Leah lifted her bandaged, injured right hand.
Frowns expressing their displeasure immediately appeared on the faces of Xu Family.
"Weren't you fine yesterday?" Arianna questioned, walking over to her.
The next instant, she grabbed on to Leah's wrist and pulled it down. After that, she harshly removed the bandage from around her hand, revealing a large wound that yet about to close up.
Arianna's grip on her hand tightened, causing more blood to gather on the wound. Leah closed her eyes from the sharp pain permeating through the vein.
A gasp left her mouth.
Leaning closer to her, Arianna stared at her viciously.
"Don't tell me you got hurt on purpose simply because you didn't want to paint? Do you really think you will be able to escape like this?" Arianna asked.
Leah lowered her hazel eyes, casting a glow of pitifulness. She softly said, "I was trying to cook for Leo when it happened. Since I haven't entered the kitchen for long, I am not good with it."
Arianna scoffed and released her hand.
Then, her warning came, "Remember, no matter what, you have to finish the painting within a month. Even if that means you have to learn to paint with your left."
Leah obediently nodded. "I will do it."
"Remember that, at the end of the day, you only have the Xu Family to turn back to," stated Jenny. "A man like Leo Zhen changes his women more than his bedsheets. In no time, he will get tired of you and throw you away like old shoes. What can you do without us then?"
Leah felt suffocated inside.
On her wedding day, they couldn't wait to cut all the ties with her, regarding her as the shame. Now, they were trying to manipulate her when they needed her.
How ridiculous was this family.
Leah still had her head lowered as if agreeing along with all Xu Family had to say.
Arianna raised her hand and patted on her cheek.
"Don't forget that you're mentally ill. What do you think Leo will do if he learned he married a mad woman? Do you think he will take you back to be locked up in the asylum?
You will be totally abandoned. After all, only we can endure a psychopath like you. Shouldn't you be more grateful to us?" Arianna's eyes held a dark, sinister glint in it.
Leah's body involuntarily shuddered. Her teeth bit into her lower lip. Her fears were visible.
"If you're not obedient, forget about that whore—"
Before Arianna was able to carry on, Leah raised her hands and pushed her back violently. After being fed well by Leo these past couple days, she no longer felt dizzy and built up strength.
Arianna stumbled on her heels, grabbing on to the couch behind her for support.
"You!" Jenny exclaimed. "Uncultured little thing! How dare you run wild in my house!?"
The woman raised her hand, about to hit Leah. However, Leah's eyes sharpened, grabbing on to her wrist the next second. After that, Leah pulled her hand down and bit deeply on it.
Thinking of all the resentments that made her heart feel heavy, she poured it all down.
A loud scream left Jenny's mouth.
As Miles was about to come forward to help his wife, Leah released her and ran towards the direction of the door to escape.
Grabbing on to her hurt hand, Jenny saw the deep wound left behind. This made her further aggravated, and she yelled, "You, Little Bitch! Don't let me get my hands on you! You will be so done for!"
However, Leah didn't pay attention to her scoldings when she stepped out the manor. Once she was on the road, she slowed down her pace.
She spat out on the side of the street.
After that, she carried on walking, staring at her bleeding wound.
Lillian forgot to carry along the bandage.
°°°
"You're leaving early?" Edward questioned, watching Leo get up from the chair and close his laptop.
"My wife baked me a cake," Leo nonchantly answered. However, underneath that tone, Edward sensed he was showing off. "She is waiting for me and will be upset if I go home late."
Edward held back his urge to roll his eyes.
Did Leo think he would be jealous of him having a wife?
He shook his head and vocalized, "Go off. Remember to attend the online meeting at night, instead of being so infatuated with your wife."
"I will be there," Leo answered, "after I comfort my wife to sleep."
Edward stared at him in disgust, but Leo didn't care.
Thinking about how Leah worked hard to bake him a cake, he decided to grab some snacks for her along the way.
Maybe because she had been deprived of them throughout her childhood, his wife enjoyed when he brought those delicate, delicious pastries in elegant packagings.
As Leah's words went, these trendy desserts were only seen by her behind the screen. Now, that she finally has them in front of her eyes, it almost felt surreal to him.
He texted Secretary Zhang.
"What bakery is trending recently?"
Seeing the message made the Secretary almost get a headache. From when did his job scope include searching for internet famous restaurants and bakeries.
However, recalling the promise of a salary rise, the man gritted his teeth and took out the list he made earlier. Then, being an efficient Secretary, he named two bakeries close to Leo's current place and gave Leo a list of popular desserts there.
Leo chose one of them and made a pickup order online, choosing the pretty pastries Leah would be fond of. After picking up the pastries, he head home.
On the drive home, his airpods were plugged in while he discussed official business with the person on the other side, bearing a solemn expression.
The conversation continued as he parked the car in his garage. Once he stepped out of the car, he was about to enter the house when he found a little figure sitting under the dim lighting of the porch.
Realizing how it was Leah, a frown settled on his face. He cut the call short on the other side, promising to discuss about the later on.
"Wife," he softly called.
At the mention of her name, Leah slowly raised her head. Her eyes were swollen and tinted red. A trail of tear fell down her eyes, resembling a pitiful and bullied rabbit.
"Leo."