Chapter 3

From outside the door came the anxious, frantic voice of Victoria's loyal maid: "Sir! It's terrible! Miss Victoria is having severe chest pains and can barely breathe! Please, open the door and check on her!"

I couldn't believe she had the audacity to pull such a cliché, tired old stunt to compete for his attention.

"Are you going?" I looked at Alexander, my tone laced with danger.

Alexander sighed. "Serena, she has a congenital heart condition... and after all, her brother..."

"Shut up," I cut him off immediately. Turning around, I pulled a golf club from the walk-in closet and casually grabbed the mansion's first-aid kit. "Since she's so terribly ill, it's only right that I, as her sister-in-law, go check on her."

I strode fiercely over to Victoria's bedroom and kicked the door wide open with one foot.

Inside, Victoria was feigning weakness, clutching her chest and pretending to gasp for air. Yet, she was wearing a highly revealing, semi-transparent deep-V nightgown, unabashedly exposing a large expanse of pale skin while lounging in an incredibly seductive pose.

Seeing me kick the door down, the delicate moan she was about to let out instantly got stuck in her throat. Pale with fright, she frantically yanked the blanket up to cover herself.

"Why is it you... Where is Alexander?!"

"He's busy. I'm here to cure you," I said, walking right up to the bed. I snapped open the first-aid kit, pulled out a bottle of rubbing alcohol, unscrewed the cap, and splashed it directly into her face.

"Ahhh!!" Victoria thrashed wildly on the bed, clutching her face.

"Severe chest pains, huh? Can't breathe, right?" I tapped the golf club against the nightstand, producing a nerve-grating clack. "The next time you dare fake an illness, I will use this club to shatter your ribs one by one. I'll make sure you experience what actually being unable to breathe feels like!"

Standing out in the hallway, Alexander watched the entire scene unfold. Not only did he not step in to stop me, but he actually leaned against the doorframe, a terribly indulgent smirk playing on his lips. Seeing his utterly amused, spectator-like expression, Victoria was overwhelmed with humiliation and fury.

The following day, to celebrate our recent wedding, Alexander chartered a luxury yacht and invited several business associates out to sea.

I thought I had already scared Victoria out of her wits, but to my absolute disbelief, she still possessed the sheer audacity to tag along on the boat.

In the afternoon, the sea breeze picked up. I was standing near the edge of the deck, enjoying the wind, when Victoria somehow sidled up to me out of nowhere.

"Serena, don't for a second think you've won." She lowered her voice, her eyes burning with deranged jealousy. "Alexander only married you for business interests. The person he truly cares about in his heart is me! As long as I'm around, you'll always be nothing but an outsider! Do you hear me?"

I looked at her like she was a complete idiot. "What are you trying to do? Jump overboard? Then hurry up and do it. Stop interrupting my sea breeze."

"You—!" Victoria gritted her teeth. Suddenly, she raised her voice to a piercing scream. "Ah! Serena, why are you pushing me?! Help!"

The moment the words left her mouth, a vicious glint flashed in her eyes. She violently shoved me forward, and using the momentum of the push, she screamed and threw herself backward over the railing.

"Someone went overboard!" Hearing the commotion, the guests on the deck quickly rushed over.

Victoria thrashed desperately in the water, her hands clawing wildly at the surface. Choking on mouthfuls of seawater, she cried out between gasps, "Alexander... save me... I can't swim..."

She was gambling. Gambling that Alexander would believe her, forcefully creating a classic "choose between us" dilemma in front of everyone just to disgust me.

Bodyguards swiftly dove into the water, fishing both Victoria and me out of the sea.

His face as dark as thunder, Alexander parted the crowd and took long strides toward us.

Coughing violently, Victoria pointed an accusing finger at me and wailed hysterically, "Alexander, Serena pushed me! She tried to kill me! She wants me dead!"

The surrounding guests and staff drew a collective gasp, their judgmental gazes instantly burning into me.

Alexander stared down at me, his deep blue eyes completely unreadable.

I slowly clenched my hands, glaring back at him coldly. Men really are all cut from the same cloth. Seeing this manipulative bitch in such a pathetic state, is his heart starting to bleed for her?

Alexander stopped right in front of Victoria and slowly crouched down. The air seemed to instantly freeze.

I kept my eyes completely locked on his broad back, my hands already forming tight fists at my sides. If he dared to utter a single word of blame against me, my fist would smash into his face without a second thought.