Chapter 3

Aria's POV

To appease those shareholders, Adrian insisted on bringing me to the charity gala.

He picked up the priceless diamond necklace and fastened it around my neck.

The cold diamonds pressed against my skin, and his tone was even colder.

"Tonight, just smile. Talk less. If Mr. Warner asks about Rosalie, just say you're not feeling well and specifically asked her to help share the burden."

I pulled at the corner of my mouth.

"Don't worry, I know."

I entered the venue on Adrian's arm.

Rosalie was already standing in the inner circle, acting like the true lady of the house, deflecting drinks for Adrian.

"Mr. Hale, your wife doesn't look well. Let me accompany Mr. Warner for this drink instead."

Rosalie naturally inserted herself between us, glancing at me provocatively.

Adrian showed no displeasure. Instead, he released my hand and smoothly put his arm around Rosalie's waist.

I was pushed to the periphery.

Watching them toast and chat, I could only laugh.

Suddenly, a loud crash came from the entrance of the banquet hall.

"Heartless capitalist! Give us back our blood money!"

A group of rioters broke through security, wielding clubs and charging straight toward the core area.

The scene instantly descended into chaos.

The crowd shoved and screamed. Someone bumped into a massive decorative column, and the crystal chandelier overhead made a teeth-grinding cracking sound.

"Watch out!"

The chandelier was falling directly toward Adrian and Rosalie.

In that second, the world seemed to freeze.

I was only half a step away from Adrian.

But I saw him, without any hesitation, turn around and grab my shoulder.

Not to protect me.

He was using me for leverage.

He viciously yanked me backward, using that momentum to push Rosalie in his arms toward safety.

Crash.

The chandelier fell. Shards flew everywhere.

His violent pull sent me crashing heavily onto the glass-covered floor.

Sharp glass shards pierced my palms and knees, blood instantly gushing out.

And the man who should have protected his wife was desperately shielding another woman, not even looking back.

In fact, because of the chaos just now, his leather shoe heavily stepped on my bleeding hand.

I broke out in a cold sweat from the pain but bit back any sound.

Only after security controlled the situation did Adrian seem to finally remember something.

He comforted the frightened Rosalie, then turned to see me covered in blood, his brow furrowing deeply.

"Why are you so clueless?"

He strode over, his tone containing no concern, only reproach.

"Rosalie is carrying the Hale family's bargaining chip. If that fall had harmed the fetus, ten of you couldn't compensate for it."

I sat slumped on the ground, looking at the bruise on my hand from where he'd stepped on it, and at the blood mixed with glass shards.

So in his eyes, I was just a meat shield for blocking disasters.

"Fine, you're right."

I looked up at him and smiled.

"Mr. Hale did the right thing."

Adrian irritably took off his coat and threw it over my head, covering my face.

"Don't look at me with those sarcastic eyes. Have the driver take you to the hospital."