Chapter 5

Alena sneered, "Do you even know how miserable they are? Their daughter had a car accident when she was still young. To help them out, I made you look just like her, and even gave you her name.

"Now you're Briella Noel. Go on, be a good daughter to your new parents."

Phoebe's fists balled up at her sides, trembling with suppressed anger.

But she couldn't afford to offend Alena right now. Even the slightest mistake could ruin her chance to escape.

She struggled to open her mouth, her voice hoarse and barely audible.

"Mom, Dad," she forced out.

Alena burst out laughing, barely able to contain herself, and it took her a while to finally get her voice back.

"Look, I even got your new mom a present on your behalf," she said.

There was a bracelet hanging loosely on the middle-aged woman's wrist.

Alena was wearing the exact same bracelet.

"Briella, tell me—who do you think wears this bracelet better, me or your new mom?" Alena taunted.

Phoebe hesitated, carefully choosing her words.

"You wear it with a gentle grace, and she wears it with a rich elegance. Both of you make the bracelet look good," she said.

Alena slapped her hard across the face.

"Don't try to please everyone. Say it again," Alena snapped.

Phoebe's face was slapped to the side, her cheek stinging with pain. She bit down hard on her lower lip.

"Your wrist is fairer and more delicate. It really looks better on you," Phoebe managed to say.

But before she could finish, another slap smashed across her face.

"So you're saying your new mom's wrist is thick and ugly? Briella, she's your mother now. Have you got any shame?" Alena sneered.

Phoebe stood frozen, powerless, enduring slap after slap without moving.

She knew that if she tried to dodge or resist, the punishment would only get worse.

The heavy blows kept raining down on her face. The pain grew worse, then unbearable, until finally, everything faded into numbness and she couldn't feel a thing.

Everyone in the house—from the maids to the bodyguards—were secretly enjoying the show, watching with barely concealed glee.

"Mr. Sampson and Miss Bryant are perfect for each other. They're about to tie the knot, and she just had to try and worm her way back into his bed. She totally deserves this," someone whispered.

"Nowadays, even mistresses act like they own the place. Having to serve someone like her? Makes me want to puke," another scoffed.

Phoebe listened to all the gossip, wishing she could just tear her heart open and scream at them that she wasn't the other woman. She was the real Mrs. Sampson.

Besides, she never wanted to come back in the first place. Xander had dragged her back here by force.

She opened her mouth to speak, but Alena leaned in close, whispering in her ear, "Feeling wronged, are you? Want to shout the truth for everyone to hear?"

Alena let out a cold laugh. "But I'm Xander's fiancée, the daughter of Nivrenville's wealthiest family. There's no way I'd ever be some homewrecker.

"Believe it or not, I could kill you right here and not spend a single day in jail."

With that, Alena slapped Phoebe hard across the face herself.

Phoebe's body was on the verge of collapsing, trembling as she suddenly found herself questioning everything.

She thought, 'Wasn't the whole point of running away from the Sampson family so I could finally live with some real dignity?

'But if I have to give up everything right now just for a chance at stability in the future... is it really worth it?'

All at once, it just felt pointless. She didn't want to endure any of it anymore.

There was a fruit knife sitting on the kitchen island in the open-plan kitchen.

Phoebe rushed over, swinging the knife around like a madwoman.

She was carving out a path to freedom for herself.

The bodyguards were late to react, only now realizing what was happening and rushing after her.

Phoebe gritted her teeth, enduring the pain in her leg as she pushed through the crowd, running forward with everything she had.

Alena and her crew chased after her, but Phoebe was about to blend into the crowd, almost slipping out of their sight.

Alena suddenly yelled, "Stop her! She's a homewrecker."

Someone up ahead heard her and actually stuck out a hand to block Phoebe.

Phoebe's injured leg gave out, and Alena and her bodyguards closed in on her in no time.

Punches landed on her one after another, so relentless that Phoebe almost passed out from the pain.

Alena had a triumphant smirk on her lips as she dug her high heel into Phoebe's chest, sending a fresh wave of agony through her.

"I forgot to wipe my shoes this morning. Why don't you lick them clean for me? Maybe then I'll let you go," Alena sneered.

Phoebe's eyes burned with fury and humiliation. Summoning every last bit of strength she had, she tore at Alena's dress with all her might.

With a sharp tear, the fabric ripped, and Alena's face turned livid with rage.

"You want to die?" Alena spat.

She raised her foot high and slammed it down toward Phoebe's head.

Phoebe shut her eyes tight, bracing for the pain, but it never came. Instead, she heard Alena's panicked scream.

Suddenly, she was scooped up into someone's arms.

A familiar scent hit her, and she finally exhaled, feeling like she'd just been revived.

"I'm taking you to the hospital," Xander said urgently.

Xander's voice was urgent, his face pale. He looked like he was truly terrified of losing her.

"Mr. Sampson," Alena called out.

Before they could get far, Alena's voice rang out from behind them. "Want me to tell the press the Sampson and Bryant engagement is canceled?"

Xander shoved Alena, slamming her into the wall. Blood trickled from a nasty gash on her forehead—a gruesome sight.

But Alena didn't even flinch. Instead, she looked cocky, swaggering like she'd already won.

Phoebe could feel Xander's chest heaving against her. Even if she didn't love him anymore, there was still a flicker of hope burning inside her.

'Xander, don't leave me,' Phoebe thought.