Chapter 7

In the dim light, I still saw the pure fury blazing in Julian’s eyes.

This time, he was truly enraged.

Julian slammed me against the wall, lunging at me with primal force.

He didn't say a word, roughly tearing at me. It hurt.

I fought him like a maniac, but his hand clamped over my mouth, stifling my screams.

Julian was a beast, leaving his marks all over me. I bit down on his tongue until I tasted blood.

At a critical moment, I used my remaining strength to grab the stun gun from my bag and pressed it down hard.

"Woo-wee! Woo-wee!" The stun gun blared, drawing the attention of nearby neighbors.

I seized the chance to shove him away and scrambled away, terrified.

Julian was truly insane.

I hadn't provoked *him*. Couldn't I provoke his *father* instead?

Lost in thought, I suddenly noticed the painting hanging in the living room.

Julian had given it to me when we were young.

I looked at the artwork, and memories flooded my mind.

"Julian, would you paint something for me too, please?"

Julian looked helpless, pulling my hand, a troubled expression on his face:

"I'm terrible at painting."

Yet, in the end, the Julian who was "terrible at painting" stayed up for nights on end to paint that picture for me.

I had always cherished it.

Did I truly not love him?

The answer no longer mattered.

I wiped away my tears. Let the past stay in the past.

The most important thing now was to uncover the truth.

The next day, the Thorne family car came to pick me up. I was moving into the Thorne mansion.

I glanced at the painting, hesitated, but ultimately didn't take it with me.

By the time I arrived at the Thorne mansion, it was already evening.

A line of household staff greeted me at the entrance.

I sighed, remembering how glorious my own family had once been.

To think I was now becoming someone else's stepmom—it truly was unimaginable.

Mr. Thorne and I had a contractual marriage; we wouldn't be living together.

So, I asked a maid to show me to my bedroom.

As soon as I entered the room, a woody scent drifted into my nostrils. The smell was strangely familiar.

It smelled like Julian.

Just then, the doorknob to the ensuite bathroom turned. I jumped, startled.

When I saw who emerged, I instantly turned to open the door, wanting to escape.

But the door was locked.