Chapter 3

Victoria POV

"Mia!"

Ethan's expression changed drastically. Without thinking, he shoved me hard.

I lost my balance, falling backward with the suitcase.

The back of my head slammed hard against the pillar at the stair landing.

Searing pain hit me, warm liquid flowing down.

The suitcase tumbled down the stairs, its contents scattering everywhere.

A sharp cracking sound was particularly jarring.

Clutching my bleeding head, I saw the custom gemstone necklace on the floor, broken in two.

That was the only token I had when I was brought to the Hayes family, my only clue to my origins.

I stared at the broken gemstone pendant on the floor.

When I was fifteen, this necklace fell into the lake. Despite his whole family's objections, Ethan risked diving in himself to retrieve it for me.

Soaking wet, he had pressed the necklace into my hand, smiling as he said, "Victoria, even if I lost my own life, I'd protect this for you."

But now, the man who said he'd protect me forever was carefully cradling Mia in his arms.

Even seeing the blood on my forehead, his eyes held only disgust. "Victoria, the blood you're bleeding isn't worth a fraction of the grievance Mia's suffered."

Now, he had shattered it with his own hands.

The Ethan who would protect me had died in my memories.

The one before me was just a thoroughly rotten man.

"Stop playing dead. Get up and apologize to Mia!"

Ethan roared, not even glancing at me.

I endured the intense pain, slowly standing up with the wall's support.

Looking at the broken necklace on the floor, the last bit of affection in my heart shattered along with it.

Let it be broken, just like this disgusting relationship.

I wiped the blood from my face, didn't bother with the suitcase.

I picked up the gemstone pendant broken in two pieces and walked down the stairs step by step, walking out of the Hayes family's front door.

Behind me came Ethan's furious roar. "Victoria! If you walk out that door today, don't ever think about coming back!"

I didn't look back.

The late-night streets were empty.

I hailed a taxi straight to the hospital.

Mild concussion, three stitches.

After treating the wound, I used what little money I had left to find a cheap hotel near the hospital.

Lying in bed, my head still throbbing, but I felt incredibly light.

Even bleeding, I had crawled out of that hell.

That night, I slept incredibly well.

It was the deepest sleep I'd had in twenty years.

When I woke up, I checked my phone and looked at my balance.

I had to solve my survival problem immediately. Even if I had to sleep on the streets, I would never go back.

After a simple wash, I went to the hospital to change my bandage.

The payment window had a long line.

When it was my turn, I handed over the supplementary credit card I'd used for five years.

The machine beeped an alert.

The cashier frowned and swiped it again.

"Insufficient balance, or it's been frozen. Use a different card."

People behind me started getting restless. "Hurry up, what's the holdup?"

I looked at that black card, instantly understanding.

This was Ethan's move.

He had frozen my supplementary card, waiting for me to crawl back to him like a dog and beg.

The cashier urged impatiently, "Miss, do you have money or not?"

I didn't argue, calmly took back the card.

My fingers pressed hard.

"Snap."

The card broke in two.

I casually tossed it into the nearby trash can.

Think freezing my card means I have to go back and kneel?

Dream on.

"One moment."

I pulled out the few hundred dollars cash I had left, counted out the medical fee, and handed it over.

You think stopping my card means I have to go back and grovel?

Keep dreaming.