Chapter 3

When Dean brought Erin and Amy back home, Eliana was packing her belongings in the living room.

She had lived in the villa for three years, and there were many things to sort out.

As soon as Amy entered, she curiously picked up a small sculpture from the coffee table. "What's this? It's so ugly."

Eliana looked up and snapped, "Don't touch my stuff!" "Don't touch my stuff!"

Amy was startled and lost her grip. The clay sculpture instantly shattered into pieces on the floor.

She rushed into Dean's arms and wailed in fright.

Dean gently patted her back to comfort her. He looked at Eliana unhappily. "It's just a sculpture. Do you need to react so strongly? Amy is just a little girl. What if she got sick because you scared her?"

The sculpture was part of a pair, and Amy broke the one representing Dean.

It was the first gift Dean had given her, a couple's clay sculpture they had crafted together. But Dean had long forgotten.

Eliana forced a smile.

She was going to throw it away anyway, so why did she get angry?

Because of the incident, Dean spent the entire afternoon keeping Amy company.

Erin watched Eliana as the latter packed and sneered, "Can a pumpkin try to rise above your station by cozying up to Dean while I was away? You have watched those surveillance videos. Did you like the gift I sent you? We did it every night like that. We are truly a perfect match physically and mentally. And you're as boring as a dead one in bed. He only feels happy when he's with me."

Eliana couldn't hold back any longer and slapped Erin across the face. "You're disgusting."

She hadn't used much force, but Erin fell to the floor like a kite with a broken string.

She clutched her swollen face and said pitifully, "I'm sorry, Miss Spencer. I know you don't like me, but I only ask you to be nice to Amy in the future. She's innocent."

Eliana instinctively stepped back and was about to retort when she heard Amy's crying voice. "Mommy, what's wrong?"

Dean pushed Eliana aside and picked Erin up from the floor.

His gaze was fixed on Erin's swollen face, and his eyes were as cold as ice. "I thought you genuinely accepted them. Eliana, I'm very disappointed in you."

With that, he left without hesitation, carrying Erin with him.

When Dean returned from the hospital, Eliana was about to take out the trash.

He frowned as he noticed the packs at Eliana's feet. "Why are you packing up?"

"The house is not big enough. I'm clearing out some unused things to make room for the mother and daughter."

Eliana loved collecting little trinkets to display at home.

Now she was throwing them out for Erin and Amy, which meant she truly realized her mistake and wanted to make amends to Erin.

Dean noticed the house was noticeably emptier and felt a bit guilty.

After settling Erin back in her room, he went to see Eliana.

Her marriage was suddenly cancelled, so Eliana might be a little upset.

Dean thought he had been careless and had neglected Eliana's feelings.

When Eliana walked out of the bathroom, Dean wrapped his arms around her from behind. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I was wrong today. I shouldn't have yelled at you. Don't worry. Once Erin completely forgets about me, I'll send her to the nursing home. She won't disturb our life together."

As he spoke, his hands slipped under Eliana's nightgown.

He had been spending a lot of time with Erin recently and hadn't done it with Eliana, so he was a little longing for her.

But Eliana recalled the video she had watched earlier and felt disgusted.

She was about to push him away when Amy poked her head through the door. "Dean, my mom's not feeling well. Can you come and see her?"

Dean immediately released Eliana. "Honey, I'll go and check on her."

With that, he left the room without looking back.

Eliana breathed a sigh of relief, but Amy suddenly asked, "Eliana, can you take me to the terrace? Dean said I need your permission to go there."

Eliana had already intended to go there, so she agreed to take Amy along.

But as they reached the terrace, a sudden force hit Eliana's lower back.

She screamed and stumbled backward. Then she lost her balance as she tripped over a flowerpot.

"Bang-"