Chapter 4

Elizabeth mustered all her strength and jumped up from the ground, roughly shoving Emily aside and throwing herself straight into Matthew's arms.

Emily never expected this woman to have such force. Her ankle twisted, and she stumbled back several steps before steadying herself.

Elizabeth clung tightly to Matthew's waist, burying her face in his chest, her tears soaking his shirt.

His presence was strong and cold, yet it made her feel safe.

"Matthew, I missed you so much... I thought I'd never see you again..."

Matthew's body instantly stiffened.

He had never seen Elizabeth depend on him like this.

Before, she would avoid him whenever she saw him, her eyes full of disgust.

A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, quickly replaced by disgust.

Yesterday she was desperate to die for Daniel, and today she comes here saying she missed him?

Matthew sneered, "Elizabeth, what game are you playing now?"

Elizabeth shook her head desperately: "I really missed you..."

Emily finally snapped back to her senses, her face twisted with anger.

"What kind of crazy woman is this! Let go of him!" Emily rushed forward, grabbing Elizabeth and yanking her hard. "How dare you touch Mr. Moore?"

Elizabeth was already weak, barely holding on, and with this push, she fell heavily to the ground.

Her knees hit the ground, the pain making her vision go black.

But she didn't care about the pain. She crawled up on her hands and knees, trying to grab Matthew again.

A slender hand suddenly reached out and gripped her chin.

Matthew forced her to look up, asking through gritted teeth: "Elizabeth, yesterday you were the one holding a knife, threatening suicide to make me let go."

"You said you loved Daniel deeply, that you'd be willing to be his dog."

"And now you come here telling me you missed me?"

"Do you think I'm an idiot, or do you think I, Matthew, am naturally pathetic and deserve to be played with over and over again?"

Elizabeth looked at the pain in his eyes, her heart aching so much she couldn't breathe. Memories of her past and present lives intertwined, nearly breaking her.

She knew that any explanation now would seem weak and powerless. She decided to prove it with action.

Elizabeth lifted her head and kissed Matthew's lips without hesitation.

The moment those soft lips touched his, Matthew's mind went blank.

Elizabeth actually kissed him?

That Elizabeth who would rather die than let him touch even her finger, actually kissed him first?

However, the shock only lasted a brief second.

Matthew came to his senses, instantly consumed by surging rage.

For Daniel, she could sacrifice herself to this extent!

"Get away!" Matthew roared, shoving Elizabeth away.

This time he used considerable force. Elizabeth's back slammed hard against the marble edge of the fountain.

Sharp pain struck, and Elizabeth collapsed on the ground, coughing up blood.

Matthew looked at that pool of blood, his heart clenching with pain.

He instinctively wanted to step forward, to pick her up, but just as he lifted his foot, he forced himself to pull back.

He thought, 'Can't soften up, Matthew. You can't be pathetic again. This woman is a liar, a heartless devil. The moment you show her any kindness, she'll turn around and stab a knife right into your heart without hesitation.'

Matthew took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions churning inside him, and grabbed her messy hair: "Elizabeth, look at your disgusting self right now!"

He forced her to look at the reflection in the fountain.

The woman in the reflection had a face covered in dirt and blood, her hair disheveled.

"What, Daniel couldn't satisfy you, so you came here to act crazy?"

Elizabeth was forced to tilt her head back, her scalp burning with pain.

She looked at Matthew's anguished face, feeling no resentment in her heart.

She knew that the harsher his words, the more his heart hurt.

In her past life, he was like this too—saying the cruelest things while offering his heart for her to trample on.

"Matthew... it's not an act..." Elizabeth weakly opened her mouth, "I really want to be with you... please, don't send me away..."

Seeing her half-dead yet still clinging to him, Matthew felt his anger burn even hotter.

Why? Why did she come to provoke him just when he had decided to let go?

"Don't call me Matthew! You don't deserve to!" Matthew threw her aside, stood up, and looked down at her.

"John, throw her out."

"Don't let her come within a mile of Riverside Crown Estate ever again, or I'll break your legs."

With that, Matthew turned to leave.

He didn't want to stay here another moment. He was afraid that if he looked at her one more time, he wouldn't be able to control his urge to kill someone, or... to hold her tight.

"No! I won't leave!" Seeing him about to leave, Elizabeth somehow found a burst of strength and wrapped her arms tightly around Matthew's leg.

"I won't leave! Just kill me then. Even if I die, I want to die here with you!"

Elizabeth cried her heart out, tears and snot covering her face.

"I was wrong, I know I was wrong. I was blind before, I was ungrateful."

"As long as you let me stay, I'll do anything."

"Be a maid, be a lover, anything. As long as I can see you, I'm willing to do anything."

Her humble posture left everyone present stunned.

Matthew stopped and looked at the trembling figure at his feet.

This was the woman he had cherished—how had she become like this?

"Elizabeth, this act you're putting on today—did Daniel teach you this new trick?"

"Your acting is really good. You deserve an award for best actress."

"Too bad I'm already sick of it."

With that, he showed no more attachment and lifted his foot to kick Elizabeth off his leg.

But Elizabeth still held onto his leg, refusing to let go no matter what.

"It's not like that! It's not for him! Matthew, please believe me just this once, okay? I really broke up with Daniel! I even stabbed him! I swear, if I'm lying to you, let me be struck by lightning and go to hell!"