Chapter 1
The door to the Royal Suite burst open, interrupting the conversation between the two occupants. They turned their heads, the striking resemblance between them blurring the lines of their identities, their exquisite features almost breathtaking. A closer look revealed that the one lying on the hospital bed, Jasper Hawthorne, bore a subtle tension in his brow, while the one in the patient gown, William Hawthorne, appeared softer and more vulnerable. “What’s going on, Jasper?” William inquired nonchalantly from his spot by the bed. “Edmund Blackwood and Simon Ashford just stepped into the elevator,” a doctor named Lydia Voss replied as he shut the door and quickly approached. “We need to move. If we don’t hurry, it’ll be too late.” “Jinny, let’s go. I’ll take care of everything here,” William said, gently helping his brother up from the bed. “Bro, you…” Jasper, confined to a wheelchair, grabbed William's arm, worry etched across his face. “Don’t worry,” William reassured him, a gentle pressure on his shoulder signaling strength and comfort, “I’ll set things right.” Lydia tossed the patient gown to William, a hint of urgency in her voice. “Please be careful.” William nodded in acknowledgment. Only moments after he slid under the thin hospital sheets and donned the patient gown, the door swung open again. A pale, beautiful woman entered and immediately dropped to her knees at the foot of the bed. “Jasper Hawthorne, I’m so sorry. I had no idea you were pregnant…” Her voice choked with tears, she sobbed openly, her fragile shoulders trembling as if under immense emotional burden. William might have felt compassion for her if he didn’t already know the full story. Before he could respond, a tall man stepped in behind her and pulled her into his protective embrace, his brow furrowed with displeasure. “Xiuwen, even if he lost the baby, it’s you who is hurting. You shouldn’t be kneeling before him.” William raised his gaze, taking in the man—Edmund Blackwood, striking with sharp features and a well-tailored gray suit that only amplified his imposing presence. Clearly, the kid had decent taste, if only he had better judgment; losing a child because of a scoundrel like him was unforgivable. “You knew I would avenge my brother, didn’t you?” William thought as the scene unfolded before him, a burning determination igniting within him.
Chapter 2
“No, William, it’s all my fault. If I hadn’t slipped and bumped into Jasper Hawthorne, maybe your child would still be okay...” Simon Ashford’s voice broke as he spoke, a mix of shame and sorrow choking him up. Edmund Blackwood quickly reached out to comfort him, saying, “You know that there’s no love between us, and we were destined for divorce anyway. Perhaps this is for the best.” William Hawthorne scoffed silently. Best arrangement? Definitely the best for a scoundrel like that, who didn’t deserve to have children. He felt an urge to grab the fruit knife from the table to teach this cheating couple a lesson. “Are you two done putting on your little show?” William said, barely containing his disdainful chuckle. “If you’re finished, get out. I need to rest.” At these words, Edmund Blackwood frowned, unable to hold back his irritation. “You…” Simon Ashford managed to stop his sobbing and turned to him. “William, could you step outside for a moment? I need to talk to Jasper alone.” Edmund glanced at Simon, clearly uneasy about leaving him alone with Jasper, but eventually stepped out of the hospital room. As the door clicked shut, the remorse on Simon's face vanished, replaced by a cocky grin that was almost dizzying in its rapid transformation. He dragged a chair over, claiming it with a casual flair. William considered this the real Simon Ashford revealed, and he was more than ready for him. “Jasper Hawthorne,” Simon said, leaning back with arms crossed and one leg propped up, “that little kneel I just did was my way of showing respect. Just don’t go spreading tales about your miscarriage.” Jasper had warned him before that Simon was always lurking around, ready to charm Edmund Blackwood, openly ignoring the fact that he was married. William couldn't help but scoff, “What, you’re itching to be Mrs. Blackwood, huh?” “Right? You’ve noticed. Jasper and I have feelings for each other. It’s only natural for us to be together,” Simon boasted, a triumphant gleam in his eye. “Besides, the only reason Edmund didn’t leave you right away was because of the baby. Now that you’ve lost that little bargaining chip, what’s stopping him from moving on? Are you seriously thinking there’s still a chance for you to get pregnant?” William felt a cold dread wash over him. “What? You didn’t know?” Simon leaned closer, feigning sympathy as he whispered, “I heard from the doctor that, because your health is already compromised, after this miscarriage, you probably won’t be able to conceive again.” William's pupils dilated as the words registered—he had rushed back from overseas to see Jinny, thinking only of her miscarriage, not knowing the full extent of her condition. It made sense now why Jinny had been coughing up blood; this news hit him like a ton of bricks. He was glad he stayed; if he had let Jinny experience that again, her health could take a turn for the worse. Simon studied William's expression intently, seeing him stagger under the weight of the truth, and pressed on, “I suggest you divorce Edmund as soon as possible. At least then, you can still grab something for yourself. If you drag this out, I swear I’ll make sure you get nothing.”
Chapter 3
William Hawthorne felt a pang of sympathy for his foolish brother. How could Simon Ashford bully him to this extent? William quickly regained his composure; he not only wouldn’t let Simon get away with his manipulative schemes, but he also intended to settle the score, piece by piece. “Our Hawthorne family isn’t short on funds, so don’t think I’ll be the one to initiate a divorce,” William sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “You should really reconsider that wish of yours—it’s better left in your dreams.” Simon Ashford, who had never dealt directly with Jasper Hawthorne, had only gleaned that he was somewhat mild-mannered and often went out of his way to accommodate others. He hadn’t anticipated Jasper would snap back at him so mercilessly. It seemed the recent turmoil had brought out a fiercer side of him. Yet, regardless of any changes, Simon knew he was still Jasper’s nemesis. “Oh, you’re dreaming, then. Let me jog your memory,” Simon said with feigned confidence as he snapped his fingers. “You two only spent the wedding night together; after that, your lovely brother refused to see you. You don't honestly think he sleeps by himself in that office every night, do you?” William remained silent, fully aware that Simon was trying to provoke him. If Jinny knew that her beloved husband wasn’t by her side but was rather building a love nest with some other woman, she wouldn’t be able to take it. But for now, it was all about him, William Hawthorne. He felt nothing but disdain for Edmund Blackwood and wished to see him grovel before Jinny for his transgressions. Simon's tactic had clearly failed. As thoughts of vengeance brewed in his mind, William nonchalantly pulled out his phone, raising his eyebrows with mischief. “From what you’re saying, you seem quite pleased with yourself for trying to seduce someone else’s husband.” Simon quickly observed William’s actions, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. “What are you planning to do?” William smirked, a hint of mockery dancing in his eyes. “If you’re so certain of yourself, why don’t you say that again? I’d love to see how much power you think this mistress of yours holds.” Caught off guard that the distraught spouse had the audacity to counteract, Simon awkwardly stood up, his mask slipping as he cried out, “Stop with your lowly tricks of secretly recording me!” The audacity of a mere mistress accusing him of underhanded tactics sent William into a fit of laughter. “I know why you’re so desperate for me to file for divorce,” William said, voice steady as he laid bare Simon's sly intentions. “It’s because, legally, the one at fault in a relationship is usually left with nothing when a divorce is finalized.” Taking an objective stance, William precipitated Simon's diabolical scheme, “I might consider the divorce option, but…” Simon’s face lit up at the mention of divorce, his moment of joy extinguished in an instant as William continued, “But I will make sure your reputation as that shameless mistress will be utterly destroyed, and you’ll find yourself begging at my feet for forgiveness.” The moment the words left his lips, the door to the hospital room swung open, and Edmund Blackwood’s shocked expression registered every single word. “Jasper Hawthorne, how can you be so vicious?” Simon’s back was to Edmund, but at the sound of his name, he dramatically transformed from a figure of arrogance to one crushed by despair. It was if he had lost all strength, his legs buckling as he sank helplessly to the ground.
Chapter 4
William Hawthorne chuckled inwardly as he watched the drama unfold before him, thinking that such talent should not go unnoticed—if only Edmund Blackwood’s acting skills could be put to better use. “Simon, Simon, are you okay?” Edmund Blackwood rushed to Simon Ashford’s side, trying to offer comfort. Simon looked shattered, his face pale and lips trembling as he murmured, “You still won’t forgive me... Yes, it’s my fault. I acted thoughtlessly. You lost your child because of me... I’m a terrible person... I deserve this...” Edmund shook Simon Ashford hard, “Don’t blame yourself, Simon! You didn’t mean for this to happen.” “No... It’s all my fault. I should have never fallen for you, Edmund. Maybe if I’m gone, you’ll find peace…” Edmund's brows furrowed deeply at the mention of death, “Simon, stop talking like that.” Suddenly, Simon’s gaze shot to a specific point in the room, as if something had seized his attention. With a swift motion, he broke free from Edmund’s grasp and lunged for the bedside table where a fruit knife lay. William Hawthorne leaned back comfortably against the elevated headboard, taking in every moment of the unfolding spectacle with keen interest. If circumstances allowed, he would have gladly assisted Simon, handing him the knife, but he knew better. Would Simon truly harm himself? William would bet his life that he wouldn’t. After all, Simon’s sights were set on the Third Lady of Blackwood Estate; he wouldn’t leave this world before achieving his goal. As soon as Edmund realized what Simon intended to do, he instinctively dashed forward. The moment Simon grabbed the knife, Edmund lunged after him, determined to wrest it away. The sharp blade sliced through the air without hesitation. Simon proved to be fierce, not holding back as he managed to score a long cut across Edmund's palm. Ignoring the sting of the pain, Edmund focused on the immediate threat and yanked the knife from Simon’s grip, flinging it against the door, where it thudded heavily. Blood poured from the gash on his hand, dripping steadily onto the floor of the hospital room. William raised an eyebrow in surprise. This Edmund Blackwood did seem quite devoted—he’d bravely stopped Simon from harming himself, his hand now painted red with blood as he maintained his calm facade. He certainly displayed a level of character that was admirable. Simon seemed to finally grasp the gravity of his actions; he sobbed and shouted, before collapsing into unconsciousness. Edmund, disregarding his own injury, quickly gathered Simon into his arms. “Simon, Simon…” William watched, contemplating Simon’s dramatic display. Did he truly want to witness how deeply Edmund cared for him? If this would have worked on Jasper Hawthorne, for William, it was merely unwarranted entertainment. After a moment of thought, William slowly lifted his hand, pressing the emergency call button beside the bed to summon a doctor for Edmund. Consider it a small act of courtesy between the distressed "couple."
Chapter 5
The doctor arrived swiftly, perplexed by the sight of two new patients on the floor while the one on the bed seemed stable. Simon Ashford was hurriedly taken away on a stretcher, while a nurse assisted Edmund Blackwood in pressing down on his palm. Just as Edmund was about to step away, he suddenly noticed something and turned to meet the cold gaze of William Hawthorne. "I hope you won't cause any more trouble for Jinny," he said softly. William Hawthorne scoffed, appreciating the fierce protectiveness Edmund had for his beloved. Still, that wasn’t enough for him to relent. Slowly, a look of unyielding determination washed over his features. "Listen carefully, Edmund Blackwood: I won’t let either of you off the hook." On a battlefield devoid of spectators, William stood like a king, dismissing the opinions of others as he declared his own war. Edmund blinked in surprise, realizing that the man before him felt like a stranger—not the William he thought he knew. "Sir, there’s too much blood. We need to stop the bleeding now," the nurse urged from the side. Finally, Edmund turned his attention back to the nurse and followed her out of the hospital room. --- William Hawthorne spent five days in the hospital. He had Lydia Voss help him forge medical records while he used that time to sort through his brother's complicated feelings for Edmund Blackwood. Despite her delicate appearance, Jinny was stubbornly determined to marry Edmund, even against her better judgment. William initially thought his gentle demeanor and understanding might sway Edmund, but it became evident that his affection was misplaced. When it comes to matters of the heart, no one can be compelled to love in return. If it were solely about Edmund’s indifference toward Jinny, he would have advised her to walk away from the unresponsive man. But Simon Ashford had crossed a line; he wouldn’t allow anyone to bully Jinny. On the day he was discharged, William packed his belongings. Honestly, he wasn’t holding out hope that Edmund would show up. Their marriage was merely a formality; they were hardly more than strangers. As expected, Edmund didn’t come. William felt no disappointment—he caught a cab from the hospital directly to his luxurious villa. With autumn in full swing and the air crisp and clear, William, dressed in a pristine white shirt, stood tall and handsome. He lifted his gaze to the two-story villa before him. His long, thick lashes framed captivating eyes—his natural, moisturized lips curled into a soft smile, an effortless testament to the brilliance of creation. The driver had hardly paid any attention to him during the ride, but upon catching a glimpse of William in the rearview mirror, he couldn't help but ask, "Hey, buddy, are you a star?" William turned to the driver, his lips curving into a playful smirk. "Not a star." "What a shame," the middle-aged driver replied, shaking his head regretfully. "I think you look way better than those celebs my daughter goes crazy over." Feeling uplifted by the compliment, William gathered his things and strode into his villa. ### Chapter 3: Taking on the Servants Jinny’s villa was located in a serene area, far removed from the bustling Downtown Market. Whenever William thought of the disloyal Edmund Blackwood, he likened this place to the cold palace of a forgotten concubine in ancient times. Perfectly suited for executing his plans for revenge.
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