Chapter 16
Lillian collapsed to the floor from the force of the slap, a vivid red welt blooming across her cheek.
She stared up at Adrian, eyes wide with disbelief.
He had actually struck her.
“Adrian, please, let me explain,” she stammered, her voice trembling, still laced with that familiar tone of fragile innocence.
“It’s all true… I really was sick. Didn’t you have a doctor see me back then? I only jumped into the water to save Evelyn, I swear I didn’t push her…
Tears slipped effortlessly down her face, painting her as the perfect picture of pitiable grief.
“Darling, how could you believe I’d ever do such a thing?”
Adrian looked at her, the chill in his eyes enough to freeze the air between them,
He had fallen for this act too many times before.
A bitter laugh escaped his lips, his gaze sharp as a blade.
“I’ve already verified everything,” he said, voice low and tight with restrained rage. “You bribed that doctor. You were never poisoned. Someone saw you push Evelyn into the lake with their own eyes. And that kidnapping stunt? Your scheme. Every bit of it.”
Lillian’s face went ghostly pale. Her breath caught in her throat. “No, I… I only-”
“You only wanted to climb your way to the top.”
Adrian’s tone cut like steel.
“You lied about being the girl who played Liszt’s ‘Liebesträume.‘ If not for your deception, I never would’ve missed my chance with her.”
His voice cracked like thunder, fury breaking free.
“Lillian, you’re nothing but a liar. My biggest regret in life was ever believing you.”
Lillian’s lips trembled as she clenched her jaw, finally letting the mask slip. Hatred flickered in her eyes.
“So you only ever loved that girl at the piano, not me, is that it? Evelyn was born with a silver spoon–she’s a Langford. I’m just a bastard daughter cast aside by her stepmother. If I hadn’t done all this, how would I have ever stood beside you? Everything I did… I did for you.”
“And yet you did it all with lies,” Adrian said coldly, his voice final. “This is over. Expect divorce papers by morning.”
He turned, heading toward his study to begin drafting the necessary documents.
Lillian stood frozen, stunned. Just yesterday they’d had a lavish wedding. Now he was ready to end it all?
She knew what this meant. In their elite circles, a scandal like this would ruin her.
A divorce so soon would not only destroy her reputation–it would send her right back into the grasp of the stepmother who treated her like trash.
Panic flooded her chest. She lunged for him, clutching his arm like a lifeline, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Adrian, we’ve been married for less than a day! If you throw me away now, I’ll be finished. Please–I’ll do anything. You want Evelyn? Marry her if you must. Just… please, don’t abandon me like this.”
She wept like a woman truly broken, her tears soaking her cheeks, her dress askew, voice on the edge of hysteria.
Adrian didn’t budge. He shook her off like frost from a sleeve. “I gave you every chance, Lillian. You destroyed them all.”
He turned away.
Then came her final plea.
11- Dogging
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Chapter 16
“If you really won’t forgive me… then I’ll prove my love with my life! If I can’t have you, I’d rather diet”
She suddenly sprang to her feet and bolted toward the living room’s marble pillar. Without hesitation, she slammed her head into it.
A sickening thud echoed through the house.
Adrian spun around at the sound.
Lillian lay collapsed on the rug, blood streaming from her temple, her face ghost pale, her eyes closed.
“Madam’s trying to kill herself!” one of the house staff screamed, rushing forward. “Someone call an ambulance–now!”
