Chapter 3

I was stunned for a moment, unable to react.

Haley stepped closer, grabbed my shoulders, and shook me violently, her voice filled with anger.

"Don't be an idiot! Your husband is letting his mistress come to your home and provoke you. Why are you still so stubborn, refusing to escape this hell?"

"Wake up, Stephanie! Callum is a complete scumbag. Do you know he was married before you?"

My eyes widened. "What did you say?"

Haley's voice was filled with rage. "You really don't know! Let me tell you, Callum's previous wife was beaten to death by him! Because it was domestic violence, it was treated as a family dispute, and Callum didn't face any punishment."

"Stephanie, listen to me, get out of there as fast as you can!"

I looked at Haley, who was heartbroken and angry, and slowly smiled at her.

"Thank you for telling me this. But I'm sorry, I really can't leave my husband."

Haley left.

Before she walked out, she angrily shouted at me, "Delusional wife is hopeless, just wait for death."

Watching her figure disappear outside the door, I put away my smile and turned back expressionlessly.

She told me all this to persuade me to leave Callum.

But she didn't know that the woman Callum beat to death before, I not only knew her but was very familiar with her.

I reached out and pinched the pearl pendant hanging around my neck, lowering my eyes and murmuring to myself, "See, even the women outside know how tragically you died, sister."

After that day, the next time I saw Callum was in the hospital.

Haley called me, telling me angrily that my dear husband had been beaten up and that I should go see him and pay the hospital fees.

I received the call and hurried to his hospital room. Seeing him black and blue all over, I couldn't hold back my tears.

"Honey, how did you get beaten like this? Who did it? Did you call the police?"

Callum was lying on the hospital bed, groaning in pain. Hearing my words, he got really nervous.

His whole face was swollen, and he was missing a few teeth, making it hard to understand him. But having lived with him for so long, I could understand his meaning from his lip movements.

He said we couldn't call the police, absolutely not.

I was shocked and didn't even have time to ask why when Haley, standing nearby, impatiently explained.

"He lost money gambling last time and owes people hundreds of thousands. Of course, he got beaten up. They said if he doesn't pay back within three days, his life is over."

"If he dares to call the police, they won't even give him three days."

I started sobbing again. "What should we do? Where can we find so much money?"

Before Callum could speak, another person walked in.

I turned to look and was a bit stunned.

It was a tall man, dressed in a sharp, expensive suit, looking very polished and sophisticated.

Seeing him, Callum immediately struggled to get out of bed, muttering, "Mr. Lambert, why are you here..."

Haley helped him up and explained to me, who was still in a daze, "This is our boss at the company, Mr. Lambert."

I nodded and politely greeted him, "Hello, Mr. Lambert."

Leland glanced at me and responded with a noncommittal "Hmm," not looking very interested.

He turned to Callum on the bed and frowned. "Callum, I've told you many times to quit gambling. Why don't you ever learn?"

Callum seemed a bit scared of him and tried to suck up to him. "I can't kick the habit, Mr. Lambert. I'm sorry to trouble you."

They talked for a while longer. Leland had just come to visit after seeing a client and didn't actually intend to offer any help. He left soon after.