Chapter 3

The first day of the live stream ended amidst Arthur's "devotion" and my "madness."

The online backlash against me surged, with #CancelScarlett and #MyHeartAchesForArthur trending, each followed by a blazing "HOT" tag.

Countless marketing accounts churned out articles overnight, portraying Arthur as the modern-day paragon of devotion and sacrifice.

And I, the ungrateful, psychologically twisted lunatic.

The next day, the live stream cameras flickered on precisely on time.

Arthur limped out, dark circles under his eyes. Before leaving, he looked back at my room repeatedly, his gaze filled with worry and reluctance.

As soon as he left, Mrs. Reed sat on the living room sofa, sighing deeply.

She occasionally glanced at my room, her eyes filled with disgust and contempt.

"What a tragedy."

"A perfectly good family, all ruined because of her."

"My son, he was a top university graduate, destined for a brilliant future! Now what? He has to compete with high school dropouts for tough, tiring physical labor jobs."

"He comes home every day, his leg swollen like a balloon. It breaks my heart to see it!"

"But he still has to push through it, to wait on that crazy woman."

"It's a tragedy, truly a tragedy!"

The live chat immediately joined in the indignation.

[Don't be sad, ma'am, we all see it. The one in the wrong is Scarlett, that heartless monster!]

[Exactly, if it weren't for her, Arthur would be a high-flying executive with a six-figure salary now! He wouldn't have to suffer like this!]

[This woman ruined his life! Completely and utterly ruined it!]

By noon, Mrs. Reed walked into the kitchen, haphazardly boiled a sad, watery bowl of instant noodle, and brought it to my room.

"Crazy woman, eat."

I looked at the plain noodles and didn't move.

Mrs. Reed scoffed. "What? Too good for it now? My son provides you with food and shelter, he pays for your treatment, and you're still picky?"

"Be grateful you have food at all, don't actually think you're a spoiled princess! You lunatic!"

I mimicked her tone, passive-aggressive and creepy: "Lunatic… lunatic…"

Mrs. Reed's face turned green with anger. She pointed at me and cursed, "You little demon!"

I immediately copied her, pointing my finger back at her, letting out a creepy cackle.

Mrs. Reed, feeling her efforts were useless, cursed under her breath and stomped out.

She plopped down on the living room sofa, pulled out her phone, and started calling relatives to complain, tears streaming down her face.

"Oh, it's true, that crazy woman, she's getting harder and harder to deal with."

"Arthur had barely walked out the door, and she started throwing things around the house, making such a racket, scared me half to death!"

"I kindly made her lunch, and she wouldn't even look at it, just knocked it over. She insists on waiting for my son to come home and feed her!"

"Always passive-aggressive and creepy. Just now, she was hiding behind the door, mimicking me. Isn't that creepy, right? Sigh, my old bones, she's truly cursed our family."

The live chat instantly went wild.

[I told you! These psychos are the best at faking it! One way with her husband, another with her mother-in-law!]

[So malicious! Classic bully, picking on Arthur because he's nice, but pulling shady stunts when Mrs. Reed is around!]

[Mimicking people's voices? Isn't that a horror movie plot?]

[My heart aches for Mrs. Reed, to have an daughter-in-law like this, she's truly cursed our family.]

3.

That evening, Arthur returned, his body exhausted.

The moment he walked in, before he could even take off his shoes, he headed straight for my room.

When he saw the soggy and cold bowl of noodle on my nightstand, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with heartache.

"Scarlett, why aren't you eating again? Are you trying to starve yourself sick?"

He picked up the cold bowl of noodles, then turned to Mrs. Reed, who was watching TV in the living room, his voice tinged with helplessness.

"Mom, didn't I tell you? Scarlett has a sensitive stomach, she can't digest cold, hard food."

Mrs. Reed looked wronged.

"I worked so hard to make it for her, and she wouldn't eat it. Is that my fault? It's not like I can beg her to eat, can I?"

Arthur sighed, saying no more.

He turned and went into the kitchen, dumped the noodles, and started preparing dinner for me from scratch.

He painstakingly cooked her three dishes and a soup: herb-roasted chicken, grilled asparagus, and mashed potatoes, all my past favorites.

He brought the food to my bedside, scooped up a piece of chicken, cut it into small, bite-sized pieces, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to my mouth, gently coaxing, "Scarlett, open up, just one bite, please."

But I turned my head away again, refusing to eat.

Arthur's eyes instantly reddened.

"Scarlett, what do you want me to do for you to eat?"

"Is there something I'm doing wrong? Tell me, I'll change everything, okay?"

My dead eyes turned to him, and I suddenly spoke.

"Caleb."

Arthur's body jolted violently. The bowl in his hand clattered to the floor, shattering.

"No… Scarlett, don't mention that name!"

I repeated, "I want to see him."

Arthur's face instantly drained of all color.

He closed his eyes in agony, his hands trembling violently, and he said in an almost pleading tone:

"Okay… Scarlett… I'll take you to see him."

"As long as you eat, as long as you feel a little better… I'll… I'll do anything you ask."

The netizens in the live stream completely lost their minds.

[She's crazy! This woman is truly insane! She actually wants to see that rapist!!!]

[Holy crap! Does she have Stockholm Syndrome? Is she in love with the person who raped her?]

[Look at Arthur's expression… my heart is breaking… how much must he love her to agree to such an outrageous request, one that's worse than death!]

[I really can't take it anymore! This isn't human!]

[Oh my god, this is like plunging a knife into Arthur's heart and twisting it around a few times!]

[Arthur really doesn't deserve this!]

4.

The next day, Arthur really was going to take me to see Caleb.

Mrs. Reed, her eyes full of tears, grabbed Arthur's arm.

"Arthur, you can't take her! Are you crazy?!"

"That man is an animal! Have you forgotten how your leg was injured because of him?!"

She pointed at me, sitting in the wheelchair, her voice sharp with anguish, "You're letting her go see that animal? Isn't that like stabbing a knife into your own heart, over and over again? My poor, suffering son!"

Netizens’ live chat also chimed in.

[Saint Arthur, oh my god, he's really going? How much love does it take to do this?]

[My heart aches for Mrs. Reed. She's right! This is tearing his heart out! Scarlett has no heart!]

[Tears in my eyes, he must be scared too, but for his wife, he's willing to do anything.]

[The Devoted Husband, Husband of the Year—no, Husband of the Decade! Who agrees? Who dares to disagree?]

Arthur gently pushed his mother's hand away, his eyes resolute.

"Mom, as long as it makes Scarlett better, never mind one stab, I'd give my life."

With that, he pushed my wheelchair out the door.

The reporters and camera crew followed us from a distance.

Arthur took me to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town.

Caleb, the man who ruined my life, was leaning against a flashy red sports car, smoking, waiting there.

He looked like he was doing great, wearing a designer jacket, his hair slicked back and shiny, his face flushed with good health.

Seeing me, he exhaled a puff of smoke, a smirk of casual triumph on his face.

"Well, well, if it isn't my great benefactor, Scarlett? What, couldn't stand being away from me?"

He walked over, reaching out to touch my face.

Arthur furiously blocked him, shoving Caleb away.

"Don't touch her!"

The live chat exploded.

[That's the monster, dressed all put-together, like a decent citizen, it's sickening!]

[Arthur, you're the best! Your protective husband act is both handsome and heartbreaking!]

Because he pushed too hard, Arthur lost his balance and stumbled to the ground.

"Arthur!"

Mrs. Reed shrieked, rushing over to help him up.

"You rotten animal! How dare you show your face here again!"

Caleb sneered dismissively.

"Old woman, get it straight. Your precious daughter-in-law was crying and begging to see me, and even gave me five million dollars as a'meeting gift'." He looked me up and down, his tone suggestive, "Maybe, she's actually fallen for my charm, huh?"

"You!"

Mrs. Reed was so enraged she almost fainted.

The netizens' comments were all filled with anger towards me.

[My worldview is shattered! She gave him five million dollars??? Couldn't she just live her own life with that money?]

[The crazy woman deserves it, she doesn't deserve sympathy!]

[Arthur is so tragic, his wife is in love with her assailant, and she's giving him all her money… What kind of human tragedy is this! My heart is breaking…]

Arthur struggled to stand up, glaring at Caleb.

"Caleb, you took the money, why aren't you gone?!"

"If you dare show your face around us again, I'll fight you to the death!"

Caleb shrugged, looking unconcerned.

"Fight me to the death? With that crippled leg of yours?"

He walked closer to me, bent down, and whispered in my ear:

"I've already received the money. Your husband really is the ultimate cuckold, isn't he?"

The scent of his cologne mixed with cigarette smoke made me feel a wave of nausea.

I spat on his face.

Caleb's smile froze, then he exploded in rage, "You disgusting bitch! You're looking for death!"

He raised his hand to hit me.

"Stop!"

Arthur, desperate, lunged at Caleb.

He was quickly knocked to the ground by Caleb.

Caleb stepped on Arthur's injured leg, grinding his foot down maliciously.

Arthur let out a pained scream.

"Arthur! My son!"

Mrs. Reed cried out, rushing to him, but Caleb shoved her away, sending her sprawling.

The reporters and camera crew couldn't stand it anymore and stepped forward to intervene.

The entire scene devolved into chaos, filled with men's screams and women's wails.

Just then, I, who had been sitting silently in the wheelchair, suddenly stood up.

I looked at them, and spoke calmly.

"Arthur, had enough of the act?"

"It's been ten years. Your 'Devoted Husband' charade, it's time for it to end."