Once Kiara switched Dorothy’s shoes, the woman hid in his embrace again and said, “Brother Hugo, my feet feel slightly cold. The doctor said I must keep myself warm during pregnancy. I would like to soak my feet. Do you think that’s okay?”
Hugo loved her very much. “Sure. You are the most precious person in my life right now. You can do anything you like.”
“Kiara, Dorothy wants to soak her feet. Bring her a bowl of warm water.”
Even those around them could not accept the way Hugo acted.
“President Craig is truly heartless. Asking the lawful wife to change the mistress’s shoes is one thing, but now he even told her to wash her feet. How is this different from publicly humiliating her?”
“This Kiara is pitiful. I heard she is an orphan, without power or influence. Even if she is mistreated, no one will stand up for her.”
Everyone assumed Kiara would decline, yet to their surprise, she agreed.
Kiara carried a bowl of hot water and crouched down.
Without warning, she suddenly seized Dorothy and forced her feet into the burning water.
Her gaze was cold. “Don’t you enjoy soaking your feet? Then soak as much as you want this time!”
Dorothy cried out from the burn.
Kiara rose, seized her collar with one hand, and struck her hard with the other.
“This one is for your fake act.”
A second slap came immediately. “This slap is for willingly becoming a mistress and breaking up another family!”
She lifted her hand again, but before the slap landed, Hugo swung his arm and knocked her to the floor.
The man’s brow held a hard, cold light. “That hit is for you failing to understand your place.”
“Kiara, I told you Dorothy is pregnant. Laying a hand on her means challenging me.”
Kiara was struck down onto the ground. The crowd nearby kept their distance, treating her like bad luck, afraid of being involved.
Supporting herself with both hands, she rose slowly, refusing to lower her head.
“The slap has already happened. What else do you plan to do?”
Neither side showed any sign of giving in.
Her best friend, Gwynne, already anxious, stepped forward to calm her.
“Kiara, forget about this. Let’s just go.”
Dorothy’s feet were red from the burn. How could she let it pass? Grabbing Hugo’s collar, she wept, “Brother Hugo, it hurts so badly. If I’m injured like this, will the baby be at risk of miscarriage?”
“Brother Hugo, I’m frightened. I’m worried your wife will hurt my child. Even with you here, she treats me like this. If you weren’t, she surely wouldn’t let me off.”
Hugo’s expression darkened instantly. He gestured for the bodyguards to grab Kiara and mocked her.
“Leave? Who gave you permission?”
“If you make a mistake, you face the consequences.”
“She enjoys pouring hot water on others? Let her feel it herself.”
Before Kiara could move, someone had already carried over a large bowl of boiling water.
The bodyguards pressed Kiara onto her knees, while Gwynne was also held down.
Hugo brought Dorothy closer and held her hand. “No matter how she bullied you earlier, bully her the same way.”
Both of them stood frozen at the same time.
Kiara never thought Hugo would go this far for her.
Although it was midsummer, a coldness spread through her entire body.
Dorothy was secretly happy, yet she appeared timid and weak.
“Brother Hugo, let’s drop it. I think my sister acted without intention. Even if you stand up for me today, when you’re not here, she won’t treat me kindly.”
Dorothy looked weak on the outside, yet it only made the situation worse.
Hugo said, “Don’t be scared. With me here, who would dare lay a hand on you? This is what she deserves.”
Once he finished speaking, he led Dorothy’s hand and tipped the basin, letting the boiling water spill over Kiara’s head.
The boiling water instantly damaged her skin. She fell to the ground, her body shaking uncontrollably.
Hugo’s figure slowly faded from her sight as he left with Dorothy.
In the end, love depended on a person’s conscience.
And Hugo had no conscience at all.
When Kiara regained consciousness, it was already the following afternoon.
She had been taken to the hospital. The doctor told her she had third-degree burns and would need a skin transplant.
The most serious injury was on Kiara’s back, leaving her no choice but to lie face down on the bed.
Hugo came before she could decide anything.
The wound was exposed, and he noticed it immediately upon entering, his expression darkening.
She thought he might show some regret, but once again she was mistaken.
He said with disgust, “Kiara, your wound looks disgusting.”
The wound was infected, layered over old scars; of course, it looked disgusting.
Yet Hugo seemed to have forgotten.
When they were young, a big fire struck the orphanage. Everyone ran out, except Hugo.
It was Kiara who had risked everything to save him. The injury across her back had come from saving him.
They had no money then to treat it properly, so hidden damage remained. Now it had worsened again.
She once saw those scars as proof of love, but to him, it was nothing more than the word “disgusting.”
At nearly the same time, she vomited.
Yes, disgusting. The false concern on Hugo’s face now was unbearable to look at.
Watching her throw up, Hugo stepped forward with a bin and tried to support her, yet found his hand hovering awkwardly.
When she steadied herself, his sigh fell from above. “Kiara, I hope this incident can give you a lesson.”
“If you hadn’t been so stubborn in the beginning and embarrassed me outside, I wouldn’t have treated you that way.”
“Kiara, you need to understand one thing. I’m your husband. In this world, I’m the only one you can depend on.”
Kiara was disgusted, leaving her speechless.
Sure that she could not live without him, he betrayed her without pause.
Sure that she stood alone, he crushed her again and again.
Disgusting, truly unbearably disgusting.
Yet Hugo continued speaking, “I came to inform you of something. From now on, just act properly as Mrs. Craig. Dorothy will remain by my side, but she won’t take your position as Mrs. Craig.”
“Kiara, don’t give me that look. I only did what others would do.”
Kiara laughed bitterly.
But at that time, he had once more fallen into the world of name and money.
Sure enough, love was what broke first when tested.
But Hugo, this round, you were no longer part of it.
At first, Hugo believed Kiara would be upset and would refuse. He had even prepared another explanation.
But to his surprise, Kiara did not argue at all. She only asked for one condition.
“What you said, I accept. But you must sign an agreement.”
Hugo said, “You want money, don’t you? In fact, everything I have is also yours. There is no need to separate it so clearly. If signing makes you feel at ease, I will sign.”
Kiara pulled out the divorce contract the attorney had sent from under the pillow.
She turned straight to the final page and gave it to him. “Sign it.”
He did not hesitate and signed his name immediately.
Maybe in his eyes, she had always been like a small flower depending on him to live. He never thought she would truly leave him someday.
Once he signed the contract, it was given back to Kiara. His signature looked smooth and proper.
Kiara closed it and smiled faintly. “Great. Now we truly owe nothing to each other.”
When Hugo heard that, he frowned a little and said, “Kiara, I don’t like that sentence. Don’t say it again in the future.”
“We once promised to stay together for life. We still need to grow old together.”
Kiara gave him no answer to those words.
Anyway, she had already taken what belonged to her. There was no bond left between them.
After Hugo walked away, Kiara called the attorney to collect the divorce agreement.
The lawyer said the steps were already underway and had requested a faster process for her. It would finish in fifteen days.
Fifteen days. After another fifteen days, she could go.
Those wronged days. She did not want to bear even a single day more!
