"Penelope, you're asking for it!" Emil reacted strongly, shoving me aside with a big force.

The back of my head hit the edge of a step violently, and I was dizzy from the excruciating pain.

Then, I heard Emil reprimanding loudly, "Penelope, are you hooked on bullying? Your existence has turned the air in the house bad. It makes me sick!"

Bearing the pain, I spoke to stop him from saying even harsher things, "I'll move out. Don't worry."

"You better keep your word." Emil's tone was filled with anger.

He glared at me unblinkingly. Then, he picked Sarah up in his arms and left.

While I felt the sticky blood at the back of my head with my hand, something popped up in my mind out of the blue.

When I was 15 years old, my relationship with Emil was far from how uptight it was now. As I already knew that we were going to get married and it was only a matter of time before we would be a family, I loved following him around.

He was rebellious. He sneaked to an internet cafe to play games. I tagged along, and he got into an argument with someone over a game. I tried to break up the fight, but accidentally got a cut on my finger.

In that moment, it was as though Emil had turned into a ferocious beast. He beat a guy much bigger than him to a pulp until the latter begged for mercy.

But the man who was once so uptight just because I had accidentally hurt my finger could now harm and scold me so harshly because of someone else. He did so without even finding out the truth.

Despite that, it didn't matter anymore. Once Hubert and Fiona were back, I could annul the engagement to Emil.

Turning to the house helper in a corner, I asked with great difficulty, "Will you send me to the hospital? I'll pay you."

The new house helper was tempted, but before she could even approach me, an elderly woman pulled her back.

Even though she purposely lowered her voice, it still reached my ears. "Do you want to keep your job? Don't you know that Ms. Hudson is the person Mr. Emil hates the most now? If he sees you helping her, you'll be fired!"

The young house helper was startled. Finally, she took a glance at me and scurried away.

Wearing a bitter smile, I shook my head and crawled to the corner to pick up my phone. Its screen was shattered.

Hubert and Fiona were mostly abroad and would only be home for three to four days every month. Emil was the only master of the household.

More than once, he had said that I wasn't a member of the McLaren family and had to get my chores done by myself. Hence, nobody dared to approach me.

Every time I returned home, the leftover food would be thrown into the bin and sealed tightly. The plates on the table would be empty.

Fortunately, I was already used to this and pushed it through to get myself to the hospital.

The doctor said that I had a concussion and kept me at the hospital for a couple of days for observation.

After I was discharged, I returned to the McLaren residence to pack my belongings. The house helpers watched in indifference as I moved around miserably.

That afternoon, I packed away everything and sent it to an apartment I had rented in a hurry.

It was my temporary residence. Once I collected my graduation certificate, received a job offer, and canceled the engagement, I could escape from everything here.

Three days after I moved out of the McLaren residence, Emil called me. He sounded drunk. "Where are you? Private room number A12. Come here."

I was busy writing my resume, and it irked me that my attention was disrupted. "Is there a problem, Emil McLaren?"

On the other end of the line, Emil seemed to be at a loss for words, and even the playful noises around him quieted down a lot.

I prompted him again. When I received no answer, I was about to hang up, but Emil suddenly said, "Where are you, Penelope?"

I set my phone aside and resumed typing. I replied casually, "Didn't you say that it makes you sick to live in the same house as me? So, I moved out. Don't worry, I'm never returning."

Emil's breathing gradually turned heavy, and he suddenly sniggered. "Penelope, when did you become so obedient? Weren't you always clinging to me before this?

"Since you're so obedient, I'm asking you to move out of this city and get out of my sight. Can you do it? Penelope, I don't care what game you're playing, but I'll teach you a lesson if you keep bullying Sarah."

The mouse was a little difficult to maneuver, and I focused on the screen. A few seconds later, I realized what Emil was talking about.

Again, his sarcastic voice echoed, "What? Do you have nothing to say? Aren't you tired of playing these games every day? Apologize to Sarah, and I'll allow you to return."

I said, "Fine, I promise you that I'll leave."

After speaking, I hung up without caring about his reaction.

I collected my graduation certificate and received news from the resumes I had sent out. The interview offer that I was most happy with was from a large company located in the neighboring city.

I wasted no time in setting an appointment for an interview. In my previous life, getting a job was something I looked forward to the most.

I was incredibly anxious. Thankfully, the company called me before I hopped onto the train; I had passed the interview.

On the train, I excitedly searched for a suitable apartment. It exhilarated me that I would soon break away from Emil.

Just after I disembarked the train, I received a call from Emil. The moment the call connected, he barked rudely, "Where are you, Penelope?"

It felt as though a bucket of cold water had dampened my high spirits. "What's the matter?"

Emil's voice turned colder. "My parents are back. They're asking you to come home for dinner."

It was already evening by the time I reached the McLaren residence. Four people were seated at the dining table—the McLarens and Sarah—and solemn looks hung on their faces.

I could imagine what had happened during my absence and walked in without flinching.

Emil brushed his gaze over my face. Out of the blue, he slammed down his fork and went upstairs. "I'm done eating. It's making me sick."

Sarah went after him upstairs, whereas I took a seat next to Hubert and Fiona, who awkwardly came up with an excuse on Emil's behalf.

I looked at the elders, who were akin to my parents, in front of me seriously. In my previous life, they tried to save me when they learned that Emil was confining me.

However, Emil was holding the reins in the McLaren family, so there wasn't much Hubert and Fiona could do.

I didn't blame them, though. In contrast, I had only my stupidity to blame.

I began softly, "Hubert and Fiona, I've been thinking a lot recently. Emil and I are not suited for each other. He doesn't like me, and I have no feelings for him, either.

"Rather than forcing ourselves to be together in resentment, it's better that we set each other free. Let's annul the engagement."

Fiona's face froze, and tears shimmered in her eyes. "Is there no other way?"

I nodded firmly in reply. After taking care of the most important matter since I was given a second chance in life, I felt a heavy weight leave my shoulders.

Before leaving, I returned to my room to take my belongings, which I had missed the last time.

Sarah blocked my path. "Penelope, will you return Emil to me? I'm pregnant with his child, and the baby needs a father."

Her eyes were brimming with tears, and she appeared pitiful.

Frowning, I took a step back subconsciously.

An eerie smile spread across her face. Then, she grabbed my arm and shoved herself off the staircase violently.

"Penny, don't push me! My baby! It hurts!"

Sarah rolled down the staircase, and blood trickled down between her legs. Simultaneously, Emil dashed out of the study and put on a menacing expression.

He raised his hand and slapped me. "You're evil, Penelope!

"In the past, I'd always thought that people were exaggerating when they said that you are a bully. But now, I'm seeing it with my own eyes. What else have you got to say?

"If it weren't for you, I could have been together with Sarah happily. Why do you keep standing between us?"

Hubert and Fiona came out of their room, and Sarah wailed even louder while holding her belly when she saw them.

Emil spat in an angry tone, "Mom and Dad, look at this. That's the wife you guys have chosen for me!"

After the pain drifted away, dizziness washed over me, and my ears started ringing. I stared at Emil's furious face. He looked as though the entire world had betrayed him.

Without any second thoughts, I retaliated by slapping him twice. "Don't worry. I’ll never be your wife from today onward."