When Love Turns to Ashes (Beatrice and Caden)

Chapter 4 Is It Enough?

Under Caden's icy gaze, Beatrice pressed her lips together tightly, trying her best to stay calm.

Yet, despite her resolve, the memories of eight years of torment in her previous life caused her fingers to tremble uncontrollably. She turned her head around.

Caden no longer looked at her. His voice was laced with disdain."Were you planning to get pregnant in secret?"

Beatrice frowned, her eyes darting toward Monica.

Monica had bought the pill. Did this mean she still hadn't given up on marrying her off to Caden?

Monica, under Caden's

frosty

stare, was already

Compared to Xander, Monica feared Caden even more.

She didn't have the guts to scheme under his watchful eyes.

Then what was really going on here?

trembling like

a

leaf.

Beatrice looked up, finding herself surrounded by countless stares.

Among them, one particular gaze felt distinct.

It belonged to Madelynn.

The subtle smirk on her lips reminded Beatrice of dark moments from her past.

And sure enough, in the next moment-

Madelynn turned her back to the crowd and grasped Beatrice's hand in a gesture of concern."Beatrice, I'm so sorry, but I couldn't deceive Mr. Caden or Xander, so I had to come clean."

"But I never expected you would use me to divert public outrage while secretly planning to conceive."

"If I hadn't come to comfort you and overheard your scheme, wouldn't you have gotten your way? If you had truly gotten pregnant, what would happen to Mr. Caden and me?" Tears streamed down Madelynn's face as her voice broke with sobs, each word drenched in grievance.

The crowd seethed with anger, rallying behind Madelynn with righteous indignation.

"Everyone knows what she's up to. She wants to replace Madelynn! If she really got pregnant, using the child as leverage, Caden would have no choice but to marry her. By then, our family reputation would be utterly ruined!"

A man clenched his fists in fury."I've never seen such a shameless scheme in my life! Thank heavens Madelynn thought of the bigger picture and didn't fall into her trap. Otherwise, a true pair of lovers would have been torn apart by her!" 'Caden, you can't keep Beatrice around. Who knows what tricks she might pull next?"

Each word pierced Beatrice's heart like a dagger.

It was just like her past life-everyone rallied around Madelynn, casting her aside as worthless. She had heard it all before. She should be used to it by now.

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Chapter 4 Is It Enough?

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Beatrice looked up only to meet Madelynn's eyes. In the delicate gaze, there was a flicker of cunning.

For a moment, Beatrice froze, watching Madelynn wipe her tears. But she subtly turned her back to the crowd and smirked.

A smirk full of mockery. Full of challenge.

Madelynn had switched the medicine!

Then Madelynn spoke again, her lips barely moving. Her voice remained as gentle and imploring

as ever.

"Mr. Caden, please, show mercy to Beatrice. She didn't mean it! Blame me for it. If it can safeguard the family's honor and make up for your loss, I would do anything for you, even sacrificing my reputation." If Beatrice hadn't caught that smug look, merely hearing Madelynn's voice would have made anyone believe she was selfless and kind.

It was at that

moment Beatrice

realized she had

underestimated

Madelynn.

Living this life again, even though she had altered events, she had no magical powers-and her enemies certainly hadn't become fools.

Madelynn basked in Beatrice's tension.

She wasn't foolish enough to admit that the woman in the photos was her.

Caden was a ruthless businessman. He and Xander must have weighed the pros and cons last night. Did they truly not know the woman's identity?

If she confessed, Caden would think her manipulative, and Xander would deem her calculating.

But this show of righteousness would earn Caden's trust, and even Xander would look at her with respect.

Most importantly, no one would ever believe Beatrice again.

Even if Caden had slept with her, so what?

A filthy plaything-that was all she was.

Beatrice felt the tension coursing through her body, but she was no longer the same Beatrice in her previous life.

Understanding Madelynn's ploy brought her a sense of calm.

Madelynn faltered, her eyes locked on Beatrice. She was searching for cracks in her composure.

But Beatrice ignored her, stepping past and moving to the head of the room.

Caden's eyes met hers. His gaze was cold, filled with a trace of mockery. He toyed with the ring on his finger lazily, exuding a sense of dangerous indifference, as if Beatrice were merely a toy in his hand. The air around him was suffocating.

Just like in her previous life, every word spoken to her was cold, filled with disdain. He had already decided she was a scheming woman.

Any explanation she offered would be dismissed as mere lies.

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Chapter 4 Is It Enough?

So why bother explaining at all?

A bitter smile tugged at Beatrice's lips."I've already said it-the person in the photo isn't me. Since Madelynn won't admit it, why don't you ask Caden himself?"

"But isn't it strange, Madelynn? You and Caden are engaged. Whatever happens between you two is perfectly natural. Caden didn't even deny it just now. Why are you in such a rush to explain? It's almost like you don't love him." 'Stigmatizing was a skill.

The skill was something she had learned from Madelynn in her previous life.

Madelynn's face stiffened. She spun around, her expression barely composed, shaking her head furiously.

"No! I love Mr. Caden! I just didn't want to deceive anyone!"

"If you hate lying so much, why slander me? And besides..." Beatrice turned to Caden, her words deliberate and measured."Is Caden the only man in the world? Couldn't I want another man's child instead?" Caden was the last man that Beatrice

would have ties with in this life.

His eyes darkened, his knuckles whitening as he clenched his fist.

He spoke low and harsh. "What did you just say?"

Beatrice raised her voice defiantly."I said, Caden isn't the only man in the world! Any child I might have would never be yours! Was I wrong?"

Caden narrowed his eyes, his aura radiating dominance.

The force of it almost made Beatrice stumble.

She quickly averted her gaze to the rest of the room.

"Does anyone else have anything to say? If not, I'm tired. I'm going to

She turned on her heel to leave.

Caden's voice was laden with icy menace."Stop! Who is he?"

The room fell silent, stunned.

No one had expected Caden to ask that.

Beatrice lowered her eyes, hiding all emotion.

By now, he must have known the truth.

But Caden had his own narrative to protect.

rest nonoveldrama

She glanced at her phone, her tone indifferent."Caden, don't worry. This will be over soon." Caden frowned imperceptibly. The man who prided himself on control now felt a ripple of

unease.

Just then, the butler entered with security guards.

"They're here for Ms. Lindsey."

ne guard, respectful yet wary, addressed the room."Ms. Lindsey ordered a delivery. Strangers aren't allowed, so I brought it myself."

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Chapter 4 it Enough?

Beatrice stepped forward, accepting the paper bag."Thank you."

The bodyguard left.

All eyes remained on her.

Birth control pills.

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She had felt uneasy even after asking Monica to get the pills ready, so she had placed another order herself to be sure.

It turned out to be a wise decision.

Beatrice opened the box and pulled out the foil pack, holding it up for all to see.

Especially in front of Caden, she lingered a few extra seconds. Caden

take

good look. Satisfied? It's definitely Rest assured, Caden, I will never have a child I shouldn't have." "This is what you wanted, right?"

Her self-deprecating smile cut deep as she swiftly popped ten pills.

Without hesitation, she swallowed one.

"Is one enough? No? Then how about more?"

Two. Three. Four...

The crowd watched in horrified silence as she kept going.

birth control pills."

Beatrice reached for a fifth when Ryan, usually deferential to Xander, rushed forward and smacked the pills from her hand.

"Caden! What are you doing? Beatrice already said it wasn't her. Why are you putting her on the spot? What will people say if this gets out?"

Monica pulled Beatrice into her arms, sobbing."Enough! Enough! She's not even married yet! Taking so many could ruin her health!"

Beatrice's stomach churned with pain, cold sweat breaking out across her forehead. Even so, she held on, lifting her palm toward Caden, revealing one last pill. "Caden... is it enough?"