Chapter 2
Acid churned in my stomach.
I struggled to suppress the overwhelming urge to vomit, swallowed everything down, and smiled gratefully at Vivian.
Airs's pupils constricted as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
After all, the old me had severe mysophobia.
If someone else touched something, I wouldn't want it anymore.
So when I discovered Airs was cheating with Vivian, I didn't hesitate to propose breaking the mate bond.
But he refused to let go.
So I went to my father for help. My father was the Alpha of Silver Moon Pack, and when he learned about Airs's infidelity, he immediately pressured Airs to break the mate bond with me.
Airs secretly allied with a group of Rogues, ambushed Silver Moon Pack, and brutally murdered my parents. In the end, he absorbed Silver Moon Pack's power and resources.
My parents were hastily buried, and the very next day, Airs brought Vivian into our home.
I was filled with hatred and grabbed a knife, wanting to kill that pair of cheating dogs.
After accidentally tearing out a few strands of Vivian's hair, Airs bribed a doctor to give me a psychiatric certification.
He sent me to a psychiatric hospital to be broken down until I learned to be obedient.
And he and Vivian shamelessly enjoyed the power and resources my parents had accumulated over their lifetimes.
My fingers trembled violently as I took Jack, who was crying so hard he couldn't breathe.
"Don't cry, don't cry... Jack, don't cry..."
The gentle soothing worked. The child, tired from crying, fell into a deep sleep in my arms.
Airs looked at me, wanting to say something but holding back.
I avoided his gaze and carried Jack back to the nursery.
A sliver of light shone through the crack in the door.
Vivian laughed coquettishly while swirling her wine glass, disdainfully tossing me a bottle of witch-crafted potion.
"Eating things from the trash can is too dirty."
"Sera, you need to maintain hygiene, or I won't dare use you."
I picked up the cleaning potion bottle by my feet and bowed in gratitude.
"Thank you, Vivian."
Vivian showed no intention of leaving. Instead, she smiled at me expectantly.
I nodded in understanding, turned and went into the maid's room, poured all the cleaning potion into the bathtub, and filled it with water.
I shamelessly stripped off all my clothes and got into the bathtub, scrubbing myself viciously with a steel wool pad.
The steel wool and cleaning potion must have been mixed with a witch's special concoction—the moment they touched my skin, the pain was excruciating.
The potion seeped into my skin, and I bit through the flesh in my mouth to avoid letting out a single cry of pain.
My whole body felt like countless bees were stinging me, countless fine needles piercing me.
Eventually, my skin was scraped bloody, and the entire bathtub became a terrifying fusion of blood and water.
Only when I was in such pain I was about to pass out did Vivian mercifully speak.
"Once you're clean, put on your clothes. I'm taking you somewhere."
I had no time to treat my bleeding wounds and hastily threw on clothes to follow Vivian.
Airs leaned against the stairs smoking, frowning. Seeing me, he instinctively stubbed out his cigarette.
"Don't eat things from the trash can anymore."
"Sera, as long as you're obedient, no one will punish you."
Before we established our relationship, Airs relied on smoking to relieve stress when he was troubled.
After we started dating, I made it clear I didn't like the smell of smoke.
Within half a month, Airs quit smoking and used the money he would have spent on cigarettes to buy me bouquet after bouquet of roses.
After marriage, the flowers in the bedroom never stopped. He even personally opened up a flower bed in the yard.
"Whatever you like, I'll plant it all for you."
Vivian stood in the living room jingling keys, her crisp voice pulling me back from my memories.
A flash of impatience showed in her eyes.
"Sera, it's time to go."
I nodded politely at Airs, signaling him to move aside.
His frown deepened as he gripped my wrist hard.
"Sera, you weren't like this before."