As she spoke, she slapped Evelyn twice more.

Belle didn't hold back.

She practically used all her strength.

Evelyn’s cheeks swelled up.

The pain was searing even without touching.

She could imagine what she looked like now.

Furious, Evelyn shouted, "Belle, you’re insane. You're just like your mother."

Smack!

Another slap landed.

Belle curled her lip, "This last slap was for your foul mouth. The first slap was for my mother. She treated you like her own daughter, yet you repaid her kindness with ingratitude, worse than a beast. You and your mother are nothing but vengeful spirits!

The second slap was for myself. Evelyn, I treated you like a sister, sharing everything I had with you. When you were bullied at school, I risked my life to save you, and this is how you repay me? By destroying my family?

The third slap was for Mr. Shaw. He was blinded by disgusting things, and I’m waiting for the day he discovers you’re an imposter. I want to see just how miserably you’ll die."

Belle clenched her numb hands, turned on her heel, and got into the car, driving away with a flourish.

Evelyn stomped her feet in place, shouting, "Bitch, bitch, bitch!"

The sky suddenly darkened.

Dark clouds rolled in, like ink spilled across the sea of clouds.

It was about to rain.

Evelyn shivered and quickly got into the car, driving home.

She wanted to show her parents just how capable she was!

——

Victor returned to Villa One in the afternoon.

He changed into fresh clothes.

Aside from the woody scent of men’s perfume, he had no other smell on him.

He carried three boxes of citrus fruit and said, “These were a gift from a business partner. They’re your favorite fruit. I kept a box for you, one for grandma, and one for mom. Let’s go see mom first.”

Although Ivy had gone mad, Belle couldn’t bring herself to send her to a mental hospital.

On Victor’s suggestion at the time, they had spent money to send her to a nursing home.

For the safety of other patients, the nursing home had arranged a small courtyard for Ivy, which was at an additional cost.

Ivy liked Victor very much.

Every time Victor visited her, she would be normal for several days, constantly praising her son-in-law to the caretakers and cleaners.

So when Victor suggested visiting Ivy, Belle couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

After Belle left the house, she got into her car, only to find Victor, with the boxes of citrus, taking the passenger seat.

He smiled and said, “Today my wife is my driver. I’m honored.”

Belle didn’t say anything.

They drove to the nursing home.

Ivy, dressed neatly, awaited their arrival as soon as she got the call.

Seeing them walking side by side, Ivy immediately smiled and ran over, first grabbing Victor’s hand before reaching for her daughter’s. “Come here, I’ve secretly saved some delicious food for you!”

Ivy pulled out a bundle of tissue paper from under her pillow and carefully opened it.

Inside were the lunch dishes—sweet and sour ribs.

She thought it was delicious and had saved two pieces for Belle and Victor.

Victor didn’t show any disgust.

He grabbed a piece and stuffed it into his mouth, saying, “Mom, you still care about me.”

Knowing Belle had a delicate stomach, he pretended to savor the food and even “took” the other piece.

Ivy’s face lit up with a smile.

Belle sat quietly beside her mother, peeling oranges.

While Victor went to the bathroom,

Ivy took her daughter’s hand and whispered, “Belle, auntie told me I’ll soon be holding a grandchild.

I’m following the doctor’s advice now. Once I’m better, can you bring me back home so I can help take care of the baby?”

Belle touched her mother’s increasingly aged face.

She nodded vigorously.

With a sad smile, she said, “Okay.”

Ivy beamed with joy.

Belle felt a pang of unspoken grievance, gently hugging her, “Mom…”

When Victor returned, he was immediately pulled by Ivy to see the flowers she had planted.

He patiently humored Ivy.

In reality, Ivy had introduced those flowers to Victor no less than a hundred times.

He still responded with patience.

Belle watched the scene, her nose tingling with sorrow.

If only...

If only he hadn’t cheated.

When they returned,

Belle had already composed herself. “Mom, we’re leaving now. We’ll come see you again next time.”

Ivy sighed, her eyes full of reluctance, “So when will the next time be?”

Belle said earnestly, “Next Sunday. I’ll bring grandma with me.”

Ivy’s eyes twinkled with a childlike gleam as she pouted, “She’ll scold me again.”

Belle laughed, “Grandma scolds you because she loves you.”

Ivy huffed, “Alright, alright. If she wants to come, let her. I don’t mind.”

Belle, “...”

On the way to Grandma’s house,

The sky, heavy with clouds, began to drizzle.

Belle looked at the storm brewing on the horizon, “It’s raining. Do we still have to go?”

Victor put away his phone.

He patted Belle on the back of her head, “Since it’s raining, we’ll stay over at Grandma’s. I’ve already called ahead. If we don’t go, she’ll be lonely for days.”

Grandma lived in an old residential neighborhood.

They parked the car downstairs.

The couple went up to the second floor. As soon as they knocked, the door opened automatically.

Victor smiled and said, “Grandma probably left the door open, fearing she might be busy and unable to answer quickly.”

Belle muttered in dissatisfaction, “This is too dangerous. What if a thief comes in?”

Victor, with his good temper, said, “I’ll give Grandma a lesson later so she understands the dangers.”

Belle nodded.

Victor was instantly delighted.

Belle had responded to him.

She must not be angry anymore.

As they entered,

An elderly lady with silver hair and reading glasses was setting out dishes. “Quickly wash your hands and come eat.”

…

After Dinner

Outside, it was pouring rain.

Belle lazily reclined on the fabric sofa, keeping the elderly lady company while listening to opera, as Victor washed the dishes in the kitchen.

Grandma, absentmindedly, said, “I’ll go help Victor.”

Belle stopped her, “He’s eating the food you made, washing the dishes is no problem. I used to wash the dishes myself, and you didn’t feel sorry for me!”

Grandma laughed, her face creasing with wrinkles, and lightly poked Belle’s cheek, “How old are you, still jealous? How childish!”

Belle playfully said, “Hmph, Grandma is biased.”

Grandma took Belle’s hand and said softly, “The mother-in-law always takes good care of her son-in-law. It’s been this way since ancient times. The purpose is to make the son-in-law treat his own daughter better after returning home.”

Belle pinched her nose.

Grandma kindly asked, “Are you adjusting well after getting married?”

Belle didn’t want to talk about it and casually replied, “It’s okay, Grandma. I’m going to tidy up the room. We’ll probably stay here tonight.”

Grandma got up as well. “I’ll go clean the mop and mop the floor. I mopped it the day before yesterday, and it’s probably dusty again after opening the windows today.”

Belle nodded.

The grandmother and granddaughter both got up.

Grandma picked up the remote control and paused the Huangmei Opera, grumbling, “This opera is so irritating, yet I still want to watch it…”

Outside, the wind howled fiercely, and large raindrops pounded against the windows with a violent noise.

Summer had passed.

Why was there such heavy rain?

Belle’s mood was soured by the storm. With her period just starting, she felt even more irritated.

In the Kitchen

Victor finished his chores, rubbed his neck in exhaustion, and sighed.

He hoped Belle had noticed his sincerity and efforts to please her.

He had never washed dishes at home before.

So, she should be less angry now, right?

Thinking about how he would be able to hold Belle while sleeping tonight, Victor couldn’t contain his joy. Even if he did nothing, he felt quite happy.

Just as he was about to leave, his phone rang.

He took it out.

Seeing the caller ID, he instinctively went back to the kitchen and closed the kitchen door, “Vivian?”

Vivian’s voice was trembling, hoarse, and filled with fear, “Vic, there’s a power outage here. It’s so dark. I keep feeling like someone is knocking on my windows. What should I do? I’m so scared. I’m so afraid…”

Victor frowned.

He thought for a few seconds and said, “It’s just the rain. Don’t be afraid. Lock your door and go to bed. Don’t think about anything.”

Vivian, sounding pitiful, asked, “Can you come and keep me company?”

Victor hesitated.

He said softly, “It’s not convenient tonight, Vivian. The security at your place is good. You’ll be fine.”

Vivian sniffled and said understandingly, “Okay, Victor. I don’t want to trouble you. I’ll go to sleep now.”

After hanging up, Victor looked at his reflection in the glass.

There was a look of concern on his face.

Vivian, back then, was fearless and arrogant.

But after a failed marriage, she had become cautious and insecure, clinging to him... This was also the reason he kept her around as his secretary.

Because, in this matter, he and Belle were half responsible.

At the time,

Belle always thought Vivian had ulterior motives. Vivian, in an attempt to reassure Belle, had married out of spite.

It had ended up like this.

So Victor felt he had to take care of Vivian.

It was his and Belle’s debt.

The affair with Vivian was unforeseen.

That night, Vivian was so fragile and helpless. He had tried to comfort her…

His thoughts abruptly stopped.

He stepped out of the kitchen.

Suddenly, Belle’s startled voice came from the bedroom, “Grandma—”

Victor’s face changed drastically. Panicked, he ran over, and at that moment, the phone rang again...