Hadi could barely breathe. His face flushed beet red, veins bulging as he clutched himself, legs trembling.
He leaned heavily against the car, barely stopping himself from collapsing entirely.
"You… you crazy bitch…" he hissed through clenched teeth, eyes blazing with fury and humiliation. "A vicious woman like you… divorce. I want a divorce!"
The woman tilted her head slightly.
Under the veil, a slow, unreadable smile curved her lips.
"Husband, don't say things you don't mean," she murmured. "It was just… roughhousing between couples. Don't be so serious. I know you can't live without me."
Hadi stared at her as if he wished sheer hatred could strike her dead.
"Get out of here!" he roared. "Do you really think Grandma doesn't know what kind of poisonous bitch you are? Harm me again and she won't believe your lies anymore!"
The woman showed not the slightest sign of panic. Instead, her gaze slid past him, sharp and penetrating, locking onto the Bentley's backseat.
"I heard," she said lightly, "that you recently bought this villa. What is it for?"
Inside the car, Venice broke out in goosebumps. Cold sweat soaked her back, her fingers trembling as she clutched her handbag.
She tried to calm herself, only to realize the car still hadn't moved.
In front of them stood a man in a chauffeur's uniform, blocking the way as if rooted to the ground.
Venice's irritation flared. "You," she snapped at the driver, "why aren't you driving?"
The driver scratched his head awkwardly. Instead of starting the engine, he glanced at her through the rearview mirror and lowered his voice.
"I don't want to meddle," he said cautiously, "but you look young. In case you're unaware… the wife of the second young master is not an easy person to deal with."
Venice's face darkened.
"Since you don't want to meddle, then don't say unnecessary things," she scolded. "Brother Hadi already told you to take me back. If anything happens to me, you'll be the one facing his wrath."
Her words had barely fallen when an agonizing scream tore through the air outside, sharp enough to make her heart jolt.
Hadi was rolling on the scorching pavement, clutching his stomach, his face twisted in agony.
He had thought he finally had an opening, his fist swinging toward his wife, only to be stopped short by a black umbrella that seemed to materialize out of nowhere.
The tip jabbed down mercilessly.
Another howl burst from his throat.
"Drive!" Venice shrieked, panic clawing at her chest. "Didn't I tell you to drive?!"
She didn't dare step out of the car. Whatever foolish courage she might have pretended to possess evaporated at the sight of Hadi utterly overwhelmed.
If even he couldn't protect himself, what chance did she have?
More importantly, Venice was no fool.
Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach. She was pregnant. This was not the time to play some love warrior rushing into battle.
One wrong move and she could lose everything.
As long as she successfully gave birth to Hadi's child, her place in his heart and her foothold among the elites would be secure. Unshakable.
She cast a final glance at the woman in black through the tinted glass, her eyes narrowing.
No matter how tightly Hadi's wife clung to him, without a child, she was nothing more than a useless, barren hen who couldn't lay eggs.
The driver finally managed to inch the car forward, though only because the woman had graciously decided not to escalate the situation further.
"Are you trying to kill me?" Hadi hissed, torn between fury and genuine agony. "Hurry up and help me up!"
His wife relented and slipped an arm under his, supporting him as he staggered to his feet.
"Since this villa belongs to you," she said pleasantly, "why don't we go inside and have some tea? Are there already furnishings, or should I make do with something?"
Hadi shoved her the moment he was steady enough to stand. "Who said I bought this place so you could host your ridiculous tea parties? This villa isn't for you to live in. Try dragging that creepy wardrobe of yours in here and I'll burn every last piece of it."
She ignored him completely, already strolling inside as though she owned not just the villa but the ground beneath it.
Grinding his teeth, Hadi considered calling some people to deal with her. Just then, his phone rang. Seeing his grandmother's name on the screen, relief washed over him.
Finally, a kindred spirit.
But before he could unleash his grievances, Elder Madam Keir spoke first.
"Serenity mentioned you haven't been home lately," she said calmly. "What have you been busy with?"
Hadi's blood rushed straight to his head.
"You believe that bitch?" he roared. "Do you know what that poisonous woman just did to me? She nearly turned me into a eunuch! I'm telling you, she's not my wife. She's a witch who wants to eat my flesh and drink my blood! If I don't divorce her soon, you'll lose your precious grandson!"
Elder Madam Keir let out a long, weary sigh. "You know the rules. Divorce is not an option for our family. If you insist, you will have to face the clan elders."
The veins in Hadi's forehead throbbed violently. Facing those relics, rigid with rules, traditions, and ancient beliefs, meant having his married life dissected piece by humiliating piece.
And Serenity, that poisonous woman whose true nature was the exact opposite of her name, definitely knew about his affairs.
Worse, she had evidence. Plenty of it.
Even if the elders approved the divorce, she would strip him of most of his assets and probably his dignity for good measure.
"Grandma," Hadi said desperately, lowering his voice, "I wouldn't dare face those elders. But you're different. Don't you know how long I've suffered in this marriage? That bastard Shin is already bullying me. How can you stand by knowing I'm miserable in my love life too? Because I'm married, I don't even have the face to pursue the woman I love most. I can only watch her move on, from Shin to Bryce."
At the mention of Bryce's name, Elder Madam Keir's tone shifted, edged with unmistakable worry.
"Bryce… did he contact you?"
Hadi sneered. He had been in contact with Bryce long before that man ever returned to the country.
What he hadn't expected was Bryce's sudden engagement to Calin.
Bryce knew exactly how he felt about Calin, yet he had still gone ahead and taken her.
What a snake!
If Bryce hadn't instigated him back then, urging him to plot against Shin, swearing that those mercenaries were professionals who could definitely get rid of that bastard, would Shin have ever discovered the truth?
Would he have been beaten so badly he spent three months rotting in a hospital bed?
Yet Bryce, the true instigator, had walked away unscathed.
"Why are you suddenly so concerned about that traitor?" Hadi mocked. "Don't tell me you still consider him your grandson. Don't forget, he doesn't have a single drop of Keir blood in him."
"That's not it," Elder Madam Keir denied quickly. "In fact, you should stay away from that boy. Never get involved with him. There's no telling whether he still harbors resentment over being expelled from the family."
"Even if he does, what can he possibly do?" Hadi chuckled. "Does he really have the ability to fight that demon?"
But the laughter died halfway. A thought struck him like lightning splitting the sky.
Bryce was still eyeing the Keirs. Otherwise, he wouldn't have pushed him to eliminate Shin in the first place.
If he could set those two lunatics at each other like mad dogs, there was no telling who would emerge victorious.
But no matter who won, he could reap the benefits. He could sit back and watch, or strike a fatal blow when neither of them expected it.
A slow, sinister grin crept across his face.
"Enough of this divorce nonsense," Elder Madam Keir said firmly. "Try to get along with your wife. Your grandmother cannot always shield you. The family's reputation must come first."
Hadi scoffed. "Grandma, I haven't said this before, but I think you're right about Bryce. Honestly, he was the one who instigated me to send people after that bastard Shin."
The line fell silent.
On the other end, Elder Madam Keir was most likely frozen in shock.
"What did you just say?" Her voice sharpened abruptly.
Hadi smiled triumphantly, savoring the moment.
They spoke a little longer, and when the call finally ended, Hadi lifted his head toward the front door, and nearly wet himself.
Serenity stood there, looking like a witch with her veiled face and all black from head to toe.
Hadi's expression twisted into pure disgust.
He really loathed her fashion sense. She always looked like she was one step away from attending his funeral, no doubt as the guest of honor.
"What the hell are you standing there for?" he snapped. "This isn't a mourning hall. If you've got nothing to do, get lost. I want to rest."
"The kitchen is empty," Serenity said gently.
"Not my problem." Hadi brushed past her and collapsed onto the sofa.
His grandmother's words about family reputation echoed in his mind.
Why hadn't she ever considered Serenity's eerie appearance? How was that good for the Keirs' image?
He deeply regretted marrying this poisonous woman.
Serenity was the eldest daughter of a first-tier family, and also the heir to a mafia triad.
Back then, Hadi had believed her background would be his shield and his leverage, which was why he had eagerly agreed to the marriage.
Who could have known that the triad wouldn't stand a chance against a newly emerging organization like Hexion?
Worse, they had merged with it, lured by promises of legitimizing their businesses.
It was truly infuriating. How could Hadi, who had hated Shin to the bone, ever accept that?