Chapter 3: I Want to See How Long You Can Keep Up the Act

Irene raised an eyebrow at me provocatively and then said to Hiram, "It's okay, as an elder, I should be more forgiving."

"You are too soft-hearted. She doesn't see you as an elder," Hiram said, patting her sympathetically before giving me a cold look. "She hit you and must pay the price."

I clearly remembered when I was bullied by his employees in his company, he didn't protect me like this. HWithout seeking justice for me, he merely said, "She's my wife. Just get on with your work.This is my wife, everyone disperse."

From then on, those employees mocked and disrespected me even more.

My defiant attitude angered him. He signaled the servants to press me to kneel in front of them. One servant stepped forward, raising a hand towards me, but Irene stopped him.

"Hiram, men are stronger than women. I'm afraid he might hit her hard and hurt her.men can be heavy-handed. I'm afraid she might get hurt. If you must punish her, let me do it."

Hiram nodded. Irene raised her hand and slapped me. Her sharp nails scratched my face, causing a burning pain.

"Oh dear, what should I do? I've hurt Alexia," Irene looked at Hiram with feigned concern.

"This is the lesson she deserves. You don't need to be too kind; she hurt you first."

Seeing that I no longer resisted, Hiram said, "Apologize to Irene."

With my face swollen and red, I looked up at them with disdain in my eyes and sneered, "In your dreams!"

He looked at memy eyes which filled with intense hatred and furrowed his brows. "Alexia, I'm giving you a chance. If you obey, I can give you anything you want. You can be my wife properly, and I can take you and your daughter out."

I used to dream of being his wife. After Irene married his father, he finally gave up hope and agreed to marry me.

He arranged a simple wedding with few guests and never registered our marriage certificate. He never took me to formal events but frequently accompanied Irene.

People praised him as a dutiful son to his stepmother and Irene as a kind stepmother to her stepson. Everyone seemed to forget that Hiram had a wife and daughter.

Now that I no longer wanted it, he came toused it to threaten me into submission? Ridiculous!

Ignoring the pain on my face, I stared at him fearlessly. "Who wants to be your wife? I don't need it! We're done!"

Perhaps because I had been too attached and in love with him before, he didn't believe I truly wanted to leave him.

"Don't play hard-to-get too much!" he snorted contemptuously.

"I want to seeLet me see how long you can keep up the act." He sneered and called his assistant on speakerphone, clearly wanting me to hear everything.

"Jeremy, find out which hospital Emma is in and bring her back."

Hiram thought this would threaten me; his gaze locked onto mine intently. I just looked at him calmly without any reaction.

On the other end of the line, Jeremy hesitated for a moment before saying, "Sir, your daughter... passed away just two days before you returned to the country."

"Impossible!"

Hiram froze as if struck by lightning.

"Jeremy, how dare you conspire with Alexia to deceive me!"

"Sir, the funeral arrangements and cemetery address have been sent to your phone."

He looked at me in disbelief before angrily questioning over the phone:. "Why didn't you tell me such an important thing earlier?"

The assistant hurriedly explained out of fear of being blamed:, "Sir, you let me postpone all other business and not disturb you when you watch cherry blossoms abroad."said not to disturb you while watching cherry blossoms abroad and postponed everything.

After hanging up the phone, Hiram's arm dropped limply, and his phone fell to the ground.