Chapter 5
“No need to investigate,” he cut in coldly. “I believe Lillian.”
It felt like shards of glass had been shoved into my chest-every heartbeat ground them deeper, drawing blood.
“Emily, you never learn.” Lucas snapped his fingers, and two bodyguards immediately seized my uninjured hand. “Since you love accusing people of scalding you with hot oil, let’s make it real.”
“No! Lucas, you’ll regret this-” My scream was drowned out by the sizzling crackle of oil.
Excruciating pain swallowed my vision in black.
When I woke again, both hands were wrapped in thick bandages, the agony dulled to a numb throb.
“Mrs. Black, you’re awake!” The housekeeper, Mary Johnson, rushed to my side, her eyes red-rimmed. “I’ll call Mr. Black
right away-”
“Don’t.” My voice was feather-light. “He’s the one who ordered this.”
Mary gasped, covering her mouth. “Impossible! He never even let you step into the kitchen before, terrified you’d get so
much as a scratch…”
Tears slid silently into my hairline.
Yes. Everyone knew he’d once loved me like his life depended on it.
So why, in this lifetime, had that love vanished overnight?
But none of it mattered now.
In two days, the divorce would be finalized, and I’d be free of him forever.
The next day was Lucas’s grandma, Margaret Black’s eightieth birthday.
Knowing I’d leave soon, I couldn’t go without saying goodbye.
The moment I arrived, I went straight to her. “Margaret, Lucas and I… we’re getting divorced.”
Hearing the bitterness and resolve in my voice, she sighed deeply. “Fine. That boy doesn’t deserve you. Even if you’re no longer my granddaughter-in-law, you’ll always be my dearest girl. As long as I’m alive, that mistress will never set foot in
the Black family!”
My nose stung-she’d protected me just like this in my past life too.
“Margaret, why don’t you rest a bit?” I said, standing. “I’ll fetch the birthday cake I made for you.”
But when I returned and raised my hand to knock, a muffled thud sounded from inside.
