Chapter 4

The noblewoman in the painting looked at me gently, like a silent comfort.

My nose tingled, and I nearly burst into tears.

My mother died young, leaving only this portrait she'd painted of herself before passing.

She said she hoped to watch me find a good match and live a smooth life through the painting's eyes.

This was my most precious possession, and naturally Elias knew it too.

After a moment's hesitation, he pointed toward the hallway.

"Put the painting outside first."

Rebecca's eyes flashed as she quickly stepped forward and snatched the portrait from the worker's hands.

"Elias is right. Such a valuable thing should definitely be handled carefully."

She said "handled carefully," but as she passed by, she deliberately dropped a lit lighter.

Flames rapidly licked at the fragile canvas, my mother's image fragmenting in an instant.

My eyes nearly split with rage as I lunged forward, but caught only a handful of ashes.

"I'm so sorry, Clara. The frame was too heavy and I couldn't hold it."

Hearing Rebecca's fake apology, I finally lost control and slapped her hard.

Rebecca screamed, and I gritted my teeth and landed several more slaps.

The next moment, a sharp pain suddenly shot through my scalp.

Elias yanked me away with a dark expression.

"Clara, have you lost your mind? It's just a broken painting, and you actually dare lay hands on Rebecca!"

Just a broken painting?

I looked at him in disbelief, my heart feeling like someone had viciously chiseled into it.

He knew perfectly well this was my mother's portrait!

Elias also realized what he'd said, his lips moving.

Just as he was about to speak, Rebecca covered her face and started crying.

"Elias, is my face disfigured? If my face is ruined, I don't want to live anymore!"

Elias held her with heartache, coaxing her with soft words.

Rebecca wouldn't let it go.

"Elias, why won't you stand up for me? Do you even care about me anymore? My parents are both gone. If you don't care about me, I might as well die!"

She started climbing toward the window, frightening everyone into rushing to stop her.

Seeing the scene descend into chaos, Elias gritted his teeth and ordered coldly.

"Slash Clara's face! When Rebecca's face heals, then you can treat hers!"

The staff were afraid of making things worse and tried to dissuade him.

Elias said coldly.

"So what if we offend the witch family backing Clara? I'm the Dubois Pack's Alpha heir. You think Dad would punish me over a witch?"

Seeing the others still didn't dare act, he decided to do it himself.

As he gripped my chin, Elias avoided my gaze.

"If you hadn't hurt Rebecca first, it wouldn't have come to this."

I looked at the faint finger marks on Rebecca's face and swallowed the metallic taste in my mouth, laughing through my tears.

"Elias, the biggest mistake I ever made in this life was being with you!"

Hearing the hatred in my words, his hand trembled, cutting a small gash at the corner of my eyebrow.

Warm blood dripped onto his fingers, and Elias's movements froze abruptly.

Rebecca shrieked.

"Elias, are you feeling sorry for her? Are you abandoning me?"

Elias's face twitched as his grip on the knife tightened.

"Clara, don't blame me."

As the cold blade approached again, the door was kicked open with a bang.

The knife stopped right in front of my eyelid.

Watching Leo grip Elias's wrist in an iron hold, Elias's expression turned murderous.

"You?"

"How dare a bastard who can't see the light of day try to stop me?"

The man laughed softly and, under Elias's shocked and furious gaze, swept me up in his arms.

"If you hurt my wife again, I guarantee I'll make you wish you were dead!"