Chapter 4

In my fading consciousness, I saw Mario rushing over, but his first words were:

"Aurora! Do you have no shame at all?!"

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in the Jordan family's private hospital.

Seeing me wake up, Mario breathed a sigh of relief, then questioned me with red eyes.

"Why did you leave Chris's place yesterday? I specifically said I'd pick you up tomorrow."

My body ached terribly, and my throat was so dry I could barely speak.

Mario instantly grew angry. He furrowed his brow and sneered.

"Aurora, were you really that impatient? Still not divorced and already trying to cozy up to someone else?"

"That incident back then—wasn't it because you were careless and didn't resist that it happened?"

Hearing those words, my heart felt like it was being cut by knives as tears poured out.

Mario had forgotten that I used to be terrified of pain, and because of my weak stomach since childhood, I'd always been painfully thin.

Escaping this time was pure luck.

But back then, how could I have had the strength to fight off a strong, grown man?

The old Mario used to say indulgently that I was timid, then quietly protect me from behind.

But now, he was the one who pushed me into the abyss, yet blamed me for my helplessness.

I looked at his no-longer-familiar features.

I forced out a bitter smile and finally managed to speak.

"Mario, sign the divorce papers. Let me go."

But Mario suddenly choked up. He seemed about to say something when Neyland called him away.

"Neyland has a bit of a cold. I'm going back."

"I made a mistake back then. I had people protecting you, but they didn't make it in time."

"Rest well. And don't mention divorce again."

With that, he strode out of the hospital, brushing past the doctor who was just coming in to notify me of my condition.

I couldn't even remember anymore how many times he'd abandoned me for Neyland's sake.

The doctor looked at me sympathetically. "Still so young. Are you really giving up on chemotherapy?"

I nodded. I was already in late-stage stomach cancer.

Chemotherapy would worry Grandma. Since I had so little time left anyway, I might as well spend it with her properly.

After resting for a while, I changed clothes and went to Grandma's room.

Seeing me arrive, Grandma happily grasped my hand.

"Aurora, I don't ask for you to be rich and noble."

"As long as you and Mario support each other, I'll be at peace."

"You two have been inseparable since childhood. You're definitely a perfect match!"

Facing this old woman who looked at me with such love, my eyes stung with tears.

If she knew what had happened between Mario and me, would she be even more disbelieving than I was?

Just then, the hospital room door suddenly opened.

Neyland walked in wearing high heels. Grandma recognized her and smiled, reaching for her hand.

"You must be Aurora's sister. Thank you for being so understanding toward Aurora."

But as soon as the words left her mouth, Neyland slapped Grandma's hand away.

"What makes a trash-collecting country woman like you think you can touch me?"

Then she held up a tablet in front of us.

On the screen was surveillance footage of when I was violated by that worker.

After the incident, Mario had tortured that worker until he was barely alive, then sent him to prison.

He promised me that all the surveillance footage had been completely destroyed.

I never imagined he hadn't destroyed it—he'd kept it all along.

I panicked and begged her. "Don't... don't play it. My grandma's health isn't good..."

But Neyland ignored me. She just smiled lightly and clicked play.

In the video, I went from struggling to numb.

The filthy memories surged up, and my breathing instantly stopped.

Grandma was so shocked by the scene that her whole body trembled. She stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"Aurora, is that you? When did this happen?"

Neyland blocked my way, then laughed viciously.

"Old hag, this was all voluntary. She just loves finding thrills like this."