"She's been waiting for 23 years to marry me and her birthday is coming up soon. She wouldn't be foolish enough to truly fall out with me now. Besides, I think she's been through enough this time. Maybe tomorrow she'll come to her senses and beg me not to leave her."
"I have to admit, Malva, your method is really effective. I've noticed Livia has been much more subdued lately."
But as soon as he closed his eyes, the image of her bloodstained body and her indifferent gaze flashed in his mind.
His heart felt like it was being tightly squeezed, a mix of pain and bitterness rising within him.
Malva bit her lip, her hand holding the teacup starting to feel sore. She extended the cup forward and replied, "But Livia..."
Just then, the phone vibrated and Mitchel leaned back on the sofa as he swiped the screen.
"Mitchel, the custom wedding dress is ready. Would you like to come and take a look?"
Mitchel curled the corner of his mouth and said, "I have something to do, I'll go first.”
“Mitchel, let me get you a fresh cup of tea… ah, it's so hot!"
Mitchel stood up without noticing and the scalding tea splashed all over Malva.
He widened his eyes and hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe the tea off her. But her fair skin was already red and swollen in patches, with her arm covered in cuts from broken porcelain.
"Mitchel, you don't need to worry about me, go ahead with what you're doing. It doesn't hurt..."
"You're covered in injuries, how can it not hurt!"
When they arrived at the hospital, a nurse helped treat her wounds. Using the excuse of going to the restroom, Malva slipped away.
***
A sudden scream rang out and several nurses scrambled to carry an unconscious Livia out. "Quick, get a stretcher!"
One of the kind-hearted nurses placed a blanket over Livia. Shortly after, Malva arrived, slipping them an envelope and threatening them.
"You all know that I am Mitchel's true love and this woman is just a marriage partner. Even if something happens to her, it'll only make Mitchel angry, so no one can leak this information!"
"Malva, are you really okay?" Mitchel's anxious voice came from outside the door.
"I'm fine, almost healed. It's just that Livia..."
"Don't worry about her!"
Malva chuckled softly and whispered to those nurses. “See? Mitchel doesn't care about Livia at all.”