Chapter 2

Jackson placed Felicity and her child in the Wade family's private hospital for treatment, afraid I'd go after them.

I had no interest in bothering with her, but I never expected her to dare provoke me!

She added me on SnapChat and sent me a picture to show off:

[Phoenix, Jackson never loved you!]

[All those rumors about him loving you to death—that was just to placate your parents! Now that your father's dead, he doesn't need to act anymore!]

[To restore my health, Jackson specially found the best herbs and a therapist for me. But this therapist was a snob and refused to serve me!]

[Jackson said he'd cut off both her hands!]

I looked at the photo—my beloved friend Julia White, covered in wounds, pressed to the ground, her hands soaked in blood.

Raging fury erupted. My eyes blazed with hatred. I didn't have many loved ones, and I cherished every single one!

Jackson knew this was my weak spot. How dare he touch it!

Madness flickered in my eyes. It seemed I'd been too reasonable these past few years, making him forget I was a lunatic to begin with.

I brought people to break down the private hospital's doors. Under Felicity's terrified gaze, I grabbed her hair and slammed her head against the wall, my tone vicious:

"Don't you know how to spell 'death'? Do you really think Jackson can protect you?"

Felicity's face was covered in blood. She screamed at me, her eyes triumphant:

"So what if you're Miss Graves? You still can't have children!"

"Do you really think Jackson would divorce me to marry you? Dream on!"

"You're just a pathetic creature nobody wants!"

My mind went blank. I staggered back two steps, as if returning to that filthy night when I was sixteen.

Jackson had invited me out, but we were both kidnapped and held in a warehouse. In the darkness, we tried to escape. To cover for him so he could get help, I deliberately drew the kidnappers away!

After they caught me, they beat me until I was covered in wounds.

Five or six men surrounded me. Their filthy hands stripped off my clothes, blindfolded me, and violated me at will.

I endured the darkest night of my life. When I woke up in the hospital, the doctor gently told me I could never get pregnant again.

Jackson looked haggard. With reddened eyes, he knelt before me and swore:

"I'm sorry! Phoenix! My life belongs to you from now on!!"

"I'll protect you forever!"

"If I break this vow, may I die a terrible death!"

That night, the still-youthful Jackson completely transformed. He dealt with those thugs using ruthless methods and silenced everyone.

He frantically built his power and expanded the company with only one goal:

Become strong enough to protect me so I'd never be hurt again!

But now he'd told an outsider about my deepest wound—the one I couldn't bear to touch!

My eyes turned blood-red. I gripped Felicity's throat tightly, smiling savagely:

"You want to die so badly? I'll grant your wish!"

Felicity's face turned purple-blue from choking. Fear finally appeared in her eyes.

"Stop!"

A sharp gust came from behind. I punched backward, landing it on Jackson's eye.

He grunted but ignored his injury, anxiously picking up Felicity.

I watched his heartbroken expression, and for a moment it overlapped with sixteen-year-old Jackson's eyes.

Sixteen-year-old Jackson felt heartache for me. Twenty-eight-year-old Jackson only had eyes for Felicity.

I laughed quietly, then suddenly shot Jackson, demanding coldly:

"That secret—did you tell her?"

Jackson covered his arm and fell silent before explaining: "I got drunk and accidentally let it slip."

"Felicity's young and speaks without thinking. She doesn't mean any harm."

"You already shot me, so let's call it even."

I smiled mockingly, enunciating each word: "Call it even?"

"Jackson, what made you think I could keep backing down?"

"Last time, Grandfather Wade's kindness toward me—you've already used it up!"

Felicity watched me raise my gun and screamed in terror: "Jackson, this bitch is crazy! Kill her quickly!"

Jackson watched my unyielding stance. Irritation flashed in his eyes as he spoke coldly:

"Phoenix, you need to consider my position. You can't have children. The Wade family has such a vast fortune—I need an heir!"

Each word pierced my heart, making me bleed.

Silence permeated the air.

Before my eyes appeared the image of sixteen-year-old Jackson, covered in blood, carrying me and running, crying in despair:

"Phoenix, please, just hold on a little longer. We promised to spend our whole lives together!"

"You can't leave me!"

"Phoenix, if you dare hurt Felicity and the child again, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Jackson's cold voice brought me back to reality. I watched Jackson's retreating figure as he carried Felicity away.

The boy who swore to protect me for life shattered completely in my memory.

"True feelings really are the most fickle thing in this world."

I kept my back straight and spoke indifferently:

"Spread the word—the arranged marriage is canceled. From today, the Graves family and Wade family are completely severed!"

"The two families have no relationship anymore!"

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