Izzy’s POV
I thought I wasn’t going to make it out.
But then, very quickly, I heard the police shouting behind me. The thugs panicked and scattered in all directions.
Someone helped me up. The torn pieces of clothing on the ground were draped back over me again, as if nothing had ever happened.
But only I knew—something inside me had completely died.
The police spoke to me with concern, but their voices sounded distant, like there was a layer of glass between us.
Those disgusting men were arrested soon after. After all the procedures were finished, I returned to the villa in a daze.
The moment I stepped inside, I heard laughter coming from the living room.
Frankie was sitting in Gavin’s arms, holding a wine glass, acting as if nothing had happened at all.
While they were enjoying a candlelight dinner, I had been assaulted not far from this very villa.
And the real culprit was now brazenly occupying my home.
The instant they saw me, their expressions changed.
Gavin frowned reflexively.
“Why are you back so late? And why do you look like such a mess?”
How could he pretend so naturally—like none of this had anything to do with him?
I clenched my teeth hard, forcing the hatred in my eyes back down.
Before I could say anything, Frankie stood up and walked toward me with a bright smile.
“Izzy,” she said softly, malice hidden in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I was busy ‘punishing’ Gavin, so I didn’t go to the hospital to see you. Weren’t you discharged already? Why are you only coming back now? And what happened to you…?”
She reached out to touch me, but I immediately stepped back.
Her smile stiffened for a moment, then she spoke with deliberate cruelty.
“You’re in such a mess. Don’t tell me you were assaulted by a group of men?”
After saying that, she covered her mouth, looking shocked.
“Oh, Izzy, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I was just joking. You don’t mind, right?”
She reached out again, trying to grab me.
This time, I slapped her hand away.
“Don’t touch me!”
She stumbled back a couple of steps. Gavin immediately stood up and caught her, then shouted at me angrily, “Izzy! Are you crazy? Frankie was just joking! Or what—were you actually assaulted?”
“What if I was, huh?!” My sharp voice echoed through the villa as I stared straight at him.
His body stiffened for a split second. Then he put on an angry act.
“Who dared to lay a hand on you? I’ll make sure they pay for it! Izzy, don’t worry. Even if you were assaulted, you’re still my wife. I won’t let this get out.”
He looked at me with nothing but tenderness. Anyone else would’ve been deeply moved by his words.
But the one who actually arranged for me to be assaulted was him.
I looked at him with something like a smile, but my eyes were frighteningly red.
“No need. I’ve already sent those people to prison. I believe it won’t be long before the monster who sent them is caught, too.”
With that, the smile on his face froze instantly.
He pulled out his phone.
“They actually dared to hurt my wife. I’ll make sure they rot in prison. Izzy, don’t worry. I’ll find the mastermind behind this right now.”
With that, he hurried out.
Once he was gone, the smile on Frankie’s face completely faded. She tilted her head lazily and looked at me.
“Izzy, you know, I used to really envy you. You had such a good husband. But slowly, I stopped envying you. After all, my lover would never make me sign a forgiveness letter for the real culprit.”
She looked at me, her eyes filled with a twisted sense of satisfaction.
A fake, pitying smile appeared in her eyes.
“Hey, I can’t drink chowder soup lately. I might be pregnant. Your child had such a short life… You couldn’t even give birth to it. So… this bowl of soup should go to you instead.”
“But don’t worry,” she added. “My child will be your child. I’ll make sure it takes good care of you.”
At that point, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I grabbed the bowl of soup from the table and dumped it straight over that bitch.
The next second, hurried footsteps sounded from outside.
Gavin took in the scene before him and let out a furious roar.
“Izzy!”
