Chapter 5

Anya POV

"No! Don't!"

In desperation, I bit the inside of my mouth, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

I shrieked, struggling like a trapped beast.

"If you dare touch me, I'll kill myself right here!!"

The men froze, scared.

They didn't want a murder on their hands either.

"Forget it, just finish the photos and leave. We've got our money anyway."

"Such a shame, such a beautiful woman, only allowed to touch, not to taste."

...

I don't know how long it was until I heard the door open outside.

I moved my wrists and found I wasn't tied.

I staggered to my feet, stiffly putting my torn clothes back on, piece by piece.

I didn't call the police. Instead, I went to the cemetery.

I lay weakly on my mother's tombstone, crying as if to shed all the tears of my life.

"Mom, they're all bullying me because you're not here."

The next day, with a pale face, I brought fresh flowers to my mother's grave.

I stayed there for three days, oblivious to everything.

Without food or water.

Just sitting with my knees hugged, staring blankly at my mother's photo.

Until I collapsed from exhaustion and was taken to the hospital by a passerby.

During this time, Ethan began openly flaunting his affair in the media, taking Serena to various events only wives could attend.

He also punished the parents and students who had bullied Lily at school, then announced that Lily was his child.

Finally, he arranged Serena's divorce, ensuring her ex-husband left with nothing and was even sent to prison.

Serena was constantly by his side.

Countless times, Serena posted on Ins, thanking him profusely.

"I thought I had entered hell, but I never expected him to bring me back to heaven."

The accompanying picture showed their hands clasped together.

"He said we are the happiest family of three."

A happy photo of the three of them in front of an amusement park. Ethan holding Serena and Lily, smiling brightly.

"Turns out, you don't mind my past, and you're even willing to..."

This photo was the most explicit.

It showed a white five-star hotel bedsheet, with the familiar bare shoulder of a man.

Seeing this picture, I only felt disgust and ridicule.

I still remembered Ethan's solemn promises that he would never cheat again.

But in just one year.

He was dirty once more.

So disgusting.

I turned off my phone, unwilling to look anymore.

A week later, at my mother's grave, I saw the person I least wanted to see.

Ethan, with a group of bodyguards, was destroying my mother's tombstone.

I instantly lost control, rushing forward and firmly blocking their way.

"Stop! Who gave you permission to touch my mother's grave?!"

Ethan looked at me coldly.

"It's been a week. You disappeared for an entire week. I looked everywhere and finally found you here."

"Aren't you going to explain?"

I just felt absurd.

"You didn't ask why I disappeared, but you were having an affair with Serena."

"What explanation do you want?"

Ethan's gaze darkened.

"Serena and I aren't what you think; I just feel grateful to her."

I was so angry I laughed. "Grateful? Does gratitude involve kissing, sleeping together? Does gratitude involve destroying my mother's tombstone for her?!"

"Well, that's quite remarkable gratitude. I want that kind of gratitude from you too!"

Ethan's suppressed emotions instantly erupted. He rushed forward and gripped my wrist tightly.

"If I hadn't cleaned up your mess last time, you'd be in jail for assault and slander!"

"I'm only destroying your mother's tombstone to force you out, to make you apologize to Serena!"

I struggled desperately. "Get lost! Never!"

His gaze grew even more sinister, and he motioned to the bodyguards beside him.

"Keep smashing. Dig up the ashes and dump them in the sewer."