Stepping into Hardship in Lavish Attire

I wiped away my tears and gazed out of the window at the gray sky.

Maybe the only relief was that both Jonathan and I were finally free.

While I was lost in thought, my phone rang.

It was him.

"Zara, did you go crying to Grandpa again? You ruined my night with Lily! I'm warning you—if you pull something like this again, I will cut off your credit card!"

In the past, I would have begged, apologized and done everything to get back into his good graces.

But now, I just said with an indifferent face.

"Do whatever you want."

He was caught off guard by my indifference. But soon, he sneered.

"I heard you gave birth. Having a child really gives you confidence, huh? But don't forget—I’m the son of the Richards Family. As long as you are still part of this family, I can make your life hell."

I closed my eyes.

I had seen what he was capable of.

The first time I caught him in bed with another woman, I naively went to his grandfather for justice.

But all I got in return was his twisted revenge.

He used my mom against me, forcing me to kneel on the freezing balcony, slapping myself over and over.

That night, I listened to him and his lover making love, their voices echoing through the house, while I shivered until I passed out.

By the time morning came, my face was swollen, my body frostbitten and I was sent to the hospital.

That was the night the last of my love for him died in the snow.

After that, no matter how cruel he was, I pretended not to see.

I endured every humiliation and every insult that Richards did.

I forced myself to stay in the role of Mrs. Richards.

But now, my mom was gone.

My child, too.

This marriage, already a corpse, needed to be buried once and for all.

I hung up the phone without another word.

Then I stood up and contacted my friend at the funeral home to make an appointment for the cremation.

When I returned to the hospital room, I saw Jonathan standing in the doorway.

He wrinkled his eyebrows as he looked at me, then sneered.

"Why don’t you continue acting and pretending to be pitiful anymore?"

He crossed his arms and scanned me with an icy gaze. "Running around so soon after giving birth? Looks like you are in great health. I suppose you won’t need any time to rest and recover."

He stepped closer, his voice dripping with malice. "I have decided to bring Lily to live in the villa. She is young, delicate and doesn’t know how to do housework. Go ahead and process your discharge papers—you can come home and be our maid."

As he leaned in, his lips curled into a cruel smile.

"Your pain expression is the best stimulant for me in bed."

He stared at me dead on, expecting to see my pained and saddened look.

But I didn’t. I met his gaze with an expression as blank as an empty canvas, drained of any emotion.

His amusement faded when he realized there was nothing left for him to destroy. Irritated, he turned to a nearby nurse. "Where is the baby? Boy or girl? Bring it to me."