Chapter 4

Selena's POV

For the next half month, Damien kept me under house arrest.

My phone was confiscated, the villa's internet disconnected.

Every day, only servants delivered meals at set times, along with Damien's late-night returns to take what he wanted.

He seemed to want to use this method to smooth out all my rough edges.

I became increasingly silent.

I no longer resisted, no longer mentioned calling off the engagement, didn't even bring up Violet's name anymore.

I became like an exquisite porcelain doll, letting Damien manipulate me however he pleased.

Damien thought I had compromised.

Late one night, emboldened by alcohol, Damien embraced me from behind.

"Selena, the wedding is set for the eighth of next month. Stop making trouble, okay?"

He nuzzled my neck, his voice carrying a rare trace of exhaustion.

I looked out at the pitch-black window and answered softly, "Okay."

Damien seemed pleasantly surprised. He turned my face to look at my expression.

I cooperatively showed him an obedient smile.

"Damien, I want to pick out a necklace for the wedding. I accidentally lost that 'Heart of True Love' from last time."

Damien paused slightly, then showed some distress. "If it's lost, it's lost. I'll buy you something even better. Tomorrow I'll have my assistant Adam take you. I still have a contract to sign."

"Okay."

The next day, accompanied by Adam, I went to New York's largest jewelry store.

Violet somehow got wind of it and showed up with her bodyguards too.

"Selena, what a coincidence."

Violet, her belly not yet obviously showing, paraded through the lobby.

She walked up to me and pointed ostentatiously at the necklace around her neck.

It was another pink diamond.

Though smaller than the one I had lost, the design was identical.

"Damien said he was worried I'd be bored alone at the villa, so he specially gave me this."

I glanced at the diamond, my expression indifferent. "It suits you."

Violet's triumphant expression froze, as if she hadn't expected my reaction.

But I simply walked calmly toward the VIP room.

As I passed Violet, I suddenly stopped and said in a low voice:

"Violet, everything you want, I'll give it to you very soon."

Violet frowned. "What do you mean?"

I didn't answer.

I went to the counter and selected several heavy pieces of jewelry, then excused myself to go to the restroom.

In a bathroom stall, I quickly pulled out a new phone hidden in my clothes.

I had secretly bribed a maid to buy it for me.

I dialed a number.

"Prepare a car for me. Tomorrow afternoon, pick me up at the back mountain dock."

A low male voice answered on the other end. "Selena, are you sure you want to do this? If Damien discovers you're not dead, the consequences will be unthinkable."

I looked at my pale reflection in the mirror and gave a self-mocking smile.

"He'll see my 'body.'"

"As long as he believes I'm dead, he won't pursue it anymore."

After hanging up, I dismantled the SIM card and flushed it down the toilet.

I walked out of the restroom to find Adam waiting at the door.

"Let's go. Back to the villa."

I still had one final act to perform.

An act about death.

Only a dead Selena could truly gain freedom.

And Violet, pregnant with Damien's child, would be the best supporting player in my plan.

Since Damien so desperately wanted a child and a docile wife.

Then I would grant his wish.

I would vacate this position completely.