Chapter 4

I had planned to wait for Matthias to come home before giving him the divorce papers.

But the next day, before I even woke up, a slap landed hard on me.

Rachel's eyes were red from crying:

"Where's my necklace! The keepsake from my mother—where did you steal it!"

That's when I learned Rachel's necklace was missing.

Hearing I'd been there yesterday, she immediately came with Matthias.

I grabbed her wrist as she tried to hit me again and pushed her back hard:

"I did go yesterday, but it was to deliver the divorce papers."

Matthias's brow furrowed.

I lifted my chin: "If you don't believe me, check the security footage."

Rachel's face went pale. She was used to framing me.

It's just that before, my mind was always on Steve, so I never bothered arguing with her.

But if I actually investigated, she wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

I didn't need to think—I knew the necklace was still in her room.

I stared at her:

"Should we check the footage now? If it shows I really did steal it, I'll turn myself in immediately.

"But... if Rachel hid it herself..."

I narrowed my eyes: "I'll press charges for defamation. You can go to prison."

Rachel's breath caught. She nearly lost her footing.

"Mom stole the necklace!"

A childish voice froze my body.

Steve stood in the doorway, pointing at me:

"I saw her take Mommy's necklace last night!"

I looked at him in disbelief.

Even though we'd already severed our mother-son relationship, hearing those words still made my heart ache.

"I told you, I only went to deliver... Ah!"

I was shoved hard onto the bed. Matthias looked down at me:

"He's just a child, and he's your child. Why would he frame you?"

"Matth—"

"Baby!"

Rachel held Steve in her arms, checking him over. Her grip showed no restraint.

Her manicured nails could break the child's skin at any moment.

I instinctively reached out, then remembered what I'd promised and pulled back.

After confirming nothing was wrong, Rachel glared at me viciously:

"This is my and Matthias's child. What right do you have to take him!"

In that instant, Steve's little face turned bright red.

"Christiana, even your own child doesn't side with you. I think it's clear whether you did it or not.

"Of course, you can refuse to admit it."

Matthias smiled gently: "My legal team hasn't had a case in a while. They're worried they can't find anyone stubborn enough to take to court."

My heart felt like someone was squeezing it:

"What do you want?"

Rachel held Steve in her arms, her red lips curling:

"Don't be so tense. As your elder, how could I really send you to prison?

"Here's what we'll do. Since the necklace was my mother's keepsake, just compensate me for its value."

"How much?"

"Ten million."

I froze. Rachel's necklace was plastic and had never been appraised.

But ten million—that was exactly the total amount of "compensation money" Matthias had given me during our marriage.

Matthias frowned.

I swallowed: "I burned it all."

"Christiana," Rachel held Steve:

"If you don't want to pay, just say so. Why use such a pathetic excuse?"

Her eyes reddened:

"Forget it. It was just something worthless my mother left behind. Only I treasure it as a keepsake.

"Matthias, I'll head back now."

She turned to leave, but Matthias pulled her back.

"Debts must be repaid. That's only natural."

Matthias smiled casually: "If you can't pay, you can always go to prison, right?"

"Matthias!" I looked at him in shock: "I really don't have the money! I'm not joking!"

"I know."

He leaned down: "But you still have me—your husband, don't you?"

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me off the bed, forcing me to kneel at the door.

Matthias had his people take Steve away and pulled Rachel close:

"In a moment, do whatever I tell you to do."

The door closed in front of me. Soon after, a startled cry came from inside.

I clenched my fists. Ten whole hours.

I delivered water six times, protection twice, clean sheets twice.

Servants passed by, laughing quietly:

"Getting called in once is worth a million. The money comes fast, but I'd rather die than earn it that way."

"A woman reduced to this might as well be dead. What dignity is there left in living?"

"That's just Christiana being shameless."

"This is called enduring humiliation!"

"Right, right, exactly!"

Only the butler who personally attended to me came over and tugged at me:

"Christiana..."

"I'm fine."

The wounds in my palms where my nails had broken the skin had long since scabbed over.

Years ago, when Matthias begged his mother not to make me service men, he knelt just like this.

Fourteen-year-old Christiana never imagined that one day, Matthias would make her kneel outside the door while he was with another woman.

But Christiana, fourteen was fourteen years ago.

I closed my eyes: "It's time to grow up."

After delivering supplies the fifteenth time, I stood up.

After the ten million, I still had five million left over.

Amid the intimate sounds echoing from the room.

I arranged the divorce papers, page by page, neatly on the table.

I picked up my bank card and turned to leave.

Steve's little head poked out. He looked nervous:

"Mom... I..."

I said nothing, walked past him, and never looked back.