Chapter 2

Alec returned to find I had completely destroyed everything in our marital home.

The servants huddled in the corners, trembling as they watched me, none daring to approach or stop me.

Until I collapsed on the floor, too exhausted to move anymore.

Alec casually unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. The wound on his face was very noticeable. He looked down at me from above, his expression showing no remorse for what he had done wrong.

"Had enough?"

I didn't make a sound, just looked up at him, wishing I could turn my tear-blurred gaze into daggers.

"Scarlett, we're just in an arranged marriage. I thought we had an understanding between us. Who I'm with, what women I play with - I don't need to report that to you, do I?"

Alec's voice carried weariness, the wounds covering his face making his once-handsome features look grotesque.

I suddenly grabbed a half-broken vase beside me and hurled it at his head, but he easily dodged it, letting the vase shatter against the wall behind him.

Smashed to pieces.

Alec sneered, took a step back, and beckoned to a servant.

"Bring a mirror here!"

I had smashed all the mirrors in the mansion too. The servants struggled to find one that was barely usable and timidly handed it to Alec.Alec carelessly grabbed the shattered edge, lifting the mirror to my face.

"Take a good look, princess. See what you've become. Disgusting. Not a shred of class left in you. Just a shrew! How could you even compare to Jasmine?"

I gazed at myself in the mirror. My smeared makeup mingled with sweat and tears, plastering my hair to my face. Dark streaks ran down from my black-rimmed eyes, making me look worse than a ghost.

"You're right. I've got nothing on Jasmine anymore. She's taken everything from me. Congratulations, Alec. You're sharing a woman with your future father-in-law!"

A resounding "smack" echoed as Alec's hand struck my face hard.

My head jerked to the side, slamming into the nearby coffee table.

Fresh blood trickled down from my temple, blending into the already colorful canvas of my face, creating a spectacular mess.

"Shut your mouth, you bitch. You think you're so special? I'm sick of your holier-than-thou attitude. Say one more word about Jasmine, and I'll end you.""At the risk of angering your father, I'll make him pay for daring to compete with me for a woman. After all, he doesn't yet control the Harrington family fortune. Marrying you is already a loss for me."

Alec shook his hand dismissively and stood up straight.

His gaze swept over me, filled with undisguised disgust.

Just then, his phone suddenly rang. The speed at which his expression changed was truly astonishing.

Alec spoke softly into the phone, his tone intimate and loving.

This, despite the fact that the person on the other end had just publicly humiliated him in front of dozens of people.

I felt a wave of nausea.

Covering my face, I struggled to my feet and lunged at Alec like a madwoman, pummeling him indiscriminately.

"You bastard! I only agreed to marry you because you said you loved me. Otherwise, how could I possibly have consented to this arranged marriage?"

Liars, they were all complete and utter liars.

Every single one of them was a consummate actor, collaborating to put on an elaborate show and playing me for a fool.

Alec, unable to contain his anger any longer, furiously kicked me away.

My back slammed hard against the already shattered glass, the intense pain leaving me unable to move.He lifted his foot and viciously stomped on one of my hands, forcefully grinding my palm into the shards of broken glass.

"That's your own damn fault. You believed me when I said I loved you. Are you really going to blame others for your own stupidity?"