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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only to meet Madelynn's eyes. In the delicate gaze, there

But she subtly turned her back

full of

had switched the

moving. Her voice remained as gentle

as ever.

please, show mercy 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

It was at that

moment Beatrice

realized she had

underestimated

Madelynn.

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

in

enough to admit that

must have weighed the pros and cons last night. Did they truly not know the woman's

think her manipulative, and Xander would deem her

would earn Caden's trust, and even Xander would look at her with

would ever

slept

filthy plaything-that was all

she was

her

She was searching for

and

He toyed with the ring on his finger lazily, exuding a sense

in her previous life, every word spoken to her was cold,

she offered would be

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why bother

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

happens between you two is perfectly natural. Caden didn't even deny it

she had learned

around, her expression barely composed, shaking her head

love Mr. Caden! I just

her words deliberate and measured."Is Caden the only man

with in this

knuckles whitening

harsh. "What did you just

the

his eyes, his aura

it

her gaze to the rest

say? If not, I'm tired.

her

was laden with icy

room fell silent,

one had expected Caden to