Nissa's forehead slammed hard against the cold floor.

She heard Charlotte gently saying, "Enough, don't make things harder for her. Just let her go, please."

It was Nissa who was forced to kneel, yet it was Charlotte who got to play the kind-hearted one.

Benjamin, cold-faced, let go of Nissa at Charlotte's words, then carefully carried Charlotte in his arms and rushed to find a doctor.

Charlotte's burn was serious. Even as the doctor treated her wound, she clenched her teeth and refused to shed a single tear.

The tears that welled in her eyes trembled like fragile pearls.

As Nissa approached the examination room, she overheard Benjamin's chilling voice.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure she pays for this."

Charlotte responded softly, "She's your wife! Please don't ruin your marriage because of me."

She discreetly wiped away her tears as she spoke. The more understanding and gracious she acted, the more Benjamin's heart ached for her.

In his mind, he was already convinced. Nissa must have been jealous. That was why she hurt Charlotte with boiling water.

He stood abruptly, ready to storm out and settle the score with Nissa, only to find her standing silently outside the door.

Nissa did not flinch.

Instead, she handed him her phone.

In her Notes app, she wrote everything down; The full story, the truth of what happened.

But Benjamin, consumed by rage, did not even glance at it. He swatted her hand, sending the phone flying across the room.

It crashed to the floor and shattered into pieces.

Nissa froze.

She instinctively moved to pick up the pieces, but before she could reach them, Benjamin grabbed her by the collar and slammed her against the wall.

Her petite frame was completely overpowered, like a sparrow caught in the jaws of a wolf. She had no strength to resist.

Tears welled in her eyes as she whimpered, pleading silently, her lips mouthing desperate sounds.

But Benjamin showed no mercy.

He leaned in close, his voice low and full of menace, whispering against her ear, "Want to know for yourself what it feels like to be scalded with hot water?"

A terrible chill ran down her spine.

Nissa shook her head, terrified, her hands frantically signing for mercy.

Benjamin only sneered.

He grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the bathroom, twisting the faucet open to full heat.

He turned the showerhead toward her and let the hot stream pour directly over her body.

The water was not hot enough to cause lasting injury, but it was more than enough to cause great pain.

Nissa twisted and scrambled inside the narrow space, gasping in pain like her skin was being stripped away.

Benjamin watched her with cold indifference. Her helpless thrashing seemed to amuse him.

With an annoyed click of his tongue, he finally turned off the water.

"Come here!" He ordered sharply.

Nissa trembled where she huddled in the corner. She did not dare move.

Benjamin scowled, displeased. "I've been too lenient with you. That's why you've forgotten your place."

His voice dropped even lower. "Maybe cutting off your sister's medical bills will remind you of your place."

At the mention of her sister, Nissa's head snapped up, eyes wide, face pale.

Tears poured from her already red-rimmed eyes. She scrambled forward on hands and knees, clutching desperately at his pant leg, begging without words.

Benjamin's expression did not change. Only the corners of his lips curled slightly, cold and cruel.

The silence terrified her even more. She bent low, forehead to the floor, and began to beg in earnest.

Each time her forehead hit the floor was harder than the last, until blood bloomed faintly against the tile.

Benjamin's eyes flickered. He reached down, grabbed her chin, and forced her head up.

"This is my final warning," he said coldly, "stay away from Charlotte. A woman like you doesn't even deserve to shine her shoes."

Nissa nodded through her tears, face stained with blood and water. She did not dare make a sound, didn't dare resist.

She knew he would do it. He would let her sister die if she dared disobey.

Benjamin turned and walked away.

Nissa remained kneeling on the floor, her back arched, curled into herself like a wounded animal.

She could not even cry anymore. All the pain, the bitterness. She could only swallow it back down into her chest.

But now, one thought burned fiercely in her heart. She had to leave. She could not afford to stay even a moment longer!

Nissa got up, limping as she stepped out of the bathroom.

She wanted to retrieve her broken phone. After all, she could not afford a new one.

Blood from the wound on her forehead blurred her vision. She stumbled and nearly fell.

Just then, a pair of hands reached out and caught her.

She turned her head--and was stunned to see Marcus Jules, Benjamin's uncle, looking at her with heartbreak in his eyes.

He just came for a routine check-up at the hospital.

"Nissa, how did you get hurt so badly?"

She did not expect to run into him, and she lowered her head awkwardly.

But the more she tried to hide it, the more pained Marcus looked.

In that instant, he understood everything. These wounds were the work of his nephew.

"That bastard! Is this how he treats you?"

He once believed he was helping to arrange a good marriage, but all he did was push Nissa into a pit of fire.

Marcus took her to the ER, made all the arrangements.

Before leaving, he muttered vaguely, "I'll take care of everything."

Nissa did not understand what he meant.

Holding her shattered phone, she stood dazed.

Just then, a voice behind her drawled, "So this is where you were hiding? Took me long enough to find you."

She turned around and saw Charlotte standing there, smirking smugly.

Charlotte's gaze swept over Nissa's drenched figure, lips curled in pride.

"You saw how much Benjamin cares about me, didn't you? Be smart and leave him. Otherwise, if you end up kicked out of the house, it's going to be ugly."

Nissa pressed her lips together. She had already made up her mind to leave, but hearing it from Charlotte made it sting even more.

Without a word, she tucked her broken phone away and turned to walk off.

Charlotte frowned and grabbed her arm. "What's with that attitude? You think you're better than me?"

Then she scoffed, waving a hand. "Forget it. I'm not going to argue with a mute. I know someone like you doesn't have many job options, so don't say I'm being heartless. Take this money, and leave Benjamin now."

Without waiting for a response, she shoved a check into Nissa's hands.

It was not a huge amount, just over a hundred thousand dollars. But for Nissa, it was a fortune.

When she hesitated, Charlotte sneered. "Too little for you? You've already milked the Jules family for months. It's time to quit while you're ahead."

Nissa opened her mouth, trying to explain, but stopped short.

She never took a dime beyond what she was given as medical allowance, and even that she always felt grateful for. She never dared ask for more, afraid it would irritate Benjamin.

She wanted to refuse the check, but then she remembered that once she left the Jules family, she would have no income.

Moreover, she was pregnant with a child now. Raising a child was not cheap.

If Charlotty wanted to pay her off, why not accept it?

From a young age, she was taught not to accept what was not rightfully hers. Taking that check went against everything she believed in.

But this time, for the sake of her baby, she forced herself to accept it.

Her cheeks burned with shame as she carefully folded the check and slipped it into her pocket.

She made up her mind. Someday, when she had the money, she would pay Charlotte back.

Charlotte would be staying at the hospital for a while, and Benjamin was sure to stay with her.

This was the perfect time to go to the bank and cash the check.

But first, Nissa wanted to return to the Jules residence and change clothes. Her entire body was soaked, and she didn't want to risk catching a cold.

She could get sick; that was fine. However, she would not risk her baby.

The Jules residence was massive. Aside from the master bedroom, there were several guest rooms.

Though she carried the title of "Mrs. Jules," Nissa always lived in one of the guest rooms.

She was only called to the master bedroom when Benjamin wanted her for his needs.

And afterward, she was always sent back to the guest room.

Back at the house, she peeled off her wet clothes and dried herself with a towel.

Her hand instinctively covered her lower belly.

Her waist was still slim, and there was no visible bump yet. But just knowing that a tiny life was growing inside her made her feel a strange sense of wonder.

She sighed. While she looked forward to the child's arrival, deep down, she doubted whether she could be a good mother.

She reached for fresh clothes.

Just as she was about to put them on, the guest room door suddenly swung open.

Benjamin stood at the entrance, having returned without her knowing.

He saw her standing there, completely in her birthday suit, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Nissa's figure was delicate, her skin pale and soft.

Her cheeks flushed with panic as she scrambled to cover herself with the bedsheet, like a frightened bird.

Benjamin's throat tightened involuntarily.

But he hid it well. Not a trace of emotion showed on his face.

He said coolly, "Charlotte's injury is serious. You should take responsibility. I'm not expecting you to be thoughtful enough to care for her. Just make her meals from now on. I'll bring them to the hospital. Understand?"

Nissa frantically nodded, clutching the sheet tightly. Her face was crimson as she buried it into the blanket in embarrassment.

Benjamin's gaze lingered on the sliver of skin still visible.

He adjusted his collar with a flick of his finger and was about to leave when something caught his eye.

A corner of paper was sticking out from Nissa's discarded wet clothes.

Curious, he picked it up--and his expression instantly darkened.

It was the check.

He glared at her and barked, "Nissa! Did you just ask Charlotte for money?"

Nissa's heart sank.

She frantically shook her head, flailing her hands, trying to explain.

But Benjamin did not even glance at her. He held the check and examined it closely, then suddenly let out a cold laugh and flung it to the floor.

"You went behind my back to ask Charlotte for money? Nissa, you just met her, and you're already this shameless? Looks like I underestimated your greed."

He stepped toward her slowly, his towering figure casting a long, dark shadow over her. His narrow eyes were filled with ice, a brewing storm ready to erupt.

Nissa knew he was angry, and she had already learned the hard way what his anger meant. She could not bear it again.

She sat on the bed and backed away in panic.

Shaking her head in desperation, she silently begged for mercy.

But Benjamin had no patience. He yanked her off the bed and threw her to the floor.

The shame of being bare and exposed washed over Nissa like a tidal wave. She curled up tightly, trying to preserve even a shred of her dignity.

Benjamin sneered, his voice like a blade, "What are you covering up for? Don't tell me you think I'd be interested in you? Even if you stood shirtless on the street, no one would even bother looking at someone like you."

Nissa squeezed her eyes shut, tears streaming from the corners.

Of course, she knew he was not interested in a mute like her. Every time they were together, he would press her face into the pillow, pretending she was Charlotte.

In his eyes, she was just a cheap imitation, a free tool to vent his lust.

She bit her lip and swallowed her pain. Stretching out her hand, she tried to retrieve the check. That money meant everything to her. Even if it meant losing face, she had to hold onto it.

But Benjamin, seeing how desperate she was for the check, only grew more disgusted.

His face darkened. Without hesitation, he stomped down hard on her hand.

Pain surged through her, causing her to go pale. Her body trembled uncontrollably. She couldn't make a sound and could only curl into herself.

Benjamin bent down and picked up the check. Then, right in front of her, he tore it into shreds.

The pieces fluttered down like snow, landing all over Nissa. She clutched at them hopelessly, and silent tears ran down her face.

Seeing her so desperate for money, Benjamin's eyes filled with revulsion.

"All you poor folks care about is money. If you're so short on cash, why don't you just beg me properly? If I'm in a good mood, I might even throw you some. That'd save you from embarrassing me by begging others."

He reached down and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up.

That tear-stained face, pale as frost, held a fragile kind of loneliness. Weak, almost pitiful.

For a split second, something in Benjamin stirred. His callused thumb dragged roughly across her lips.

Nissa winced and turned her face away. However, the very act of dodging sparked his irritation.

His eyes darkened.

Without another word, he lifted her and tossed her onto the bed, pinning her down with his weight.

Nissa immediately understood what he was about to do. She was terrified, fearing that it would hurt the child.

She struggled with all her strength.

In the chaos, her palm accidentally struck Benjamin across the cheek.

The air around them seemed to have frozen.

Nissa stared in horror as he slowly turned his face back to her. His expression was icy, dangerous.

She frantically gestured an apology, hands trembling.

But Benjamin grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head. His voice dropped, low and threatening.

"You hit me? You've got a death wish, Nissa."

Tears spilled from her eyes as she sobbed soundlessly, like a kitten's whimper. But that only ended up fueling Benjamin's fire.

As always, he forced her to turn over, burying her face into the pillow.

No matter how she resisted, he did not stop.

Just then, his phone rang, loud and insistent.

Annoyed, Benjamin answered with a sharp tone, "What?"

There was silence for a moment, then a soft, timid voice came through the line. "Benjamin, weren't you just going home to grab something? Why haven't you come back? I'm still in the hospital. I feel a little scared by myself."

He glanced at the caller ID; It was Charlotte.

Realizing how harsh his tone just was, Benjamin forced himself to soften, "Something came up. I'll be there later."

"Okay," Charlotte replied in a low voice and said no more.

The moment the call ended, her expression changed entirely.

Eyes filled with rage, she hurled the phone at the ground.

Her chest heaved with fury.

She was not an idiot. Just from Benjamin's hoarse voice and the faint sobbing in the background, she could easily guess what he was doing.

Charlotte's lips twisted with contempt. "Cheap woman. Took my money one second, climbed into my man's bed the next. That mute has no shame."

Her voice turned colder by the second. "You're asking for it!"

She bent down, picked up the phone, and pulled up a contact.

After typing out a short message, she hit send.

A moment later, a reply came through.

Charlotte's lips curled into a sinister smile, her eyes glinting with a chilling sharpness.