The sharp crack of a slap echoed through the living room.
Aveline clutched her face, her gaze turning cold in an instant. "How dare you hit me? Theodore has cherished me since we were kids. Even he wouldn't dare lay a finger on me. Who do you think you are?"
She raised her voice to summon the bodyguards. "Hold her down!"
The bodyguards hesitated, looking between Calista and Aveline.
Aveline narrowed her eyes and said, "You work for my brother. Think about it. Who do you think matters more to him?"
After a brief silence, the bodyguards stepped forward and restrained Calista.
Calista laughed so hard that tears streamed down her face. It turned out that everyone already knew how much Aveline mattered to Theodore. She was the only one who took six years to learn the secret that she had once believed was earth-shattering.
Aveline raised her hand before Calista could react. A loud smack rang out as the first slap landed, burning across her cheek. Then came the second and the third.
Calista struggled violently, her voice hoarse. "Aveline, aren't you afraid that Theodore will come after you for this?"
Aveline laughed triumphantly. "Since we were kids, he's cleaned up every mess I've made. Hitting his wife won't be any different."
She leaned in and whispered into Calista's ear, "Remember, Calista—I'm the only one he truly cares about."
With that, she slapped Calista again and again. Calista fought with all her might, but the bodyguards held her down tightly.
A series of cracks filled the air.
The strikes rained down on Calista like a torrential storm. Her consciousness began to fade, and her cheeks burned as if pierced by countless needles. Tears blurred her vision, but she could still see the twisted satisfaction on Aveline's face.
"How many has it been?" Aveline asked the bodyguards.
"99," one bodyguard replied.
Aveline said with a smile, "Let's make it an even number."
The final blow landed heavily. Calista suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. Her vision went black, and she lost consciousness.
In her haze, she heard the front door swing open. Someone demanded sternly, "What are you doing?"
…
When Calista woke again, she was lying in her bed.
Theodore sat by her bedside, his expression calm. "I know what happened today."
Calista's throat felt parched, and her voice was rough. "And?"
He said indifferently, "Ave's been spoiled since she was young. I've already punished her, so don't take it to heart."
Calista stared at him. "How did you punish her?"
Theodore fell silent for a moment before pulling a lock of hair from his pocket. "She cut your hair, so she has cut off a lock of hers as an apology."
Calista found it utterly absurd. "What about the hundred slaps she gave me? Did you just slap her once and call it even?"
Theodore's voice remained level. "Her hand is swollen from hitting you. That counts as her punishment."
Calista froze, then suddenly laughed so hard that tears began to fall. She asked herself, "How did I ever fall for Theodore Montclair in the first place?"
Just as Theodore was about to speak, she snatched the vase from the nightstand and hurled it to the floor. Her eyes were bloodshot as she screamed, "Get out!"
Theodore stood up, his tone still serene. "I know you're angry, but the doctor said you need proper rest. Calm down."
After he finished speaking, he turned and left. The moment the door closed, Calista could no longer hold back and broke into loud sobs.
