The Bitterest Sugar Is the Hope You Gave

Andre was shocked by my actions and noticed that I was not myself, so he reached out to help Laura get up.

"What kind of madness are you in again?"

Laura was freed and was not willing to take any losses, so she pushed me hard.

Under the force, I fell to the ground, with my forehead hitting the corner of the table.

The sharp pain instantly swept through my nerves, and the bright red blood slowly flowed down.

Andre, however, didn't even look at me and was only focused on helping Laura clean up the water stains.

I stared at Laura with a blood-covered face.

"If you dare to insult my grandmother again, I'll rip out your tongue!"

Laura sobbed and sniffled, looking pitiful. "I didn't say anything wrong. If it wasn't for your grandmother pretending to be sick, how could Andre have agreed to marry you?"

I looked up at Andre, who was helping Laura clean up her messy face and asked.

"Do you think the same way?"

He didn't answer.

But his eyes had already answered the question.

My parents passed away when I was young, and it was my grandmother who raised me single-handedly. But three months ago, she was diagnosed with advanced brain cancer.

My grandmother knew that her time was limited, and she didn't want to leave me alone in the world. Her greatest wish before her death was that I would marry the person I loved and have my own home.

In order to let her leave without any regrets, I knelt down to beg Andre, begging for a non-registered form of marriage.

I never thought that even such a form ceremony would be seen as a means for my grandma to force him into marrying me.

True.

I had pursued him for two years, shamelessly begging for this relationship.

He would think it's not surprising that I would do anything to force a marriage with him, even colluding with my grandma.

Because in the seven years we were together, he never cherished me.

I always compromised for him and accommodated him.

I used to think that he was cold and reserved, which was why he treated me indifferently.

But after seeing him getting along with Laura, I realized that he could also be passionate and gentle.

I once gathered up the courage to protest to him.

He, however, mocked and scolded me, "Do you want the same treatment as Laura? What's your point of comparison with her?"

The cold and heartless words felt like a slap in the face, making me feel embarrassed and wanting to crawl into a hole.

From then on, I dared not compare myself with Laura again.

Even if he once asked me why I no longer cared about his various kindnesses towards Laura.

I just answered, "You said she's like your sister, and it's natural to be nice to your sister."

Andre was satisfied with my understanding and praised me for being more mature.

So not stopping their inappropriate flirtations was considered mature in his eyes!

My understanding resulted in the public believing that he and Laura were a couple.

But he never denied it.

If it weren't for Grandma's impending death and my begging for him, there wouldn't have been that ridiculous wedding.

I was utterly disappointed in Andre.

I never thought the man I loved for seven years would see me like this.

He didn't deserve my seven years of unreserved devotion.

Laura, however, continued to complain about my heartlessness and her own grievances, "Andre, my face hurts so much. Will I get disfigured? Renee was too rough on me. I just spoke the truth, and she wanted to disfigure my face... Sob... I'm going to be disfigured..."

The tenderness in Andre's eyes was about to overflow.

The water had been on the table for a long time and was no longer hot.

Her face was just slightly red, and there was not even a scratch on her skin.

Compared to my bloodstained face, she was much better.

And yet Andre noticed her slightly flushed cheeks, and his expression turned sour instantly.

"Renee, make an apology to Laura right away!"

I raised my head with a bloody face. "No!"

Andre seemed to notice my injury. A hint of pity flashed across his eyes, but he quickly hardened his heart and scolded me.

"How can you be so uncivilized now? You hit her and refuse to apologize!"

I had always been afraid of Andre getting angry. Every time he showed even the slightest displeasure, I would lower myself and obey him unconditionally.

But that was when I loved him.

Now I didn't love him anymore.

He could be angry all he wanted. It had nothing to do with me.

Laura thought that all Andre wanted was an apology from me, which was too easy.

So she pouted and made a demand. "Andre, I'm about to be disfigured. A simple 'sorry' won't do. She should at least bow to me and apologize."

Andre frowned slightly at the words, seeming to disagree.

He showed mercy and compromise. "Don't bow, just apologize."

He raised his chin arrogantly, indicating that I should give in to his words.

But my answer was a defiant cold laugh.

My ingratitude angered him, and Andre was determined to give me a lesson.

Laura got his permission and started attacking me.

I fought back.

But the outburst had exhausted my strength.

I hadn't eaten in a long time.

I was no match for her.

Andre looked on coldly as Laura grabbed my shoulder and pressed down hard.

My chest ached sharply as if a hand had passed through my chest, squeezing my heart with force, making me gasp for breath.

Wetness attacked my eyelids, and I bit back the urge to cry, holding back the tears from rolling down my cheeks.

Suddenly, I felt tired and gave up resistance.

I let Laura's force press me down, and she kicked me in the leg as she stepped on me.

My legs gave way, and I collapsed on the ground in a disheveled position.

Laura stood in front of me, gloating with a challenging expression.

"Renee, just bow to me and apologize."

She paused for a moment, her tone cold and threatening. "Otherwise, I won't stop."

Andre's cold eyes were like ice, looking down at me from above.

"Obey Laura's orders nicely, be more proactive, or she will force you, and I won't intervene then."