Chapter 3

Liam's voice came through. "As long as she's happy."

"Aren't you afraid Ellie will find out? She finally got back to normal. Don't let her turn crazy again and start cutting herself with knives and stuff."

Liam replied, "If she finds out, she finds out. She'll throw a tantrum for a while, then behave. Same routine every time. Doesn't she get tired of it?"

Casual. Matter-of-fact.

"Honestly, Ellie's so much easier on the eyes now that she's not making a scene. Liam, after bringing her back, did you 'train' her?"

"Enough." Liam's voice turned cold.

The hallway fell silent.

I sat before the makeup mirror, letting the makeup artist do her work, my heart calm.

After finishing my makeup, I went downstairs. Chase approached first, walking up beside me and looking me over with a smirk. "Ellie, you're looking much better. If you have any 'needs,' you can still come find me, you know."

I didn't respond.

He sat down on the armrest of the sofa next to me. "Honestly, I still remember that night last year."

"Looking at you now, you've lost so much weight. I wonder if you still feel the same as you did back then."

I remained expressionless.

He sneered. "No wonder Liam got tired of you. That cold face, like a wooden plank—no fun at all."

Finally, Liam walked over and looked at me. "Stay with me. You're my fiancée. Understand?"

"What time does this end?" I asked him.

He seemed puzzled, as if unsure why I was asking, but answered anyway. "Eleven."

My flight was at midnight.

So I nodded, agreeing.

Chase's face showed an amused smile.

At the party, Liam took me around to socialize, introducing me to others.

Actually, he didn't need to introduce me. That scandal from years ago had caused such an uproar that everyone remembered I was once a lunatic who slept with her fiancé's friend.

Then I'd gone crazy, cutting myself with a knife, forcing Liam to send his mistress away.

Finally, I was sent by Liam himself to the island correctional facility.

Those people put on smiling faces for Liam, but when they looked at me, their eyes held something else—like pity.

I smiled politely, not caring.

"Liam." Serena's saccharine voice rang out.

She walked naturally to Liam's side and linked her arm through his. "Thank you."

As she spoke, she deliberately raised her hand to brush back her hair.

The enormous, blindingly brilliant diamond ring on her finger drew even more attention.

Liam's expression remained unchanged. He even smiled gently at her. "As long as you like it."

As if I didn't exist at all.

I felt a bit nauseous, so I withdrew the hand that had been linked through Liam's arm. "I'm going to the restroom."

Liam whispered in my ear, "If you really want to make a scene, wait until we get home. Don't do it at this kind of event. Understand? Come back quickly."

I hummed in acknowledgment, then went to the restroom and threw up.

I vomited until I was dizzy. In my daze, I remembered the times at the facility when the administrators would force my mouth open and make me swallow pills to "calm me down."

Fortunately, I wouldn't be "disobedient" anymore, and I wouldn't be force-fed pills again.

I walked out of the restroom. Passing by a terrace, I saw Chase smoking.

Seeing me, he started talking.

Chase blew out a smoke ring. "Are you just putting on a brave front? Jealous again, aren't you?"

"That Serena really is something, deliberately wearing that ring out to show off. She'll be thrilled if she drives you 'crazy' again later."