When Love Turns to Ashes

Chapter 4 Is It Enough?

Under Caden's icy gaze, Beatrice pressed her lips together tightly, trying her best to stay calm.

Yet, despite her resolve, the memories of eight years of torment in her previous life caused her fingers to tremble uncontrollably. She turned her head around.

Caden no longer looked at her. His voice was laced with disdain."Were you planning to get pregnant in secret?"

Beatrice frowned, her eyes darting toward Monica.

Monica had bought the pill. Did this mean she still hadn't given up on marrying her off to Caden?

Monica, under Caden's

frosty

stare, was already

Compared to Xander, Monica feared Caden even more.

She didn't have the guts to scheme under his watchful eyes.

Then what was really going on here?

trembling like

a

leaf.

Beatrice looked up, finding herself surrounded by countless stares.

Among them, one particular gaze felt distinct.

It belonged to Madelynn.

The subtle smirk on her lips reminded Beatrice of dark moments from her past.

And sure enough, in the next moment-

Madelynn turned her back to the crowd and grasped Beatrice's hand in a gesture of concern."Beatrice, I'm so sorry, but I couldn't deceive Mr. Caden or Xander, so I had to come clean."

"But I never expected you would use me to divert public outrage while secretly planning to conceive."

"If I hadn't come to comfort you and overheard your scheme, wouldn't you have gotten your way? If you had truly gotten pregnant, what would happen to Mr. Caden and me?" Tears streamed down Madelynn's face as her voice broke with sobs, each word drenched in grievance.

The crowd seethed with anger, rallying behind Madelynn with righteous indignation.

"Everyone knows what she's up to. She wants to replace Madelynn! If she really got pregnant, using the child as leverage, Caden would have no choice but to marry her. By then, our family reputation would be utterly ruined!"

A man clenched his fists in fury."I've never seen such a shameless scheme in my life! Thank heavens Madelynn thought of the bigger picture and didn't fall into her trap. Otherwise, a true pair of lovers would have been torn apart by her!" 'Caden, you can't keep Beatrice around. Who knows what tricks she might pull next?"

Each word pierced Beatrice's heart like a dagger.

It was just like her past life-everyone rallied around Madelynn, casting her aside as worthless. She had heard it all before. She should be used to it by now.

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meet Madelynn's eyes. In the delicate gaze,

froze, watching Madelynn wipe her tears. But she subtly

smirk full of mockery.

switched

lips barely moving.

as ever.

to Beatrice. She didn't mean it! Blame me for it. If it can safeguard the family's honor and make up for your loss, I would do anything for you, even sacrificing my reputation." If Beatrice hadn't caught that smug look, merely hearing Madelynn's voice would have

It was at that

moment Beatrice

realized she had

underestimated

Madelynn.

though she had altered events, she had no magical powers-and

in Beatrice's

wasn't foolish enough to admit that

must have weighed the pros and

she confessed, Caden would think her manipulative, and Xander would deem

Caden's trust, and

no one would ever believe

Caden had slept with her,

filthy plaything-that was

coursing through her body, but she was no longer the

Madelynn's ploy brought her a

eyes locked on Beatrice. She

Beatrice ignored her, stepping past and moving

a trace of mockery. He toyed with the ring on his finger lazily, exuding a sense of dangerous indifference, as if Beatrice were merely a toy in his

previous life, every word spoken to her was cold, filled with disdain. He had already decided she

she offered would be dismissed

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Is It

bother explaining

said it-the person in the photo isn't me.

it just now. Why are you

learned from Madelynn in

spun around, her expression

love Mr. Caden! I just didn't

Beatrice turned to Caden, her words deliberate and measured."Is Caden

have ties with

whitening as he clenched his

and harsh. "What did you

man in the world!

his eyes, his

of it almost made Beatrice

quickly averted her gaze to the rest of

anything to say?

turned on her heel to

laden with icy

fell

expected Caden to