Chapter 3
966 Words
The ambulance arrived soon.
The nurse cut away the clothing around Aurelia's wound. The sting of antiseptic against torn flesh made cold sweat break out at her temples.
Cynthia caught sight of the mangled, bloodied wound and a flash of disgust crossed her eyes before she quickly looked away.
While the nurse turned to retrieve medical instruments, she leaned in slightly and whispered in Aurelia's ear,
"Do you see it now? That's the difference. Lucien would throw you straight into broken glass without hesitation just to protect me. No matter how much blood you lose, it can't compare to me even being slightly frightened."
Aurelia bit down hard on her lip and said nothing.
Cynthia slowly smoothed her dress, her tone growing more condescending.
"Everyone knows Lucien never loved you. The truth of this marriage is common knowledge. How do you still have the face to sit in the position of Ambassador's wife?"
The last shard of glass was removed and clinked into the tray.
Aurelia slowly lifted her eyes. Her face was deathly pale, but a cold smile formed at the corner of her lips.
"You should ask Lucien that," she said hoarsely. "Why he doesn't just divorce me."
Her gaze cut like ice across Cynthia's suddenly stiffened expression.
"Or is it because he wants you to remember forever— That as long as the marriage certificate exists, no matter how much you jump around, you will never be legitimate."
Cynthia's face turned ashen, then twisted into a sneer.
"In love, the one who isn't loved is the real third party! This marriage was nothing but a convenient arrangement for him to use your family connections to get me out faster! You're just a pawn. Don't you feel pathetic?"
A sharp pain stabbed through Aurelia's chest, but she quickly buried it under indifference.
"I know," she said evenly. "But what's more pathetic is someone who builds their entire worth on stealing another woman's husband. Cynthia, beyond suggestive jokes and whispers behind people's backs, what have you actually gained in these five years? His whole heart, or just the permanently unmentionable identity of a 'benefactor'?"
Cynthia's mask finally shattered. Malice and venom surged in her eyes. Silently, she mouthed,
"You will regret this."
The ambulance swayed as it turned.
A nurse near the door was organizing the medical kit when she let out a startled sound.
Cynthia suddenly clutched her forehead and cried out as if dizzy. She staggered toward the nurse, "accidentally" bumping the interior door latch with her body, and at the same time subtly tripped the nurse with her foot—
The nurse lost her balance and fell forward with a startled scream, the medical kit flying from her hands.
Cynthia seized the moment and let out a piercing scream.
"Aurelia! Why did you push me? Help!"
She crashed directly into the loosened door.
Bang!
The door flew open. Wind rushed violently inside.
The driver slammed the brakes and wrenched the steering wheel. Screeching tires tore through the night as the vehicle lurched violently out of control.
Aurelia was violently thrown against the metal wall of the cabin. A dull, crushing blow struck the back of her head, and her vision went black.
When she woke again, she was under the pale ceiling of a hospital room.
Lucien stood by her bed, his gaze dark and unreadable.
"Aurelia," he said. "Cynthia has already explained. The joke at the banquet was unintentional. If you have any complaints, direct them at me. How could you be so vicious as to target a weak, injured Cynthia and even the nurse in the ambulance? Opening a door in a moving vehicle could kill someone."
"I didn't!" Aurelia's whole body ached as she rasped in protest. "It was Cynthia who set it up! She tripped the nurse on purpose and threw herself against the door! I never touched her!"
"Enough!" Lucien snapped. "The driver said you were the closest to the door! Cynthia just came back from that kind of place—why would she risk her life to frame you? She's not that kind of person!"
"Five years, Lucien!" Tears burst from Aurelia's eyes. "Even if I were a stranger, you should hear both sides before sentencing me! Are you that eager to convict me?"
Lucien's throat tightened.
The investigation was not finished, but her red-rimmed eyes and desperate accusation struck a dull pain in his chest.
Before the silence could settle, the ward door opened.
Cynthia was pushed in on a wheelchair by colleagues. She grabbed Lucien's sleeve, her voice trembling but clear.
"Lucien... don't blame Aurelia. It's all my fault... I shouldn't have held the welcome banquet, shouldn't have appeared in front of you two... Maybe she just lost her temper for a moment... she didn't mean to hurt me... please just put all the blame on me..."
Tears slid down her face as murmurs spread from the doorway.
"The Ambassador's wife is too ruthless!"
"She's even twisting it into Cynthia falling on her own—who would believe that!"
"She needs to apologize!"
Cynthia leaned against Lucien, casting a provocative glance at Aurelia.
Aurelia's expression remained completely still.
Lucien looked at the crying Cynthia, then at the isolated, devastated woman on the hospital bed. Whatever hesitation he had was completely erased.
He was about to speak when—
Aurelia suddenly threw off the blanket, stepped barefoot onto the floor, and walked straight toward Cynthia.
"An apology?" Aurelia's voice was hoarse.
Cynthia's lips curled slightly, ready to accept her "submission."
The next second, Aurelia grabbed her by the curled hair.
"Ah—!"
A sharp slap echoed through the room as it landed across Cynthia's face.
"You want me to apologize?" Aurelia released her grip, her eyes cold as a winter storm.
"You're not worthy."
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