Chapter 3

After that day, Nathan and Tiffany grew even closer, inseparable.

And while I lay in my hospital bed, Tiffany secretly filmed me throwing the flower basket and posted the clip online.

Overnight, I became the target of a massive online hate campaign. I was branded a spoiled, mentally unstable heiress.

Even at the company, colleagues I saw daily began whispering behind my back.

"Do you think Scarlett really had a mental breakdown?"

"I heard she's been obsessed with Mr. Anderson for years. She's harassing Tiffany now that he's moved on."

Things escalated. On the street, self-appointed vigilantes would rush me, yanking my hair, hitting and kicking me without mercy.

"That's her! The rich heiress from online who bullies poor Tiff! And a homewrecker too!"

The moment the word "homewrecker" was shouted, more people would swarm. They pinned me to the ground.

Slap after slap rained down until my face was bruised and swollen beyond recognition.

Someone even suggested stripping me naked. Countless hands tore at my clothes, nails digging into my flesh. I desperately clutched the few remaining scraps of fabric, pleading in vain.

But no one listened.

The police arrived belatedly, only when I was barely conscious.

They casually took me from the scene and dropped me back at the mansion.

Facing everyone's misunderstandings and accusations, Nathan merely gave me a cold, dismissive look, his brows furrowed in annoyance.

"Scarlett, is this your new way of fighting for attention?"

"I told you already, there's nothing between Tiff and me. You really need to calm down for a while!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than he stormed out of the mansion without a backward glance.

After this incident, when Nathan and I returned to the family estate, the relatives' gazes were filled with blatant disdain.

They all said I had brought nothing but shame upon both the Anderson and Blackwood families.

Grandpa Anderson had already passed away by then. Every time Nathan and I returned, we'd go to pay our respects at his mausoleum.

But this time, Tiffany came along.

In previous years, only direct relatives from the Anderson and Blackwood families were allowed into the mausoleum. Yet, Nathan, breaking all tradition, permitted Tiffany to enter.

When faced with his relatives' confusion, Nathan didn't hesitate to defend Tiffany.

"Even though Tiff isn't an Anderson by blood, she's more sensible, respectful, and dignified than some self-proclaimed high-society women."

"If she genuinely respects Grandpa, why shouldn't she be allowed to pay her respects?"

The moment he finished speaking, all eyes swivelled to me.

Disgusted, mocking, scrutinizing stares.

I felt like I was being publicly nailed to a pillar of shame.

Unable to bear their gazes any longer, I lowered my head and fled, escaping to Grandpa Anderson's memorial.

My nose stung, thinking of the boundless love Grandpa Anderson had once shown me.

Just then, Tiffany walked in.

She smirked at me, then at Grandpa Anderson's memorial plaque, resentment and jealousy practically oozing from her.

"Scarlett, with your reputation, you're not still delusional enough to think you'll marry into the Anderson family, are you?"

"If it weren't for that old geezer, setting up that ridiculous engagement between you two, I'd be married to Nathan right now!"

Before I could react, she grabbed the memorial plaque and the urn, smashing them violently to the floor.

The plaque and urn shattered, splitting into countless pieces.

I stared, stunned, for a moment before lunging at her, tackling her.

"Are you insane?! This is the grandfather Nathan and I both loved and respected!"

"So what!"

She was utterly defiant.

"Not only am I going to kick this dead old man out of the mausoleum, but I'm going to steal everything from you and make you leave the Anderson family!"

No sooner had she spoken than Nathan, alerted by the commotion, burst in.

Tiffany conveniently collapsed to the floor, crying fake tears.

"Nathan, I just saw Scarlett's bangle and thought it was pretty, I only wanted to borrow it. But she attacked me with Grandpa's urn and plaque, saying she'd kick me out of the Anderson family..."

Smack!

Tiffany had barely finished speaking when Nathan's palm connected with my face.

He glared at me, his eyes filled with disgust.

"Scarlett, you've truly disappointed me. All the love Grandpa gave you was wasted."

"You were meant to be Grandpa's chosen daughter-in-law, and now you've desecrated the Anderson family mausoleum. You'll be punished by family law!"

"That's not what happened! Nathan, let me explain!"

But Nathan wouldn't listen. He ordered his men to throw me into the Anderson family's private, freezing cellar, where they whipped me repeatedly with barbed leather straps.

When my body was a mass of cuts and bruises, my blood staining the murky water, he had a bucket full of leeches unleashed.

The writhing leeches instantly covered my body, biting and tearing at my flesh.

I screamed until my throat was raw, but no one offered a shred of pity.

The Anderson relatives watched, shaking their heads in disdain.

"Destroying the old man's ashes? She deserves this!"

When I was on the verge of death, Nathan finally ordered them to pull me out.

For a fleeting moment, a flicker of pain crossed his eyes as he looked at me. But it vanished without a trace the instant Tiffany sobbed and clung to his arm.

"Scarlett, I just wanted to see your bangle. How could you do this to Grandpa? You're making Nathan so sad!"

I glared at her hatefully, but I had no strength left to argue.

Hearing Tiffany mention the bangle again, implying it was the cause of Grandpa Anderson's ashes being scattered, Nathan's fury ignited.

He waved his hand. The mausoleum guards and his bodyguards instantly swarmed me, pinning me forcefully to the ground.

I understood his intention in an instant.

"No! Please don't! Nathan! This is the only relic my grandmother left me, my most precious possession! Throw me back in the cellar if you want! Just don't take my bangle! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

I screamed and pleaded, but Nathan was unmoved.

Despite my desperate struggles, he stubbornly reached for my arm, tearing the bangle off my wrist with brute force.

The pain ripped a scream from my throat. Nathan held my bangle, his eyes filled with hatred as he stared at me.

"Scarlett, you'd hurt the grandfather who loved you for so long, all for this dead object? Do you have any conscience?!"

"Today, I'm going to punish you. I'll make you feel the pain I'm feeling right now!"

With that, he savagely hurled the bangle to the ground.

The jade bangle instantly shattered into countless pieces.

The severe injuries to my body and the profound trauma to my soul made me let out a despairing wail, then I passed out.