Chapter 1
“Five days from now, I’ll stage the accident. Make sure you take the fake–death pill its effect only lasts forty–eight hours. Once time’s up, you’ll wake up again.”
After hanging up the phone,Zelea turned back and cast a deep,lingering look at the prison that had held her for six years.
Just as she was about to leave,a Rolls–Royce appeared in the distance.
Luke stepped out, his face dark and cold and walked straight up to her. “Six years.I’ve finally waited long enough for you to come out.”
Her heart sank.Instinctively, she turned to run,but two bodyguards seized her from either side and forced her into the car.
They drove straight to the old family estate.
This was the home she had lived in for ten years.Every corner brimmed with memories,but everything had changed. She was no longer the woman she used to be.
Luke dragged her by the wrist, forcing her through the house and into the children’s room at the corner of the first floor.
He shoved her down in front of a black–and–white photo.
“Today is our son’s death anniversary,” he said coldly.“You,the murderer,shouldn’t you remembe that better than anyone?”
Zelea’s eyes burned with tears as she collapsed weakly to the ground. Her vision blurred and heavy teardrops fell one after another.
She remembered it more clearly than anyone because it was her own hands that had strangled
the child.
She had killed her own son.
It happened six years ago,on this very day. Just like any other day,she had drunk her milk and taken a nap.Not long after,she was startled awake by the sound of a baby crying. By the time she fully came to her senses,her hands were already wrapped around her son’s neck.
And yet,she hadn’t known anything.
No one present that day believed her. They all cursed her,saying even a tiger wouldn’t eat its own cubs.
Luke rushed back from the company,called the police on the spot and had her thrown into prison.
She was abused there for six long years before finally being released.
Zelea knew better than anyone that Luke would never let her go. That was why she had arranged for the fake–death pill as soon as possible.
But she hadn’t expected him to catch her so quickly.
“You think getting out of prison means you’re free?“Luke snarled.“Don’t even dream of it!For the
rest of your life, you’ll atone for what you did to Jose and live in guilt forever!”
Luke let out a cold laugh,his sharp gaze piercing and oppressive.
Chapter 1
3:09 pm GD
Behind him,the door creaked open, followed by the crisp clack of high heels.Sovia walked in,dressed in a tight,provocative outfit,a total contrast to Zelea,who sat crumpled on the floor. Seeing the intimacy between them,Zelea’s smile turned bitter. She should’ve known that someone would take her place beside Luke after she went to prison.
What kind of secretary got this close to her boss?
“Jose’s portrait is still here,” Zelea said quietly.“Please show some respect.”
That one sentence completely enraged Luke.He bent down and yanked her up by the collar,his disgust evident.
“You’re a murderer. What right do you have to speak to me?”
His scrutinizing gaze swept over her from head to toe,making Zelea feel exposed and humiliated.
He threw a white dress at her feet.
“My parents are coming tonight. Don’t embarrass me.”
With that,Luke slammed the door and left with Sovia,leaving Zelea alone,sitting in silence before the black–and–white portrait.
Those slender,fragile fingers brushed gently across the smiling face in the portrait,caressing it with the utmost tenderness.
Zelea wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes,changed into the white dress and stepped
out.
She deliberately ignored the scornful,disdainful gazes from the household servants.
As dusk settled in,Luke’s parents pushed open the door. Upon seeing her,their brows furrowed deeply.
“Luke,why did you bring a woman like her back?“his mother snapped.”She should’ve been buried with my grandson!”
Luke casually tapped his fingers against the table,his dark,inky eyes unreadable.
“Mom,I brought her back so she could atone. As long as she’s alive,she’ll never escape the Gritorn Family’s grasp.”
Zelea bit her lower lip hard,the words of protest stuck in her throat.
No one in the Gritorn Family believed her. No matter what she said,it was all in vain.
Just five more days. Once those five days were over,she could disappear from this world completely.
Thinking of that,she let out a long breath of relief.
But the very next second, Luke’s voice exploded beside her,firm and impossible to defy.“Zelea,kneel!”
She looked up in shock,but before she could react,he raised his leg and kicked her in the shin. Her body tilted and collapsed to the floor.
“A venomous woman who harmed her own son doesn’t deserve to sit at the same table as us.”
Luke,as if granting pity,picked up a dog food bowl and tossed it in front of her,indulging in humiliating her without restraint.
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She hadn’t eaten a single bite all day.Staring at the food,she couldn’t help but swallow.
Sovia deliberately sat beside Luke,her hand gently caressing his calf before resting it on her lower abdomen.
“Actually,I went to the hospital a few days ago. The doctor said I’m pregnant.It seems…it’s a boy.” The villa fell into sudden silence.
