Upon hearing the familiar voice, Bethany snapped her head up.

Connor stood at the doorway, resting against the frame with folded arms, his lips curved in a mocking smile as he regarded her.

A startled breath escaped Bethany. In a panic, she quickly grabbed a towel to cover herself, panic written all over her face. "Why are you here? Get out!"

Connor narrowed his eyes, his tone edged with sarcasm. "Shouldn't that question be mine? What exactly are you doing in my bathroom?"

What?

For a split second, Bethany froze. Her gaze darted around the room, and only then did she notice the shelves lined neatly with men's toiletries.

Her mind went completely empty.

This was actually his room?

Heat rushed to her face almost immediately, embarrassment spreading uncontrollably. "I'm sorry. I must have gone into the wrong room. I'll leave immediately."

Flustered, she apologized while clutching the towel against herself with one hand and hastily gathering her clothes with the other, rushing toward the exit.

But just as she passed him, Connor's hand shot out, gripping her wrist.

Looking down at her, he spoke in a cold, warning tone. "If you have any sense at all, stop playing these ridiculous tricks. And besides..."

His eyes drifted to the marks scattered across her neck and shoulder, a trace of disdain flickering in his gaze. "Do you honestly think I would be interested in you?"

The contempt in his voice cut into Bethany like a blade.

She was aware Connor had misunderstood, yet she found herself unable to offer any explanation.

She couldn't deny stepping into his room, nor could she deny what had happened with another man.

Her lashes trembled faintly, the bitterness choking her words before they could leave her lips.

"Leave." Connor released her without another glance.

Bethany didn't linger for even a second. She hurried out, almost as if escaping.

Connor's gaze followed her retreating figure, his expression turning distant and cold.

What a shameless woman.

He had only come upstairs to shower. Due to the irrational fear of germs, that earlier car ride with her had already made him uncomfortable enough.

His eyes flicked briefly toward the bathroom she had just used. A faint frown formed between his brows before he turned away, heading instead toward the guest bathroom.

Meanwhile, Bethany rushed into a guest room on the west side. Once inside, she shut the door behind her and washed herself again and again—three times in total—before finally changing into the fresh clothes left by the maid.

Standing there, drying her hair, she pulled out her phone and searched Connor's name.

What she found left her completely speechless.

Connor belonged to the Roberts lineage, the most dominant and affluent family in Aloridge.

Her pulse quickened instantly. So Connor was from the Roberts family. If that was true, he might actually have the power to help with Shirley's medical situation.

A knock came at the door. A maid's voice followed from outside. "Miss Nelson, are you ready? Mr. Roberts is waiting for you in the living room."

"Coming," Bethany replied immediately. She switched off the hairdryer, ran her fingers through her slightly tangled hair, and made her way downstairs.

Inside the living room, Connor was stretched out comfortably on the sofa, idly scrolling on a tablet. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, exposing the lines of his strong forearm.

Hearing footsteps approach, he lifted his head, his expression shifting ever so slightly.

Bethany entered wearing a long black dress, her damp curls resting loosely over her shoulders. Her face looked clean and soft now, and her bright eyes gave off an innocent, almost vulnerable charm that instinctively drew attention.

Even Connor found himself unable to tear his gaze away from her.

Yet the marks on her collarbone were too obvious to ignore.

His expression remained indifferent. He looked away, placed the tablet down, and slid two documents across the table toward her. "This is the prenuptial contract. Go through it."

Bethany lowered herself onto the sofa opposite him, skimmed the papers briefly, and signed without wasting a second.

If marrying Connor meant saving her mother, then she saw no reason to hesitate.

Her quick acceptance caused a subtle shift in Connor's gaze.

In the car earlier, she had seemed shocked, yet now she signed so easily without a single question.

Connor, however, had only agreed to this marriage because of his grandfather's arrangement. It would last just one year, and her decisiveness spared him unnecessary complications.

He gestured to his assistant, who stepped forward to collect the papers. "If everything is fine, we'll head to the courthouse in three days and finalize the marriage."

"Alright," Bethany responded, trying to contain her excitement, surprised at how smoothly everything was progressing.

Just as Connor stood to leave, Bethany hurriedly stopped him. "Um, can I ask you for a favor?" She spoke softly, her tone cautious and slightly flattering.

Connor paused and glanced at her. "What does clause three of the agreement state?"

Bethany stiffened.

Clause three clearly stated that neither party would interfere in the other's private affairs.

That meant she had no right to ask him for anything.

Still unwilling to back down, she tried again. "It's very important. It concerns my—"

"Your matters have nothing to do with me," he cut in coldly.

Her expression immediately collapsed, disappointment flooding her face.

Connor sneered. With nothing left to gain, she stopped pretending altogether. And that was quicker than he had expected.

Without another glance, he turned and left, his assistant quickly following behind, leaving Bethany sitting alone, silent and defeated.

She had even given up her marriage, yet it still wasn't enough?

Outside the villa, the assistant followed Connor into the car. After a brief hesitation, he spoke carefully. "Sir, Miss Nelson looked like she really had something urgent to say. Should I investigate it privately?"

Connor turned his head slightly, his gaze icy. "She's just a woman without restraint. Why concern yourself with her?"

They had already received information about Bethany.

She was engaged to a man named Gavin, yet he had spent last night with her half-sister. The fresh marks on Bethany's skin clearly had nothing to do with him.

There was only one explanation—she had been unfaithful.

"My apologies, sir," the assistant said quickly, lowering his head.

Connor let out a cold scoff. Then, as if remembering something, his expression shifted slightly. "Any news about the woman from last night?"

Connor's assistant paused for a moment before replying, "The storm last night knocked out the fiber network around the hotel area. Because of the outage, the security cameras didn't manage to record where the woman went."

A faint sense of loss flickered across Connor's expression.

He opened the compartment and took out a neatly folded shirt. "This is hers. Track her using this."

He had found it near the doorway of that room. At the time, he had intended to personally return it, apologize properly, and make things right.

But now, there was no trace of her anywhere.

Only then did it hit him that he hadn't even bothered to look at her face yesterday.

Yet her crying voice still lingered in his memory.

"I didn't drug you."

She had said it over and over again.

He hadn't believed a word. Annoyed by what he thought was deception, he had only become rougher during sex.

A dull weight settled in his chest. His fingers tightened slightly as he spoke in a rough voice. "Report to me the moment you find anything."

"Yes, sir."

After Connor left, Bethany also left the villa.

Since he refused to help her, she had no choice but to try on her own.

For several consecutive days, she went from place to place, desperately seeking assistance.

That day was no different—she was thrown out again. "Our boss has no interest in meeting you. Standing here all day won't change anything. Leave!"

Security dragged her away and shoved her to the ground outside the building. The doors closed firmly in front of her.

Recently, everyone who had once promised help over the phone had suddenly started avoiding her.

Dragging herself back up, she was about to try again when a mocking voice rang out nearby.

"Wow, look at you. Didn't expect to see you in such a pathetic state." Nicole appeared, dressed elegantly in a soft, fashionable dress, clinging to Gavin's arm with open pride.

They were no longer hiding anything.

Bethany's eyes turned cold as she looked at them. "How long has this been going on?"

Her voice was steady—no shouting, no tears. Gavin, however, looked uneasy and avoided her gaze. "Bethany, I—"

Nicole tightened her grip on his arm and interrupted with a smug smile. "Since after you cheated, of course. Gavin was heartbroken, and I was the one who comforted him."

A cold laugh escaped Bethany. "Don't twist the story. You think everyone is like you? Always tangled up in some sleazy affair? And don't forget—your own mother built her life by destroying someone else's marriage. Now you're doing the same to me."

Nicole's expression twisted instantly. Her mother's past was a sensitive wound; her mother had once been a mistress before finally securing marriage after Shirley's mental collapse. She could not tolerate anyone bringing it up.

"Shut your mouth!" Nicole snapped, lunging at her.

Before Bethany could react, Nicole grabbed her clothes and tore at them violently. The fabric ripped open in seconds, and the marks on Bethany's skin were exposed for everyone to see.

She quickly tried to cover herself, but it was already too late.

Nicole pointed at her triumphantly. "Gavin, look! I told you she was fooling around with someone else!"

Gavin's face darkened immediately. Anger replaced confusion in his eyes. "Nicole warned me you cheated. I didn't believe it at first, but now it's clear. You really did betray me. You're disgusting."

Bethany's voice rose sharply. "If you hadn't sent that message, none of this would've happened!"

Gavin frowned in confusion. "What message?"

Nicole let out a soft, mocking laugh. "Oops. That text? I sent it from his phone. Just a harmless little joke. I didn't think you'd actually go through with it. So tell me, how was it? Sleeping with some tramp?"

Bethany froze completely.

A chilling realization crashed over her. So that man... had been the tramp Nicole had set up.

A surge of rage exploded inside Bethany so suddenly that her body began to tremble uncontrollably.

She had never harmed Nicole, not once. Yet Nicole had stolen her fiancé, sabotaged her mother's treatment, and systematically destroyed every part of her life. The sheer cruelty of it left her breathless.

How could someone be this malicious?

The fury inside her kept intensifying, pushing her reason to the brink.

Nicole tilted her head with a mocking smile and added, "You came here looking for Mr. James, didn't you? Funny thing, I just walked out of his office. Care to know what I told him?"

At that moment, everything clicked in Bethany's mind.

The person who had blocked every possible route for her mother's survival was Nicole.

"Shut up!" Bethany snapped, no longer able to contain herself as she suddenly rushed forward.

Nicole let out a startled scream and staggered back, but Bethany seized her by the hair and forced her down onto the ground.

She straddled Nicole and struck her repeatedly without stopping—left, right, again and again. Nicole screamed and struggled, but she couldn't break free, crying out in pain as the blows continued.

"It hurts! Gavin, help me!" Nicole shouted.

Gavin rushed in, grabbing at Bethany in an attempt to pull her away. "Bethany, are you insane? Stop this right now!"

But Bethany was consumed by rage. Her strength had multiplied in fury; not only did Gavin fail to restrain her, but he also took several slaps across his own face while trying.

The commotion continued for more than ten minutes until two police officers on patrol arrived and intervened, forcing her down.

Disheveled and breathing hard, Bethany was pinned to the ground. Her red, furious eyes stayed fixed on Nicole like someone who had lost all restraint.

Nicole's face was already marked with handprints. Though she wanted to retaliate verbally, fear made her retreat instead.

She quickly hid behind Gavin, forcing out a few shaky sobs. "Officers, I don't even know her! She suddenly attacked me for no reason. She's dangerous. You need to question her properly!"

Bethany wasn't surprised by the lie. Nicole always twisted situations like this. But what terrified her more was being taken away.

If she ended up in custody, there would be no one left to care for Shirley.

And by the time she returned, she might only find her mother's lifeless body waiting.

"She's lying! That's not what happened!" Bethany struggled fiercely, but the officers had already seen her attack Nicole and had made up their minds.

"Enough!" one officer barked before striking the back of her knee and forcing her downward.

Pain shot through Bethany's leg, weakening her instantly.

Her resistance faded, her shoulders slumped, and she was dragged toward the police vehicle as tears slipped silently down her face.

Nicole watched her being taken away like a broken puppet and let out a satisfied laugh. "Bethany, you'd better sit in there and think carefully about what coffin you're going to choose for your mother."

She then addressed Gavin. "Baby, come with me. We'll get a medical report and make sure she gets the sentence she deserves in full."

With that, she slipped her arm through his and turned to leave, wearing a smug expression.

But at that moment, a low, icy voice sliced through the air. "Who gave you the right to touch my fiancée?"

As Connor stepped forward, the light fell over him and traced the shape of his frame, pulling him into focus. The sharp edges of his features gave him a presence that was difficult to overlook.

Nicole stared for a second, caught off guard by how striking he looked.

Almost immediately, she let go of Gavin's arm and reached up to adjust her hair, trying to draw his attention.

Connor didn't acknowledge her at all. He walked straight past her without slowing down and stopped in front of Bethany.

The moment he saw her, his brows drew together.

Her face had lost all color. Her eyes looked empty. A tear in her clothing revealed a wide strip of skin.

A shadow crossed his expression. Without a word, he removed his suit jacket and placed it over her shoulders.

An officer stepped in, clearly annoyed, and blocked his path. "Who are you? She's a criminal. You don't get to touch her."

Connor lifted his eyes and fixed him with a cold look.

The air seemed to tighten. Sweat formed on the officer's forehead. "W-what are you staring—"

Before he could finish, his wrist was caught in a firm grip. A sharp force followed, and he was slammed onto the ground before he even realized what happened.

Connor let go and looked down at him. "Step aside."

The officer's face burned with anger as he reached for his gun, but his partner grabbed him quickly and gestured toward the car behind Connor.

The change was immediate. The anger drained from his face, replaced by fear. Without another word, the two of them backed off in a hurry.

Connor looked away, his expression showing clear disdain, then turned his attention back to Bethany.

His jacket hung loosely over her, far too large for her frame.

"How long are you going to stay down there?" he asked, frowning.

Bethany's lashes quivered, as if she had only just come back to herself. She placed a hand against the ground and tried to push herself up.

Pain shot through her knee, and she collapsed back down again.

She pushed herself up once more. Then she tried again. By the third attempt, a voice drifted down from above, carrying a trace of ridicule. "I leave you alone for two days, and this is what you end up like?"

Bethany lowered her head without answering. From her angle, only Connor's polished shoes were in view.

Even the stitching on them seemed worth more than she was.

The rough ground scraped against her palms, and she finally stopped trying. Her voice came out faint and dry. "I can't stand up. Just go."

She didn't want him standing there, watching her like this.

Connor shifted slightly where he stood.

Without thinking, Bethany tightened her hold on the jacket draped over her, hoping he might at least leave it behind.

In the next instant, a firm warmth settled against her back, and her body lifted off the ground.

The sudden movement startled her, and a soft cry slipped out as she grabbed onto whatever she could reach.

The air between them seemed to tighten.

Bethany raised her head, and her eyes met his. She could see herself reflected clearly in his gaze, close enough that it made her breath catch.

She was in Connor's arms.

For a moment, her thoughts emptied completely. She stayed frozen, her arms still wrapped around his neck.

Only when the impatience in his eyes became obvious did she come back to herself. She quickly pulled her hands away, biting her lip. "Sorry... I got your clothes dirty."

She was well aware of how little he thought of her, especially now, when she looked like this. "Put me down. I can walk on my own."

Connor's expression didn't change. "Walk? You mean drag yourself back?"

Heat rushed to her face at once.

She didn't know where to place her hands.

At least this reaction looked more alive than the blank expression she had earlier.

Some of the irritation in his chest eased. Without loosening his hold, he carried her toward the car.

"Excuse me, sir, could you wait a moment?" Nicole called out, her movements deliberate as she approached. "Can you tell me what your connection is to her?"

Earlier, she had been too distracted by his appearance to catch his words.