He Begged Too Late After I Married His Rival

Chapter 4 Pushed to the Edge

Selene had no idea what they were planning, but with bodyguards stationed at the door, she had no choice but to play along.

Sitting among the lively crowd, a chill crept up from deep inside her. She could feel it clearly. A sticky, lingering gaze followed her wherever she moved. She turned to look, but could never find its source.

In the end, she looked toward Adrian for help, hoping he still had a trace of humanity left.

But Adrian sat at the head seat with his eyes closed, slowly turning his prayer beads. Dressed in spotless white traditional attire, he looked untouched by everything around him, as if none of this concerned him.

Selene tried to stand, but was pressed back down.

Vivian popped open a bottle of wine. Her eyes sparkled, her expression playful. "Seli, I know you used to like Adrian very much. It's my fault for taking the man you loved. Let me apologize to you."

The pale golden liquid swirled in the glass. Selene instinctively pushed it away. "If you want to drink, drink it yourself. I don't like alcohol."

To her surprise, Vivian tilted her head back and drained the glass in one go. The alcohol hit quickly. She staggered, bracing herself against the wall.

Adrian moved instantly, grabbing the glass from her hand, his expression filled with concern. "Vivi!"

Then his gaze turned cold. "Selene, if you have a problem, take it out on me. What kind of person are you, hurting Vivi just to marry me? You want a wedding, don't you? Fine. I've found someone suitable for you."

Following the direction of his finger, a bald, overweight man stepped forward with a greasy smile. "Pretty lady…"

A wave of nausea surged through Selene. "No… don't come closer…"

She stumbled back, screaming, but the man grabbed her arm, yanking her forward so roughly that the strap of her dress snapped. His hand reached downward.

"You were given to me by Mr. Hale. He said the women of the Vale family are free to play with."

Selene struggled with everything she had. But the people around them only watched, as if it were entertainment. Some even whistled, urging them on.

Her vision blurred with tears. With a sudden burst of strength, Selene shoved the man away. She grabbed a wine glass, smashed it against the floor, and pressed the jagged shard against her own throat.

"Don't come any closer! None of you!"

Her hair was disheveled, her eyes red and blazing. The bald man froze, startled, afraid of pushing things too far.

Selene turned to Adrian, her voice breaking into a desperate cry.

"Adrian, I never forced you. From the very beginning, you never rejected me. After the engagement, you kept me at a distance, hot and cold, yet I, Selene, have done nothing against my conscience. So why are you treating me like this?"

Bright red blood slid down her pale neck. Her eyes were bloodshot, but still stubborn.

The entire room fell silent. No one had expected Selene to be this resolute. In the past, she had done whatever Adrian asked without hesitation.

Adrian stared at her for a moment. Then he suddenly laughed.

"Is this your new trick, Selene? You think bleeding a little will make me feel sorry for you? Make me fall in love with you? How pathetic. What did I do to you? I just found you a man because you looked so empty. You wanted a wedding, didn't you? Still not satisfied?"

Laughter erupted around them.

"Yeah, for a second I almost thought she was some virtuous saint. Wasn't she the one who tried to seduce Adrian in the meditation room back then? Tsk."

"Who knows, maybe she was enjoying it just now and only pretended to struggle to save face."

"Exactly. Stop pretending, Selene!"

Their words struck like slaps across her face. Her heart ached.

Back during their years of cultivation, Adrian had once come down with a sudden high fever. His body had burned with heat. She couldn't find enough cloths, so she had taken off her outer layer and used it to cool him, staying by his side the entire night. But when she woke, the only thing she saw was the disgust in his eyes.

"Selene, do you even know what shame is?"

The next day, rumors spread everywhere. The Vale family's daughter had tried to seduce the ascetic heir in the meditation chamber.