After saying that,Victor walked straight out.He was heading to the karaoke to'order'Vivian.She did not want to give up her career and he could not bear the thought of other men ordering his woman.So,for the past few years,he had shown up every night to support her business.

Just before I lost consciousness from the pain over the roar of a car engine,I heard him say to my son.

"Drag your mother to the guest room.I’m bringing Vivian home tomorrow.She’ll be sleeping in the master bedroom."

"Also,don’t let your mother dirty the floor.Vivian hates anything dirty."

I took a deep breath,turned around and was about to leave,but Victor suddenly grabbed my collar and yanked me back.

The force knocked the air out of my lungs and I began coughing uncontrollably.

"Where do you think you’re going?Elena,you hurt Vivian and you’re not even going to apologize?"

I instinctively defended myself.

"I didn’t!I clearly…"

Before I could finish,Victor slapped me across the face,then shoved me to the ground,still clutching my collar.

"Stop making excuses and say you're sorry.Kneel.Apologize to Vivian."

He said every word with chilling certainty in his eyes and I felt my heart sinking deeper and deeper.

I looked at Vivian.My mouth opened,but I could not force out the words"I’m sorry."

I really did not know what I had done to wrong her.

Why was it always me apologizing for someone else’s mistake?

For the past thirty years of marriage,I had apologized every single day.

I apologized when there was a wrinkle on the suit I ironed for Victor.

I apologized when I made breakfast and the porridge was cold by the time my son finally got out of bed to eat.

I apologized when I went to pick up my grandson from kindergarten and he tripped after stepping on my foot.

I had said sorry so many times.What was one more to Vivian?

Just let me walk out that door.

Once I got out of this place,they would not be able to hurt me anymore.

Thinking of this,a flicker of hope rose in my heart.I knelt down and looked into Vivian’s eyes with sincerity.

"I’m sorry.It’s my fault you got hurt.Will you forgive me?"

Seeing me lower myself into the dust,speaking so cautiously,Victor frowned.

"Elena,your former sponsor isn’t here anymore.No one pities your tears.Who are you trying to fool with that act?"

My heart sank.

Just as he finished speaking,the bodyguard returned with the doctor and pushed open the door.

The doctor carried a medical kit and then rushed over to Vivian.

Everyone’s attention shifted back to her.No one even glanced my way.

While they were all focused on Vivian,I quietly pushed open the door to the private box and stepped out without a shred of reluctance.

As I walked down the corridor out of the karaoke,I heard the roar of a helicopter overhead.

Looking up,I saw a familiar private jet hovering above.

I quickened my pace toward the helipad,where the helicopter was preparing to land.

Unfortunately,that was when the accident happened.

Just as I broke into a jog,Victor’s bodyguards burst out of the karaoke like wild animals.

Without a word,a group of burly men in black seized me from both sides and dragged me roughly back toward the private box.

My canvas shoes were pulled off in the struggle and my heels scraped against the rough floor,leaving vivid trails of blood along the corridor tiles.

Back inside the karaoke room,I was disheveled,pinned to the floor by bodyguards at Victor’s feet.

Vivian was leaning weakly against his chest,eyes closed,seemingly unconscious.

My son and daughter-in-law were at her side,holding her hands with concern.

"How dare you drug Vivian,Elena?You vicious woman!"

Victor kicked me hard in the chest and I coughed up a mouthful of blood.

My son glanced cautiously at Victor and spoke carefully,"Dad,could it be a mistake?This is against the law.No matter how jealous Mom is of Vivian,she would never do something like this,wouldn't she?"

"The doctor said Vivian had food poisoning.Your mother has been cooking all the meals we’ve had these past few days.If it wasn’t her,then who else could it be?"

"I think she’s just trying to use my concern and anxiety for Vivian to force me into submission so she can negotiate terms with me."

Victor stared at me with a dark expression and raised his hand to command the bodyguards.

"From what I know about her,the antidote must be with her.Search her!"

I opened my mouth to explain but was interrupted by the bodyguards’rough actions.

In front of my son,daughter-in-law and Victor’s brothers,the bodyguards tore my clothes off roughly.

I struggled desperately but could not break free.

Whispers filled my ears.

My clothes were in shambles and I desperately reached out to Victor,crying and begging him to stop.

My coat was torn off,revealing a hideous scar on the back of my shoulder.

Victor was visibly stunned when he saw it.He hesitated for a moment,about to stop the bodyguards.

However,Vivian,who was resting in his arms,suddenly clung to the corner of Victor’s clothes with her fingers and gave a weak warning.

"Ugh…I don't feel well."

With just one sentence,Victor hardened his heart.

"Hurry up and keep searching!"

He gently stroked Vivian’s face."It will be fine soon,Vivian."

The bodyguards received the order and searched with even greater force and no restraint.

When a bodyguard reached for my bra straps,my daughter-in-law spoke weakly.

"Dad,isn’t this a bit inappropriate?After all,Mom is..."

Before she could finish,Victor shot her a look and she immediately fell silent.

At that moment,Vivian slowly opened her eyes.Seeing everything unfolding before her,a hint of triumph flashed in her gaze.

Then she panicked and spoke,"Mr.Holloway,what are you doing?This has nothing to do with your wife..."

"I had black bass for lunch yesterday and completely forgot I’m not supposed to pair it with eggplant.When your wife cooked for us,I specifically asked her to make eggplant for me,so that's why."

"It was simply my mistake.It’s all my fault today.I fainted without saying a word,causing you to wrongly accuse your wife."

When Victor heard this,his hands trembled and he suddenly looked at me lying naked on the ground.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

I collapsed further,tugging at the corners of my lips.

What could I say?Vivian had deliberately set this trap,making sure Victor sided with her,leaving me no way to defend myself.

Victor stood up shakily,took off his suit jacket and draped it over me.

I frowned and dodged,forcing myself to stand.

"No need.I won’t bother you anymore.I’ll leave now."

Seeing my pale yet stubborn face,Victor’s forehead veins throbbed.

He wanted to ask how long I would keep acting so unreasonably.

He wanted to ask what he should do to worry less,to not get angry with me and to stop me from running away over such trivial matters.

But again,Vivian timidly tugged at the corner of Victor’s clothes."Mr.Holloway,I don’t feel well."

Victor quickly stepped back and held Vivian’s hand.

My son and daughter-in-law also came over,asking Vivian about her well-being.

Looking at them,I saw that they really seemed like a close-knit family,while I felt even more like an outsider here.

I turned to leave,but suddenly,my head was spinning.

I had no idea how much time had passed before I opened my eyes and found myself lying in a familiar room.

Victor sat by the bay window,sipping tea and reviewing financial statements.

I tried to sit up,pushing myself upright.The moment I moved,Victor noticed.

He let out a quiet sigh of relief,though his face remained impassive."How are you feeling?Still unwell?"

He walked over as he spoke,"I had someone in the kitchen make porridge.I’ll go serve it for you…"

As he talked,he caught a glimpse of me getting out of bed and rushed over to help.

"You should stay in bed and rest.The doctor said your health is very poor.You need to take care of yourself."

I avoided his touch and staggered toward the living room.

My daughter-in-law was cooking porridge in the kitchen.When she saw me,she invited me in to eat.

My little grandson had just returned from school.Beaming with joy,he rushed toward me like a spinning top.

My heart immediately softened as I crouched down,having difficulty embracing him.

But unexpectedly,he ran right past me,bumping into me just enough to make me stumble and threw himself straight into Vivian’s arms.

"Vivian,you’re so pretty and smell so nice.Not like Grandma…She’s always messy and smells like oil and sweat."

The air in the living room instantly turned heavy.

Victor remained silent for a long time and then gently patted my shoulder."Children are just too innocent.Don’t take it to heart,Elena."

I could only stand frozen.

Watching my grandson cling to Vivian,I looked down at my loose,worn clothes and rough hands.A lump formed in my chest.

Perhaps sensing my downcast mood,Victor pursed his lips and rubbed our grandson’s head.

"Why would you say that to Grandma?Apologize to her."

His tone was not stern,but the boy frowned.

"I’m not apologizing.I didn’t say anything wrong."

He pouted and stomped his feet in anger."You adults are such hypocrites."

"Grandpa,you clearly said Grandma was dirty and smelly and that you didn’t want to sleep in the same room with her."

"You also said she was as fat as a pig,staying at home all day doing nothing,just lazing around.You said she’s not as hard working as Vivian,who still goes to work even though she’s pregnant."

"Grandpa,you obviously agree with me,so why should I apologize?"

My little grandson looked up with a flushed face,speaking with surprising logic and confidence for someone his age.

I was completely stunned upon hearing that.

Looking at my reflection in the kitchen glass,I saw a warped figure in sloppy,rumpled clothes.

For a moment,my mind went blank.I had worked tirelessly for the past thirty years like a servant,a slave.And yet,this was what I got?Slander and contempt from the very people I loved?

"Hello?Who is this?Say something."

Victor’s voice rang out from behind me,snapping me out of my thoughts.

I turned and saw him holding my phone,answering a call.The line was open,but there was only silence on the other end.

Victor frowned and was about to speak when I snatched the phone from his hand.

"Who said you could answer my calls?"