He stared at her, clearly dissatisfied with her lack of contact.

Joy pursed her lips and gathered her courage to meet Leon's gaze. "It turns out that Mr. Scott was worried about an insignificant sexual partner."

Joy, who was always well-behaved and obedient, suddenly lost her temper, which shocked Leon a little. He suddenly pulled Joy closer, his arm wrapped tightly around her waist. "Sexual partner? It only happened once in two years. How can you call this a casual sex relationship?"

Joy had no idea what had come over Leon. He gripped her chin and was about to kiss her.

Just then, a voice rang out beside them. "Leon, you're here. Charmaine was looking for you."

Leon frowned slightly, let go of Joy, and replied, "Got it. I'll be there right away."

Joy pretended to be surprised and asked Leon, "Do you know my sister?"

"They're not just acquaintances. Their relationship is even more exciting than you can imagine. Joy, just wait to be amazed." Leon's friend had a taunting look on his face.

When the two walked away, a trace of mockery flickered in Joy's eyes. These people thought she was still being kept in the dark and wanted to humiliate her today. Little did they know that she had long adjusted her mental state and was ready to cut all ties with Leon.

The dinner party was in full swing when the lights suddenly went out.

A spotlight instantly shone on the stage. Leon, dressed in a crisp suit, appeared in front of everyone with Charmaine, who wore a white gown.

Hector smiled, raised his hand to signal silence, and announced loudly, "We invited everyone here today to first welcome Charmaine, who has returned from studying abroad and, second, to announce some good news. The Quinn family and the Scott family are old friends. Charmaine and Leon were arranged to be wed many years ago. Now that they're in love, the engagement party will be held at the end of the month. Please become witnesses to their happiness then!"​

After Hector finished speaking, Leon's friends looked at Joy at the same time, waiting to see her break down, but Joy just stood quietly in the crowd, her expression calm, as if everything happening on stage had nothing to do with her.

Leon frowned slightly. He had imagined Joy losing control of her emotions when she learned about his relationship with Charmaine, but she was a little too calm right now.

Leon inexplicably felt annoyed. Charmaine keenly sensed that something was off with him and asked quickly, "Leon, what's wrong?"

Leon subtly withdrew his gaze. "Nothing. I was just a little distracted." He knew very well that Joy was deeply in love with him. There was no way Joy was unperturbed; she was just pretending.

...

Joy went to the washroom and washed her face with cold water. Recalling her love for Leon, she felt so stupid.

It was no wonder he had only touched her once in two years. It was not because he cherished her, but because he was unbothered. The first night she had always cherished was only the perfect material for him to ruin her reputation.

As soon as Joy returned to the banquet hall, Hector called her over. "Joy, come and say hello to your brother-in-law."

Joy walked up to Leon and displayed a perfect smile. "Hello, Leon."

Leon's expression froze when he heard her.

Charmaine was unaware of this and answered with a smile, "Joy, I heard that Leon is a board member at your school. What a coincidence. If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to ask Leon for help. After all, we're all family."

Joy gritted her teeth and uttered, "I won't cause trouble for Leon." She did not look at Leon's expression, but she could feel his cold gaze. As if wrapped in the cold wind of winter, she trembled all over.

After some small talk, Joy prepared to leave.

Charmaine stepped forward and took her arm, feigning intimacy as she said, "Joy, we haven't seen each other for a long time. I have a lot to say to you." She dragged Joy to the lounge without saying anything.

As soon as the door closed, Charmaine put away her smile and replaced it with an icy expression. "Joy, I heard that you slept with Leon, and the video was spread everywhere. Do you think you can steal his heart using such despicable means? To tell you the truth, he doesn't like you at all. Not only does he dislike you, but he also hates you! I asked him to spread the fact that your mother is a homewrecker. I also instructed him to pursue you. I just wanted to see you fall in love with him, only to be destroyed by him!"

Joy asked, "Why?"

"Why? Of course, it's because you don't know your place. Your mom has been dead for years, yet you’re still trying to hold onto the Quinn family's fortune? Those things are supposed to be mine. What right does a daughter of a homewrecker like you have to enjoy the Quinn family's splendor and wealth?"

Joy could tolerate everything, but she could not stand her mother being insulted. She rushed up to Charmaine, her voice squeezing through her teeth, "My mom isn't a homewrecker. She had no idea you and your mom existed when she married Dad. You drove her to her death!"

Charmaine did not expect Joy to talk back to her and was about to hit her.

Just then, the lounge door was suddenly pushed open.

Charmaine caught Leon's figure out of the corner of her eye. She quickly grabbed the nuts on the table and stuffed them into her mouth. The next second, she collapsed limply and mumbled, "Joy, why did you force me to eat this? I'm allergic to nuts..."

Leon rushed toward Charmaine and pushed Joy away.

Joy staggered backward, and her back hit the coffee table behind her. With a crash, the cups on the coffee table shattered. The glass shards pricked Joy's hands, making them bleed profusely. ​

Leon did not even glance at her. He quickly crouched and held Charmaine in his arms. "Charmaine, are you okay?"

Teary-eyed, Charmaine helplessly grabbed Leon's arm. "I just wanted to catch up with Joy. I don't know how I offended her. She suddenly forced me to eat those snacks... Look at me. Do I have rashes on my body?"

Leon looked down and saw Charmaine's body breaking out in large patches of red rashes at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"What should I do? The party isn't over yet. I can't embarrass you. Makeup... Yes, I need to cover it with makeup!"

Leon clamped Charmaine's wrist. "This is no time to think about these things. Come on, I'll take you to the hospital." Leon picked up Charmaine in his arms and glared at Joy before leaving.

Joy endured the excruciating pain and got up. The blood from her hands kept pouring out, and the hem of her skirt was soaked red in the blink of an eye. However, she did not feel the pain. It was as if all her senses were taken away after falling into an abyss. She asked an attendant to bring the medical kit, and she bandaged the wounds with difficulty. After all the work, Joy was exhausted and was about to leave with heavy steps.

As soon as she entered the corridor, several figures suddenly jumped out and dragged her to the storage room next door without saying anything. Then, a big hand grabbed her chin and forced her to look up. High-concentration chili pepper water was immediately poured into her mouth. Joy widened her eyes in horror. She was allergic like Charmaine, but to peppers. This much pepper water was enough to kill her!

"Ugh... Let me go..." Joy struggled desperately.

However, those people did not give her a chance to resist at all. They poured glass after glass of chili pepper water into her mouth.

She choked until her face turned red. Her body twitched violently and uncontrollably. Her injured hands scratched weakly on the ground, making a heart-wrenching sound.

Seeing her in such a state, those people not only did not stop but also insulted her more harshly.

"Charmaine is the apple of Leon's eyes. How dare you touch her? Don't you know your place?"

"I heard that you were bullied a lot in school. You've probably hooked up with many men. How could someone as proud and arrogant as Leon want a filthy woman like you?"

"Finish the chili pepper water as an apology to Charmaine or you'll suffer!"

Joy's vision became more and more blurred, and her consciousness gradually began to fade.

She used up her last bit of strength and pretty much unconsciously said Leon's name, "Leon..."

As soon as she finished speaking, a mocking laugh rang out overhead.

"Hahaha! You're not counting on Leon to save you, are you?"

"He made us feed you the chili pepper water. You hurt Charmaine. He's hoping you'll die!"

"Come on, let's tear her clothes to shreds, take a photo, and send it to Leon. We’ll help Leon vent his anger!"

The men rushed up and tore Joy's dress to shreds in the blink of an eye. They kept taking photos of the dying and disheveled Joy until she could no longer take it and passed out.

When Joy woke up, she was already lying on a hospital bed.

Leon was sitting beside the bed, working on his laptop. As if sensing something, he looked up at Joy.

Their eyes met, and Leon subtly breathed a sigh of relief, but his tone remained as icy as ever. "Does it feel good to be bullied? Remember this lesson and don't give Charmaine trouble ever again."

Joy silently turned her head away, a tear quietly sliding down from the corner of her eye.

In the past, she had viewed Leon as her savior. However, how was his behavior now any different from that of her bullies?

Leon looked at the silent girl on the hospital bed and felt uneasy for some reason. He thought, 'She acted out of jealousy and harmed Charmaine. She deserves to be in this state. However, why do I feel heartbroken when I see her crying?'

Just then, a young nurse pushed the door open. "Mr. Scott, the air conditioning in Ms. Quinn's ward broke down..."

Leon frowned. "If it's broken, just fix it. Do you need to inform me of such a trivial matter?"

"We've already reported it for repair, but the repairman will only arrive in an hour. Ms. Quinn keeps saying she's cold, and the hospital has no extra wards for her..."

Hearing this, Leon immediately stood up. "Is this how the hospital handles things? Does it take this long to fix an air conditioner? Charmaine has always had poor health and can't handle the cold. Have Joy go over there and switch Charmaine to this ward." He frowned deeply.

"Well..." The young nurse looked at Joy on the bed, somewhat hesitantly.

Joy was allergic to chili peppers and was fed so much chili pepper water. She survived, but her esophagus and gastric mucosa were severely injured. Any slight mishap would put her in danger again.

Charmaine just had some nuts. Getting some allergy shots would make her better. However, the suffering Joy endured seemed to be insignificant to Leon.

Leon asked, "Why are you still standing there? If Charmaine freezes, this hospital can forget about continuing operations!"

Now that Leon had said that, the young nurse could only obey.

Soon, Joy was transferred to Charmaine's ward.

Leon went to accompany Charmaine, leaving Joy lying alone in a daze in the huge ward.

Recalling everything she had experienced during this period, she could no longer suppress her emotions and broke out in tears. A chill came over her as she cried. Looking toward the chill, Joy suddenly discovered that the air conditioner was on and was blowing out cold air!

She instantly understood everything.

Charmaine deliberately said that the air conditioner broke down just to switch her over so that she could suffer in the cold and so that Charmaine could vent her anger.

As the temperature in the ward lowered, Joy felt the cold seeping into her bones. Even her teeth were trembling.

She tried to call for help, but her throat was so swollen that she could not make a sound.

She reached for the call bell, but her arm was weak and fell back down after a few seconds. Joy lost all hope and could only curl up, trying to hold on to the last bit of warmth.

After an unknown amount of time, someone finally found her, who was forgotten in despair.

When Joy tried to open her eyes, she saw Charmaine's gloating face.

"Joy, look at you. What's the difference between you and a stray dog?

"Leon made you suffer just to help me get justice. Now, everyone has photos of you being abused. They're all making fun of you.

"By the way, a pornography company just contacted me and asked if you would like to be the heroine of their next film. Hahaha..."

Charmaine laughed as she spoke. When she stopped laughing, she suddenly grabbed the most severely ulcerated part of Joy’s arm and pinched it hard.

Blood gushed out and Joy felt her vision go black.

"So, do you finally understand who he loves? If you know what's good for you, admit that your mother is a homewrecker and disappear from my sight. Spare me from feeling nauseous every time I see your face!"

The light in Joy's eyes faded, replaced by endless silence.

Disappear?

She would.

Soon, she would go to a foreign country and never look back.