Chapter 4

Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed through Briseis's scalp, making her wince.

Briseis finally got it. These people were Calanthe's fans.

'But Calanthe's the one who wrecked the marriage. I'm the actual wife,' Briseis thought. 'So, in their eyes, everything's my fault?'

Besides, she'd paid with her credit card today. This had nothing to do with Aldric.

Briseis forced herself to speak, trying to calm them down. "I didn't spend a single cent of Aldric's money. Let me go. This is against the law, you know?"

The girl gave a mocking smile, her eyes full of contempt. "Still lying, huh? Girls, let's teach this bitch a lesson and make her pay for Calanthe."

As soon as she finished, the girls closed in and went all out, raining blows on Briseis with everything they had.

Briseis was outnumbered and had no choice but to endure the assault, powerless to fight back.

She'd parked in a secluded spot, and there was no one else around.

The girls got more and more reckless, hurling curses as they beat her up.

"You old witch, thinking you can steal Aldric from Calanthe? We'll make sure you remember this lesson."

"Best actress, huh? Bet she only got there by sleeping her way up. Mr. Vance must've been out of his mind. Good thing Calanthe came to his rescue."

Briseis could feel her hair being ripped out in handfuls, and the pain in her insides was so intense it felt like her organs were being rearranged.

"What do you think you're doing?" a voice suddenly shouted.

The fists raining down on her stopped instantly.

Briseis forced her eyes open and saw a few security guards running toward her. That was the last thing she saw before she finally lost consciousness.

When Briseis woke up, she realized she was in a hospital bed.

Aldric, whom she hadn't seen in two weeks, was right there at her bedside, holding her hand.

Seeing her finally awake, Aldric leaned in, worry etched on his face. "Briseis, how are you feeling? Is it any better?"

Briseis subtly withdrew her hand, her eyes turning to the window, avoiding Aldric's gaze.

"Did you catch the girls who attacked me? I want to press charges," she said.

Aldric sat by her bedside, unable to hide the pain in his eyes as he saw Briseis battered and bruised from head to toe.

"The mall security reported it right away. Those girls have already been detained at the police station. I—" he began.

Before he could finish, Calanthe pushed open the door and walked in, immediately linking her arm with Aldric's.

"Aldric, Ms. Wexley is awake," Calanthe said.

She glanced at Briseis with a look of apologetic concern. "Ms. Wexley, I'm really sorry my fans caused you so much trouble.

"They were looking out for me, you know. They thought you were the one ruining my happiness with Aldric, so they got a little carried away and beat you up."

But the glint of satisfaction in her eyes and the mocking undertone in her voice made it clear she wasn't sorry at all.

Honestly, Calanthe looked like she was relishing every second of Briseis's misery.

Briseis felt rage boiling up inside her.

If she hadn't desperately shielded her face, she could've ended up with her face ruined today.

As an actress, if her face were destroyed, her career would be finished for good.

Briseis said, "Calanthe, since you can't control your fans, I'll have to step in myself.

"I'm not letting those girls get away with it. They'd better be ready for a lawsuit."

Calanthe immediately spoke up, standing firmly for her fans. "Ms. Wexley, I already apologized. Why won't you let it go? I won't let you go after my fans."

Her eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Aldric. "Aldric, I'm your girlfriend now, and Ms. Wexley is your ex-wife. So, whose side are you on?"

When she saw Calanthe, usually so proud, looking so wronged, Aldric's heart ached. He immediately pulled her into his arms, letting everything else fade away.

"Isn't it obvious? Of course, I'm with you, Calanthe," Aldric said. "Don't worry. They'll be released without a scratch."

Briseis's mind went completely blank. She stared at Aldric in utter disbelief.

"Aldric, are you seriously defending your girlfriend? Do you even realize I almost lost my face?" Briseis snapped.

Calanthe shot back instantly, her brows knitting in irritation. "Ms. Wexley, I respect you, but that doesn't give you the right to badmouth me. Aldric and I only got together after your divorce. I'm his official girlfriend now."

Briseis found the whole thing laughable. After all, it took two to tango.

If Calanthe really hadn't crossed any lines with Aldric before the divorce, there's no way a guy as arrogant as him would've kept chasing her for two months straight.

Calanthe wanted to keep her golden ticket, but didn't want anyone calling her a homewrecker.

Aldric ruffled Calanthe's hair reassuringly, then fixed his gaze on Briseis, his tone brooking no argument. "But you didn't end up disfigured, did you? Name your price for compensation."