Just as someone was about to strike, a figure flashed by at lightning speed. The next moment, a scream rang out, followed by the frantic fluttering of wings in the forest as startled birds scattered in every direction.
"C-cousin..."
Joyce Du's face was pale, cold sweat beading on her forehead. She cradled her twisted wrist, panic written all over her features.
Quentin Hua pulled Roxy Shangguan into his arms, his expression dark. He glared at her and barked angrily, "You actually ran out here alone!"
Seeing the anger in his eyes, Roxy Shangguan shrank her neck and whispered, "I... I'm really strong!" It was the truth, but right now, her words sounded far less convincing.
Quentin Hua's face remained stern—he was clearly worried. Roxy reached out and tugged at his sleeve, murmuring, "I know I was wrong..."
Faced with Quentin Hua's cold, serious expression, Roxy truly felt a bit guilty. Was this what they called 'one thing subdues another'? Shrinking her neck, she snuggled into Quentin's arms and pitifully said, "Quincy, I'm cold."
She had been kidnapped and hadn't had time to put on proper clothes, just a thin undergarment. The wind was strong here, and it really was chilly.
Hearing this, Quentin Hua frowned and held her tighter, his arm wrapped around her small shoulders. His wide sleeves shielded her back from the cold wind. Roxy pursed her lips and smiled, rubbing against his shoulder as if she had completely forgotten Joyce Du's presence.
Quentin Hua glanced at Reaper One, who had followed them. Reaper One quickly floated into the depths of the forest; he dared not defy Quentin's wishes. After all, didn't he see how obedient the princess was? How could he risk offending someone even the princess wouldn't dare provoke? Besides, his master had made it clear: anyone who harmed the princess would pay double. Otherwise, when she returned, the Ghost King himself would punish him. Just the thought was terrifying—the Ghost King had long disliked him, always scheming to have his master abandon him.
Sigh... I suppose we can only blame Wendy Hua for being so weak-willed, unable to resist the allure of handsome men. The moment Prince Damien, the Ghost King, used his charm, she was utterly bewitched. Poor, handsome ghosts—just like that, they were abandoned!
Wendy Hua was still hiding deep in the woods, not having left yet. Since she’d set her plan in motion, she naturally wanted to see how it played out. But her little tricks might work on Joyce Du, yet how could they fool Quentin Hua? Her skills at hiding were hardly up to par!
An invisible force yanked her and threw her right in front of Quentin Hua. Wendy’s face turned ugly. She glanced behind her, but there was nothing—just a chilling gust of wind that made her shudder.
Seeing her, Joyce Du finally understood. She remembered why she’d come to these woods in the first place—it was Wendy Hua who’d asked her here. But after arriving, she’d only seen Roxy Shangguan. How could Roxy possibly be wandering the woods alone at midnight? It was all Wendy Hua’s doing.
Joyce Du’s face turned grim as she glared at Wendy Hua, her voice trembling with anger. “Why did you set me up?” She’d never expected the woman she always looked down on—Wendy Hua, the so-called useless heiress—to plot against her. If not for the Hua family’s wealth, Joyce would never have bothered with her. But now, she’d fallen right into the hands of the woman she’d always scorned!
Wendy Hua suddenly burst out laughing, even forgetting the eerie chill that had unsettled her moments ago. With biting sarcasm, she said, “Set you up? If you didn’t have the intent to harm, how could I possibly frame you?”
"You..." Joyce Du’s expression darkened. She glanced at Quentin Hua’s cold, stony face and her own complexion turned ashen. Her voice trembled, “Cousin... let me explain...”
Wendy Hua’s laughter grew even more mocking as she watched Joyce Du’s desperation. “Joyce Du, he’s nothing but a bastard child, and yet you treat him like a treasure!” Wendy’s gaze at Quentin Hua was twisted with hatred, just as her eyes burned with loathing for Joyce Du. Wendy Hua had truly gone mad!
Roxy Shangguan’s face turned cold at Wendy Hua’s words, but she understood now—Wendy’s target wasn’t her, but Joyce Du and Quentin Hua!
“Wendy Hua!” Joyce Du glared furiously at her, unsure whether she wanted to protect Quentin Hua or simply hated Wendy’s scheming.
Wendy Hua smiled, looking at her as she said, “Joyce Du, don’t blame me. Your fate is far better than mine. Do you know how I survived these three days after marrying Lei Ba?” She lifted her sleeve, showing Joyce Du her arm.
Her once fair arm was now covered in scars—whip marks, burns, needle pricks. There wasn’t a single patch of unblemished skin. Wendy’s face contorted as she said, “Lei Ba is a depraved demon, and you’re the one who brought him into my life!”
“Don’t you remember? The martial arts tournament for marriage was your idea. If not for you, how could I have ended up like this?” Back then, Joyce Du had only suggested the tournament to please Wendy Hua. No one could have predicted Lei Ba would become involved.
Wendy Hua turned to Quentin Hua, her voice full of hate. “And you—if you hadn’t watched me suffer without helping, how could I have been violated by that old man? Aren’t you so fond of that little bastard? If you see her corpse tomorrow, I wonder if you’ll feel any pain. Ha...” Even if Joyce Du couldn’t bring herself to kill, Wendy wouldn’t let Roxy Shangguan live. That was why she’d stayed.
As if unaware that her plan had already failed, Wendy Hua laughed maniacally, her face twisted with madness. The sight was so terrifying that Joyce Du stumbled back two steps, muttering, “You’re insane...”
Wendy Hua truly was insane now! She wanted revenge on everyone who had dragged her down—she wanted them to suffer, to follow her into hell!
Xiao Yi stood off to the side, shaking his head. “Pitiful woman. She still doesn’t understand—she brought all this on herself!”
She never considered—who would save a madwoman who called herself a bastard? Isn’t that just humiliating? Even daring to insult the Princess’s man—wasn’t that courting death? So really, she had no one to blame but her own blindness!
And as for Joyce Du, it was one thing to fancy the Princess’s man, but to actually try to compete with her—she must have a death wish!
He could already foresee just how miserable an end awaited these two women!
But reality surprised him. Suddenly, Roxy Shangguan spoke up, “Xiao Yi, take them to Ghost Gate and tell my brother that his little sister has been bullied!”