Over the next few days, Theodore stayed at the hospital to care for Calista as promised.

He arrived on time every day, brought her light meals, and changed her dressings. He would even silently hold her hand when she woke up from the pain in the middle of the night.

The Calista she used to be would have been overjoyed, but now her heart felt utterly desolate. She realized that although she had loved him for six years, letting go took only an instant.

On the day of Calista's discharge, she reached the parking lot only to find Aveline sitting in Theodore's car. Upon spotting her, Aveline shot her a sidelong glance, her expression sour.

Theodore frowned. "Ave, did you forget what I told you before?"

Aveline bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears as she murmured a reluctant apology, "Calista, I'm sorry. I acted too impulsively. Ever since Theodore married you, he's refused to see me for years. He devoted all his attention to you, so I took my anger out on you. I won't do it again."

Theodore turned to Calista and said calmly, "Ave wants to stay at our place for a few days. You two should try to get along from now on."

On the drive back, Theodore and Aveline sat in the front.

Calista leaned against the window, silently watching the scenery blur past. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Theodore's profile. He had always been composed and restrained, yet now his gaze kept drifting toward Aveline.

Aveline looked down at her phone and suddenly giggled. "Theodore, look at this guy. Isn't he handsome? He just added me on Snapchat."

Theodore's fingers tightened instantly around the steering wheel, his voice dropping to a low, cold tone. "Delete him."

Aveline pouted. "Why? I'm in my 20s. Am I not allowed to date?"

His tone left no room for argument. "I said delete him."

Aveline pursed her lips but still obediently deleted the contact. She muttered under her breath, "Theodore, you're stricter than a boyfriend."

Theodore remained silent, yet Calista noticed the tension in his jaw and realized that he was jealous.

After they returned home, Calista skipped dinner and went straight to her room.

She heard the clatter of dishes, Aveline's giggles, and the lingering romantic background music of a movie drifting in from beyond the door. In the two years of her marriage to Theodore, she had never experienced such warmth in their house. She buried herself under the covers, her heart aching.

After a while, the sounds outside gradually faded. Thirsty, Calista got up to pour herself some water, but she froze the moment she opened her door.

Moonlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Theodore crouched beside the couch, silently watching the sleeping Aveline. He had always seemed as untouchable as a god, yet in that moment, he was gazing at his own deity.

Aveline suddenly stirred and sleepily wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice soft and sweet. "Theodore, don't leave me. You're the only one who cares about me."

She unconsciously pulled his head down, and their lips met accidentally.

Theodore's pupils dilated as his breathing turned uneven in an instant. In the next second, as if his final thread of restraint had snapped, he could no longer hold back and leaned down to kiss her passionately.

Moonlight spilled across the living room floor like a gentle stream.

Standing behind the door, Calista peered through the cracked opening and watched Theodore lean down to kiss Aveline. His breathing was uneven, his long fingers gripping her waist tightly, as if six years of restraint were finally breaking free.

"Ave…" he called her name in a low, hoarse voice, filled with a tenderness Calista had never heard before.

After a moment, Theodore snapped back to his senses and gently wiped the moisture from the corners of Aveline's lips with his thumb. He slid the rosary back onto his wrist and once again became the distant, chaste man.

Calista dug her fingernails deep into her palms, the sharp pain barely keeping her grounded. She pivoted sharply, closed the door without a sound, and buried herself beneath the blanket.

Outside the room, the sound of footsteps gradually faded into the distance. She knew Theodore had gone to the prayer room again.

She closed her eyes as memories of her countless attempts to seduce him over the years flooded back.

She recalled wearing provocative lingerie and "accidentally" falling while he recited scriptures, yet he had caught her firmly using his prayer book. She had deliberately brought him a towel while he bathed, but he wrapped himself securely before opening the door.

She even pretended to be drunk and leaned into him, yet he simply pushed her away with a single finger on her forehead.

Theodore had always remained unmoved, making all her efforts seem futile. Yet she realized now that for the person he truly loved, even a single word could make him lose control.

Tears streamed down Calista's face, but she quickly wiped them away.

She told herself that it didn't matter. It wasn't as if she was unwanted. From now on, he could love his adoptive sister, and she would seek her own happiness.

…

When Calista woke up the next morning, Theodore and Aveline were already having breakfast.

Aveline touched her lips and muttered, "Theodore, are there mosquitoes in your house? Why are my lips swollen this morning?"

Theodore paused for a moment, his voice low. "I'll have the housekeeper bring you some ointment later."

Calista took the gift box Theodore handed her and opened it. Inside was an antique worth over a hundred million dollars. Her lips curled into a faint smile, and her tone held a hint of sarcasm. "You really spared no expense."

Aveline leaned in to take a look, her voice tinged with jealousy. "Theodore, I had no idea that you were so generous to Calista. I thought you were just a stiff, old-fashioned man who only cared about prayers and didn't know how to spoil his wife."

Calista looked up at Theodore and saw his gaze dim slightly. He seemed to have no intention of explaining that the gift was meant to make up for Aveline injuring her head.

In truth, he never cared about her preferences and certainly never bothered to put any thought into choosing gifts for her.

He uttered a brief acknowledgment before standing up. "I have things to attend to at the office. I'm leaving."

Before leaving, he glanced at Aveline, his voice deepening slightly. "Behave yourself at home. You can go anywhere in the villa except the prayer room."

Aveline looked puzzled. "Why?"

Theodore casually made up an excuse to brush it off, but Calista knew that it was because the prayer room held his deepest desires.

After finishing breakfast, Calista returned to her room, unwilling to stay in the same space as Aveline. When she woke from her nap, she found her long hair cut into uneven, jagged clumps.

Calista rushed out and saw Aveline sitting on the couch, smiling as she braided something using Calista's severed locks. Calista understood the situation instantly.

Her voice trembled. "Did you cut my hair?"

Aveline looked up and smiled calmly. "Yeah. I need to make a handicraft for school, and I'm planning on making a wig."

She waved the strands of hair in her hand. "Your hair color is the best. It's so dark and shiny."

A chill ran through Calista. She couldn't hold back any longer and lunged forward, slapping Aveline hard.

The sharp crack of a slap echoed through the living room.

Aveline clutched her face, her gaze turning cold in an instant. "How dare you hit me? Theodore has cherished me since we were kids. Even he wouldn't dare lay a finger on me. Who do you think you are?"

She raised her voice to summon the bodyguards. "Hold her down!"

The bodyguards hesitated, looking between Calista and Aveline.

Aveline narrowed her eyes and said, "You work for my brother. Think about it. Who do you think matters more to him?"

After a brief silence, the bodyguards stepped forward and restrained Calista.

Calista laughed so hard that tears streamed down her face. It turned out that everyone already knew how much Aveline mattered to Theodore. She was the only one who took six years to learn the secret that she had once believed was earth-shattering.

Aveline raised her hand before Calista could react. A loud smack rang out as the first slap landed, burning across her cheek. Then came the second and the third.

Calista struggled violently, her voice hoarse. "Aveline, aren't you afraid that Theodore will come after you for this?"

Aveline laughed triumphantly. "Since we were kids, he's cleaned up every mess I've made. Hitting his wife won't be any different."

She leaned in and whispered into Calista's ear, "Remember, Calista—I'm the only one he truly cares about."

With that, she slapped Calista again and again. Calista fought with all her might, but the bodyguards held her down tightly.

A series of cracks filled the air.

The strikes rained down on Calista like a torrential storm. Her consciousness began to fade, and her cheeks burned as if pierced by countless needles. Tears blurred her vision, but she could still see the twisted satisfaction on Aveline's face.

"How many has it been?" Aveline asked the bodyguards.

"99," one bodyguard replied.

Aveline said with a smile, "Let's make it an even number."

The final blow landed heavily. Calista suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. Her vision went black, and she lost consciousness.

In her haze, she heard the front door swing open. Someone demanded sternly, "What are you doing?"

…

When Calista woke again, she was lying in her bed.

Theodore sat by her bedside, his expression calm. "I know what happened today."

Calista's throat felt parched, and her voice was rough. "And?"

He said indifferently, "Ave's been spoiled since she was young. I've already punished her, so don't take it to heart."

Calista stared at him. "How did you punish her?"

Theodore fell silent for a moment before pulling a lock of hair from his pocket. "She cut your hair, so she has cut off a lock of hers as an apology."

Calista found it utterly absurd. "What about the hundred slaps she gave me? Did you just slap her once and call it even?"

Theodore's voice remained level. "Her hand is swollen from hitting you. That counts as her punishment."

Calista froze, then suddenly laughed so hard that tears began to fall. She asked herself, "How did I ever fall for Theodore Montclair in the first place?"

Just as Theodore was about to speak, she snatched the vase from the nightstand and hurled it to the floor. Her eyes were bloodshot as she screamed, "Get out!"

Theodore stood up, his tone still serene. "I know you're angry, but the doctor said you need proper rest. Calm down."

After he finished speaking, he turned and left. The moment the door closed, Calista could no longer hold back and broke into loud sobs.