A Tale Of Redemption And Passion by Isidore Walsh (Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)

Chapter 11

Chris stopped in his tracks, watching her walk away. It took him a while to finally turn and leave.

‘I need to find out what’s changed with Kate, he thought.’ Who’s been poisoning her against me? She’s so cold now, even talking about calling the cops on me for harassment.’ Aura Supreme had several branches in Sherpsel, but its flagship store was on Elite Street.

When Kate arrived, Vita was already waiting. The moment she saw Kate, Vita complained, “Miss Sutton, you’re too slow. I’ve been waiting for ages. You really need to work on your punctuality. If Ms. Kyla Sutton were here, she’d definitely chew you out for being late.”

“If you didn’t want to wait, you didn’t have to. We never agreed on a specific time, so how am I being late?” Kate shot back.

Vita was at a loss for words. Kate was right; she had only told Vita to meet her at Aura Supreme without setting a time.

As Kate walked past Vita, she added coolly, “Vita, even though you work for Kyla, she sent you to accompany me today. So, your priority should be me. A few extra minutes of waiting won’t kill you.”

Vita seethed inside but managed to keep her tone respectful. “I’m sorry, I misspoke.”

Kate gave Vita a frosty glance before heading into Aura Supreme.

Aura Supreme’s flagship store covered three floors; the first and second were dedicated to gowns, while the third was for offices.

As soon as Kate walked in, Vita sneered, “You really think you can waltz in here like some kind of lady? Dream on, country bumpkin! And you expect me to treat you like royalty? Give me a break!” Despite her scorn, Vita begrudgingly followed Kate into Aura Supreme.

The staff at Aura Supreme noticed Kate’s arrival but didn’t bother to acknowledge her. The only exception was a new employee, who, unaware of Kate’s identity, greeted her with a smile.

In fact, Kate was no stranger to Aura Supreme. She used to come here with Celia, and back then, the staff treated her with nothing but warmth and respect. Now, without Celia by her side, they barely gave her a second glance.

‘Money-grubbing jerks, Kate thought bitterly.

“Hey, Vita!” The regular staff, who had ignored Kate, greeted Vita with broad smiles as she walked in. They were clearly trying to embarrass Kate.

One of the staff asked Vita with a smile, “Vita, the gowns Ms. Sutton ordered are ready. Are you here to pick them up?” Kyla’s gowns were all custom-made by Aura Supreme, and whenever she needed something urgent, she’d come in person to choose the designs.

Seeing how the staff treated Kate with such indifference, Vita felt a smug sense of satisfaction. ‘Even though Kyla isn’t the real Sutton daughter, Mr. Sutton’s trust and affection for her makes her position unshakeable- certainly not by someone like Kate,’ she thought.

Vita replied with a smile, “Ms. Kyla Sutton will pick them up herself. Today, I’m just here to help Ms. Kate Sutton select some evening gowns for the Weaver family’s party this weekend.”

The staff who greeted Vita chuckled among themselves. One of them hinted sarcastically, “That must be a real challenge for you.”

Vita caught the underlying meaning and smiled, not bothering to reply.

Kate browsed the first floor but found nothing she liked. She approached a staff member and said, “Take me to the second floor.”

Just as the staff member was about to lead Kate upstairs, a few of the regular employees started muttering under their breath, loud enough for Kate to hear.

“A poor girl trying to act rich is still just a poor girl,” one of them sneered.

“Even in fancy clothes, a country bumpkin is still a bumpkin,” another added.

Kate remained calm, pulling out her phone to quietly record their mocking remarks.

Vita didn’t stop them. In fact, she seemed to enjoy it.

Once Kate had recorded enough, she walked straight to the manager and slammed her hand on the table.

The busy manager looked up, startled. When he saw Kate, he frowned slightly but maintained a polite tone. “Miss Sutton, is there something I can help you with?”

Kate’s smile was more of a sneer. “Since I got here, your staff not only ignored me but also had the nerve to mock me. Didn’t you hear any of it?”

“Someone already attended to you, Miss Sutton. How many more people do you need? And what exactly did they say?” The manager’s voice dripped with sarcasm as she smirked back at Kate.

Kate pulled out her phone and played the recording. “Listen to your staff’s words. You boast about making perfect gowns, but their behavior hardly lives up to that standard. Doesn’t it feel like a slap in the face?”

The manager hadn’t expected Kate to have a recording and was scrambling for a way out when Kate cut in, “I want to speak to your CEO, Ms. Sowle.”

Belinda Sowle, the founder of Aura Supreme, was a fashion designer renowned for her gowns.

“Miss Sutton, whatever the issue is, you can tell me. There’s no need to trouble Ms. Sowle; she’s incredibly busy and doesn’t have time for this,” the manager replied dismissively.

Belinda, coming from a wealthy background and having founded Aura Supreme, had made plenty of powerful friends. In a place like Sherpsel, Kate barely registered on her radar.

Seeing Kate’s silence, the manager’s smile grew wider.” Miss Sutton, the gowns on the first floor are lovely; feel free to choose a few that match your style. The gowns on the second floor are especially pricey, and I worry they might be a bit much for you.”

The gowns on the second floor were the jewels of Aura Supreme, reserved for those truly refined and noble.

To the staff, Kate was just a country bumpkin, far from deserving anything on the second floor.

Suddenly, a shout broke through the tension. “Mr. Davidson, what brings you here?”

Kate turned, seeing Alfred being wheeled into Aura Supreme by his bodyguards, his expression unreadable.

She blinked, caught off guard. ‘Is he following me? Why do I keep running into him?’ she wondered.

Alfred’s arrival made the manager shift gears instantly. She jumped up, rushing over with a bright, eager smile. “Mr. Davidson! Are you here to see Ms. Sowle? She mentioned if you stopped by, you should head straight to the top floor- she’s waiting for you in her office.”

Alfred and Belinda were old friends, so the manager assumed he was there to visit her.

But Alfred didn’t say a word, simply motioning for his bodyguards to stop.

“What’s going on?” Alfred’s eyes flicked to Kate. Despite her best efforts to mask her anger, he could see right through her. She was seething inside.

The manager quickly interjected, “Mr. Davidson, don’t mind her. She’s just the Suttons’ second daughter, browsing around.”

Kate had a reputation in Sherpsel, but it wasn’t a good one.

“Does Aura Supreme just let anyone browse around?” Alfred’s tone was cutting, but the manager misinterpreted it as annoyance with Kate.

She quickly offered, “Mr. Davidson, if she’s bothering you, I’ll have her removed immediately.”

Kate felt a wave of disbelief. ‘Not only am I being looked down on, but my own husband finds me annoying!’

Vita hurried over, whispering urgently, “Miss Sutton, let’s leave before Mr. Davidson gets upset.” She reached out, trying to pull Kate away, hoping to avoid the humiliation of being thrown out.

But Kate shook off Vita’s hand, glaring at Alfred before marching straight to the stairs leading to the second floor. She chose to do the opposite.

The manager’s voice was sharp. “Miss Sutton, we’re not doing business with you today. Please leave.”

Already halfway up the stairs, Kate paused, then turned to look down at them. “You’re open for business, and every customer deserves respect. With an attitude like yours, maybe Aura Supreme should close down for a serious overhaul.”

Chapter 12

After delivering her line, Kate gracefully turned back and continued browsing the second-floor gowns.

Her calm defiance made the manager view her in a new light, but seeing Alfred’s expression and knowing his temper, the manager felt compelled to act. “Mr. Davidson, I’ Il go upstairs right now and ask Miss Sutton to leave.”

Alfred’s gaze was intense, his lips a thin line, offering no indication of what he was thinking.

As the manager started up the stairs, Alfred suddenly spoke. “She’s right. You’re open for business, and every customer should be treated with respect. The staff at Aura Supreme could use some serious improvement.”

With that, he wheeled himself toward the elevator.

Alfred and Belinda were old acquaintances, and after his accident left him in a wheelchair, Belinda had an elevator installed in the shop specifically for his convenience. Alfred’s words left the staff visibly tense, but none dared to respond.

The sales associate who had originally attended to Kate looked nervously at her colleagues and the manager. Feeling a sense of responsibility, she decided to follow Kate to the second floor.

A few minutes later, Alfred knocked on the general manager’s office door.

“Come in,” Belinda called out, not realizing who it was.

When Alfred wheeled in, Belinda was pleasantly surprised. She quickly stopped what she was doing, moved around her desk, and gently took over pushing his wheelchair as his bodyguards stepped back, closing the door behind them.

“Alfred, what brings you here today?” Belinda asked, dressed sharply in a tailored suit with her short hair adding to her polished, capable appearance.

She wasn’t classically beautiful, but she was striking, with an aura of effortless elegance and nobility in every movement.

“Just passing by Elite Street and thought I’d drop in,” Alfred lied smoothly, not a trace of hesitation in his voice.

Belinda smiled. “I’m flattered.”

She pushed Alfred over to the sofa and asked, “Do you need a hand sitting down?”

“No, I’ve got it,” Alfred said, gripping his wheelchair and painfully lowering himself onto the sofa. Even such a simple action left him sweating, his handsome face tense with the effort.

The doctor had said that with persistent rehab, he might walk again in a few years. But Alfred had given up for a while, letting despair take over.

His family, desperate to see him recover, had arranged a marriage, hoping it might restore his will to live. But no one had expected Kate tried to commit suicide at the time

Alfred’s gaze darkened for a moment, but he pushed the thought aside. ‘Whatever she’s done, she’s my wife now. Only I have the right to mess with her. No one else gets to, he thought.

“Would you like something to drink?” Belinda offered.

“No, thanks,” Alfred declined. Drinking too much meant more trips to the bathroom, and with his limited mobility, he tried to avoid that.

Belinda understood. She knew how much his legs troubled him. His trousers couldn’t hide the fact that his legs, though still slender, were too weak to support him. She could see how much effort it took for him to simply sit on the sofa.

“Belinda,” Alfred called out.

“Yes?” she responded, sitting down across from him.

He said, “Kate’s upstairs on the second floor, picking out some gowns. Could you give her a hand and help her choose a few that are suitable?”

Alfred’s request caught Belinda off guard. She even made a show of checking her ears, as if to confirm she hadn’t heard him wrong.

“You heard right. That’s exactly what I said,” Alfred confirmed.

“You… really agreed to marry Kate?” Belinda asked cautiously.

Everyone in their circle knew about the Davidson family’s plans to form an alliance with the Suttons through marriage. Belinda, with her wide network, was well aware of the situation.

Alfred simply replied, “She turned down the proposal.”

‘But after she tried to kill herself, she changed her mind, he muttered to himself, though he didn’t share that part with Belinda.

He figured the Sutton family didn’t know either and assumed that maybe Kate wanted to keep it a secret, which was fine by him.

Belinda took a moment, then said, “I heard some rumors that Kate fell for Chris at first sight, swearing she’d marry him and no one else.”

Alfred’s expression darkened, prompting Belinda to quickly add, “But there are plenty of wonderful women in Sherpsel who genuinely love you for who you are, willing to marry you without asking for anything in return.”

Alfred scoffed. “Who’d want to marry a cripple? If I hadn’t had the accident, Belinda, would you have married me? Would you now, know the state I’m in?”

Belinda hesitated. “Alfred, we’re just friends.”

Alfred scoffed again. He knew all too well about Belinda’s long-time crush on him. But after feeling things out and realizing he didn’t share her feelings, she backed off. Belinda’s face flushed with embarrassment at his response, her words caught in her throat. She couldn’t afford to offend Alfred; even with all her high-profile connections, none were as significant to her as he was. So when she realized he didn’t feel the same, she settled for maintaining a friendship, seeing Alfred more as a safety net.

“If Kate rejected the marriage, why do you still want me to help her pick a gown?” Belinda asked.

Alfred stared at her. “You don’t want to help?”

Belinda quickly responded, “No, no, of course, I’ll help. You hardly ever ask for anything, so I’ll make sure to assist.” “She’s still upstairs. Go help her pick something nice, and make sure to give her a discount. She grew up in the countryside, so money might be tight for her,” Alfred instructed, his tone firm.

Belinda laughed. “If you ask, I’d even give it to her for free. Though, I think that might come across as a bit insulting.” Curious to see what kind of woman could reject Alfred’s proposal and still have his favor, Belinda headed to the second floor.

“And by the way, your staff has been giving her the cold shoulder. Even your manager’s been less than welcoming,” Alfred added.

Belinda’s expression turned serious. “I’ll handle it. Keeping them around would ruin Aura Supreme’s reputation.”

Alfred fell silent.

“I’ll go help Kate pick a gown before she leaves,” Belinda said, ready to head out.

Alfred remained quiet, but as she reached the office door, he suddenly murmured, “Thank you, Belinda.”

Belinda smiled. “Alfred, in just a short while, you’ve already bent a lot of rules for Kate.”

Alfred’s gaze darkened, his thin lips pressed into a tight line. He said nothing more. ‘She’s my wife. Of course, I’d break the rules for her. Besides, she needs to look perfect for the party not to embarrass me.’

His thoughts were purely self-serving.

口

Chapter 13

Kate wandered around the second floor of Aura Supreme, noticing that the gowns here were indeed far superior to those on the first floor, though they were naturally much pricier.

As Alfred had mentioned, growing up in the countryside had made her a bit sticker-shocked at the idea of gowns costing tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, despite having been back in high society for over a year now.

Hearing footsteps behind her, Kate turned and saw a young woman approaching with a smile. But despite the smile, Kate could sense the critical eyes sizing her up.

“Hi, Ms. Sowle.” The way the assistant addressed her made Kate realize this must be Belinda, the owner.

In the past, when she accompanied Celia, the manager had attended to them personally, but she had never met Belinda before. With Belinda’s reputation as Sherpsel’s top

designer for luxury gowns and her busy schedule, it was rare for regular customers to meet her, let alone be served by her.

“Hi, Miss Sutton.” Belinda stepped forward, dismissing the assistant with a wave and extending her hand with a warm smile. “I’m Belinda. Nice to meet you.”

Kate shook her hand gracefully, returning the smile. “Nice to meet you, too.”

Belinda chuckled. “Have you found anything you like? Want me to pick out a few that might suit you?”

She eyed Kate’s figure-curvaceous and well-proportioned -with refined features and a surprisingly good demeanor. Kate was nothing like the uncouth country girl the rumors suggested, especially with her waist-length hair.

Indeed, rumors could be misleading.

“Ms. Sowle, I really appreciate your help. Honestly, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed and can’t seem to decide,” Kate admitted truthfully.

The second floor was a blend of styles, each gown more stunning than the last. Kate couldn’t help but admire them all.

Belinda smiled warmly. “You’re my guest. It’s my duty to do it for you.” She led Kate to a white gown, gesturing to it. “I think this one would look amazing on you. Why not give it a try?”

Kate glanced at the gown she’d been eyeing since she stepped onto the second floor, though her indecision had grown with all the choices.

“Alright, I’ll trust your judgment.” Belinda quickly took the gown off the rack and handed it to Kate.

When Kate emerged in the gown, Belinda couldn’t take her eyes off her, silently marveling. ‘No wonder she’s the real Sutton heiress. Even after twenty-five years of living someone else’s life, her natural elegance hasn’t faded. In that luxurious gown, she’s every bit the princess.

“Miss Sutton, take a few steps,” Belinda suggested.

Kate did as she was told, then asked, “How does it look?” She’d seen herself in the mirror and was pretty pleased with the reflection.

Belinda nodded with approval. “It’s perfect for you.”

Kate made up her mind on the spot. “I’ll take this one, then.”

“No need to rush-try a few more,” Belinda insisted, bringing over a few more gowns for Kate.

With each one she tried, Belinda’s enthusiasm grew. She couldn’t help but think how incredible it would be to have Kate as her exclusive model. Kate’s complexion, grace, and figure made every gown shine, even better than the professional models she usually worked with. But she hesitated to suggest it, not wanting to make Kate uncomfortable.

Belinda summoned the shop assistant, instructing her to escort Kate downstairs to the checkout and to make sure she got a discount.

The assistant was stunned as they had never given discounts on these gowns.

Unaware of Aura Supreme’s no-discount policy, Kate was thrilled with the gesture. It quickly washed away any lingering bad feelings from the incident on the first floor.

Belinda offered a plausible explanation. “Miss Sutton, I heard about the poor attitude of my staff earlier. Rest assured, I’ll deal with it.”

Kate and the assistant both assumed the discount was Belinda’s way of dealing…

After Kate left with the assistant, Belinda headed back towards the elevator. A few minutes later, she was sitting across from Alfred.

“Mr. Davidson, I did as you asked. But why her?” she asked, a hint of envy and frustration in her voice.

Kate was the first woman to really catch Alfred’s eye.

Alfred’s tone was flat as he responded, “No particular reason.”

He stood up from the sofa, settled back into his wheelchair, and pushed it forward. “I’ll have Cynthia come by for some custom gowns,” he added, offering Belinda a form of repayment.

Cynthia Davidson, his younger sister by eight years, was the only heiress in the Davidson family’s generation. The Davidson family was full of men; no daughters had been born in five generations. After three sons, Alfred’s mother had given up hope of having a daughter until, at thirty-six, she unexpectedly got pregnant and gave birth to Cynthia.

Cynthia’s birth caused a sensation in the entire Davidson family. The Davidson company even handed out generous bonuses to all employees to celebrate the occasion.

As Belinda walked Alfred out, she mentioned with a smile,” I designed all of Cynthia’s gowns.”

In Belinda’s social circle, Cynthia was the queen bee. Other ladies stepped aside when she was around.

“Alfred, I’d like to ask Miss Sutton to be my exclusive model,” Belinda asked.

Alfred didn’t even hesitate. “She won’t be your model.”

‘How could my wife model for you?’ Alfred thought. ‘Even if I don’t love her, she’s my wife now, and no woman in Sherpsel could rival her status. If anything, you should be modeling for her.’

Belinda wasn’t deterred. “How do you know she wouldn’t want to model for me?” she asked, confidence oozing from her tone.

Given the Sutton family was barely hanging on among Sherpsel’s elite, she thought asking Kate to be her exclusive model was practically doing her a favor.

Alfred didn’t bother answering. He could see that Kate’s health had improved and the scar on her hand had healed. It was time to bring her back to the Davidson family and take responsibility for her.

Belinda wasn’t annoyed by the silence-she was used to it. He often didn’t respond to questions; it was just that he was aloof and proud.

‘If it weren’t for that accident…’ Belinda glanced at his legs. If it hadn’t been for the car crash that left him impotent, she

thought she would have done everything in her power to marry him.

‘It’s not that I am shallow, but life was too short and who would want to live like a widow forever?’ she thought. ‘What a damn shame.’

Chapter 14

After leaving Aura Supreme, Kate went on to buy new

outfits for both her parents at other stores before heading home.

Upon arrival, she was a bit surprised to see Kyla’s car parked in the driveway.

A servant approached as Kate got out of the car, taking several bags from her.

“Is Mom not home?” Kate asked.

“No, she’s out playing roulette with a friend and won’t be back for lunch,” the servant replied.

“What’s Kyla doing here?” Kate wondered aloud as they walked towards the main house. It was still work hours, and Kyla should have been at the office.

Kyla was known for her strong sense of responsibility and her tendency to work late, which had earned her Leland’s deep trust. Kate knew their parents had been grooming Kyla as the heiress to the family business, and Kyla had indeed proven herself capable.

“I’m not sure. She came in looking upset, and none of us dared to ask,” the servant answered.

Despite Kate being the Sutton family’s biological daughter, the servants were actually more afraid of Kyla. For all her seemingly approachable demeanor, she was the hardest to get along with.

Kate didn’t press the matter. Vita followed her in silence, her eyes nervously darting around.

Kyla was sitting on the couch, and when Kate entered, she shot her a cold glance.

Kate walked over nonchalantly and sat down. “Why are you back?” she asked.

“Kate,” Kyla began, taking a deep breath as if trying to suppress her anger. Her gaze was still sharp. “Did you go to Aura Supreme to buy gowns?”

Kate took the bags from the servant and looked at Kyla.”

Yeah, what’s wrong?”

“Did you run into Mr. Davidson?” Kyla continued, ignoring Kate’s question. “You’ve pissed him off more than once already. Are you trying to drag the entire Sutton family down with you? Can’t you see the guy hates your guts? Why do you keep throwing yourself in his path instead of staying the hell away? If you want to mess up your own life, fine, but don’t take the family down with you.”

Kyla was furious after getting a call from Vita, who told her that Kate had once again offended Alfred, as well as Belinda. She had left work immediately to confront Kate at home.

Kyla added, “The last time I went with you to apologize to Mr. Davidson, you didn’t take it seriously, didn’t listen to him, and kept insisting on learning things the hard way. What’s wrong with you? Are you out of your mind? I’ve told you before, you can’t afford to cross him. Anyone who does end up regretting it!”

Kyla was still fuming over the humiliation of being thrown out of the Davidson mansion by their bodyguards. ‘Luckily, that incident didn’t get out, or my carefully crafted reputation would’ve been wrecked thanks to her, she thought.

In Sherpsel, a city teeming with prominent business figures, Kyla wouldn’t claim to be the top dog, but within the Sutton Group, she was treated like a princess, seen as the future leader.

‘I’ve never been humiliated like that before, all thanks to Kate,’ she thought, resentment brewing.

Kate’s face darkened. “I was at Aura Supreme first. Alfred just happened to show up. How is that me throwing myself at him?

you. So Kyla retorted, “You know Mr. Davidson can’t stand when the store manager tried to kick you out, what did you do? Kate, even if you grew up in a different environment, you’ve been back for over a year now. How can you still not grasp how serious this is? Are you a complete idiot?”

“Kyla!” Kate angrily threw the bags at Kyla. “Who do you

think you are to lecture me? Whatever happens between Mr. Davidson and me is none of your damn business. If you’re so scared of getting dragged into it, then stay out of it!” Caught off guard by the bags, Kyla’s temper flared. She stood up, pointing a finger at Kate. “I’m your sister. You throw shit at me and then tell me to leave? You think just because you’re the biological daughter, you can boss me around? Let me tell you, you’ve got no right!”

“You’re yelling at me just because I ran into Mr. Davidson? Why should I respect you? What kind of idiot would be nice after getting chewed out like this? Who the hell do you think you are?” Kate shot back, her defiance only fueling Kyla’s anger.

Kyla was used to Kate being cautious, always trying to stay on her good side, especially since Kyla had secured her place in the Sutton family after twenty-five years. But ever since Kate was escorted back by the Davidson family’s bodyguards, she had stopped trying to appease or respect Kyla.

Seeing the untouched glass of milk on the coffee table, Kyla grabbed it and flung the still-hot liquid at Kate.

Kate dodged but wasn’t quick enough, and some of the milk splashed onto her clothes. Furious at the stain, she stepped forward and slapped Kyla across the face before she could react.

The sound of the slap echoed through the room as it landed hard on Kyla’s cheek. A burning pain spread across her face, and she stared at Kate in disbelief.

Vita, who was standing at the door and hadn’t yet entered the room, was stunned. She never expected that Kyla, who had always seemed so strong, would be slapped by Kate.

“What the fack are you doing, Kate?” Kyla screamed, trying to slap Kate back, but Kate dodged her easily. Now even angrier, Kyla lunged at Kate like a madwoman, but Kate swiftly kicked her, sending her crashing onto the couch.

Kate stretched her leg nonchalantly. “It’s been a while since I’ve had to fight. Looks like I’m getting rusty.”

Kyla was seething with rage. ‘This damn bitch kicked me in the stomach. It hurts like hell.’

Kate lowered her leg and smirked at Kyla. “You should know that before I came back, I ran a training center in my hometown. When the teachers were busy, I had to step in and teach myself. I’ve picked up some fighting skills, along with calligraphy and painting. And I’m pretty damn good at all of them.”

Kyla was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Even though Mom and Dad told me to call you ‘sister, we both know you’re not really my sister. So don’t try to act all high and mighty around me,” Kate said, bending down to lift Kyla’s chin, forcing her to look at the face of someone she hated in the past.

But inside she had to admit that Kyla was beautiful, and it was no wonder Chris was so obsessed with her.

Kyla knew that Leland cared more about the future of Sutton Group than anything else. So she thought if he found out about Kate constantly pissing off Alfred, he definitely wouldn’t let her off easy.

She then pushed Kate’s hand away and sat up with the help of the couch’s armrest. “You keep screwing up, and when Dad comes back, I’m telling him everything. You say I have no right to lecture you, but what about Dad?”

Kate frowned, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “I always knew you were a tattletale. Don’t think I don’t know that when the Davidson family proposed, it was you who told Dad to let me decide for myself.”

Before her time travel, all she had wanted was to marry Chris. If given the choice, she couldn’t possibly have accepted Alfred. Kyla just wanted her to offend the Davidson family and piss off Alfred on her own.

“If I hadn’t told Dad to let you choose, he would’ve agreed to the Davidson proposal right away, and you’d be stuck in a loveless marriage for life. I did it for you. And yet you’re ungrateful and treat me like this. Kate, when did you become such a heartless bitch?” Kyla snapped.

Before Kate could respond, footsteps echoed from outside.

Chapter 15

Soon after, Leland strode into the room, his gaze shifting between his daughters.

“Kyla, what happened?” Leland asked. He had rushed home as soon as he heard Kyla had left the office in a hurry, worried something serious had happened.

“What happened to your face? Who hit you?” Leland immediately noticed Kyla’s red, swollen cheek, and his

expression darkened. “Who the hell did this to you? Tell me, and I’ll make sure that bastard pay. No one hits my daughter and gets away with it!”

Kyla quickly said, “Dad, it’s nothing. I just bumped into something.”

“Do you think I’m blind? I can see the damn fingerprint. Someone clearly slapped you.” Leland gently touched Kyla’s swollen cheek, his voice filled with concern. “Who the hell hit you this hard?”

Vita, still standing at the door, wanted to speak, but Kyla shot her a look that stopped her.

Kate hated how Kyla always played the perfect sister in front of their parents. She spoke up. “Dad, I’m the bastard who hit her.”

Leland turned to Kate, shock etched on his face. “Kate, did you hit Kyla?” He couldn’t believe it.

In his heart, since Kate had been recognized and brought home, she had always been sensible, low-key, even a bit timid-not someone who would resort to violence.

“I did,” Kate admitted without hesitation.

“Dad, it was just a little disagreement between Kate and me. She got frustrated and slapped me, then kicked me. But it’s really not a big deal,” Kyla said, acting like she didn’t care but still managing to tattle on Kate.

Leland’s face darkened further. “What exactly happened? It’s wrong to hit people, Kate. Apologize to your sister right now. You’re really starting to disappoint me.”

“Dad, I can apologize to her, but she needs to apologize to me too. If she hadn’t gone too far, constantly yelling at me, I wouldn’t have hit her,” Kate retorted.

Leland turned to Kyla, “Why were you yelling at her?”

“I was only looking out for her,” Kyla replied. “She’s offended Mr. Davidson multiple times, and I was worried she’d end up in real trouble because of it, so I had to say something.” Leland’s face twisted with anger, and before he could even think, he slapped Kate across the face.

The sound of the slap echoed through the room. Kate’s cheek swelled up instantly, a trickle of blood appearing at the corner of her mouth- a testament to the force of Leland’s blow.

“Kyla’s your sister. If you mess up, of course, she’s gonna scold you. Instead of taking it like a lesson, you lash out? What did your foster parents teach you? How to be a violent brat?” Leland snapped, automatically siding with Kyla.

Kyla was the daughter he had trained, the one he trusted. Kate, the daughter he had only recently found, couldn’t compare in his eyes.

Kate looked at Leland, feeling wronged. In the past, while they hadn’t been particularly close, he had never been so blatantly biased towards Kyla. But this time around, now that she had resolved to protect her family, she found Leland’s favoritism glaring.

‘Did my time travel change people and events?’ Kate wondered to herself.

Leland pressed on, “Last time, you slit your wrist to avoid that marriage, and Kyla had to apologize to the Davidson family on your behalf, so they didn’t press the issue. And now you’ve pissed off Mr. Davidson again. Do you think he’s a saint, just going to keep forgiving you?”

Leland trembled at the thought of Alfred’s cold stare. He was convinced that the Davidson family had let it slide because they felt guilty that Alfred wasn’t fit to be a husband. But now, with the marriage situation settled, Kate

continuing to offend Alfred was like inviting disaster-she was putting Sutton Group in danger.

“Dad, I didn’t offend Mr. Davidson.” Kate wiped the blood from her mouth, her voice cold as ice. “Believe it or not, I didn’t do anything to him today.”

“You dare say that? When Mr. Davidson showed up, why didn’t you get the hell out of there?” Leland raged, pointing a finger at Kate. “He can’t stand you, but you just had to stick around and annoy him. What’s wrong with you? Do you even think? Are you trying to ruin the Sutton Group?” “Dad, stop yelling at Kate. She grew up in the countryside; she doesn’t understand how serious this is.” Kyla gently pulled down Leland’s hand, her voice seemingly full of concern but laced with condescension.

“Kyla cut the bullshit. So what if I grew up in the

countryside? Is that something to be ashamed of?” Kate shot back.

Leland struck her other cheek, leaving her face swollen on both sides.

“This is unacceptable. Kyla, go get the whip. I’ll discipline her myself. Her foster parents failed to teach her; I’ll do it,” Leland barked.

In the Sutton family, whipping someone with a lash was a severe form of punishment, and only those who had experienced it knew how agonizing it was.

“Dad, please don’t,” Kyla pleaded, but her tone was hollow.

“Go get it!” Leland wasn’t backing down.

With no choice, Kyla fetched the whip, handing it to her father while cautioning, “Dad, Kate doesn’t know any better. We should teach her the right way. Don’t punish her like this. -she’s twenty-six. If word gets out, how will she ever show her face again?”

Leland grabbed the whip, ready to strike.

“Mr. Sutton, he’s here…” A servant burst in, panic written all over her face.

Leland paused, barely holding back his anger. “Who’s here?”

The servant stammered, pointing towards the entrance. “M- Mr. Davidson… He’s arrived.”

Leland’s hand slipped, the whip falling to the floor, startled by Alfred’s unexpected arrival.

“Dad, Mr. Davidson must be here to make trouble,” Kyla said, picking up the rattan stick and casting a glance at Kate.” See, Kate? This is what happens when you don’t listen and keep provoking Mr. Davidson. Now he’s here, and if he brings trouble to the Sutton family, it’s on you.”

“Kyla, take Kate upstairs and lock her in her room. I’ll go greet Mr. Davidson,” Leland ordered, deciding to secure Kate before she could make things worse with Alfred. He then hurried out to meet him.

Kyla didn’t dare delay, reaching for Kate, who shook her off with a cold. “I’ll go by myself.”

Today had made it painfully clear to Kate that the only person who truly cared about her in this house was Celia.

Kate marched past Kyla and headed upstairs, with Kyla following close behind.

Once Kate was in her room, Kyla locked the door from the outside and rushed downstairs, fixing her appearance. Remembering the slap Kate had given her earlier, leaving her face swollen, Kyla felt a deep, simmering hatred. Despite her fear of Alfred, she wanted to maintain her soft yet strong image in front of him. Her eyes flickered with an idea as she gripped the rattan stick and positioned herself in front of the couch.

As Alfred approached, pushed forward by his bodyguard, she forced a sweet smile and greeted him, “Good afternoon, Mr. Davidson.”

Alfred glanced at Leland, his tone icy. “Mr. Sutton, your daughter’s tone is fucking irritating.”

Chapter 16

Kyla was momentarily speechless. Known for her beauty and usually maintaining a stern demeanor at work, she occasionally softened, causing her male colleagues to blush and avoid eye contact.

When she spoke to Chris like this, he had said it made him melt. So she didn’t expect Alfred to find her tone disgusting. Her face flushed with embarrassment.

“Mr. Davidson, Kyla isn’t usually like this,” Leland quickly defended her. “She’s just been obsessed with opera lately, and sometimes it affects her speech. Please don’t mind her.”

Alfred stayed silent, his lips pressed into a thin line. He couldn’t stand Kyla’s saccharine tone.

“Mr. Davidson, please have a seat.” Leland forced a smile, even attempting to help Alfred sit, but was met with a glare from Alfred’s bodyguard, making him quickly pull back his hand.

“I am sitting,” Alfred replied coldly, making Leland stammer, I didn’t mean it that way, Mr. Davidson.”

Noticing the whip still in Kyla’s hand, Alfred asked, “What’s that?”

Leland gave an awkward smile. “Oh, that… It’s a whip. It’s how we discipline in the Sutton family.”

Alfred’s gaze shifted to Kyla’s swollen cheek, then back to Leland, who looked away in shame.

“So, I’ve interrupted something. Were you planning to punish your eldest daughter?” Alfred asked.

“No, Mr. Davidson, it’s Kate. She made you angry, and we-” Kyla began.

“What? Punishing Kate? Where is she?” Alfred cut her off, his expression darkening as he grabbed the whip. ‘If she gets hit with this, it’s gonna hurt like hell, he thought.

“Kate, she…” Leland stammered, unnerved by Alfred’s mood, but he pressed on, “You know, Kate grew up in the countryside. She doesn’t really understand the right way to act. If she’s offended you, please, just let it slide. Tomorrow, I’ll have her bring a generous gift to apologize.”

Alfred’s gaze turned icy as he repeated, “I asked, where is she? Don’t make me ask a third time.”

Leland quickly responded, “She’s upstairs.”

“Then go get her. Now.”

Leland jumped to his feet, muttering, “Alright, I’ll get her right now,” before hurrying upstairs to Kate’s room.

He banged on the door. “Kate, open up. Mr. Davidson wants to see you. Hurry up, don’t keep him waiting.” There was no response from inside.

Leland’s face drained of color as panic set in. He started pounding harder on the door, calling out desperately, “Kate, please, don’t do anything stupid! I was only trying to do what’s best for you.”

To Leland, Kate might have been difficult and had crossed Alfred multiple times, but she was still his daughter.

“The door’s locked from the outside by Kyla.” Kate’s cold voice came from the other side of the door.

Leland paused, looking down to see that there was indeed an extra lock. He cursed under his breath, realizing he hadn’t even noticed it earlier.

Just then, Kyla appeared keys in hand. She began

unlocking the door, asking, “Dad, what does Mr. Davidson want?”

Leland, still shaky from his earlier fright, snapped back, What does it matter what he wants? He wants to see Kate, so let him. She’ll apologize and promise to stay out of his way in the future.”

There was no more talk of punishment.

Kyla started to say something but thought better of it and kept her mouth shut.

After some coaxing, Kate finally agreed to go downstairs to see Alfred, though she muttered to herself, ‘Today’s really not my first day-, I keep running into him, and now Dad is on my case because of him.’

With a sulky expression, Kate walked up to Alfred and asked, clearly annoyed, “What do you want now?”

As soon as she appeared at the top of the stairs, Alfred noticed her swollen face. By the time she reached him, his expression had darkened even more. “Squat down,” he ordered.

Kate hesitated, confused by his demand. But seeing his grim expression, she reluctantly squatted down, careful not to turn her back to him, afraid he might knock her out like last time.

But instead of striking her, two rough, calloused hands gently cupped her face. The texture of his fingers surprised her-she never imagined that the eldest heir of the prestigious Davidson family, a powerhouse in the Sherpsel business world, would have such coarse hands. Yet, his touch was unexpectedly gentle.

He carefully caressed her swollen face, his touch light as if afraid to cause her more pain.

Kate was startled, staring at him in shock.

Their eyes met, and Alfred abruptly pulled his hands away, as if her skin had burned him.

Leland and Kyla watched, stunned. Leland could hardly believe what he’d just seen- Alfred, tenderly touching Kate’s face, almost like he pitied her. But if there was any pity, it was buried deep beneath his usual cold demeanor.

“Who hit you?” Alfred demanded, his voice low and menacing. “Was it your dad or her?” His glare shifted to Kyla, his eyes narrowing as he even glanced at her hands, considering whether to break one or both of them.

‘Whoever laid a hand on my woman must have a death wish. I might not be fond of Kate, but she’s my wife. Only I have the right to discipline her,’ Alfred thought.

Kyla, pale and trembling under Alfred’s gaze, stammered,” Mr. Davidson, it wasn’t me. She hit me! Look, my face is swollen too, and she even kicked me.”

Alfred’s expression didn’t change, as if Kate’s violent streak didn’t surprise him in the least.

Leland stepped in, saying honestly, “Mr. Davidson, I was the one who disciplined Kate. It had nothing to do with Kyla. Since Kate came back, Kyla has always treated her like a real sister.”

Hearing Lleland’s words, Kate couldn’t help but curl her lips in a sarcastic smile, though she quickly masked it. But Alfred caught it.

Alfred said, “Mr. Sutton, Kate is your daughter, and you have every right to discipline her. It’s not my place to interfere. However, I happen to like her face as it is. So, if you need to assert your authority in the future, I’d appreciate it if you avoided hitting her in the face.”

“You’re right, Mr. Davidson. I shouldn’t have hit her face. I acted on impulse and regret it more than she does,” Leland said.

Alfred turned to Kate. “What happened that made you lash out?”

Kate pressed her lips together, staying silent.

Kyla didn’t dare say anything either. She wasn’t stupid-she knew Alfred wasn’t here to scold Kate but to protect her. Alfred’s patience wore thin as the silence stretched on. His frown deepened. “Kate, are you fucking mute? I asked you a question. If you don’t answer, don’t blame me for cutting out your damn tongue. If you’re not gonna use it, what’s the point of keeping it?”

Chapter 17

Alfred’s harsh tone only made Kate angrier. She shot back,” This is all on you. Today’s been a disaster, running into you left and right. At Aura Supreme, just one word from you and they were ready to throw me out. Kyla thought I pissed you off again and gave me a lecture. I figured arguing was pointless, so I decided to just take action much quicker that way.”

The room was dead quiet. All eyes turned to Alfred. And he just stared at Kate.

Then, out of nowhere, he started clapping. “Clap, clap.” Everyone looked at him, baffled.

As he clapped, he said to Kate, “That’s the spirit. From now on, if you can fix something with action, do it. And if anyone starts pointing fingers or nagging, slap them hard. Hell, use something to hit them with-save your hand the trouble. No matter what, I’ve got your back.” He declared this with an air of absolute authority.

Kyla was full of questions. She realized she needed to reevaluate Kate. ‘Why is Alfred defending Kate? It can’t be just because she’s pretty. He’s seen her before, and with his status, he’s seen plenty of beautiful women. And I can’t let Alfred keep protecting her.’

“Mr. Davidson…” Leland began, but a cold glare from Alfred made him swallow his words.

“What are you still doing here?” Alfred, who had just defended Kate, now sternly ordered her, “Go upstairs and pack your things. You’re coming with me. I don’t like to wait. You’ve got ten minutes, no more.”

Kate was stunned and asked, “Coming with you? Where to?”

Alfred sneered, “Miss Sutton, you’ve got a short memory. Have you forgotten what you said and did the day you refused to marry me?”

‘Is he trying to make me act like a wife now?’ Kate blinked.” I… I lost the license.”

Alfred narrowed his eyes, his gaze dark and dangerous. “So losing the license means you can just pretend it never happened?”

Kate stammered, “No, I… that’s not what I meant.”

Alfred snorted, touching the spot where she’d bitten him that day.

Kate understood the message loud and clear. She had marked him and promised to take responsibility, whether by marrying him or making him marry her. He had married her.

But after they got the marriage license, he knocked her out and had his bodyguards send her home. So, Kate thought he wouldn’t really hold her accountable.

During the days she was recovering, he hadn’t called once, and the Davidson family didn’t mention their marriage. Kate figured Alfred didn’t actually want to marry her but had agreed out of anger and impulse because of her actions. In fact, Alfred wanted to make her regret it.

After so many peaceful days, Kate thought her marriage to Alfred would remain a secret forever. She hadn’t even told her parents mainly because she’d lost the marriage. license.

Without the license, she thought no one would believe she was Alfred’s lawful wife.

“Mr. Davidson… Are you serious?” Kate was a bit confused. Does he really expect me to take responsibility?

She didn’t know how to take responsibility for him. But then, glancing at his legs, she thought of a way and immediately stopped feeling confused.

She was determined to take good care of him and help him recover until one day he could walk like a normal person. Then she could consider her duty fulfilled.

When that day came, if he wanted a divorce, she would agree. If he didn’t and wanted her to stay as his wife, then she would stay. She had decided this after her rebirth.

“What, are you thinking of backing out? Or do you think you can fool me?” His voice was full of threat.

Kate knew if she dared to say yes, Alfred might actually kill her. Being his lawful wife wouldn’t save her.

Leland, not knowing what Kate had promised Alfred but afraid she might provoke him, quickly jumped in, “Mr. Davidson, Kate is very reliable; she won’t go back on her word. Whatever she promised you, she’ll definitely keep it, and I’ll make sure she follows through.”

Alfred stayed silent, his cold eyes fixed on Kate.

“I said I wouldn’t regret it. Mr. Davidson, give me ten minutes. I’ll pack my things and follow you right away,” Kate replied. With her assurance, the icy tension around Alfred started to ease.

“Go then, but only ten minutes. If you’re even a minute late, you’ll have to walk back,” Alfred warned, clearly not willing to wait.

Kate turned and hurried upstairs. Leland and Kyla exchanged glances, both dying to know what was really going on between Kate and Alfred.

Taking advantage of being Kate’s father, Leland nervously smiled and tentatively asked, “Mr. Davidson, what exactly has Kate done?”

Alfred just gave him a look, not bothering to explain himself.

Feeling awkward, Leland was relieved when Kate came back down in less than ten minutes, dragging her suitcase behind her.

Pleased by her promptness, Alfred feigned concern and asked, “All packed? Need a few more minutes?”

“No need. I’m ready,” she said. She knew what he was trying to do, thinking, ‘I’m not falling for that.’

Alfred pursed his lips, a bit disappointed she didn’t take the bait. He found dealing with Kate quite amusing, enjoying the way she’d get flustered by his actions.

‘She’s the one who clung to me, after all. How else can I show her I’m not to be messed with if I don’t give her a little scare?’ he thought.

“Let’s go,” Alfred said.

Kate nodded and started walking, pulling her suitcase.

After a few steps, she noticed Alfred hadn’t moved from his seat. She stopped and turned back to him, asking, “Mr. Davidson, didn’t you say we were leaving?”

Alfred glared at her, leaving her confused as to why he’d say they were leaving but then sit there not moving.

As the two seemed to reach another stalemate, one of the bodyguards subtly gestured to Kate, winking and pointing behind Alfred, suggesting she should help Alfred outside. Realizing she now had responsibilities toward him, Kate quickly returned to Alfred’s side. Remembering Celia, she said to Leland, “Dad, tell Mom not to worry when she gets back. I’m going to the Davidson family’s place, and I’ll be fine.”

Leland nodded and personally walked them out of the house.

Once they were outside the building, Alfred suddenly said, ” Hold on a sec.”

Kate halted.

“Mr. Sutton, come here,” Alfred added.

Leland, unsure of what Alfred had in mind, still stepped forward as requested.

“Lean in. I’ve got a secret for you. Only your wife should know, so keep it to yourself unless I say otherwise. If this gets out, don’t blame me for coming after you later,” Alfred warned.

Leland, his expression serious, quickly assured, “Mr. Davidson, you can count on me to keep my mouth shut.”

Intrigued, Leland leaned in, and Alfred whispered in his ear,” You’re now my father-in-law.”

Leland was dumbfounded.

Chapter 18

Alfred, looking completely unfazed, turned to Kate, who had been straining to eavesdrop but hadn’t caught a word. “Let’ s go,” he said.

Kate responded with a simple “Fine,” and as she pushed Alfred past her father, she gave him a little nudge. But her father just stood there, staring blankly at her and Alfred. Curiosity gnawed at Kate. ‘What did Alfred say to Dad that left him so shocked?’ she wondered.

Minutes later, Alfred’s luxurious caravan pulled out of the Sutton family villa.

Only then did Kyla dare to step outside. Seeing her father standing there, looking out of it, she nudged him and asked, “Dad, what’s wrong with you?”

Leland snapped back to reality and opened his mouth to speak, but remembering Alfred’s warning, he struggled to hold back.

He finally said, “I need to go inside and cool off; I think the heat is messing with my hearing, making me imagine things.”

He kept musing internally, ‘Or maybe… Alfred wouldn’t have spoken to me so gently. Did he actually call me his father-in-law? Why? Did he marry Kate? No way… So why the hell would he say that?’

Once Leland realized what might be happening, he felt like the heat had fried his brain, making him hallucinate.

*****

In the car with Alfred, the tension was palpable. He sat upright, his expression cold, staring straight ahead, while Kate struggled to find something to talk about.

“Have you stared at me enough?” he suddenly asked.

“Not enough. Can I keep looking for free?” Kate shot back.

Alfred turned his head, locked eyes with her for a moment, then ordered, “Take out your phone.”

Kate obeyed.

“Use it to take a few pictures of my face, set one as your screen image, and look at that whenever you want, no charge,” Alfred instructed.

Kate was a bit speechless, but she did as told, snapping a few photos and setting one as her screen image.

Then, remembering she had forgotten to bring the clothes she meant to give him, along with the evening gowns she had just bought, she couldn’t help but exclaim, “Oh, shit!” “What the hell are you screaming about? You almost gave me a heart attack,” Alfred grumbled.

“If I could actually give you a heart attack, that’d be a damn miracle, considering you’re always the one scaring the crap out of others.”

Alfred reached out and pinched her cheek, hard. Kate, in pain, instinctively slapped his hand away, only for him to pinch even harder, making her wince in agony.

“Getting gutsy, huh?” Alfred, who was never known for being tender, chuckled. His laugh was so out of character that the driver and bodyguards in the other cars nearly jumped out of their skins. “Now you’re daring to talk back to me.”

Kate felt helpless. “I do have a mouth, don’t I?”

Letting go of her cheek, Alfred wiped his hand on her clothes, disgust evident in his expression. Kate wished she could scream in his face.

“What was all that screaming about earlier?” Alfred’s mood had noticeably lifted after pinching her. Despite growing up in the countryside, her skin was surprisingly soft and pleasant to the touch.

“I forgot the clothes I bought, including a shirt I got for you,” Kate explained.

Alfred frowned, criticizing her, “With all the time you had, you still managed to leave things behind. Why didn’t you just leave yourself behind too?”

Kate shrank back, turtling her head and not daring to respond, though she was mentally cursing him a thousand times over.

After a pause, Alfred addressed the bodyguard sitting in the front seat, “Call Aiken, tell him to turn around and pick up Kate’s stuff from the Suttons.”

Kate thought it was unnecessary to send someone back just for a few clothes and said, “It’s fine; I can get them when I have time.”

Alfred shot her another glare, and she shrank back again. His stare was terrifying, and after being on the receiving end of it so much today, Kate feared she’d have nightmares tonight.

The bodyguard immediately called Aiken to relay Alfred’s order.

Kate rolled down the window to look at the convoy behind them and saw one car slowing down, getting ready to turn back. She then glanced at Alfred, who had resumed staring straight ahead. ‘Why does he care so much about the shirt I was going to give him?”

Reflecting on this, she asked, “Mr. Davidson, have you never received a gift before?”

Alfred turned his head slightly, giving her a questioning look. “What? Planning on showering me with gifts now, letting me experience the joy of endless presents?”

Kate chuckled. “If you like it, I can send you a gift every day.” “I’ll remember that. Starting tomorrow, every time I come home, I expect a gift from you. And don’t half-ass it,” Alfred replied.

Kate was speechless for a moment. ‘Why do I feel like I just stepped on a landmine?’

Seeing her looking like she’d bitten off more than she could chew, Alfred, not pleased, reached out to pinch her cheek again. She couldn’t help but swat his hand away. “Just say what you mean. I’m listening, no need to pinch me every damn time.”

‘It hurts. I really wish he could get a taste of his own medicine, Kate thought.

“There are plenty of women who want to give me gifts; I never accept any from them,” Alfred said, glancing sideways at Kate.

Kate nodded understandingly. “I know, you’re always pure, and don’t go stirring up trouble.”

But in the past, many women wanted to marry Alfred. Kate had heard of his reputation even back in her small town. She’d seen him in newspapers and on TV and learned a few things about him. If it hadn’t been for that car accident, she wouldn’t have become his wife.

As Kate mulled this over, she couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at a certain part of Alfred. She thought she was being subtle, assuming he wouldn’t notice, but that was just wishful thinking.

Suddenly, Alfred’s handsome face was inches from hers, close enough that she could catch a whiff of a scent different from Chris’s -a scent that seemed vaguely familiar.

Without overthinking it, Kate assumed it was the same scent she had noticed when she accidentally bit Alfred during their first encounter after time traveling.

“Mr. Davidson?” Kate’s beautiful eyes flickered with curiosity as she gazed at him, wondering what he was up to.

“You just took a peek at a certain part of me. What, regretting marrying me?” Alfred asked with a smirk.

“It’s regrettable, but I don’t regret it,” Kate shot back, boldly placing her soft hand on Alfred’s thigh.

Alfred’s muscles tensed. He hadn’t expected such a move from her-touching his thigh and even inching her hand further inward. Though his face remained expressionless, inside, he was in turmoil. No woman had ever dared to treat him like this.

He was torn. ‘Should I let her continue, or should I pull her hand away and give her a warning she wouldn’t forget?’ he wondered.

But then, to his surprise, her soft hand changed direction, no longer moving inward but reaching his kneecap instead.

‘It’s all bones-hard and unyielding. What’s there to touch? She doesn’t even know how to take advantage, Alfred thought with a mix of amusement and disbelief.

“Mr. Davidson, I promise I’ll take responsibility for you and help you walk normally,” Kate added earnestly.

Chapter 19

As Alfred scoffed inwardly at Kate’s lack of guile, her gentle yet firm voice, tinged with concern, cut through his thoughts.

Alfred, known for his tough exterior, looked at Kate silently. After a moment, he spoke in a deep voice. “I’m crippled. That’s not your responsibility. Whether I walk like a normal person again isn’t your burden either.”

“Well…” Kate hesitated, wondering what exactly she was supposed to be responsible for. Bearing his children? That was out of the question since he was incapable, and bringing it up would only wound his pride.

“Besides,” Alfred continued. “When I got married, it wasn’t just for a wife. I needed a caregiver too.”

His words were clear: by marrying him out of some sense of duty, Kate hadn’t won his heart. Instead, she had signed up to be an unpaid caregiver. What lay ahead wasn’t joy and love, but his unpredictable moods and endless troubles.

But Kate wasn’t angry. She smiled and said, “Mr. Davidson, I always keep my promises. Whatever I’ve agreed to do for someone, I’ll make sure it gets done.”

Before her time travel, after marrying Chris, she had given up everything willingly, content to be the woman behind the man -only to meet a tragic end.

Compared to that, marrying Alfred seemed like a better choice. At least with him, she could occasionally leverage his power, laying the groundwork for her future while dealing with the enemies from her past.

Alfred pursed his lips and snorted, adopting an attitude of wait-and-see.

Back at the Davidson family mansion, Alfred abandoned Kate, heading off to dine alone under the pavilion.

Standing in the picturesque courtyard, Kate watched as Alfred heartlessly left her behind. After a while, rubbing her hungry belly, she dragged her suitcase toward a modern building- Alfred’s private residence within the mansion.

He lived there alone, in a place that had become off-limits to the rest of the Davidson family. No one dared to enter unless absolutely necessary, for fear of the consequences. Kate had only learned this was Alfred’s place after she ended up with diarrhea from eating spicy food last time.

Entering the house, Kate went upstairs to find a guest room where she could drop off her luggage before heading down to cook something for herself.

The Davidson family mansion was vast, housing nearly a hundred direct and collateral relatives. The nearby houses belonged to clan members who lived close by, all benefiting from the family’s influence. Even those five generations removed from Alfred’s branch were safe from bullying as long as they lived there.

There were many servants, bodyguards, and drivers around. Alfred alone had over twenty bodyguards at his service.

Yet without Alfred’s explicit instructions, even though they knew Kate was his wife, the bodyguards did not serve her. If Kate wanted to eat, she had to fend for herself.

After circling the second floor and finding every door locked, she headed up to the third floor, only to face the same situation.

With all three floors of Alfred’s building explored and no accessible rooms on the second or third floors, Kate had no choice but to go back downstairs. She hoped the caregiver’s room might be unlocked so she could stay there. It was clear this was Alfred’s way of setting the tone for his new bride, silently warning her to know her place. Marrying him didn’t mean she could do as she pleased as the new mistress of the Davidson family. Without his permission, she couldn’t even stay in a guest room.

Kate’s hunch was right; the caregiver’s room on the first floor was unlocked. She pushed open the door, dragged her suitcase inside, and was relieved to find the room was quite spacious for a caregiver’s quarters. However, the bed was bare, with no blankets or bedding.

“Really, Alfred? Was that necessary? We are married, after all,” Kate muttered to herself.

But considering the heat of the season, the absence of a blanket wasn’t a big deal. She set her suitcase down and, instead of unpacking right away, noticed a note weighed down by an ashtray on a nearby table.

Curious, she walked over and picked it up. It contained only four words: Do it yourself.

The strong, fluid handwriting led Kate to believe it was Alfred’s.

“Fine, Alfred. If that’s how you want to play it, I’m up for the challenge,” Kate said as she crumpled the note and tossed it into the trash.

Alfred must’ve forgotten she grew up on a farm. Even though her foster family treated her well, she still had to pull her weight around the house.

‘If he’s not gonna invite me to dinner, I can damn well cook for myself. I’m not about to starve, and I’m damn proud of my cooking,’ she thought.

However, her confidence took a hit when she entered the kitchen and found it completely empty, no food in sight, making cooking impossible.

“How stingy,” Kate grumbled as she left the kitchen.

In reality, Kate had misunderstood Alfred. Although there was a kitchen in his residence, his caretakers were bodyguards, not cooks. All meals were prepared in the main kitchen.

Stepping outside Alfred’s residence, Kate stood at the doorway, looking toward the distant pavilion. After a moment’s thought, she decided to try her luck at getting a meal there again.

The bodyguards stationed outside the pavilion greeted her respectfully, “Ms. Sutton.”

Kate paused, noting their formal address, but quickly brushed off her curiosity, realizing it was probably Alfred’s doing. That was fine with her; she actually preferred not being called “Mrs. Davidson.”

When Kate entered the pavilion, she found that Alfred had already finished his meal. As she approached, he handed her a napkin.

“I haven’t eaten yet,” Kate said, implying there was no need for her to wipe her mouth.

“Wipe my mouth for me,” Alfred demanded.

‘Kate felt her frustration bubbling up, thinking, “He has already eaten, I’m still starving, my face hurts, and he expects me to clean up the caregiver’s room and move in? And now he wants me to wipe his mouth? Unbelievable!’ “Don’t you have hands?” she said.

“Of course I do, but I want to enjoy the perks of having a wife,” he answered with a smirk.

“You’re the one who said we weren’t allowed to call each other ‘husband’ or ‘wife, remember?”

“That’s my call,” Alfred said, revealing his double standard.

Kate reluctantly took the napkin and leaned in to wipe his mouth. She meant to be rough, but as she got closer and saw his handsome face, her touch softened involuntarily. As she drew nearer, Alfred’s gaze deepened, feeling an odd sense of familiarity with her. Although he was certain they hadn’t met before she rejected his marriage proposal, this strange feeling puzzled him.

Wiping his mouth should have been quick, but Kate lingered, enjoying the moment as she slowly wiped his lips. She noticed his thin lips and wondered if they hinted at a lack of loyalty. Still, she believed that once he truly fell for someone, his loyalty would be unwavering.

Kate couldn’t resist the urge to kiss him. ‘We’re legally married now; kissing him is normal, right?’ With that thought, she went for it.

In an instant, she wrapped her arms around him, their lips meeting in a kiss that sent a jolt of electricity through her.

Chapter 20

Alfred was stunned, as were the bodyguards. They had seen Kate’s boldness before from threatening suicide during the forced marriage to marking Alfred with a bite. But now, without his consent, she had stolen his first kiss. ‘Mr. Davidson is known for his obsession with cleanliness in relationships. Is Mrs. Davidson not afraid he’ll kill her?’ the bodyguards thought.

Unaware of the impact of her actions, Kate simply enjoyed the softness of his lips, craving more. Following her instincts, she playfully licked his lips, then deepened the kiss as he parted them slightly.

Alfred didn’t respond, and Kate hadn’t expected him to. Not wanting to push her luck, Kate ended the kiss quickly. Realizing it was his first kiss, she felt fortunate to have experienced it. She couldn’t believe that in an era where such things were hardly precious anymore, he had somehow kept it intact.

As she pulled back, Kate saw Alfred still in a daze. She realized she had taken advantage of the situation and couldn’t help but smile sweetly at the thought.

As she pulled back, Kate saw Alfred still in a daze. She realized she had taken advantage of the situation and couldn’t help but smile sweetly at the thought.

“I didn’t mean to take advantage of you,” she said nervously, feeling his glare. “It’s just that you’re so damn handsome, I couldn’t help myself…”

Alfred’s expression darkened. “So, now it’s my fault?”

“No, no, Mr. Davidson. It’s my fault. If you feel cheated, how about you kiss me back?” Kate offered.

Alfred was speechless. ‘What is the difference between her kissing me and me kissing her? It is just our lips meeting’ he thought.

Seeing his irritated expression, Kate composed herself, cautiously watching him and bracing for his next move. ‘Is he gonna throw me out in anger?’ she wondered.

After a long pause, Alfred changed the subject. “You must be hungry.”

Caught off guard, Kate quickly replied, “Yeah, I’m starving!” She glanced at the table and noticed that while Alfred hadn’t eaten much, there was still plenty of food left.

“Clean it up,” Alfred commanded the bodyguards, his tone cold.

Feeling left out, Kate wondered if he was really going to deny her even the leftovers.

Seeing the change in her expression, Alfred’s lips curled into a slight smirk, and his tone softened. “Did you see the note I left for you?”

“I did,” said Kate.

“Good,” Alfred responded immediately.

‘Is that it?’ Kate thought, feeling frustrated. “Mr. Davidson, how am I supposed to cook when there’s nothing in the kitchen? I need ingredients.”

Alfred rolled his eyes as he pushed his wheelchair. “Don’t you have any money?”

“You treat me to lunch, and I’ll treat you tonight. Right now, I’m too hungry to go shopping,” Kate shot back.

Inside, she complained, ‘Who would have imagined Alfred’s wife would have to pay for her own groceries and cook her own meals?’

Alfred turned his head, staring at her red lips for a long moment before finally speaking. “You had plenty of energy when you were taking advantage of me.’

Kate blushed, suddenly remembering how assertive she had been when grabbing the back of his head.

Alfred wheeled himself away, and the bodyguards had already cleared the table.

Once Alfred was gone, the bodyguards followed, leaving Kate alone under the pavilion.

Kate realized she would be a fool not to see that Alfred was deliberately making her life difficult.

‘She thought bitterly, ‘No wonder he agreed to marry me so easily. It was just to bring me home and make my life a living hell.’

“Ms. Sutton,” a low, unfamiliar voice called from behind her.

Kate turned around to see a middle-aged woman in her forties. She forced a polite smile. “Ma’am, were you calling me?”

“Ms. Sutton, my name is Harper. Mrs. Davidson would like to see you. Are you available to come with me now?”

Harper pointed to a house about 300 feet away from the pavilion-the tallest and most luxurious building on the Davidson estate, typically reserved for the head of the family.

Alfred was an exception; he preferred solitude. The main house was currently home to Alfred’s grandmother, Olivia Davidson, along with his parents and Cynthia.

Kate touched her swollen face, hesitating. “I’m sorry, but I’m not available right now.”

Harper glanced at her face and replied, “Ms. Sutton, Mrs. Olivia would really like you to come over now.”

After a brief pause, Kate reluctantly agreed. ‘No one seems to care that my face looks like a puffed-up bun,’ she thought. “Alright, I’ll come.”

“Please follow me,” Harper said with a hint of satisfaction.

Kate stepped out of the pavilion and trailed behind Harper. As they entered the main house, she was struck by the vintage elegance of the interior.

It was so grand that if it weren’t for Olivia and the others wearing modern clothes, she might have believed she had time-traveled to an ancient palace. The Davidson family’s wealth rivaled that of royalty.

The luxury of the Davidson family rivaled that of a palace.

Olivia, now in her eighties, was still a formidable presence. She had five sons, with twins being her fourth and fifth after three consecutive boys when she had hoped for a daughter.

Those five sons had given her over a dozen grandsons, with Cynthia as her only granddaughter. Among all her grandsons, Alfred, the eldest, was her favorite and chosen successor.

In the Davidson family, Olivia was the matriarch. Aside from Alfred and Cynthia, few dared to challenge her authority.

Olivia seemed kind and benevolent, but Kate couldn’t shake the thought that anyone who raised someone as cold as Alfred couldn’t possibly be as gentle as she appeared.

At that moment, Olivia reclined on a chaise lounge, her legs being massaged by a young girl. A few other women, dressed to the nines, sat on separate armchairs, chatting quietly among themselves.

A servant escorted Kate over and respectfully announced, ” Mrs. Davidson, Ms. Sutton has arrived.”

The girl massaging Olivia’s legs was Cynthia, the cherished heiress of the Davidson family.

She glanced up at Kate and, noticing her swollen face, paused before standing up to get a closer look. “Who the hell did this to your face?”

While Cynthia questioned her, neither Olivia nor the other women bothered to even glance in Kate’s direction.

“My dad,” Kate replied honestly.

Cynthia was momentarily speechless. As someone who had been spoiled all her life, she couldn’t fathom parents who would lay a hand on their own child.

The servant continued the introductions, gesturing to Olivia. “Ms. Sutton, this is Mrs. Olivia Davidson, and this is Ms. Cynthia Davidson.”

She then introduced the other middle-aged women, who were all married into the Davidson family.

One of them had been eyeing Kate with obvious hostility ever since she walked in; the servant’s introduction identified her as Alfred’s biological mother, the wife of the

Davidson family’s eldest son.

Kate greeted each of them politely, but aside from Cynthia’s warm smile, the other women ignored her completely.

Olivia waited until Kate had made her round of greetings before casting her a brief glance. Her tone, surprisingly gentle, conveyed an unexpected warmth. “Have a seat.”

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