George never actually touched any of those women, of course, including me. It wasn’t until Priscilla went back to Liechtenstein, begging to get back together, that he coldly told her she could be his twelfth concubine. Unable to bear the humiliation, Priscilla was so aggrieved that she fell straight to tears and hid in her room to cry.

George pretended to be indifferent, but he couldn’t help himself. He pushed open her door, held her in his arms and tried to comfort her with kisses.

That night, as if to vent his anger for Priscilla, he made me kneel and change their bedsheets seven times. Priscilla's body is covered in kiss marks. It was a testament to all the longing George had suppressed.

Rosalie was silent for a long time before she finally sighed in regret. “Since you've already made your decision, I will respect your choice. It's that bastard George’s loss, not yours.”

“When your grandmother was alive, she asked me to customise a wedding dress for you at the bridal shop in the south of the city. It was designed by her own hands before she died. Don’t forget to pick it up, Caroline. No matter who you marry, I only hope you will be happy.”

I nodded gratefully. In this life, I would stay far away from George and pursue my own happiness.

***

Early the next morning, after booking my flight, I went to pick up my wedding dress. I didn't expect to see George and Priscilla there before I arrived at the bridal shop. The clerk was holding a beautifully styled wedding dress and looking at them with difficulty.

“I'm sorry, Mrs. Rosaline specifically explained that this wedding dress is reserved for Miss Caroline. I really can't sell it to anyone else.”

Priscilla was wearing a super short dress. And when she saw me coming, she looked at George with red eyes.

“Forget it, George. Let’s not take what belongs to someone else. I don’t want Caroline to be upset with me again. I’m just a little sad that I can’t wear the most beautiful wedding dress to marry you.”

George was immediately heartbroken and rushed towards me. “Caroline, it's not like I'm going to marry you anyway. So, it's useless for you to ask for a wedding dress, just let it go to Priscilla.”

“This is what my grandmother designed for me during her lifetime. Why should I let her have it? If you don't marry me, naturally, someone else will.”

George’s face darkened as he sneered, “You've been pestering me like a leech for ten years. You can't even live without me. You think you'll really marry someone else? This wedding dress was clearly prepared by my grandmother for her future granddaughter-in-law. Only Priscilla is qualified to wear it. I advise you not to be ungrateful.”

“As long as you give the wedding dress to Priscilla, I can allow you to still stay in the Swallowell Family and see me every day. But you'd better settle down and stop being delusional!”

I was too lazy to care about him and went forward to take away the wedding dress, but I didn't expect Priscilla to refuse to let go. As we tugged at it, her strong perfume hit my nose. Suddenly, I felt nauseous- morning sickness struck without warning and I couldn’t help but throw up on her leg.

Priscilla immediately burst into tears. “Caroline, I just want to help you get your wedding dress. How could you do this to me, make me look so bad on purpose?”

George glared at me with a gloomy face. “Lick it clean for Priscilla.”

 I stared at him in disbelief. “What did you say?”

“You humiliated Priscilla on purpose, isn't that because you're dissatisfied that I'm going to marry her? Caroline, your disgusting tactics are really endless. Clean it up for her or you won't be able to leave this shop today!”

Seeing that I didn't move, he had the bodyguard kick at my knees, forcing me to kneel in front of Priscilla. He pressed my head close to Priscilla's legs.

As I struggled, Priscilla gently helped me up and scolded, “Come on, George. Don’t be so harsh. You're scaring Caroline.”

“Caroline, George just cares too much about me. Don't blame him. I don't blame you for what happened just now. Why don't you accompany me to the restroom to clean up?”

After saying that, she forcefully dragged me into the restroom. Priscilla had only cleaned the dirt on her legs when I saw a stream of blood flowing down from between her legs.

After all, I was the one who was at a disadvantage. I took the initiative and said, “I'll go get your sanitary pad.”

I didn't expect her to suddenly grab my arm, changing the tenderness of a moment ago. Her gentle mask slipped away to reveal a sharp, vicious look and she said, “Drop the act. You’re disgusting. How did you know I wasn’t pregnant? It's that old witch from the Swallowell Family who told you everything about me, right? Don't think I don't know, you just had morning sickness. You're the one who's actually pregnant!”

“The old hag thought that if she drugged George and made you pregnant with his child, he would marry you? What a joke. George only has me in his heart. And you, you're just a dog licker.”

I frowned and said, “I've already decided to leave. What else do you want?”

Priscilla's fingertips gently traced my belly as she sneered, “Of course you can leave, but you can't take this child with you. A shameless licking dog like you, who knows if you will use the child to force George to marry you one day? And I just so happen to need you to do me a favour…”

She suddenly pushed me away and her whole body fell to the ground, screaming. The door of the fitting room was kicked open. George rushed in and pushed me down with one hand.

“What are you doing, Caroline?”

“George, Caroline is so cruel. She was jealous that I was pregnant with your child. She even deliberately pushed me down. Our little baby is gone now. The doctor said my body is weak, if I miscarry, I will never be able to have a child again.”

So this was the 'help' Priscilla was talking about. She was afraid that George would find out about her multiple abortions and inability to get pregnant, so she simply dumped the pot on me.

Looking at the blood on the ground, George slapped me hard. “Caroline, you're even more vicious and disgusting than I thought!”

He ordered his bodyguard to bring him a fruit knife and looked at me coldly. “That baby was in Priscilla's belly for forty days. You will get forty cuts now. How much blood Priscilla has shed, you will pay twice as much!”

The scenes of my past life surfaced in my mind. Thinking of the child in my belly, my maternal instincts made me hug his legs and beg regardless.

“George, I didn't do it. Please, believe me!”

“I'm pregnant. I was born with a blood clotting disorder. If I lose too much blood, the baby will die. I'll roll far away and never bother you and Priscilla again, please!”

George looked surprised, hesitating. And when he hesitated, Priscilla immediately cried.

“George, the private doctor, had already checked everyone that day. Caroline isn't pregnant at all. She's just afraid of the pain. Our child is so pitiful. It's just turned into a puddle of blood, I can't be a mother anymore.”

George kicked me in the belly. “Caroline, you're actually still lying at a time like this? What pregnancy, what bullshit blood clotting disorder? It’s all lies you made up. If you're really pregnant, why didn't you say so earlier? Isn’t marrying me your biggest dream?”

“Now you’re afraid of pain? Why weren’t you afraid when you pushed Priscilla? You have to pay for doing something wrong. Cut her- forty cuts, not a single cut less!”

Crashing pain came from my abdomen. My skin was cut open by the sharp blade over and over again. The smell of blood filled the entire space. I curled up in agony.

Looking at my blood staining the entire restroom floor, George was somewhat moved, as if he wanted to help me up. But Priscilla once again whimpered, “George, my belly hurts so much. Will you send me to the hospital?”

At those words, George stopped in his tracks and looked at me condescendingly.

“The day after tomorrow is the wedding of Priscilla and me. The wedding dress goes to Priscilla. It’s considered an atonement from you to her. If you dare to hurt her again, I will never let you go.”

As they walked away, my tears streamed down my face. George, there would never be another time.

The shop assistant took me to the hospital. And with some resuscitation, I saved my life, but lost my child. Until the day I left, George hadn't contacted me. He was busy preparing for his wedding with Priscilla and buying her all kinds of expensive jewellery.

After saying goodbye to Mrs. Rosaline, I headed to the airport without looking back.

***

The next day, at the hotel, George was backstage waiting for the wedding to begin, but he was a bit distracted because he didn't see me anywhere. He thought I was having a tantrum and suddenly had a long-lost nostalgia.

 I’d been pampered by my family since I was little. Whenever I threw a tantrum, he’d have to coax me for half a day every time. I didn't know since then, I have never lost my temper with him and he, too, has not coaxed me for a long time.

George subconsciously sent me a text message.

[Caroline, I was a bit harsh that day, but you caused Priscilla to have a miscarriage and lose her chance to be a mother. So, I have to do her justice.]

[I know you care about your looks. I will find you the best medical beauty expert. I won't let you leave a scar. After all, you are also my woman. I won't leave you alone, as long as you don't provoke Priscilla anymore in the future. I will take care of you for the rest of your life. Be good]

Waiting late for my reply, remembering that I suddenly started calling him brother again in the past two days, as if I wanted to set something aside, George's heart welled up with inexplicable annoyance.

Until he saw Rosalie appear, he immediately asked, “Grandma, where's Caroline? Is she still upset about the bridal shop? I've taken the initiative to make peace with her. What else does she want? She’s always so stubborn…”

In the next second, Rosalie slapped him hard. “You beast! How can you still have the face to mention her?”

“Caroline has gone abroad to get married to someone. She will never bother you again. Are you satisfied now?!”