Chapter 5

As soon as Chloe finished speaking, she immediately regretted it. Reflected in her widening pupils was the image of Kyle stepping toward her. "You—what are you doing? Are you crazy? Don't tell me you actually want to hit me!" Kyle didn't waste words. He raised his hand and delivered a crisp slap across Chloe's face. A bright red handprint immediately appeared on her cheek. The pain was one thing, but what stung more was the psychological shock. Chloe had thought Kyle was merely trying to intimidate her, but she hadn't expected him to actually hit her so decisively and without holding back. "To me, anyone who becomes my enemy—man or woman—deserves what's coming to them. If you need to be hit, I'll hit. If you need to be killed, I'll kill. This is your final warning. If you say another word, I'll break your legs. Go ahead, try me." In an instant, everyone around felt their scalps tingle. The look in Kyle's eyes made it clear he wasn't joking. Kyle wasn't just ruthless now—he was utterly cold-blooded. Even if they planned to retaliate later, no one dared speak up at that moment. They could only stand there in stunned silence. Chloe clutched her stinging cheek, her teeth clenched in fury, but all she could do was dial Belle's number. She reported everything—the chaos, the injuries—and emphasized how Kyle had humiliated her and beaten Matthew. On the other end of the line, Belle was incredulous. In her memory, Kyle was timid and reserved. How could he possibly hit someone, let alone beat them to such a degree? But the facts spoke for themselves. Whether she believed it or not wouldn't change anything. "Well, it looks like she'll come," Kyle said casually as he poured himself a glass of water and settled into the couch. His demeanor was calm, as if nothing had happened. Chloe sat on the floor, still holding her cheek. She wanted to say something, but the sharp sting reminded her to stay silent. The Kyle Archer sitting before her now was like a madman—someone who had lost everything and reached the brink of despair. Meanwhile, at the Life Pharma headquarters, Belle sat in her office, her eyes blazing with anger. After hearing Chloe's report, she slammed the phone down and barked, "Get all the bodyguards and security staff together. Wait for me downstairs." After issuing the order, Belle grabbed the divorce agreement on her desk, gripping it tightly as she seethed. "Kyle, I was trying to leave you some dignity out of old feelings, but now? You've gone insane. Beating Matthew is one thing but even daring to hit Chloe? You've completely lost your mind. "It seems the only thing you learned in those six years in prison is how to fight. Fine. Let me show you just how powerless you are in Kerdonia." By the time Belle appeared at the building's entrance, her face was dark with fury. Around 30 bodyguards and security personnel waited for her, forming an imposing presence. The group got into their vehicles, forming a long convoy as they headed toward Kyle's residence. When they arrived, Belle was stunned. She had thought Chloe might be exaggerating, but the scene before her left no room for doubt. Chloe sat on the ground, a vivid handprint still visible on her face. Matthew lay sprawled on the floor, his face so swollen he looked unrecognizable. He didn't even dare to approach Belle, let alone speak to her. And the culprit behind it all—Kyle Archer—sat calmly in the corner, sipping tea with a look of complete indifference. Belle's fury reached its peak. "Kyle, you're nothing but a bastard!" Belle stormed up to Kyle, her face full of anger. She slapped the teacup right out of his hand. "You're upset about the divorce—I get that. But how dare you hit Matthew and beat him like this? Do you even have a conscience?" Without bothering to understand what had happened, Belle immediately launched into accusations, placing all the blame on Kyle. He felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. Had six years really turned Belle into someone so unreasonable? Was this ferocious woman truly the same person he had once loved so deeply—the one he had gone to prison for? Kyle couldn't pinpoint exactly what had changed her. Was it money? Or power? What he did know was that this Belle Cotton was no longer the woman he once knew. He stood up, his eyes sweeping over the 30 or so bodyguards Belle had brought with her. Shaking his head in resignation, he felt nothing but bitter disappointment. "Belle, do you even know where you are right now? You think I hit Matthew because I was upset? If you had any sense of fairness, you'd know it was Matthew who came looking for trouble. "Do you really think I should just stand there and let him insult me and let him hit me without fighting back?" To Belle, Kyle's life meant less than Matthew's feelings. Why would she even care about the truth? In Belle's eyes, the only truth was that Matthew had been beaten by Kyle. "You're nothing! Even if Matt did something wrong, it's not your place to discipline him!" Her voice grew louder, her tone more cutting, as her anger escalated. Kyle felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness. He had sacrificed everything for her, yet she couldn't even distinguish right from wrong. It was truly pathetic. "Belle, don't you feel even a little guilty about being so ungrateful and unjust? Do you even remember the person you used to be?" Before Kyle could finish, Belle interrupted with a furious shout. "Guilty? What do I have to feel guilty about? The old Belle Cotton was poor, weak, and useless, clinging to nothing but laughable kindness! "Well, let me tell you, the old Belle Cotton is dead. If you want to reminisce about her, do it on your own. The person I am now has nothing to do with you. "Kyle, don't ever let me see you again. This is the last chance I'm giving you. You want to call me ungrateful? Fine. Let's end this for good. I suggest you leave Kerdonia immediately. Even if I let you go today, Matthew won't." Her words didn't stir any reaction in Kyle. Every time Belle spoke, she only made him more disillusioned with her. "Let's just say I'm repaying you for everything I once owed you. That's why I'm giving you the money and the house in the divorce. But don't expect to get anything more. Leaving you alive is already me being merciful. Now get lost." Belle even had the audacity to bring up money again. Kyle found it both infuriating and laughable. From the very beginning, he had never asked for a single cent. All of this was just Belle's own self-righteousness. He had made it clear—he didn't want anything. Yet such a simple truth was something no one seemed willing to believe. "Leaving me alive is you being merciful? Fine. I'll stay right here. Let's see what you and your people can actually do to me, Kyle Archer." Kyle waved his hand dismissively. "I told you, if you came, you could take Matthew away. I'm a man of my word. But I don't want to see you again—you make me sick. "Now, get out. All of you." Belle gave Kyle a long, piercing look, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "Kyle, perhaps it's time I let you see what the world really looks like." Kyle narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing a deeper meaning behind her words. Belle motioned for her people to carry Matthew out. Standing at the doorway with her back to Kyle, she said coldly, "I'll contact you in the next couple of days. I won't do anything to you. But if you're scared, you can hide—or run." With that, Belle left with her entourage. First, they loaded Matthew into the ambulance, and then Belle and Chloe followed in another car. Matthew's injuries were severe. There was no way Belle could pretend nothing had happened, nor could she avoid telling Margaret. But she knew that once Margaret found out, the situation would spiral into even bigger trouble. As Belle sighed deeply, her gaze landed on Chloe's still-reddened cheek. "I'm sorry, Chloe, for what you went through. I'll make it up to you." This entire mess had partly been Chloe's fault, so she didn't dare accept any compensation from Belle. But the humiliation she had endured still left her feeling deeply frustrated. "Belle, are you really going to let Kyle off so easily? "Even if you choose to let it go, Matt won't. He'll definitely go to Mr. Clements, and he won't let Kyle get away with this."