Chapter 48 Chapter 48: Taking a Blow
Detecting the disdain in Laura’s tone, Kelly smiled and responded:
"Yes, this house was indeed bought for me… I mean, for us, by Brutus. As for being a mistress… you’re giving me too much credit. While Brutus dotes on me, frequently staying by my side and saying that I’m the woman he loves most, I’m nothing more than a concubine. But if you’re okay with it, I’m willing to be his second wife."
"You..."
Laura’s chest heaved with fury, but mindful of her status, she couldn’t resort to violence. Instead, she lashed out with sharp words:
"Women like you, who only know how to seduce married men, will never be given any legitimate standing. My husband will never give you any bright future. You’re still young now, but if you want, I’ll give you some money. Take it and disappear. If I catch you lingering around him again, don’t blame me for being ruthless."
Kelly sneered. How ruthless could she be? Would she have her kidnapped and thrown into the sea like she did with Selena?
"Laura, I’ve heard Brutus confide many times that he never married you out of love. It was all due to family pressure. I pity him. Even if he never makes me his wife, as long as he loves me, I can endure it all."
Laura clenched her fists, trembling with anger. Kelly’s words hit her hardest, for it was true. She and Brutus had married because of their families’ arrangement. She had hoped that after decades together, even without love, they would at least share some bond. But now, with their children grown, he was still having an affair.
She slammed her hands on the table and stood up, shouting:
"Fine, you just wait!"
With that, she stormed out of the villa. Watching her leave, Kelly smiled faintly and placed a hand on her belly.
"Baby, you’ll have to be strong."
Slap.
Slap slap.
Kelly began slapping herself, each hit harder than the last. Soon, her face was swollen, her lip bleeding, and her hair a mess.
Then she stood up, climbed the stairs, and fell backward.
When Brutus arrived at the villa he had bought for Kelly, he found her unconscious on the floor, with a large pool of blood flowing from her thigh.
"Kelly, are you okay? Kelly?"
Kelly struggled to open her eyes. Upon seeing Brutus, she weakly whispered:
"Please... save our baby... sob... just save the baby, and I’ll go away... I won’t try to take you from Laura anymore…"
As she finished speaking, Kelly collapsed into Brutus’s arms. He quickly carried her to the hospital, and after the doctor informed him that the baby was nearly two months old but in critical condition, Brutus was overcome with fury.
Standing beside Kelly's hospital bed, he gazed at the once gentle, beautiful girl now beaten beyond recognition. His thoughts turned to the unborn child, who had suffered even more, and a deep anger surged through him.
That vile woman had controlled him for more than twenty years—wasn't that enough? Now she wanted to take away his only happiness as well?
She deserved to die!
Seething with rage, Brutus stormed out of the hospital room. As soon as the door closed, Kelly opened her eyes, gently touching her belly with a dark, menacing expression.
Laura, if only you had shown empathy for Selena’s situation—being unloved by her husband like you were—and protected her instead of aiding your son and his mistress, you wouldn’t have ended up like this.
So don’t blame me for being ruthless; this is the retribution you deserve.
Meanwhile, Brutus sped home, arriving just as Laura was leisurely sipping tea. Seeing him, she immediately began mocking:
"Finally back, are we? While your brothers have been busy working for the Sterling family, you’ve been off playing without a care in the world, haven’t you?"
Brutus stood still, glaring at Laura with bloodshot eyes, his fists clenched tightly.
Noticing his demeanor, Laura got up and approached him. Her anger from leaving Kelly’s place hadn’t yet subsided, and now, just looking at her useless husband made her chest tighten with frustration.
"Don’t think I don’t know what kind of filthy deeds you’ve been up to. If it weren’t for our son William stepping in, you’d have been roasted alive by our relatives! Stay in line, and don’t bring trouble to me and our children!"
Smack!
A loud slap echoed through the room, leaving Laura stunned as her head snapped to the side, unable to believe what had just happened.
Opposite her, Brutus stood panting in rage. He had never been ambitious for power, so when the Sterling family arranged a business marriage for him, he didn’t object. But that didn’t mean Laura had the right to humiliate him.
For nearly thirty years of marriage, she had often used cruel words to mock him as useless, and he had endured it. But this time, she had crossed the line by hurting the woman he loved and their unborn child. He may not have liked power struggles, but he wasn’t weak.
At forty-seven, Brutus was still handsome and elegant. For the sake of his family’s reputation, even though he didn’t love Laura, he had remained faithful—until he met Kelly.
She wasn’t the most beautiful woman he had encountered, but she was the most genuine, the most gentle, and the one who made him the happiest. With Kelly, he finally understood what family felt like. She never demanded anything, accepting that he had to keep her hidden.
He had already felt guilty, and now Laura’s actions were the final straw, making him despise her with every fiber of his being.
Pointing at her, he roared:
"You’d better pray that Kelly is alright, or I’ll show you exactly what your ‘useless’ husband can do!"
Laura clutched her face, glaring at him with gritted teeth as she snarled:
"You hit me? You hit me because of that mistress?"
"So what if I hit you? I could kill you too! Without me, you’re nothing but a decrepit, pathetic old woman—understand?"
With that, Brutus turned and stormed out, leaving Laura screaming after him.