Rika also knew from Hera that Hugo got married to Lea not because he loved her.
Rika really couldn't believe what she saw with her own two eyes.
Hugo was kissing Nia, and they looked like a couple who had reconciled after being separated for a long time.
Rika shook her head helplessly, and she already sensed that Hera was truly angry at this moment.
Hera walked toward her younger brother, separated him from Nia, and punched him hard without holding back her strength.
Hera is an Alpha Female, but she is as strong as an Alpha Male. Hera even used her pheromones to dominate Hugo.
Even though Hugo is a man, he has never once overpowered Hera's strength.
Hugo, who had just been punched by his older sister, didn't want to accept what she did to him.
"Older sister, why did you punch me?" Hugo looked at his older sister with dissatisfaction.
Hugo never imagined that his older sister would punch him without any reason.
He didn't realize that his older sister had seen his disgraceful actions.
"Why? Do you ask me why? Are you insane?
Do you think I'm a fool you can deceive?" Hera was truly angry when her younger brother asked why she punched him.
"What do you mean by that?" Hugo asked Hera, confused.
The girl who kissed Hugo earlier was not Nia, but her appearance was the same as Nia's, and I was surprised to see a woman I didn't know appear out of nowhere.
But I didn't want to speak at that moment. Even though I am not the real Lea, it still hurt to see Hugo like this. The real Lea's heart must have ached in pain.
'Be patient, Lea. I know this hurts you the most, but I believe we can face life's problems together.'
'I won't let him hurt you anymore, so please bear it for a moment. I will protect us from a scumbag like him.'
My heart calmed down a lot after I spoke to the lingering emotions of Lea within my soul.
Lea is dead, but I always feel the real Lea is still here with me. I don't know why I transmigrated to this world, but I have to face this new reality.
There's no point in questioning why because it only wastes time.
For now, let's think about the future, because I can't go back after dying in the other world.
The girl who resembled Nia ran away when she saw this. No one realized she had run away except Rika and me.
Rika wanted to chase after her, but I held her hand and shook my head when she looked at me.
Rika could only agree with me at that moment and hugged me because she knew it was not easy for me.
I didn't speak, and my face remained blank, as if I didn't know what had just happened.
I didn't resist Rika's hug because I knew she cared about the real Lea's feelings.
Knowing your husband doesn't love you is different from seeing him cheat on you with your own eyes.
Lea wasn't crying, but Rika knew she was holding back her tears.
Rika also knew that being an Omega isn't easy, because everyone sees Omegas as fragile.
In society, when Alphas cheat on their Omegas, people assume the Omega is to blame.
They never understand that you can't blame the Omega for the Alpha's cheating, especially when the Omega knows nothing. Rika patted my back to calm me.
"You still dare to ask me what I meant? You already cheated on Lea, and you ask me why?
Are you out of your mind? I never imagined you'd be such a scumbag. You dared to cheat on Lea behind her back.
Even if you don't love her, she is still your wife and your pair-bond.
Are you heartless enough to do this to Lea?" Hera was truly furious that Hugo dared to cheat on Lea.
Hugo heard his older sister's anger, but it didn't make him reflect on his actions; instead, it made him even angrier.
He looked around and saw Lea hugging Rika, his sister-in-law.
Hugo's anger boiled over. He stood up from the ground and walked toward Lea, thinking she was the one who had spread rumors about him.
He grabbed my arm tightly and pulled me away from Rika.
His eyes were fierce as he stared at me. From his expression, I could see he blamed me for everything. Hugo was easy to read, like an open book.
He couldn't accept that Lea had told his older sister about him.
"It was you who spread gossip about me, right?
You confessed that you love me, but is this your way of getting my family's sympathy so they can force me to like you?
In your sweetest dream, because even until I die, I will never give my heart to you," Hugo said as he pushed me to the ground without hesitation.
I wasn't prepared when Hugo suddenly pulled me away from Rika and shoved me down.
I fell without warning. I never imagined Hugo could treat Lea this way.
I even heard a cracking sound from somewhere nearby. Hugo's temper is worse than I thought—this is new to me, because the novel never described him as physically abusive.[1]
I wanted to respond, but Hugo spoke again before I could say anything.
"I don't want to hear your excuses. I never imagined you'd go so far just to make me love you.
Hey, I would never like a call girl like you.[2] Look at yourself in the mirror—you're not worthy of my heart."
Even though he vented his anger at Lea, it didn't ease his rage.
He raised his hand to slap her, but before he could, Hera had already grabbed his arm, stopping the blow.
When Hugo tried to slap me, Rika had already moved to hug and shield me.
She had been too late to stop Hugo from pushing me, but she stopped him from slapping me.
Hera never expected Hugo to treat Lea this way when no one else was around.
Hera was deeply disappointed. Hugo dared to harm someone else's daughter.
Hera had an Omega daughter with Rika, whom she spoiled dearly. She couldn't imagine how devastated she would be if someone hit her daughter like Hugo just did.
She couldn't forgive anyone who hurt her child.
Hera couldn't believe that her well-educated younger brother could treat his Omega this way.
She stopped Hugo's hand and punched him twice more. Hugo touched his cheek with one hand, looking at me with deep dissatisfaction.
I shut my eyes tightly as he tried to slap me.
Rika hugged me suddenly to protect me, but I was worried for her safety—because the real Lea knew Rika was pregnant with their second child.
I don't know why I know this, but my instincts tell me Rika is pregnant now.
There are no memories about Rika and Hera in the real Lea's mind, but I can feel their bond is strong.
I suspect Lea never told them about her relationship with Hugo.
Still, Rika dared to protect me—it showed how much she cared about the real Lea.
Hugo was burning with rage at this point.
"This is all your fault. You provoked my older sister to hate me and punch me.
I won't let you live a happy life ever again." He raised his hand to strike again, but Hera stopped him.
"That's enough, Hugo. I never expected you to treat Lea this way.
I thought you were a good man for her, but now I know I was wrong," Hera said, her eyes filled with disappointment.
[1] "Light hands" is a proverb that refers to someone who easily resorts to physical violence when angry.
[2] A "call girl" refers to a woman who sells her body in the red-light district.
Hugo always thought Lea was a call girl. After all, they got married because Hugo marked her when she was in heat.
I've already explained why Hugo thinks this way in the previous chapter.