###Chapter 6
When I stepped into the clubhouse, I caught sight of Cody from afar, holding a trembling Freya on the sofa.
Never before had I seen Freya so undone, her hair tangled, her clothes in disarray, her neck and shoulders marked with hideous red-purple stains that spoke of shame.
I stood frozen, and Cody’s gaze locked on me.
There was a sinister chill in his eyes, colder than anything I had seen in over twenty years.
Freya clung to his lap, dabbing away tears as though she had endured the deepest humiliation.
“Cody, thank heavens you arrived in time. Those thugs didn’t violate me. Please, don’t be angry with Karina anymore.”
Cody’s face was dark as if drenched in ink. “Karina, apologize!”
My heart dropped, and I stammered in confusion. “What did I do? Why should I apologize?”
His cold eyes grew sharper, making me stand, frozen.
“If I hadn’t shown up, would you have let those beasts defile Freya? Since when have you become so cruel? What right do you have to be called mother and grandmother by the children?!”
At some point, my son had appeared behind me. His shocked gaze flicked from Freya to my face, then hardened into fury.
“Last time you hurt Aunt Freya, Dad forgave you, thinking you would realize your mistake and change. Who knew you would go even further, all because Aunt Freya moved into our house, all because you didn’t get a cruise ticket?!”
The injustice hammered against my skull, a metallic taste rising in my throat. I cried out at the father and son, cast from the same mold.
“I didn’t do it! Why do you believe her the moment she speaks?!”
“Because Aunt Freya is kinder than you! She would never lie!”
My heart felt as if a sharp blade had pierced straight through.
Cody frowned. “I’ve said all that needs to be said. Don’t test my bottom line. Karina, apologize!”
After twenty-five years, he knew me better than anyone. He knew I would never hurt even an ant.
Yet when it came to Freya, he couldn’t even be bothered to investigate before deciding it was me.
I raised my head, choking back my tears, my eyes locked stubbornly on father and son.
“No matter what happened, it was all Freya’s scheme. I will never apologize!”
Freya broke into sobs. “Cody, forget it… I shouldn’t have come back. I shouldn’t have interfered with your family. It’s all my fault.”
Cody released Freya and came toward me step by step. His tall, oppressive shadow swallowed me whole. I tried to shrink back, but he caught the back of my head in his grip.
“All these years, I’ve spoiled you. But if I don’t punish you this time, what will happen later?”
He leaned down, ignoring my frantic struggle, and brushed a kiss against my forehead.
“Don’t worry. I’ve already replaced the cruise ticket that Freya failed to buy. You are my wife, I won’t leave you behind.”
“You kneel and apologize to Freya, then we’ll call it even.”
In fact, he had planned to give me a surprise on that cruise.
Next month was our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, and he remembered I liked fireworks, so he had secretly arranged a million-dollar fireworks show for me.
But now, he had to give Freya an explanation, so that way, I would owe her nothing.
Cody picked up a brick from the ground. Under my terrified gaze, he brought it down hard against my right knee.
The night was so heavy it felt as though it would never clear.
I knelt on the ground, watching father and son guarding Freya as they left. My knee throbbed as if shattered, blood soaking through my skirt.
Clenching my teeth, I dragged myself home.
The villa was empty; only the butler had not yet gone to bed. I knew the whole family had gone to the hospital to keep Freya company.
“Your leg, what happened? Do you need me to take you to the doctor?”
“No need. Anyway, I’m leaving.”
“You, where are you going? Does sir Cody know?”
The ten-day period had come. I was ready to roam far and wide, to step into the vast world, flying away from this dark fortress that had devoured my youth and half a lifetime of love, never to return.
I did not answer the butler. I went back to my room, slipped off my wedding ring, and tossed it into the trash along with the smiling girl in the wedding photo.
At last, I placed the signed divorce agreement on Cody’s bedside.
With my documents in hand, and under the butler’s doubtful gaze, I climbed into a taxi. I headed for the airport without once looking back.
“Happy 50th birthday, Cody.”
Goodbye, never again.
