“Zelia, why did you block me? Do you really think I want to contact you?” His voice dripped with annoyance.

“Listen, there’s something important I need you to do right now. Head to the convenience store and grab a few packs of extra-long, 100% cotton sanitary pads. Then, swing by the pharmacy for some painkillers. You’ve got ten minutes to make it here!”

I let out a weary sigh.

Once I completed this final task, I’d be free from any debts to the Wallace family.

With that thought in mind, I rushed out the door.

After navigating through a few frustrating traffic lights, Caesar’s voice thundered in my ear once again. “Zelia, if you’re not here soon, you’re dead! Don’t even think about pulling any stunts!”

I took a breath and replied patiently, “I’m on my way. The red lights have been relentless. I’ll be there soon.”

His frustration bubbled over as he snapped, “That’s no excuse! You’re just trying to make Gaia suffer, aren’t you?”

Just then, Gaia’s delicate voice broke through, tinged with distress. “Mr. Wallace, it really hurts. If I die from the pain, would you forget about me?”

Immediately, Caesar’s tone shifted to one of concern. “Of course not, Gaia. I’ll make sure nothing happens to you.”

I felt a wave of disgust wash over me as memories flooded back—like the time I had stained the sheets during my period.

Caesar had wrinkled his nose in horror, barking at me to clean it up and sleep on the couch. “So disgusting! On days like this, don’t even think about coming into the room!”

He had no clue about sanitary pads or pain relief; his indifference was obvious.

His voice sliced through the air once more, sharp and impatient. “Zelia, if you’re not here in five minutes, you can get lost. I don’t need a woman who doesn’t obey!”

With the call ended, I muttered to myself, “I don’t need a repulsive, disgusting man either.”

Upon arriving at the villa and handing over the items, I was struck by the sight of Caesar, his attire in disarray. At the same time, Gaia wrapped herself shyly in a blanket.

The air thick with unspoken tension revealed all that had transpired, and I was taken aback by his desperation.

“Mr. Wallace, please let me go; this is utterly embarrassing,” she implored.

Caesar fixed me with a frosty glare before gently gathering Gaia in his arms.

“Don’t worry, Gaia. I’ll take you to the bathroom,” he whispered soothingly, cradling her as if she were a rare treasure.

As they disappeared into the bathroom, I surveyed the lavish decor around me, a wave of sorrow washing over my heart.

The room was a haven of luxury, adorned with exquisite artworks and rare treasures, the kind you wouldn’t find in any ordinary store.

My own apartment, however, was a minimalist’s dream, stripped down to the essentials.

Caesar claimed it was eco-friendly, but it felt more like a blank canvas devoid of warmth or personality.

Just days ago, I had casually suggested a new sofa, only to be met with his annoyed glare, as if I had suggested we redecorate the entire universe.

“I didn’t make you my girlfriend so you could live in comfort. Be grateful you even have a sofa. Why are you being picky?” he snapped. “Stick to cooking and doing laundry. Don’t expect anything else until we’re married; that’s just not in the cards.”

His harsh words filled me with a wave of shame, leading me to question my worth. But the truth was becoming clear: I was merely a housekeeper in his eyes.

He had a slew of beautiful women at his fingertips, with Gaia reigning as his favorite.

With a soft sigh, I turned away and walked out, feeling like a shadow in my own life.

As I drove home, a flurry of thoughts raced through my mind, and I found myself dialing a number I had been toying with for some time. “Mr. Collins, I’ve decided. I’m willing to help you.”

“Are you absolutely sure? There’s no going back once you commit,” he cautioned.

I nodded firmly.

Once I arrived home, I retrieved my suitcase and promptly booked a flight for two days later.

Caesar maintained his silence, expecting me to swallow my pride and make the first move. This tactic had been his game for eight long years.

As I set my keys down at the front desk, Caesar’s mother swept in like a whirlwind.

I opened my mouth to say hello, but she slapped me hard across the face before I could speak.

“Zelia, our family has nurtured an ungrateful snake! After eating and drinking at our table for over a decade, how could you turn on us? How heartless!”

I pressed my burning cheek, stunned, but the words caught in my throat.

She became increasingly aggressive, yanking my hair and delivering sharp slaps with a voice dripping with fury. “My son is perfect, looks, family status, everything. And you still turn him down?”

“You can leave if you want, but you’ll have to pay back every penny we’ve spent raising you!”

I couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Over the years, the amount Caesar’s family had spent on me seemed almost a joke.

It wasn’t that I looked down on their support, but the meager fifty dollars they provided each month barely scratched the surface of my needs, leaving me to scrape by day after day.

Later, I discovered that the Wallace family offered support to students like me for the sake of publicity, inflating expenses to lure in more business partners.

When I failed to respond, Caesar’s mother dragged me outside and seized a nearby stun baton, striking me sharply across the head.

With each blow, warmth trickled down my face. Just as I was about to beg for mercy, a pair of strong arms enveloped me in a familiar embrace.

The scent of smoke surrounded me, and Caesar said, irritation lacing his voice, “Enough! She’s my woman!”

Then, unexpectedly tender, he lifted me and placed me gently in the passenger seat. “Zelia, don’t you see? No one will ever love or care for you the way I do.”

As he reached for some rubbing alcohol to disinfect my wounds, the sight of Gaia’s personal stickers adorning the dashboard made me recoil in disgust.

I instinctively shifted away, earning a warning look from him. “Go apologize to Gaia. Act like none of this ever happened, and you’ll remain the lady of the Wallace family.”

I let out a derisive snort; his so-called kindness was the very thing I longed to escape.

He fancied himself my savior, blind to the suffering he had caused.

Once, I had imagined a lifetime together, willing to manage every aspect of his life.

He had never been my hero; only I could rescue myself.

With steely determination, I replied, “Caesar, you’re fooling yourself. I won’t apologize, nor will I make amends with you.”

I flung open the car door and strode away, refusing to look back.

Behind me, Caesar’s furious voice erupted as he honked the horn frantically. “I’m warning you, Zelia! You’ll regret this!”

I didn’t glance over my shoulder, muttering under my breath, “You’re the one who’ll regret it.”

Exhaustion weighed heavily on me as I checked into a nearby hotel. After tending to my injuries, my phone buzzed with a call from Zephyr Collins.

“How’s the investigation progressing? There’s a banquet at the Wallace family tonight. Send me the address, and I’ll arrange for a dress to be delivered. Join me there.”

I nodded, signaling my agreement.

Zephyr’s voice brimmed with satisfaction as he hung up.

When the dress arrived, I took my time putting it on.

It was clear this was no ordinary garment—a striking contrast to Caesar, who had never offered me anything of such elegance.

Clothes had the uncanny ability to transform a person. Once I dressed and adorned myself, I marveled at how enchantingly different I appeared.

The moment I entered the banquet, all eyes gravitated toward me.

In the center of the room, Caesar and Gaia flirted openly, their playful banter making everyone around them squirm. “Mr. Wallace, stop tickling me! I don’t want to play anymore!”

“Oh, come on, Gaia. Stop acting coy. Isn’t this what you love most?”

Just then, Caesar's assistant broke in quietly. “Miss Reeves has arrived.”

Caesar turned to me, his eyes wide with disbelief.

For a moment, he seemed stunned, as if struggling to recognize the elegantly dressed woman before him. “Zelia? What are you doing here? Who invited you?”

His frown deepened, filled with disdain. “That dress, who bought it for you? Was it that guy from the last photo?”

I brushed him off, lifting my dress as I walked away.

Frustrated, Caesar clutched my wrist, ignoring Gaia’s irritation. “Didn’t you hear? Who bought that dress for you?”