She tugged open her collar, revealing suggestive red marks scattered across her skin.
Ethan didn’t even glance in my direction.
He simply pulled out a thick wad of cash and flung it in my face.
“No need to apologize to her. A greedy and lustful woman like that—just saying another word to her would dirty my eyes!”
The sharp edge of a banknote sliced across my cheek.
I gave a quiet, helpless shake of my head, stepped over the scattered bills on the floor, and walked away.
In the medicinal field, ancient, rare flowers I had painstakingly cultivated for years.
They were among the few of their kind left in the world—capable of greatly alleviating Ethan’s condition.
But what the two of them did today served as their final chance of survival.
I no longer wished to be entangled in this mess. I decided to move far away into seclusion.
But that night, Charles and Margaret knelt before me.
“Rachel Monroe, please save Ethan,” they pleaded.
“He vomited blood and collapsed during dinner. Every doctor we called said he was fine. We have no one else to turn to but you!”
The two elders knelt and kowtowed repeatedly, their blood dripping down the stone steps, pooling near my feet.
“Rachel Monroe, if you can save him, we’re willing to donate half our fortune to rebuild your golden image and erect a temple in your name.”
I sighed. “How pitiful parents can be in this world.”
“The Buddha is merciful. Donate that money to children truly in need. I will help Ethan this once, in honor of the kindness you’ve shown others.”
“But only this once. From this moment on, his luck, joy, suffering, and fate have nothing to do with me.”
The two nodded repeatedly, overwhelmed with gratitude.
When I arrived at Caldwell residence, I saw two bodyguards forcing Lillian to her knees.
Margaret was furious. She slapped her across the face.
“You seductress! My son was fine until you came along.”
“You must’ve tempted him and caused him to collapse from exhaustion!”
Lillian lifted her tear-streaked face and shook her head in panic.
“It wasn’t me! It was Rachel! She drugged Ethan out of jealousy—because he loves me!”
Margaret trembled with rage.
I simply ordered the bodyguards to throw Lillian out.
Without a word, I entered Ethan’s room, placed the Blood Sutra beside his bed, and began to chant prayers.
I recited the scripture through the night, depleting my life force.
By dawn, I could barely stand.
“Ethan has made it through this ordeal.”
“Our past grievances are settled. Madam Song, take care.”
Seeing the color return to Ethan’s face, his mother wept with joy and bowed in thanks again and again.
I waved off her gratitude and cast one final glance at Ethan.
From that moment, whatever fragile bond once tied us together had completely dissolved.
The young man who had once made me fall in love beneath the blooming peach tree…
He had died in my heart long ago, buried beneath the betrayals of our past life.
I began packing, preparing to leave this place of entanglement and pain.
But on the eve of my departure, Ethan stormed into my home.
Without explanation, a group of men in black tied me up.
He held Lillian with one arm and a wooden board in the other—
And struck me hard in the face.
“You wretched woman, I thought you were dead!”
“Turns out you drugged me and tricked my mother into kicking Lillian out of the house! I underestimated how manipulative you really are!”
“You dared let Lillian get slapped—I’ll make you pay a hundredfold!”
Before I could say a single word in defense, the board slammed against my face again.
Pain exploded across my cheek, swelling it instantly.
There was no chance to fight back. No time to explain.
