The Love I Hid from You

Jameson University's biggest scandal this year was the leaked video of Joy Quinn losing her virginity in the campus group chat. The video was taken in the presidential suite of a five-star hotel. Completely naked, Joy Quinn was pinned against the floor-to-ceiling window by a man a head taller than her. The rhythmic sounds never ceased... Chapter 1 Jameson University's biggest scandal this year was the video of Joy Quinn losing her virginity being sent to the campus group chat. The video was taken in the presidential suite of a five-star hotel. Completely naked, Joy Quinn was pinned against the floor-to-ceiling window by a man a head taller than her, and the rhythmic sounds never ceased. After it was over, the man leaned close to her ear and said, "Good girl." Those mere two words were like a grenade, setting off a huge explosion in the group chat. [Is this voice... Leon Scott's?] [Joy is so scheming. She hooked up with our school director! It’s no wonder the people who bullied her before are quiet now.] [I always thought Joy was innocent, but I never expected her to be a scheming b*tch. She's indeed the daughter of a homewrecker!] When Joy heard the news, she was knitting a scarf for Leon in the dormitory. Her roommate turned the video volume up to the maximum, passed the phone around with a sneer, and deliberately drawled, "Joy, you moan so skillfully. You must've had a lot of practice." There was a burst of laughter. Joy froze on the spot, her face ghastly pale. The scarf she was knitting halfway suddenly fell to the ground as she got up and rushed out of the door. She staggered toward Leon's office, wanting to ask him about the video. Just as she reached the door, she heard taunting voices coming from inside. "Leon, you really don't show any mercy to Joy. You deliberately filmed her face so clearly, leaving her no chance to explain." Joy’s mind nearly exploded, and a chill instantly swept across her body. "It's all her fault. She provoked the woman Leon loved the most. She deserves to be punished." "It's a pity that Leon had to find someone to spread the rumor that Joy's mother was a homewrecker and also pretend to be a savior to deal with her bullies and act affectionately toward her." "By the way, Leon, when are you going to tell her the truth? If that girl finds out that the person she has liked for so long is actually her future brother-in-law, she will probably faint right away. Hahaha..." Leon was lazily sitting on the couch. He tapped his cigarette on the edge of the ashtray with a gloomy expression. The friend next to him saw that he was silent and quickly asked, "Feeling sorry for her? She took great pains to exile Charmaine Quinn abroad for two whole years, and Charmaine almost starved and froze to death there. We can't spare Joy!" Leon finally reacted at the mention of Charmaine's name. He put out his cigarette and replied calmly, "Let’s wait until Charmaine returns home. That day is also the anniversary day that Joy has been looking forward to. I'll give her a 'surprise' and make her pay back everything she owes Charmaine." Joy's breathing paused, and her eyes fell on Leon's indifferent face through the smoke. She felt a searing pain tear through her chest, and the pain turned her vision black. It turned out that Leon had spread those rumors that slandered her mother! Leon pursued her and protected her just for revenge. The person he really loved was her half-sister, Charmaine. Joy could no longer listen and turned around to escape. However, she was blocked by several women after taking only a few steps. "Oh, if it isn't the star of the video…" "You just came out of the office. Are you rushing to a rendezvous again?" Joy's face paled as she tried to escape, but those women pushed her around. Just then, Leon's icy voice rang behind her. "How dare you touch Joy under my watch! Do you have a death wish?" Leon had left the office at some point, and his tall and straight figure sauntered over. When the women saw Leon, they immediately scattered. Leon came over to Joy and raised his hand to help her fix her messy hair. When he leaned over to look at her, he gently caressed her cheek with his fingertips. "Didn't I tell you to mention my name if anyone bullies you again?" The familiar smell of tobacco rushed into Joy's nose, stinging her eyes. The Leon in front of her overlapped with the figure who had protected her countless times in her memory. It was like an old dream. When her mother committed suicide, her father rekindled his relationship with his first love, and her life became not quite unlike an orphan's, lonely. Later, the school began to spread rumors that her mother was a homewrecker and that Charmaine was the legitimate daughter of the Quinn family. As "the daughter of a homewrecker," she could not escape the fate of being bullied. Leon saved her from despair and used his position as the school director to provide her protection. Yesterday was Leon's birthday. The two of them shared a bed under the influence of alcohol. Leon shed his usual elegance and forcefully pressed her against the uncovered floor-to-ceiling window, admiring her body as she trembled. When Leon took her, Joy felt like a long-lost bird that had finally found its nest. Little did she know that it was a calculated trap. Joy fell into a trance. When she came to her senses again, Leon had led her out of the office building and into the front passenger seat of his car. Chapter 2 As usual, Leon leaned over and fastened her seat belt. Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, he comforted her softly, "The video incident was an accident. I'll have someone settle it. You're not in a good state today, so I'll send you home to rest first." Joy pursed her lips slightly, recalling what he had said in the office, and tears uncontrollably poured out of her eyes. Slightly taken aback, Leon raised his hand to wipe away her tears. Then, he remembered something and opened the car door, saying, "Wait for me for a moment. I need to buy something." It was only when the car door closed that Joy realized Leon had taken the wrong phone. His phone was placed in the groove beside the door handle. Driven by a strange impulse, Joy picked it up and keyed in Charmaine's birthday. The phone unlocked successfully and Joy saw Charmaine's name pinned at the top of his WhatsApp. In their recent chat records, Charmaine had asked him if he could break up with Joy before Charmaine returned. Leon replied: [She's just a plaything. I've never truly been with her.] Joy's heart jolted suddenly. Despite the feelings welling up within her, she continued to scroll through the chat. During the two years Charmaine was abroad, Leon called her every day without fail, always around 8pm. It was also the time he mentioned that he had a board meeting and asked Joy not to disturb him under any circumstances. Besides that, he would transfer money to Charmaine every month, amounting to six figures. He did it decisively and without hesitation. Charmaine was also great at being coy. From time to time, she sent a few selfies, fishing for compliments. Leon would reply with cute emojis Joy had never seen before and remind Charmaine not to wear too little and to be careful not to catch a cold. Looking at the chat records, Joy finally realized that she had never known Leon. The gentleness and consideration he showed were just the tip of the iceberg of his passionate love for Charmaine. When Leon returned to the car, he had a box of morning-after pills in his hand. Leon stroked her head and said in an extremely gentle tone, "Last night was a bit rushed. We didn't think it through. Take this, just in case." Joy gripped the medicine box with both hands, her lips almost bleeding from biting her own lips. If she had not heard it with her own ears, she would probably still foolishly think that Leon genuinely cared about her. Now, she was completely sober. After the car stopped in front of the villa, Leon habitually kissed her goodbye, but Joy avoided his kiss and hurriedly unbuckled her seat belt. Leon's eyes darkened as he forcefully held her in his arms. "Are you still upset about the video?" Joy was silent. "I didn't record the video, and the person in charge of the hotel has been fired." Leon lifted her chin. "Joy, I never thought of hurting you and I will never hurt you. Our anniversary is around the corner. I will make it up to you by then." Compared to the truth, these lies disguised as kindness hurt more. Joy pushed Leon away and answered, "I'll go home first." She almost ran into the villa. Unexpectedly, she bumped into her father, Hector Quinn, as soon as she got inside. Hector seemed gloomy. Before Joy could speak, he raised his hand and slapped her hard. "Joy, I really underestimated you. You can date around, but how could you film such a shameless video? You humiliated me! It’s no wonder those people in your school keep picking on you. It turns out that you're filthy and disgusting!" After Hector finished scolding, he threw a plane ticket in front of Joy. "I booked a flight for you that will depart in seven days. When the time comes, get as far away as you can and never come back!" Joy picked up the plane ticket on the ground, her fingers trembling slightly as if it were a verdict stating that she was entirely abandoned by the world. Hector thought she was embarrassing and wanted her to leave. However, it just so happened that she did not want to stay either. Joy replied calmly, "I will leave. I will obey you and never come back." Hector paused, thinking he had heard it wrong. He had arranged for Charmaine to study abroad and tried to persuade Joy to go with her, but Joy refused to go. After repeated questioning, he learned that she had a boyfriend and was deeply in love with the guy. He thought Joy would refuse again, but she unexpectedly agreed. Hector restrained his anger and instructed coldly, "Charmaine will return this weekend. I will hold a welcoming party for her. You should also attend. Since the video is out, it will confirm those rumors if you don't show up." Joy nodded. "Got it." ... Joy asked for three days off from school. She used these three days to pack up all the things Leon had given her, and sold them online at their original prices. Charmaine returned three days later. Hector held a welcoming party for her at the largest hotel in Jameson City, inviting all the big shots in the business world, including Leon. Joy did not expect to meet Leon on such an occasion. When she turned around to leave, Leon grabbed her wrist and dragged her into a corner, no one else around. Leon pinned her against the wall, his arms pressing on either side of her as his hot breath brushed against her ear. "You didn't go to school these days, didn't reply to my messages, and didn't even prepare anything for our anniversary. Joy, do you know how worried I’ve been about you?" Chapter 3 He stared at her, clearly dissatisfied with her lack of contact. Joy pursed her lips and gathered her courage to meet Leon's gaze. "It turns out that Mr. Scott was worried about an insignificant sexual partner." Joy, who was always well-behaved and obedient, suddenly lost her temper, which shocked Leon a little. He suddenly pulled Joy closer, his arm wrapped tightly around her waist. "Sexual partner? It only happened once in two years. How can you call this a casual sex relationship?" Joy had no idea what had come over Leon. He gripped her chin and was about to kiss her. Just then, a voice rang out beside them. "Leon, you're here. Charmaine was looking for you." Leon frowned slightly, let go of Joy, and replied, "Got it. I'll be there right away." Joy pretended to be surprised and asked Leon, "Do you know my sister?" "They're not just acquaintances. Their relationship is even more exciting than you can imagine. Joy, just wait to be amazed." Leon's friend had a taunting look on his face. When the two walked away, a trace of mockery flickered in Joy's eyes. These people thought she was still being kept in the dark and wanted to humiliate her today. Little did they know that she had long adjusted her mental state and was ready to cut all ties with Leon. The dinner party was in full swing when the lights suddenly went out. A spotlight instantly shone on the stage. Leon, dressed in a crisp suit, appeared in front of everyone with Charmaine, who wore a white gown. Hector smiled, raised his hand to signal silence, and announced loudly, "We invited everyone here today to first welcome Charmaine, who has returned from studying abroad and, second, to announce some good news. The Quinn family and the Scott family are old friends. Charmaine and Leon were arranged to be wed many years ago. Now that they're in love, the engagement party will be held at the end of the month. Please become witnesses to their happiness then!"​ After Hector finished speaking, Leon's friends looked at Joy at the same time, waiting to see her break down, but Joy just stood quietly in the crowd, her expression calm, as if everything happening on stage had nothing to do with her. Leon frowned slightly. He had imagined Joy losing control of her emotions when she learned about his relationship with Charmaine, but she was a little too calm right now. Leon inexplicably felt annoyed. Charmaine keenly sensed that something was off with him and asked quickly, "Leon, what's wrong?" Leon subtly withdrew his gaze. "Nothing. I was just a little distracted." He knew very well that Joy was deeply in love with him. There was no way Joy was unperturbed; she was just pretending. ... Joy went to the washroom and washed her face with cold water. Recalling her love for Leon, she felt so stupid. It was no wonder he had only touched her once in two years. It was not because he cherished her, but because he was unbothered. The first night she had always cherished was only the perfect material for him to ruin her reputation. As soon as Joy returned to the banquet hall, Hector called her over. "Joy, come and say hello to your brother-in-law." Joy walked up to Leon and displayed a perfect smile. "Hello, Leon." Leon's expression froze when he heard her. Charmaine was unaware of this and answered with a smile, "Joy, I heard that Leon is a board member at your school. What a coincidence. If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to ask Leon for help. After all, we're all family." Joy gritted her teeth and uttered, "I won't cause trouble for Leon." She did not look at Leon's expression, but she could feel his cold gaze. As if wrapped in the cold wind of winter, she trembled all over. After some small talk, Joy prepared to leave. Charmaine stepped forward and took her arm, feigning intimacy as she said, "Joy, we haven't seen each other for a long time. I have a lot to say to you." She dragged Joy to the lounge without saying anything. As soon as the door closed, Charmaine put away her smile and replaced it with an icy expression. "Joy, I heard that you slept with Leon, and the video was spread everywhere. Do you think you can steal his heart using such despicable means? To tell you the truth, he doesn't like you at all. Not only does he dislike you, but he also hates you! I asked him to spread the fact that your mother is a homewrecker. I also instructed him to pursue you. I just wanted to see you fall in love with him, only to be destroyed by him!" Chapter 4 Joy asked, "Why?" "Why? Of course, it's because you don't know your place. Your mom has been dead for years, yet you’re still trying to hold onto the Quinn family's fortune? Those things are supposed to be mine. What right does a daughter of a homewrecker like you have to enjoy the Quinn family's splendor and wealth?" Joy could tolerate everything, but she could not stand her mother being insulted. She rushed up to Charmaine, her voice squeezing through her teeth, "My mom isn't a homewrecker. She had no idea you and your mom existed when she married Dad. You drove her to her death!" Charmaine did not expect Joy to talk back to her and was about to hit her. Just then, the lounge door was suddenly pushed open. Charmaine caught Leon's figure out of the corner of her eye. She quickly grabbed the nuts on the table and stuffed them into her mouth. The next second, she collapsed limply and mumbled, "Joy, why did you force me to eat this? I'm allergic to nuts..." Leon rushed toward Charmaine and pushed Joy away. Joy staggered backward, and her back hit the coffee table behind her. With a crash, the cups on the coffee table shattered. The glass shards pricked Joy's hands, making them bleed profusely. ​ Leon did not even glance at her. He quickly crouched and held Charmaine in his arms. "Charmaine, are you okay?" Teary-eyed, Charmaine helplessly grabbed Leon's arm. "I just wanted to catch up with Joy. I don't know how I offended her. She suddenly forced me to eat those snacks... Look at me. Do I have rashes on my body?" Leon looked down and saw Charmaine's body breaking out in large patches of red rashes at a speed visible to the naked eye. "What should I do? The party isn't over yet. I can't embarrass you. Makeup... Yes, I need to cover it with makeup!" Leon clamped Charmaine's wrist. "This is no time to think about these things. Come on, I'll take you to the hospital." Leon picked up Charmaine in his arms and glared at Joy before leaving. Joy endured the excruciating pain and got up. The blood from her hands kept pouring out, and the hem of her skirt was soaked red in the blink of an eye. However, she did not feel the pain. It was as if all her senses were taken away after falling into an abyss. She asked an attendant to bring the medical kit, and she bandaged the wounds with difficulty. After all the work, Joy was exhausted and was about to leave with heavy steps. As soon as she entered the corridor, several figures suddenly jumped out and dragged her to the storage room next door without saying anything. Then, a big hand grabbed her chin and forced her to look up. High-concentration chili pepper water was immediately poured into her mouth. Joy widened her eyes in horror. She was allergic like Charmaine, but to peppers. This much pepper water was enough to kill her! "Ugh... Let me go..." Joy struggled desperately. However, those people did not give her a chance to resist at all. They poured glass after glass of chili pepper water into her mouth. She choked until her face turned red. Her body twitched violently and uncontrollably. Her injured hands scratched weakly on the ground, making a heart-wrenching sound. Seeing her in such a state, those people not only did not stop but also insulted her more harshly. "Charmaine is the apple of Leon's eyes. How dare you touch her? Don't you know your place?" "I heard that you were bullied a lot in school. You've probably hooked up with many men. How could someone as proud and arrogant as Leon want a filthy woman like you?" "Finish the chili pepper water as an apology to Charmaine or you'll suffer!" Joy's vision became more and more blurred, and her consciousness gradually began to fade. She used up her last bit of strength and pretty much unconsciously said Leon's name, "Leon..." As soon as she finished speaking, a mocking laugh rang out overhead. "Hahaha! You're not counting on Leon to save you, are you?" "He made us feed you the chili pepper water. You hurt Charmaine. He's hoping you'll die!" "Come on, let's tear her clothes to shreds, take a photo, and send it to Leon. We’ll help Leon vent his anger!" The men rushed up and tore Joy's dress to shreds in the blink of an eye. They kept taking photos of the dying and disheveled Joy until she could no longer take it and passed out. Chapter 5 When Joy woke up, she was already lying on a hospital bed. Leon was sitting beside the bed, working on his laptop. As if sensing something, he looked up at Joy. Their eyes met, and Leon subtly breathed a sigh of relief, but his tone remained as icy as ever. "Does it feel good to be bullied? Remember this lesson and don't give Charmaine trouble ever again." Joy silently turned her head away, a tear quietly sliding down from the corner of her eye. In the past, she had viewed Leon as her savior. However, how was his behavior now any different from that of her bullies? Leon looked at the silent girl on the hospital bed and felt uneasy for some reason. He thought, 'She acted out of jealousy and harmed Charmaine. She deserves to be in this state. However, why do I feel heartbroken when I see her crying?' Just then, a young nurse pushed the door open. "Mr. Scott, the air conditioning in Ms. Quinn's ward broke down..." Leon frowned. "If it's broken, just fix it. Do you need to inform me of such a trivial matter?" "We've already reported it for repair, but the repairman will only arrive in an hour. Ms. Quinn keeps saying she's cold, and the hospital has no extra wards for her..." Hearing this, Leon immediately stood up. "Is this how the hospital handles things? Does it take this long to fix an air conditioner? Charmaine has always had poor health and can't handle the cold. Have Joy go over there and switch Charmaine to this ward." He frowned deeply. "Well..." The young nurse looked at Joy on the bed, somewhat hesitantly. Joy was allergic to chili peppers and was fed so much chili pepper water. She survived, but her esophagus and gastric mucosa were severely injured. Any slight mishap would put her in danger again. Charmaine just had some nuts. Getting some allergy shots would make her better. However, the suffering Joy endured seemed to be insignificant to Leon. Leon asked, "Why are you still standing there? If Charmaine freezes, this hospital can forget about continuing operations!" Now that Leon had said that, the young nurse could only obey. Soon, Joy was transferred to Charmaine's ward. Leon went to accompany Charmaine, leaving Joy lying alone in a daze in the huge ward. Recalling everything she had experienced during this period, she could no longer suppress her emotions and broke out in tears. A chill came over her as she cried. Looking toward the chill, Joy suddenly discovered that the air conditioner was on and was blowing out cold air! She instantly understood everything. Charmaine deliberately said that the air conditioner broke down just to switch her over so that she could suffer in the cold and so that Charmaine could vent her anger. As the temperature in the ward lowered, Joy felt the cold seeping into her bones. Even her teeth were trembling. She tried to call for help, but her throat was so swollen that she could not make a sound. She reached for the call bell, but her arm was weak and fell back down after a few seconds. Joy lost all hope and could only curl up, trying to hold on to the last bit of warmth. After an unknown amount of time, someone finally found her, who was forgotten in despair. When Joy tried to open her eyes, she saw Charmaine's gloating face. "Joy, look at you. What's the difference between you and a stray dog? "Leon made you suffer just to help me get justice. Now, everyone has photos of you being abused. They're all making fun of you. "By the way, a pornography company just contacted me and asked if you would like to be the heroine of their next film. Hahaha..." Charmaine laughed as she spoke. When she stopped laughing, she suddenly grabbed the most severely ulcerated part of Joy’s arm and pinched it hard. Blood gushed out and Joy felt her vision go black. "So, do you finally understand who he loves? If you know what's good for you, admit that your mother is a homewrecker and disappear from my sight. Spare me from feeling nauseous every time I see your face!" The light in Joy's eyes faded, replaced by endless silence. Disappear? She would. Soon, she would go to a foreign country and never look back. Chapter 6 The day before she would leave abroad, Hector sent someone to pick up his two daughters from the hospital. Joy and Charmaine got into the same car. Unexpectedly, halfway through the ride, the driver suddenly changed directions onto a small road. By the time Joy sensed something was off, the car had already stopped in front of an abandoned factory. The driver opened the car door, and two fierce-looking abductors rushed up and dragged her and Charmaine out. Terrified, Charmaine shouted at the top of her lungs, "Help! Let me go!" Joy was also stunned. Their father had arranged the driver. How could he have been bribed by the abductors? While she was deep in thought, the two were thrown into a shoddy room. The abductor said icily, "One of you is Leon's fiancée and the other is Leon's future sister-in-law. It's not too much for me to ask him for a ransom of 100 million dollars." Charmaine widened her eyes. Before she could speak, the abductors had already dialed Leon's phone number and put it on speaker. "Hello?" Leon's deep voice came through the receiver. The abductor gave Charmaine a look, and Charmaine immediately sobbed, "Leon, it's me. I'm Charmaine! I... I've been abducted. They're demanding a ransom of 100 million dollars..." Leon's tone instantly turned cold. "Don't touch Charmaine! Send the account number over and the money will be transferred immediately." Hearing this, the abductor held the phone to Joy's mouth again. "Say a few words too. If Leon adds another five million dollars, we can release you too." Joy clenched her fists. Leon hated her. He would not be willing to spend money to save her. Just as she was thinking about what to say, another abductor came up to his accomplice and whispered, "Boss, didn't Ms. Joy say 100 million dollars? Why..." Although the abductor's voice was not loud, Leon, on the other end of the phone, heard it. Leon's fingers grasped the phone tightly. His face was so gloomy. He thought, 'It turns out that Joy and the abductors were in cahoots! It’s no wonder the driver was bribed and the abductors asked me for 100 million dollars.' Leon answered coldly, "Whether Joy lives or dies has nothing to do with me. Do whatever you want!" Since Joy wanted money so much, he would give it to her to end their ill-fated relationship. Hearing this, Joy's heart sank to her stomach. It turned out that Leon really wanted her dead... He never loved her and only felt endless hatred toward her. ... Not long after, there was the sound of emergency brakes outside the warehouse. Leon rushed into the warehouse and hugged Charmaine in his arms. Then, he glanced at Joy in the corner as if he was looking at trash and said to the abductors, "The money has been transferred. You can do whatever you want with Joy. Whether to sell her to a remote area or kill her is up to you." Joy watched Leon walk away with Charmaine in his arms. After the two left, the abductors stopped pretending and displayed a mocking expression. "I heard that you slept with Leon before. I thought he would have some feelings for you. Who knew he would be reluctant to pay a mere five million dollars? It shows that your status is worse than a pet to him!" Joy looked at the abductors indifferently. "You got the money. Can I leave now?" The abductors seemed to have heard a joke. "Leave? We've got the money, but our job isn't done. Just wait and enjoy yourself!" The two men rushed toward Joy with a sly smile and tore off her clothes. The next second, a hot cigarette butt burned her skin! Joy screamed miserably, and cold sweat and tears streamed down her face. Seeing her in such a disheveled state, the abductor became even more excited. "I heard that this is how you were bullied in school. Today, we'll help you relive that experience." "Boss, why don't we brand her?" "Sure, what word shall we use?" "Slut. It's perfect for her! Hahaha..." The cigarette butt pressed against her legs, her waist, and her back. Joy was sweating profusely from the pain and almost lost consciousness. After some time, the two finally stopped and walked away, laughing maniacally. Joy curled up, her body twitching from time to time. It was not until the sky darkened and the piercing pain gradually faded that she struggled to get up. Holding herself against the wall, she staggered forward. Chapter 7 Joy flagged down a car by the roadside and made her way home. Little did she know that she would see a heart-wrenching scene as soon as she entered the building. Wrapped in a blanket, Charmaine was curled up on the couch, looking like a wounded kitten. Leon was beside her, cautiously feeding her soup, spoonful by spoonful. Out of the corner of his eye, Leon saw Joy. His gaze was like a sharp knife, carrying an almost tangible sense of disgust. "How dare you come back!" Hector strode forward and slapped Joy hard. Joy felt the world spin and almost lost her balance. "I know you're unhappy about Charmaine's return, but she's your sister after all. Aren't you afraid of traumatizing her with such a prank? If Leon hadn't arrived in time, who knows what would have happened?!" Charmaine was inwardly gloating but hypocritically advised, "Dad, don't hit Joy. I'm fine, aren't I?" "Don't speak up for this brat!" " Hector's chest rose and fell violently, looking extremely furious. Joy stood still, her ears buzzing. The next second, Leon, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "Apologize to Charmaine." The man's tone was icy. Joy gritted her teeth. She did not know where she got the courage from, but she retorted, "I won't apologize." She understood it when the kidnappers tortured her. Charmaine had arranged the kidnapping to frame her and make her the vicious sister. She did nothing wrong. Why should she apologize? Charmaine sighed and pretended to be generous. "Forget it, Leon. Joy probably didn't do it on purpose. I don't want to ruin our bond as sisters..." "She almost killed you. Is it too much to ask for an apology?" Leon stared at Joy, the disgust in his eyes intensifying. When did Joy become so wild and unruly? Hector was also angered by Joy's stubbornness. He grabbed Joy's arm and dragged her over to Charmaine. It was when Joy groaned in pain that he noticed that her arm was densely covered with burns. Hector frowned. Just when he was about to ask what happened, he heard Leon say icily, "You put yourself in such a state to frame Charmaine. Joy, you really took the words 'by any means necessary' to a whole new level." Hector heard this, and his confusion instantly dissipated, replaced by a stronger sense of fury. He grabbed Joy's shoulders and pressed down hard, forcing her to kneel heavily on the ground. "You exist because of me, but it seems that you have completely forgotten this!" Joy raised her head numbly and met Leon's icy gaze. He hugged Charmaine, looking condescending as if he was examining a prisoner, while Joy knelt in front of him, her dignity long since crushed. Leon was inexplicably uneasy about her stubborn gaze. He repeated coldly. "Joy, as long as you apologize to Charmaine, I can let this matter go." Joy burst into laughter when she heard that. She glared at Leon with red eyes and uttered, "Let me repeat myself. I won't apologize. You can kill me or cut me up as you like." Leon froze, and the little pity left in his eyes disappeared. After that, Hector continued to beat and scold her. Joy was already very weak, and she soon lay on the ground and lost consciousness. ... Joy had no idea how long she had been unconscious. When she woke up, the living room was empty. She endured the excruciating pain all over her body, supported herself on the couch with both hands, and staggered back to her room to check her luggage. Before closing the suitcase, Charmaine's voice came from behind. Charmaine leaned against the door frame with a contemptuous smile. "Do you like the farewell gift I prepared for you? I wanted to keep you until the engagement party so that you could give me and Leon your blessing, but unfortunately, Dad refused. "He felt that you had humiliated the Quinn family and didn't want you to stay here for a second longer. "Joy, never come back after you leave. After all, this family is only complete without you. Also, thank you for being my husband's free plaything for two years. You made sure that he wasn't so lonely without me.” Joy pursed her lips tightly and said nothing. The suitcase closed with a thud, also sealing her last trace of nostalgia she felt for this family. Before dawn the next day, Joy boarded a flight to go abroad. She left resolutely. Before boarding the plane, she deleted all of Leon's contact information without hesitation. The plane flew across the vast sky, leaving white chemtrails and completely ending her disgraceful past.