Chapter 4 No More Mrs. Harlow

"Selena really has no shame!"

"Miss Ansel used to host every banquet. Now Selena shows up trying to steal the spotlight-who does she think she is?"

"If you ask me, Mr. Harlow doesn't even like her. She's a buzzkill every time she shows up-better she stay home staging another suicide scene."

Hearing their whispers, I finally understood why I had once gone mad enough to attempt suicide.

While everyone demeaned me, Leonard, my own husband, stood silent at the side, letting me face the humiliation alone.

How could someone as proud as I was ever endure that?

"Selena, stop this madness! Nora knows how to handle these banquets-you'll only ruin it!"

I shrugged.

"What's there to be afraid of? It's just a crest. I'm not about to ruin your little social circle."

Under my gaze, Nora reluctantly removed the crest.

"Mrs. Harlow, you haven't been out in a long time. Wearing this crest means mingling with countless socialites. If it gets overwhelming, just come to me. I'll help you."

I took the crest and, with a flick of my wrist, tossed it into the pool.

"Oops, slipped right out of my hand. Guess it was too dirty-it needed a wash."

In an instant, the room fell deathly silent, the only sound Leonard's heavy breathing.

The next second, Nora dove into the pool without hesitation.

She clearly couldn't swim, thrashing helplessly in the water.

Just then, Leonard leapt in and pulled her out.

When they came ashore, Nora's face was ghostly pale, her pitiful look tugging at everyone's sympathy.

And right there, in full view of everyone, he pressed his lips to hers and gave her mouth-to-mouth.

When Nora stirred, Leonard gathered her into his arms.

"How could you be so foolish? Why dive in when you can't even swim?"

Nora gasped for breath, her voice faint yet loud enough for all to hear, "This crest stands for the Harlow family's honor and status. I couldn't let it be defiled."

With that, Nora opened her hand, revealing the family crest I had tossed away moments ago.

That scene instantly swayed everyone to Nora's side.

"Selena really doesn't know when to quit! First her suicide drama, and now she's disgracing the Harlow family crest."

"Isn't this a slap in the Harlow family's face?"

"I knew nothing good would come of her showing up today!"

"Throw her out!"

I clapped my hands lightly-what a fine show this was.

My unnerving calm made Nora break free from Leonard's arms and collapse at my feet.

"Mrs. Harlow, see-I've cleaned it. I swear I only came to stand in for you, nothing else. Please, don't be mad at me."

I remained indifferent, so Nora raised her voice, "And another thing! That mouth-to-mouth just now-it was only Mr. Harlow saving me, don't get the wrong idea..."

Then voices rose from the crowd, condemning me, "Shameless! She knows he doesn't love her, yet she keeps pulling these pathetic stunts just to get Mr. Harlow's attention!"

"If you ask me, someone as kind and pure as Miss Ansel deserves to be Mrs. Harlow!"

Leonard shoved through the crowd, his eyes bloodshot as he stopped before me.

"Didn't I warn you not to make things hard for Nora?"

Before I could react, the ground vanished beneath me-Leonard had thrown me into the pool.

"Hold Selena down!"

I could swim, but pinned beneath the water, I was quickly losing strength.

Water flooded my nose, its sting spreading through me.

"You'll pay back every bit of pain Nora has endured."

I thrashed against the water, until someone in the crowd finally spoke up, "Enough, this has gone too far."

But Leonard only clutched Nora tighter, roaring, "It's not enough! Isn't she always threatening suicide? Fine then, let me give her a hand with it!"

Just as I thought I would die there, a pair of hands yanked me out of the water.

The man had blond hair and striking blue eyes, his handsome face dazzling in the sunlight, impossible to look away from.

Who was this man?

"Leonard, if this ends in a death, the Grant family will never let you walk free," the man said coldly.

Leonard gave a cold snort and was about to carry Nora away.

I slipped the wedding ring from my finger and flung it at Leonard's feet.

"Leonard, I want a divorce."