The cost

Chapter 3

The slip didn’t just stun Elizabeth; it left Matthew momentarily speechless. As he snapped back to reality, he barked, “Mia, have you lost your

Ignoring his outburst, Mia pulled a fruit knife from the basket, playfully tracing it along Elizabeth’s trembling face. Elizabeth, choking back tears, whimpered, “Matthew…

Frightened, Elizabeth thought to herself. This can’t be happening. Esn’t Mia always as meek as a lamb‘‘

“Save your tears for later. I haven’t even started yet, Mia said, finding Elizabeth’s pitiful look increasingly irritating. She used to envy that face, but now she loathed it with every fiber of her being

“Elizabeth, I’m the reason you’re still breathing, Mia sneered, leaning in to whisper. “Now, I’m taking it back. You owe me for every drop of blood I’ve given you. Her gaze turned menacing as she slashed a shallow cut across Elizabeth’s check.

Elizabeth’s scream pierced through the air, her eyes wide with horror. She was truly frightened out of her wits. At this moment, Mia was no different from a serial killer on the loose. Seeing blood trickle down Elizabeth’s face, Matthew tried to intervene. “Knock it off!”

“One more step, and she’ll be dead” Mia’s voice was eerily calm, her face devoid of any traces of its usual gentleness. She patted Elizabeth’s cheek, saying, “Beth, I always looked out for you and donated my blood to you whenever you were in need, didn’t I? But even the all–powerful Genie can only grant you three wishes”

Elizabeth gradually turned ashen as Mia’s creepy smile widened. “You’ve been critical for… how many times now? Five, right? How come you’re still alive and kicking?”

Elizabeth’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Mix, 1.

“Hush, now” Mia cut her off with a smile. “You’ve got what you’ve always wanted, anyway. I’m no longer Matthew’s wife, so you’d better think twice before becoming critical again. As you see, your on–call Genie is out of service, Mia said, making her point crystal clear.

Matthew’s eyes darkened with fury, but there was a flicker of confusion to as his gaze lingered on Mia. For some unknown reason, she now seemed more like a stranger to him.

Elizabeth trembled in terror, desperate to clear the air. “Mia, it’s not what you think it is. This isn’t…

Mia interrupted her in disdain. “Zip it, or I might just cut out your tongue. Her threat instantly silenced Elizabeth and even made Matthew frown

Mia tossed the fruit knife aside and strode out of the room. As she passed Matthew, she paused and added with a smirk, “Oh, one more thing. Mr. Blackwood, your birthday gift is in the drawer of the study. Keep it or throw it away. I don’t care,”

The irritation that clouded over him grew even more intense. Unable to bear it any longer, he suddenly asked, “Are you that happy to divorce me?”

“Happy! Not quite. But yes, it is, indeed, a big relief” Mia replied as she flung her wedding ring into the trash. “See you around or better not. With that, she exited the ward..

Her departure marked the end of her chapter as Mrs. Blackwood, and now she felt an overwhelming sense of liberation. Finally, she was free from this burden.

Half a month later, in the Eldoria Group’s boardroom, the immense tension stiffened the atmosphere as the board members sat around the desk, waiting for the new head of the Reed family. Apparently, they were annoyed by her late arrival on her first day, seeing it as an obvious snub.

forty minutes ticked by without a sign of her, one of the board members lost his patience. “What is this Late on the first day for a meeting. Is she trying to psych us out?”

Another board member across from him chuckled, “Calm down, Mr. Carter. Even if that’s her plan, we still gotta humor her. The Reed family holds the most shares, after all. Let’s see what the new head is up to.”

Ethan Carter, also one of the board members, scoffed, “Big deal with those shares! Their whole family is practically extinct. They probably pulled a lot of shady tricks. That’s just karma doing its job.”

Just then, the door swung open. An assistant stepped in first, followed by a woman in a sharp suit and sunglasses, her strides firm and commanding. “Sorry guys, I’m late,” she said, her voice carrying a confident edge.

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