Contract Marriage: If You Don't Love Me, Get Divorced!

Eva originally wanted to see Bella get angry. Unexpectedly, Bella said she liked it!

Eva secretly gritted her teeth and thought, "Bella, let's see how long you can endure this!"

"Since you like it, then I can rest easy. Let me put it on for you," Eva said as she stepped forward.

Bella handed the silver hairpin to Clara and said to Eva, "How could I trouble you with this? Let Clara do it."

Clara looked at the hairpin, not wanting to place it on Bella's head. But she knew that if she didn't follow Bella's instructions, Eva might cause more trouble.

In the end, Clara had no choice but to place the plain silver hairpin, which even she wouldn't wear, on Bella's head.

Eva had no more excuses to trouble Bella. But thinking about how she got such a beautiful golden hairpin while Bella wore a shabby silver one that even her servants wouldn't wear, she felt great and left with her maid.

When Eva left, Clara quickly removed the hairpin from Bella's head. "Madam, I'll throw this hairpin far away," she said.

"Keep it. The less trouble, the better," Bella said.

Clara wanted to throw the hairpin as far away as possible, thinking about Bella's grievances. But she knew Bella was right. She placed the hairpin in a small box at the bottom of the most inconspicuous trunk.

"Madam, why did you give her such a nice golden hairpin? It's a shame about that hairpin," Clara said, feeling sorry for Bella.

"I just wanted to show her that I sincerely wish to get along peacefully. If it can truly avoid future troubles, then it's worth it," Bella said.

"But what if she still causes you trouble?" Clara didn't believe Eva would stop her schemes because of the golden hairpin.

"If that happens, we'll just have to be more cautious," Bella said. She just wanted to use the golden hairpin to test Lincoln's schemes.

After all, it was such a valuable item. If Lincoln hadn't hinted at it, Bella believed Eva would have behaved for a while. The golden hairpin was just a way for her to test.

By noon, everything that had happened at the Marquis Manor had reached Charles' ears.

Lincoln had made a grand show of taking concubines. Naturally, Charles was concerned about Bella's situation and wanted to know how she was. Lincoln was more than happy to let him know everything that happened, so Charles received the news quickly.

When Charles learned that Bella had been scalded and forced to wear a hairpin that even the maids wouldn't wear, he wanted to storm into the Marquis Manor. He would take Bella away and live a life of wandering far from Gonzales.

Luckily, Adrian stopped him. "Your Highness, even if you could enter the Marquis Manor, you wouldn't be able to take Ms. Jenkins away. Lincoln's reputation as a hell is not for nothing. Even if all the guards from Barnes Manor went, it wouldn't be enough to beat him. Not only would you fail to take Ms. Jenkins away, but you'd also ruin her reputation, making it impossible for her to live respectably in the future."

Charles slammed his fist on the table in frustration. Yes, he couldn't harm Bella! But should he just stand by and watch her suffer in the Marquis Manor? Or should he give in to Lincoln's wishes, marry Lydia, and trade for Bella's safety?

After an afternoon of rest, Bella was summoned to the main hall again the next day. Today, Lincoln had brought in Eden Bennett, who came from a family of physicians.

Bella was even more cautious this time than she had been the day before. Despite all her precautions, she still fell into Eden's trap.

Everything seemed to go smoothly. The water was warm. She didn't expect Eden to put a laxative in the water.

As soon as Bella returned to the Melody Courtyard, her stomach started acting up. She was up most of the night, completely exhausted.

Clara was so angry that she cried. "Madam, she's gone too far! I'm going to find Marquis Miller and ask for justice,"

"Clara," Bella called out to her weakly. "Do you think she'd have the nerve to do this without Marquis Miller's consent? I should be grateful she didn't give me poison. Clara, help me up quickly."