Amybeth’s POV
When I returned to the villa, I hadn’t even stepped through the door before hearing Shannon’s high-pitched moans echoing inside.
Her voice was flirtatious, mixing with Bolton’s low, rough breaths. The sound filled the entire villa.
The “usual place” Shannon mentioned… turned out to be the house I shared with Bolton!
They were actually making out on my favorite bed!
Shattered pieces of our wedding photos were scattered all over the bedroom floor.
Everything that once proved Bolton and I had loved each other had become props in their affair.
Just then, still lost in her pleasure, Shannon sensed my presence.
She looked straight at my furious face and flashed a triumphant smile.
Then she moaned even louder, as if deliberately putting on a show for me.
My fists tightened. I desperately wanted to storm in.
But right now, the divorce papers had only just been submitted to the clerk’s office
If I made a scene and tipped him off, getting out cleanly would be much harder.
With that in mind, I turned around and headed back downstairs to the villa’s entrance.
Her smug expression still floated in front of my eyes as I expressionlessly dialed Bolton.
He picked up after three rings.
“Bolton, I’m back. Can you come get me at the door? I think I’m running a fever.”
He cursed under his breath on the other end, and I could hear Shannon whining unhappily beside him.
But in the end, he still agreed.
“Fine. Wait for me downstairs. I actually have something to tell you.”
Soon, he rushed down the stairs.
He was clearly in a hurry—marks on his skin barely covered, his shirt half-buttoned.
The moment he saw me, he said bluntly, “Shannon’s not feeling well. She needs new data for her experiments. Since we still have your old fragrance studio here, I told her she could stay for a while.”
As he stepped closer, the scent that belonged only to Shannon hit me—thick, cloying, suffocating.
They had cheated in front of me again and again, treating me like a fool.
And now they wanted her to move in?
Before I could respond, Shannon appeared at the top of the stairs—her body covered in red marks—walking toward us openly and without shame.
With a smug smile, she said, “Amybeth, your husband really is so kind. He’s letting me stay here for a bit. I’ll be sure to… properly return the favor.”
Her voice dripped with seduction, and the way she looked at Bolton was downright provocative.
I clearly heard Bolton swallow beside me.
“I don’t agree,” I said coldly. “My fragrance studio isn’t for other people to use. Shannon can just rent a place outside.”
Bolton’s expression darkened instantly.
Shannon hurried downstairs and clung to his sleeve, pretending to be deeply wronged.
“Bolton, did I do something wrong? Why is my sister treating me like this? Maybe… Maybe I should just leave.”
Then, she turned around as if to walk out.
Bolton quickly pulled her back and looked at me with disappointment.
“Amybeth, when did you become so petty? Shannon just wants to stay for a short while. Why won’t you agree? If you really care that much, then you can move out for now. Your due date is coming up anyway. I’ll arrange a hospital for you.”
His tone was calm, but the meaning was crystal clear.
If I didn’t let Shannon move in, I could get out. And with me out of the way, dealing with the child in my belly would be even easier for them.
“Okay,” I said quietly. “I’ll leave now.”
Temporary tolerance was the first step toward revenge anyway.
The more arrogant they were today, the more miserable they would be a month from now.
I didn’t look at either of them again. I turned and went upstairs.
The bedroom was a mess—rumpled sheets, overwhelming stench.
Acting as if it didn’t bother me, I began packing.
That was when I realized all the gifts commemorating our seven-year marriage had been smashed or torn apart and tossed aside.
A stabbing pain shot through my chest.
Even if he no longer cared about me, I never imagined he’d use our memories as props while having sex with Shannon!
They came upstairs as I continued packing, silently watching.
Seeing my expression, Shannon rushed to mock me.
“Oh, I’m sorry about this, Amybeth. This was all my dog’s fault. I didn’t expect it to cause such trouble. I feel so bad! If you want, I can go beat it for you later.”
She casually pushed all the blame onto her toy poodle.
I ignored her and kept packing.
When I reached the last drawer, I realized the emerald pendant my late father gave me was gone.
I jerked my head toward Bolton.
“Where’s my emerald pendant?”
He frowned impatiently. “Amybeth, haven’t you caused enough trouble? Shannon’s dog didn’t do it on purpose!”
“And besides, these things aren’t important,” he added. “If they’re damaged, they’re damaged. Why make such a big deal?”
He lumped all our memories—our entire marriage—into a pile of “unimportant things.”
But I didn’t look away. My eyes stayed locked on him, and his brows tightened further.
Then Shannon suddenly said, “Amybeth, maybe check under the bed? Maybe earlier… things got a little intense, and it fell there.”
I shot her a vicious glare.
She knew perfectly well that the pendant was the only thing my father gave me.
I swept under the bed with a broom, and the broken pieces of my emerald pendant rolled out!
The moment I saw it, something in me snapped.
I lunged forward and slapped Shannon hard across the face.
“How dare you?! How dare you smash it?!”
Bolton immediately grabbed my wrist. His voice dropped cold.
“Enough!”
He shoved me away roughly, and I stumbled back and fell onto the bed.
He hurried to help Shannon up, and when he turned to look at me, his eyes were filled with disdain.
“Amybeth, I must’ve treated you too well before, letting you develop such an arrogant temper. You even raised your hand against your own younger sister!”
Then he suddenly turned off the bedroom lights. My heart lurched instantly.
“For the next few days, stay in the bedroom and reflect. I’ll have the power cut.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
“Bolton! You know I have claustrophobia!”
But he glanced at me indifferently.
“I know. That’s exactly why this counts as a lesson for you.”
He continued, “When you finally realize your mistake, apologize to Shannon, and agree to let her stay here, I’ll let you out.”
With that, he mercilessly grabbed my phone and then helped Shannon to her feet, turning to walk away.
Out of his sight, she shot me a mocking look, her smile flickering as she pressed close to him.
I struggled toward the door, but the bodyguards behind him suddenly slammed it shut.
The room was instantly swallowed by darkness. I trembled and sank to the floor, my breathing quick and shallow.
“Let me out… I won’t bother you… Help… Someone… Please…”
But no one heard my faint cries.
The last thing I felt before passing out was the taste of my own tears sliding down my cheeks.
