Chapter 3

Sophia Lefèvre's cheeks were swollen and red, her entire body clinging weakly to Escent Roland's chest.

She sobbed softly, her voice filled with grievance:

"Escent... she hit me..."

A flicker of surprise crossed Escent's eyes, clearly not expecting my sudden appearance.

He took half a step back, creating distance between himself and Sophia.

"Isabella, please calm down. Let me explain."

Escent reached out to touch me, but Sophia quickly stepped between us.

Escent's expression darkened immediately.

Sophia tilted her face up, revealing her swollen cheeks, tears still hanging at the corners of her eyes.

The reprimand on Escent's lips was swallowed back.

"Isabella, it's not what you think."

I stared coldly at Escent, feeling as though the man before me was a complete stranger.

"I don't want to hear explanations. Tell her to take the dog's urn away!"

Escent sighed:

"She didn't mean to bury it here. We consulted a master who said this spot has good feng shui, ensuring the dog a good reincarnation."

"She also agreed not to erect a tombstone. The master said burying the dog here won't affect future burials. Is that acceptable?"

I trembled with anger:

"No! It must be removed!"

"Escent, you know how much my mother feared dogs! If you dare bury that dog here, we're getting a divorce right now! My mother would never accept a son-in-law like you! Don't forget how she treated you before she died!"

At the mention of divorce, Escent's expression stiffened.

"Isabella..."

Sophia suddenly burst into loud sobs:

"Isabella, Escent has mentioned you before, but at your age, how can you still be so petty? You're in a bad mood today, can't you just let this small matter slide?"

"If you want to vent your anger, direct it at me. I feel sorry for Escent..."

I glared at her icily:

"You want me to vent at you? Fine, I'll oblige."

I grabbed her hair and dragged her to the freshly dug pit, kicking her hard.

Sophia was forced to her knees, crying pitifully.

I said emotionlessly:

"Take the urn now and kneel before my mother's grave to apologize, or I'll tear that mistress face of yours apart!"

Sophia clutched the urn, looking pitifully at Escent.

Escent's face changed drastically:

"Enough! The dog hasn't even been buried yet. Forcing her to kneel and apologize is going too far!"

My heart raced with anger:

"I'm going too far? Who started this? There are so many cemeteries in the city, yet she had to choose this one, pretending to consult a master about feng shui, just to disturb my mother's peace! What is she really after?"

Sophia sobbed: "Isabella, don't blame Escent. I'll kneel."

Escent stopped her, taking the urn tenderly:

"No need to kneel. Let me take you to bury the dog first."

They walked away side by side, leaving me standing alone.

As if I were the one in the wrong.

I laughed bitterly to myself, then turned to have the bodyguards fill in the grave.

Suddenly, I noticed the right side of my mother's grave.

The empty plot I had bought at great expense now had a new tombstone...

I glanced at it, gritting my teeth:

"Sophia, stop! Did you bury the dog in the empty plot on the right?"

Hearing my shout, Sophia's eyes flashed with panic.

She lowered her head, clutching Escent's hand tightly:

"Escent, I'm scared..."

Escent shook off her hand and hurried back, his face changing when he saw the altered plot:

"Sophia, I told you not to touch this plot without my permission!"

Sophia broke down crying:

"I didn't mean to. My friend's dog died last week from eating grapes, and there was nowhere to bury it."

"The master said having two dogs would protect the deceased. I was doing it for Isabella's sake."

Sophia apologized profusely, her demeanor humble.

But upon closer look, her eyes were filled with provocation and triumph!

Both empty plots beside my mother's grave had been desecrated!

At that moment, I wanted to kill her!

My mother had doted on me since I was a child. Her death in a car accident, leaving me unable to fulfill my filial duties, was my greatest regret in life.

These three adjacent plots were the only thing I could do for her!

Now, Sophia had ruined everything!

I rushed forward, grabbed Sophia's hair, kicked her twice, and forced her to kneel before my mother's grave!

"Kowtow and apologize to my mother!"

Sophia's knees were scraped, and she cried out in pain. Escent, heartbroken, pulled her up and shielded her behind him.

I was so furious I grabbed my bag and hurled it at Sophia.

Escent turned to block her.

The metal on the bag slashed Escent's face, leaving a deep, bone-visible wound!

For a moment, we were all stunned.

Sophia screamed at me:

"Enough! It's just three plots! I'll find you three new ones, and we can move your mother there. Why resort to violence?"

She pointed to the cemetery:

"How about those three empty plots over there? Or those three? If not, I'll compensate you with five!"

Escent covered his face, muffling Sophia's mouth, and said darkly:

"Stop talking! Let's go back!"

Sophia was taken aback, looking at him with grievance:

"Every time we argue, you take her side. Can't you side with me just once?"

Escent frowned, his expression conflicted.

I sneered.

In the next moment, I snatched the urn from Sophia's hands and did something that shocked both of them.