The next day, I staggered out holding onto the wall. I was cold and wet and I was in a trance.

Scott ran into my arms, his voice choked with tears.

"Mom, Dad won't ever go back to the way he was, right?"

I gently hugged him tighter, doing my best to keep my voice soft. "No, sweetheart. He won't. Just ten more days and we'll be out of here."

"Really?"

"Really. Just a little longer."

He nodded hard, his small body trembling slightly in my arms.

I kissed the top of his head and only then did he finally calm down. Still holding that little dog we adopted together, he curled up in the corner of the bed, quietly reading his book like a good boy.

My heart ached just looking at him. I knew, ever since the day his beloved father pressed his tiny hand into sulfuric acid, that something inside Scott had broken.

Still, he never said a word about it. Always trying to protect me, never showing it.

All I could do was wait, wait until I could truly leave Kai behind. Only then would I have a chance to help my son heal.

So, I started packing.

I tore down the wind chime we bought during our trip to Hokkaido and threw it straight into the fireplace.

Photos, love letters, souvenirs, everything. I didn't keep a single thing. I tossed them all into the flames.

The fire danced wildly, like it was devouring the naive love I once had.

The next morning, I went out to the backyard.

That was the secret garden that Kai had built for me, a whole field of roses and white tea, which were my favourite flowers.

I carried a can of gasoline and poured it slowly, soaking the entire garden, one circle at a time.

Then, I struck a match and set it all on fire.

Flames shot up instantly and the once-sweet scent of flowers twisted into something sickening in the thick smoke.

While the fire raged behind me, I dug up the "time capsule" we had buried together in that same yard.

My heart skipped a beat when I opened it.

Inside, besides our photos, there was also a bank card.

A note was attached to it:

Carolyn, if I ever betray you, one day, take this card and leave. Don't hesitate. Be good. — Kai.

Tears dropped onto the card, one after another.

I didn't understand how things had ended up this way.

Kai used to love me so much.

I came from an ordinary background. The only reason he even noticed me was probably because my face looked about seventy percent like his late wife's.

Meanwhile, he was the head of the Lockwood family, a ruthless and untamable figure.

One day, after seeing me at his company, he began to pursue me relentlessly.

He spent money and resources just to make me smile.

On my birthday, every screen on the city's main shopping street played his video confession on repeat. He stood on a rooftop, holding a bouquet of roses, shouting my name.

He rented out the entire city's fireworks just to show me how much he loved me.

He said, "I'll never love anyone else but you."

I believed him, thinking that first love in Kai's heart had died and I was now the one he loved most.

He treated me like a queen.

When I had a low fever, he cancelled all his meetings for the entire month just to stay by my side. When I said I loved the smell of old books, he bought out an entire antique library for me.

When I was pregnant, he sat by my hospital bed all night, sleepless, begging experts from three different hospitals to hold a remote consultation.

After our child was born, his eyes were red as he cried and laughed.

Seven years passed and I thought I was no longer just a stand-in lover but the person he truly wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

Until that night, when I caught him taking Florence home.

She was young, with clear eyes, looking so much like I did when I first met him, no, even more like his deceased ex-wife when she was young.

Kai told me that Florence was just a plaything and it was normal for people in their circle to have lovers. He told me to relax and that I was his only wife.

For our child, even though my heart was cut by a knife, I endured it.

Now he had hurt our son and I couldn't tolerate it anymore.

I took out that card and threw the time capsule into the fire along with it!

That evening, Kai sent someone to tell me to get ready. There was a "beast arena" event arranged by a business partner and he wanted me to attend.

Thinking it was just another routine social gathering, I changed into an evening gown and went.

But when I stepped into the underground venue, I saw Florence standing beside Kai, also dressed in formal attire.

Kai gave me a half-hearted explanation. "Florence's never seen something like this before. I'm just showing her around."

My fists clenched and I walked inside without a word.

The partners around us were all looking at the three of us with gossipy eyes. I straightened my back, trying hard not to show any emotion.

The so-called "beast arena" wasn't about animals fighting. It was a brutal game where a group of criminals battled bare-chested, betting on who would be the last one standing.

The business partner sipped his wine and laughed. "Would Mrs. Lockwood like to join? Let's see how your luck compares to Miss Yale's?"

I didn't want to play this game, but I had no choice.

Even though I knew these people were just waiting to see the spectacle of "the lawful wife being trampled by the mistress."

"I bet on A," I said, but Florence immediately countered, "I choose B."

Every round, she intentionally picked the opposite of me.

Yet, I was fortunate, winning three games in a row.

Her expression soured and she complained pitifully to Kai, "Kai, did she cheat? I haven't won a single game."

Kai just waved his hand coldly. "Wrap it all up for me. Both sides bet the maximum. I'll pay for it and no matter who wins or loses, all the prizes are mine."

His tone was arrogant and everyone laughed, "Mr. Lockwood truly is Mr. Lockwood, so generous!"

My heart tightened. Sure enough, from then on, no matter how much I won each round, the prizes went straight to Kai to handle.

During the distribution, he gave me the choice. "Carolyn, pick one."

I reached out and chose a diamond-encrusted pocket watch.

Then, Florence suddenly chuckled. "Kai, I like the one in her hand. Can I have it?"

I looked up. "I chose this."

Florence's eyes reddened and she lowered her head, biting her lip. "I just thought it was pretty. Since you like it so much, never mind then."

Kai's gaze darkened and he stared at me. His voice had a gloomy tone. "It's just one watch. What's wrong with letting her have it?"

I smiled, retorting, "Kai, I'm your wife. Why should I give in to a mistress?"

If I conceded then, tomorrow everyone would know that Kai's wife was being trampled by his mistress!

Florence suddenly burst into tears, her voice wronged and despairing. "Yes, you're Kai's wife and I'm just a stand-in who cannot be seen in public. I shouldn't have wished for it."

"Kai, I should go. This isn't where I belong!"

With that, she clutched her skirt and ran out.

Kai's face changed drastically. He turned and chased after her. "Florence!"

He caught up to her, held her close and returned with a grim expression.

I stood up, wanting to say something.

Who knew Kai would suddenly yank me onto the fighting arena the next second?

"Since you're so lucky, let's make today's bet bigger!"

He shouted to the crowd of criminals.

"Whoever defeats her gets one million!"

The entire arena erupted in chaos.

I stared at him in disbelief. "Kai, what the hell are you saying?"

"Aren't you so tough? You love gambling, you love a fight. Now you can bet to your heart's content." His voice was icy, a cruel smirk playing on his lips.

I was shoved and dragged onto the stage, the fervent shouts of the audience and calls for doubled bets ringing in my ears.

I struggled with all my might, but my wrists were bruised and my blood ran cold.

The man who once would do anything for me was now personally throwing me into the abyss.

The iron gate of the arena slammed shut behind me with a deafening clang.

A group of criminals, their skin inked with black serpents, strode toward me, their grins twisted with cruelty.

I stumbled back, screaming desperately, "I surrender! I yield! Let me out!"

But no one listened.

For these men, gambling was just a pastime and violence was their true release.

The first fist struck, sending me crashing to the ground. Then came the second. The third.

They grabbed my clothes, tearing at them, as I was pinned to the ground like a struggling rat.

The crowd cheered, placing bets, not caring whether I lived or died.

My eyes flickered to the man sitting in the stands, watching as I was humiliated.

Yet his gaze never left Florence, asking if she was cold or hungry.

Only after a long while did he glance my way.

"You like to gamble, don't you?" His voice was low. "Are you having fun now?"

I curled into myself on the bloodstained floor, trying to cover my tattered clothes, to shield myself from the burning stares.

The crowd buzzed with comments.

"Mrs. Lockwood has a nice figure, I'll give her that."

"What a stunner. Too bad she's past her prime, can't compete with a fresh young thing."

"Didn't she only become Mrs. Lockwood because she looked like his dead ex-wife? Now that the real lookalike's here, it's time for her to step aside!"

The insults kept coming, but Kai didn't react at all.

I clenched my jaw so hard I thought my teeth might shatter.

I remembered a time when someone had disrespected me and he'd lunged at them like a madman, beating them until blood spilt.

"Carolyn," he had whispered that night, holding me tight with a trembling voice. "You're mine. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Now, he was the one pushing me into a den of wolves, leaving me humiliated and mocked.

The one hurting me was him.

Finally, just as I was on the verge of passing out, Kai's cold voice cut through. "Enough."

Bodyguards rushed over, dragging me out of that hellish arena and tossing me into the car.

Only then did Kai seem to realize he'd gone too far. He took off his suit jacket and threw it over me, his voice low. "I'll make sure Scott's graduation banquet is extravagant. Consider it compensation for tonight."

Leaning against the window, I slowly closed my eyes.

Just a little longer, I told myself. In a few more days, the divorce papers would be finalized. Then, I'd be free.

In the days that followed, Kai was almost nowhere to be seen.

Florence, on the other hand, updated her social media daily.

[Woke up in Kai's arms again today. The strawberries were so sweet.]

The photo showed a vivid hickey on her neck, so intimate it was almost indecent.

[Kai promised to set off 999 fireworks for me at the world's biggest amusement park. He really treats me like a princess!]

Another photo was of the two of them kissing during their overseas trip.

If it were before, my heart would have been in agony, but now I just swiped past with a blank expression.

My son was asleep beside me, tear stains still on his face.

Kai didn't even come home anymore, so he had no idea the house was getting emptier, or that the backyard had been burned.

I held my son, thinking that perhaps our departure would be smoother than we imagined.

Today was Scott's elementary school promotion celebration.

Initially, it was Kai who insisted on holding such a banquet for him, saying it was to show everyone that he had a successful son.

I picked out a white shirt for him and styled his hair with gel.

He secretly glanced at me. "Mom, will Dad prepare a gift for me?"

He still couldn't help but hold out hope for his father's love.

I lowered my head and whispered, "He will."

Actually, I wasn't sure in my heart.

Sure enough, the planned celebration was cancelled at the last minute.

The reason given was that Florence was suffering from severe morning sickness and shouldn't be out in the wind, so the banquet was moved to the house.

Not only that, Kai even brought Florence and her family to the villa to celebrate her three-month pregnancy in style.

Kai pretended to bring back a gift, saying it was compensation. "A gift for Scott's graduation."

Scott unwrapped it and when he saw the toy, he silently put the box back.

I recognized it. I had bought it for him last month and he played with it for a few days before putting it away.

Kai didn't remember. Nor did he care.

I suppressed my anger, reminding myself to hold on for three more days and then everything would be over.

However, accidents always come sooner.

"Mom, the dog is gone."

Scott ran to me anxiously, his voice trembling with a sob. "Doodle's gone, I just fed him snacks!"

I searched with him for an entire afternoon, turning over every corner of the villa, but we couldn't find the dog.

It wasn't until evening that a delicious smell wafted from the dining room.

Florence's mother smiled, holding a pot of soup.

"Come, try this! The dog meat's perfectly tender. A black shepherd, so nourishing!"

My mind went blank with a buzzing sound as I screamed uncontrollably, "What did you just say?"

The woman still didn't understand what was wrong.

"Stewed dog meat. That mutt in the yard kept running around unleashed, so when I kicked it down, I figured I might as well … "

"You cooked Doodle?"

Scott's voice rose to an alarming pitch. He staggered, knocking over the entire dining table.

Soup splattered across the floor as plates shattered.

I rushed over to restrain Scott, glaring furiously at the woman across from us. "That was my dog! Not food!"

"How was I supposed to know?" Florence's mother said with an innocent expression. "It's just a dog. What's the difference?"

"He was my son's friend!"

"Friend?" Florence suddenly laughed. "You can't seriously let your child befriend a dog, can you?"

When Kai arrived, he heard me shouting in rage, "Do you even have a heart?! That dog was part of our family!"

He frowned coldly. "Carolyn, it's just a dog. We can buy another one. Why are you making such a scene?"

I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

"Just a dog?" My voice trembled.

Doodle was a stray we had found at our doorstep when our child was born.

For seven years, he had been part of our family.

Florence clutched her stomach, pouting. "The baby's scared because of all this."

Kai's expression darkened instantly. "Carolyn, you've let Scott grow more and more out of control!"

"First, he pushed someone. Now he's flipping tables, cursing at elders and frightening a pregnant woman!"

"If you won't discipline him, then I will!"

"What are you going to do?" I instinctively shielded Scott.

He ordered the butler, "Bring me the whip."

He was actually resorting to corporal punishment!

"Kai!" I shot to my feet, but the bodyguards stepped forward and held me back.

"Let me go!" I struggled violently. "Kai, if you dare lay a finger on him, I'll … "

Before I could finish, I watched in horror as Scott was forced to his knees.

The moment the whip came down, it felt like my heart was being lacerated.

"Ah!" Scott wailed, his face drained of colour. "Mom! Mommy, save me! It hurts … "

My voice tore through the air, raw with desperation. "Kai! He's your son!"

"I'm teaching him how to behave!"

Kai snapped at me before turning to Florence. "Florence, you'll need to learn how to discipline him, too."

Florence pretended meekness. "I … I wouldn't dare."

"I'll help you."

Clasping her hand, he raised the disciplinary whip and brought it down viciously on Scott's small body.

Like a madwoman, I sank my teeth into the bodyguard's hand and threw myself over Scott, shielding him with my own body.

"Kai!" My scream carried every ounce of my shattered fury. "I want a divorce!"

The whip froze mid-air. For the first time, his cold mask cracked.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"You've lost the right to be his father!" Tears cascaded down my face. "You don't deserve him!"