Chapter 4
Sharp, agonizing screams echoed intermittently throughout the entire night. Since Victor’s house was located in the most secluded corner of the neighborhood, it didn’t attract anyone’s
attention.
Even if someone had heard, they would have pretended not to notice due to Victor’s notorious reputation as a troublemaker.
These screams continued until the day Madison returned to her parents‘ home.
Newlyweds typically visit relatives after their honeymoon period.
That day, only Madison went home alone to see her parents.
The moment Madison saw Linda, tears that had been building up for days began streaming down her face uncontrollably.
“Mom!”
Seeing Madison in tears, Linda’s initially cheerful expression instantly darkened.
“Did Victor hurt you? Tell me!
“I told you from the beginning that Victor was no good, but you wouldn’t listen to me.
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“He even killed his own mother with his bare hands–what wouldn’t he do to you!”
As someone who owned both a house and a car, Victor shouldn’t have remained single for so long.
But everyone knew he had beaten his own mother to death. No family that truly loved their daughter would marry her off to him.
Yet in my previous life, my parents didn’t hesitate to push me toward Victor.
They knew full well I would suffer, but they didn’t care–they just gave me an old suitcase and hastily sent me away.
When Victor saw that old suitcase, he thought I was deliberately trying to humiliate him and nearly beat the unprepared me to death.
From then on, I carried a small knife for self–defense, ready to fight back when he attacked me.
My desperate resistance did make Victor tone down his violence somewhat!
At least he wouldn’t beat me while I was conscious.
But Madison was different from me. She had been spoiled and
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had never done any housework.
She was much prettier than other girls in the neighborhood, always being flattered by others, and had never experienced hardship.
The fact that she lasted until the third day exceeded my expectations.
For the sake of being a wealthy man’s wife, Madison was truly going to great lengths. Even beaten bloody, she refused to give
- up.
She said, “It’s fine, Victor’s just in a bad mood. Usually, he treats me well.
“I just need to wait for him to become wealthy!
“Once he’s rich, I’ll have all kinds of sports cars and jewelry. We’ll be the model couple featured on TV, and reporters will come interview us!”
Madison was lost in her beautiful fantasy, never considering how Victor would transform from a thug into a respected wealthy man.
She was saying this now just to suppress the unease in her heart.
Madison had thought marrying Victor would bring her a life of luxury, but she never expected Victor wouldn’t treat her as a
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person–instead, he used her as an outlet for his frustrations.
Linda gently touched the crisscrossing scars on Madison’s arms, deeply worried.
“Madison, why don’t you still switch husbands with Emily?”
Hearing Linda’s suggestion, Madison immediately refused: “No way!
“I absolutely will not marry Kevin! A loser like him doesn’t deserve me. I was born to live a life of luxury!
“Mom, where’s Emily? Why didn’t she come back?
“She must have married that loser Kevin and is too ashamed to show her face.”
Just as Madison finished speaking, someone shouted toward Linda: “Madison! Emily asked me to tell you that she left with Kevin and not to worry about her.”
The neighbor who spoke was carrying several gift boxes and stuffed a stack of cash into Linda’s hands before hurrying away.
Linda counted it–about a thousand dollars.
When she saw the letter I had written, she nearly lost her
balance.
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Madison immediately snatched the letter away. After reading its contents, she became furious.
“What right does she have to cut ties with us? How dare she run off with Kevin!”