My dear sister hasn't satisfied you in days, has she?"

Serena's husky voice was seductive, followed by the sound of clothes rustling and bodies colliding.

Serena seemed to know I was outside, her cries deliberately dramatic and loud.

I bit my lip, listening to the commotion inside, not even noticing my lip bleeding. I felt a gaping hole tear through my heart.

I'd told myself to let go of Julian, that he wasn't worth my love.

But why did it still hurt so much?!

Soon, Serena's smug voice rang out again:

"Julian, you need to push harder, that way the baby will be healthy."

"Haven't you always wanted me to give you a child?"

Julian's hoarse, impatient voice sounded:

"Be quiet! Remember your place. You're just a baby machine. If you dare..."

Like a bolt of lightning, it struck my mind, leaving me dazed and disoriented.