Three Years Prisoned for Him, I Married His Uncle after Freedom

"Ellie, don’t play mind games with me—ah!”

A heavy kick slammed into my chest, sending me sprawling onto the ground. The sharp scrape of the floor tore my palms, blood seeping from the fresh wounds.

Gabriel hurriedly helped Ellie to her feet, his hands gentle and his gaze filled with a tenderness I had never seen before.

He then raised his foot and stomped down on my grandmother’s memorial photo, glaring at me from above.

“Nora, how dare you push Ellie? Don’t you realize she’s pregnant with my child?

“And now you show up with a dead woman’s memorial photo to sabotage my wedding with Ellie? You’ve really crossed the line! I’ll make sure you learn your lesson for this!”

Gabriel stomped on the photo repeatedly, the shards of glass shredding my grandmother’s warm, smiling face, yet he didn’t stop.

“What are you doing? Gabriel, stop disrespecting my Grandma! Stop it! Stop right now!”

Holding a lit lighter just beneath the photo, Gabriel glanced at me with a mocking smirk.

“Nora, if you’re going to beg, at least learn how to do it properly.”

The onlookers burst into jeers and laughter, fanning the flames of my humiliation.

“Nora, Gabe’s being generous by tolerating a convict like you as his mistress. That’s a blessing you couldn’t dream of in eight lifetimes. And now you have the nerve to pull a stunt like this? You’re getting exactly what you deserve!”

“Utterly shameless. Using a memorial photo to force a marriage and even attacking his fiancée? You’re lucky Gabe hasn’t dealt with you more harshly.”

“Get on your knees and apologize while you still can. If you don’t, you’ll regret it soon enough!”

I stayed frozen, refusing to move, my chest heaving with silent defiance. Gabriel’s wrist flicked and the flame licked the edge of Grandma’s photo, curling and charring the corner.

Tears streaked down my face as I clenched my teeth. The anguish was unbearable, yet I forced myself onto my knees, my voice trembling with fury and despair.

“Mr. Prince, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have hurt your fiancée. Please... I’m begging you... give me back the photo—ah—!”

As soon as the words left my mouth, Gabriel delivered another swift kick to my shoulder, a light chuckle escaping his lips.

“Nora, the person you owe an apology to is Ellie.”

Clenching my fists tightly, I forced myself to crawl on my knees toward Ellie. Lowering my head to the floor, I bowed deeply.

“Ms. Moor, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so cruel and malicious as to hurt you and I definitely shouldn’t have ruined your special day. I’m truly sorry.”

With trembling stiffness, I turned my head, my bloodshot eyes locking onto Gabriel.

“Now... can I have the photo back?”

The next moment, flames erupted, the photo consumed in seconds by the hungry fire, reduced to nothing but ash.

A wave of anguish surged through me. Furious and despairing, I lunged toward Gabriel’s feet, pounding at him with all my strength, my voice cracking with rage.

“Gabriel, you bastard! I apologized, I bowed—so why would you still burn my Grandma’s photo? Have you forgotten how kind she was to you? How could you?”

For a moment, Gabriel’s gaze wavered, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. But just as quickly, he stepped back, leaving me clawing at nothing but air.

He ignored my words entirely, a smirk tugging at his lips as he spoke, his tone casual yet sharp.

“Nora, didn’t I warn you? Stop spreading ridiculous lies about marrying my uncle.”