Chapter 5

On the day I was discharged, Ethan surprisingly came to pick me up.

He brought flowers and gifts.

"Happy anniversary."

I wasn't surprised he'd remember that today was our fourth wedding anniversary.

After all, this day held "special meaning" for him and Freya too.

I finally understood why, whenever we celebrated our wedding anniversary, he always suggested bringing Freya along.

I calmly accepted what he handed me, neither arguing nor making a scene.

We were harmonious, just like before.

The ring on his finger had been replaced with the same style as Freya's.

He'd cut his hair short, truly transforming himself into Nathan Hayes.

Ethan opened the passenger door for me.

I'd already gotten into the back seat.

He paused briefly, his tone gentle.

"Sit up front."

As if the man who'd confessed his affair during surgery had never existed.

I said flatly, "I'm used to the back seat. Just drive."

Usually when the three of us went out, because Freya got carsick, I voluntarily let her sit in front.

And I naturally sat in the back.

I was quiet, always silently listening to the two of them chatting and laughing up front.

Once I accidentally fell asleep.

They completely forgot about me in the back seat.

When they got out, they locked me in the car.

Afterward, Freya explained that Ethan had called her to help buy flowers to surprise me.

She even teased me to cherish Ethan because he was a good man.

But I recognized those flowers.

I'd personally bought them for Freya's house when she went on a trip.

The car braked, interrupting my memories.

Ethan didn't move, watching me through the rearview mirror.

"Today is my wedding with her."

I looked up.

Ahead was a banquet hall.

The man continued, "She says you're her only friend. She wants you to be her bridesmaid. Your bridesmaid dress is in the bag. Go change."

I finally understood.

His personally coming to pick me up came with a price.

I smirked.

"You two make me sick."

With that, I moved to get out.

But the moment my foot extended out, someone dragged me into a room.

Several bodyguards in black stripped off my clothes and roughly changed me into a dress.

Ethan followed leisurely behind.

"Eva Carter, Freya was so afraid you wouldn't be her bridesmaid, she cried all night."

I struggled, gritting my teeth.

"And you felt sorry for her? So you kidnapped me to witness this incestuous love between you and your sister-in-law?"

The next moment, Ethan grabbed my chin forcefully.

"Eva Carter, my patience is limited. If you keep making trouble, I don't mind having Hayes Corporation stop cooperating with your family. I'm sure you know your family's company hasn't been doing well these past few years."

My eyes widened.

I stopped struggling.

He smiled with satisfaction.

When Freya saw me, tears immediately filled her eyes.

She rushed forward and grabbed my hand.

"Eva, I'm so happy you're willing to come."

I coldly turned my face away.

Ethan pulled Freya close, gently saying, "The ceremony's about to start."

So the two of them, like a real married couple, walked onstage accepting everyone's blessings.

At that moment, my phone rang.

Just as I lowered my head to answer it, a woman with graying hair grabbed my hair.

"You jinx! My eldest son finally came home, and you drove my youngest son away!"

She shouted, "Someone! Hold her down! Bring me my whip! Today I'll teach you the Hayes family rules in front of everyone using family punishment! You can't give me a grandson, and you drove my son away. I'll beat you to death, you useless bitch!"

Everyone stepped back.

No one dared stop Mrs. Hayes.

They all knew her mental state wasn't stable and feared offending the Hayes family.

When the first lash fell on me, I instinctively looked at Ethan.

He only pressed his lips together, holding Freya, coldly watching everything.

In that moment, the last trace of hope I had for him vanished completely.

I struggled desperately, but the bodyguards held me firmly to the ground.

No one dared plead on my behalf.

In the huge banquet hall, only the crack of the whip remained.

And my increasingly weak breathing.

I don't know how long passed.

My back was already torn and bloody.

Blood stained the white gauze dress.

The air reeked of blood.

Someone began to quietly intervene.

"You can't keep beating her. She'll die."

I stared hard at the two people onstage.

Meeting my gaze, Ethan frowned, his feet shifting slightly.

But at that moment, Freya grabbed Ethan's hand.

She picked up the microphone and announced to everyone, "Mom, there's another piece of good news today. You're going to have a grandchild."

Mrs. Hayes stopped abruptly, excited.

"Really?"

Freya looked at Ethan with deep affection and shyness.

"Yes, one month along. When Nathan came home that day, we —"

Mrs. Hayes exclaimed with joy repeatedly.

Just then, the banquet hall doors suddenly burst open.

A tall man wearing a baseball cap walked in.

Sneering, "Is that so? How come I don't know I'm having another child?"

When he removed his cap, revealing his face, everyone gasped in shock.

Ethan's face turned ashen, his voice nearly failing.

"Nathan?"