Chapter 4

A large wedding photo hung on the wall. Emily, dressed in a strapless wedding gown, was pressed closely against Jenson. Their noses nearly touched as they gazed into each other's eyes. They looked every bit like a couple deeply in love. Jenson hurried in from the living room. "Estie, you should rest in the guest room. Emily hasn't been feeling well, and this bedroom gets the best sunlight, so I thought it'd be better for her to stay here…" Mid-sentence, his eyes landed on the wedding photo. He froze for a moment before continuing, "This was just to appease her family. They were pressuring her to get married." So, their marriage certificate was just a favor, and the wedding photos were just for show. Meeting Estella's cold gaze, Jenson felt a sudden panic rise within him and instinctively reached for her arm. "Don't overthink it, Estie. I just—" She stepped away. "Don't touch me." This was the first time Estella had ever shown such resistance toward him in their six years together. Jenson's chest tightened. He was about to explain when Emily suddenly rushed in and said in a trembling voice, "Ms. Hart, please don't fight with Jenson. It's my fault. I shouldn't have moved in. I'll leave right now." Jenson immediately stopped her. "This has nothing to do with you." Tears streamed down Emily's face at once. "Jenson, you've already done so much for me. I can't let you upset Ms. Hart because of me. Maybe this is just my fate. Maybe I'm being punished for the mistakes I made in the past. I accept it." Her tear-filled eyes and fragile voice struck Jenson hard. Gently, he reassured her, "Don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one can force you into marriage. And Estie isn't upset over this. You don't have to go anywhere. Just stay." Watching the scene before her, Estella let out a soft chuckle. "Why should I be upset? After all, this is your home now." With that, she turned and walked out. Emily let out a delicate sob. "Is Ms. Hart angry?" This time, Jenson didn't answer. Estella's words sent shockwaves through his mind. Without thinking, he rushed after her and grabbed her wrist. "What do you mean by that? What do you mean this is her home now? Emily's being forced into marriage and is being harassed by some stranger. I'm just trying to help her! You're a woman too. Can't you have a little empathy? Do you really have to throw a jealous tantrum at a time like this?" Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass echoed from the bedroom. Jenson's expression paled instantly. He shoved Estella aside and rushed back inside. "Emily! What are you doing?" His voice was filled with panic. Emily was kneeling on the floor, and there was a long gash trailing down her wrist. Tears streamed down her pale face. "Just leave me alone. No one in this world cares about me. If my death can make Ms. Hart happy, then at least I'll have done something right." Jenson snatched the shard from her hand and pressed hard against her wound to stop the bleeding. Then, he whipped around to glare at Estella. "Estella! Are you satisfied now? Do you feel no guilt at all seeing this? No wonder people call you heartless. Even when your own father died, you didn't shed a single tear. How could someone as cold and selfish as you ever care about another person's life?" His words slammed into Estella like a hammer. Her hands trembled, and her body went cold. Her childhood had been filled with the stench of alcohol and the bruises left by a drunken father. So, when he'd died unexpectedly, she hadn't cried. Not once. Her relatives had called her ungrateful, a heartless wretch. For years, those words had been a buried wound, reopening at every mention. Later, when Jenson had found out, he'd spent a long time comforting her until she'd finally let it go. But now, he was the one driving the blade back in. Whatever love Estella had left for him slowly drained away at this moment. "Jenson, I never said she couldn't stay, and I never threw a tantrum. The only reason I avoided you is because I have a severe allergy to seafood." Only then did Jenson notice the angry red rash spreading across her wrist right where he'd grabbed her. As he met Estella's reddened eyes and recalled his own words, a pang of guilt swept through him. "Estie, I—" Seeing this, Emily clenched her teeth and struggled to get up again. "Don't stop me, Jenson. Just let me die." As she thrashed about, more blood oozed from her wound. Jenson no longer cared to comfort Estella. He scooped Emily up and rushed out. "I won't let anything happen to you. Let's go to the hospital right now!" Estella stood there, unmoving, as their figures disappeared.