The moment Hezze saw me, she smiled and ran over without any of that flattering, fearful attitude the other students had shown. She treated me exactly the same as before. "Rosy, you didn't come to school yesterday, you scared me half to death!" She grabbed my arm, genuinely worried. "I even thought Chief Anderson had done something to you."
I looked at her several times, feeling complicated. It was hard to believe she didn't know yet. "Actually… before this, we didn't have a marriage certificate. The other day when he suddenly told me to bring my ID card and household booklet, it was probably because he wanted to get the certificate—most likely to deal with the uproar on Facebook."
Hezze's eyes widened. Getting a marriage certificate just to deal with online drama? Was the infamously ruthless Chief Anderson really that kind-hearted?
"That's absolutely impossible," she said firmly. "If he didn't really care, would Chief Anderson voluntarily register a marriage with someone? Ridiculous!"
She stared at me again, as if she knew some secret I didn't. She nudged my arm playfully. "Honestly, I think what people on Facebook said isn't wrong. Chief Anderson really does care about you."
"No way." I denied it immediately, almost violently. I didn't dare imagine Captian caring about me in any way. The fact that he hadn't killed me was already a blessing. At least now that I was his legal wife, my safety was somewhat guaranteed probably safer than in the beginning.
"Why not? I think it's very possible." Hezze smiled and pinched my cheek, her fingers sinking into my skin as if she found it irresistibly soft and delicate. "My lovely girl is this pretty. Even Chief Anderson wouldn't be able to resist."
My mouth twitched. No matter how she put it, I suddenly sounded like some temptress who charmed tyrants.
"Seeing Chief Anderson treat you so well makes me feel relieved," Hezze sighed, like an old mother seeing her daughter finally find happiness.
I pressed my lips together, my emotions a tangled mess.
...
At that moment, Liona was sitting in her seat scrolling through Facebook. Her expression was gloomy, as if she simply couldn't accept that Rosy was Captain's wife. She kept staring at the marriage certificate over and over again.
The bright red certificate stung her eyes.
She never expected President Anderson to speak up for Rosy and with such a protective, possessive tone.
She originally thought that after everything, President Anderson would throw Rosy away. After all, once a man got tired of a woman, she was destined to be discarded.
She had already prepared herself to drag Rosy down to hell with her.
But now, not only was Rosy completely unharmed, she had become someone so noble and untouchable that no one dared insult or bully her anymore.
Liona was truly unwilling to accept it. Her tightly interlaced fingers were almost crushed from her grip.
Reng reng.
The school bell rang. Liona jolted back to her senses, but inside she was trembling with fear, like a fish stranded on shore.
After class.
Liona carried her bag and walked out of the school gate.
In the past, a chauffeur always came to pick her up, but today no one was there.
Irritated, she pulled out her phone to call the driver. She called for a long time, but no one answered.
Fuming, she shoved her phone back into her bag and hailed a taxi home.
She lived in a famous villa district. The Robbery family was powerful enough to hold their own among the wealthy residents there.
So Liona had always been arrogant and never put anyone in her eyes.
The security guards usually ignored her, but today one of them actually greeted her:
"Welcome home, miss."
Liona didn't even look at him. She lifted her chin and turned away.
The guards exchanged glances and sighed softly there was even a trace of pity in their eyes.
Halfway down the street, Liona suddenly saw several young men in black suits walking toward her. They moved quickly, their expressions fierce, and the shady aura around them was unmistakable.
Liona froze.
She suddenly realized… they seemed to be coming out of her house.
Her throat tightened. Her heart pounded violently. A sense of dread spread through her chest.
Nothing bad happened… right?
Clutching her bag, she hurried home.
The mansion's front doors were wide open but inside, the place was completely empty.
Even the chandelier had been removed.
At first glance, the house looked as if it had been robbed clean.
But Liona knew it wasn't that simple.
There were guards outside, and security cameras throughout the villa district. Who would dare steal from the Robbery family?
She turned around and saw Mr. and Mrs. Robbery sitting weakly on the staircase landing, completely silent.
"Mom? Dad? What on earth happened?"
Liona ran over and asked anxiously.
Mr. Robbery's voice trembled:
"People from the bank came and took everything of value. Even the house has been repossessed. We're left with nothing."
Liona's eyes widened, her face turning pale.
In other words… they were now penniless?
She felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She shook her head repeatedly, unable to accept it.
"I don't believe it! The Robbery family has been established for generations, how could we collapse so easily? Mom, Dad, are you lying to me?"
Mr. Robbery glared at her, his eyes cold:
"We don't have time to lie to you. We have nothing left. We're worse off than street garbage pickers."
Hearing this, Liona's knees gave out and she collapsed to the floor.
She sniffled, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"I don't believe it… I don't want to be poor. Dad, please beg President Anderson! I'll do anything he wants anything! I can't live as a poor person!"
Mrs. Robbery began crying too.
Soon, the mansion was filled with wailing voices, as if someone had died.
Mr. Robbery's face darkened. He roared angrily:
"Beg him for what?! President Anderson said we must disappear from Alchimie City immediately. Otherwise, we won't even keep our lives!"
Liona froze in terror, tears trembling in her eyes but unable to fall.
"Leave Alchimie City? But this is where our family began… Where would we even go? And I... I'm still a student at Hathaway. I haven't graduated!"
"You've been expelled."
Mr. Robbery threw the expulsion notice on the floor.
Liona stared at the paper.
She could no longer withstand the blow and completely broke down.
"No… it's that witch Rosy! She ruined me! I'll kill her! I'll kill her!"
"Liona, you'd better endure it," Mr. Robbery growled. "Our family ended up like this because of your own sins. You will repay the debt."
His bloodshot eyes emphasized every word.
Liona collapsed again, screaming and crying.
Rosy had no idea how miserable the Robbery family had become.
Everything was Captain's doing.
When President Anderson got angry, he destroyed everything in his path.