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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looked up only to meet Madelynn's eyes. In the delicate gaze, there was a flicker

Madelynn wipe her tears. But she

full of mockery. Full

had switched

barely moving. Her voice

as ever.

loss, I would do anything for you, even sacrificing my

It was at that

moment Beatrice

realized she had

underestimated

Madelynn.

she had no magical powers-and her enemies certainly hadn't

in Beatrice's

to admit that the woman

He and Xander must have weighed the pros and cons last night. Did they truly not know

think her manipulative, and Xander

this show of righteousness would earn Caden's trust, and even Xander would

one would ever believe Beatrice

if Caden had slept

plaything-that was

through her body, but she was no

brought her a sense of

faltered, her eyes locked on Beatrice. She was searching

Beatrice ignored her, stepping past and moving to

His gaze was cold, filled with 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 hand.

previous life, every word spoken to her was cold,

explanation she offered would

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Is

bother explaining

photo isn't me. Since Madelynn won't admit it, why

isn't it strange, Madelynn? You and Caden are engaged. Whatever happens between you two is perfectly natural. Caden didn't even deny it just now. Why are you in such a rush to explain?

she had learned from Madelynn

face stiffened. She spun around, her

I just didn't

hate lying so much, why slander me? And besides..." Beatrice turned to Caden, her words deliberate and measured."Is Caden the only man in the world? Couldn't I

have ties with in this

eyes darkened, his knuckles whitening as he clenched his

harsh. "What

defiantly."I said, Caden isn't the only man in the

his eyes, his

force of it almost made Beatrice

her gaze to the rest of

say? If not, I'm

on her heel to

with

fell

had expected Caden to