Chapter 2 Daphne, Get Out

• When Daphne was woken up by the phone, the sky was already dark.
• In the cold and empty hospital room, she was all alone.
• Rubbing her aching temples, she forced herself to sit up and reached for her phone.
• Seeing the number on the screen, she felt a headache coming on.
• At this moment, the last thing she wanted to hear was this person's voice.
• But in the end, she answered.
• "Eve."
• "Daph!" The woman's voice on the other end was soft and cheerful. "I calculated the time difference before calling you. I didn't disturb you, did I?"
• Daphne rasped out, her voice dry and hoarse, "No."
• "That's great!" The woman on the phone spoke excitedly, "Joe said my illness is almost completely cured, and soon I'll be able to return home! Once I'm back, you can divorce Hudson, and he won't misunderstand you anymore. Daph, are you happy?"
• Daphne let out a bitter laugh and looked out at the snowy landscape glowing under the moonlight. "Happy."
• Her knees started aching again. Hugging her knees, Daphne tossed and turned on the bed the entire night. It wasn't until dawn that she finally managed to close her eyes.
• Before she could fall into a deep sleep, her phone rang again.
• It was Hudson's mom, Jennifer Anston, asking Daphne to accompany her to St. Peter's Cathedral to pray for her to conceive soon.
• Since marrying Hudson, Jennifer was the only member of the Jackman family who didn't treat Daphne as an outsider. Therefore, Daphne couldn't bring herself to refuse Jennifer's request.
• At St. Peter's Cathedral, Jennifer held Daphne's hand as they knelt down. Holding a candle with her eyes closed, she prayed devoutly, "Please bless us. Let Daph give the Jackman family an heir soon. And please keep Hudson safe and sound. He's my only son left…"
• After praying, Jennifer handed Daphne a box of beautifully wrapped pastries. "These were blessed just now. Take them to Hudson and make sure you see him eat them in person."
• Daphne couldn't refuse. She took the pastries and hailed a cab to Hudson's office.
• "Oh, look, that shameless mistress is here again."
• "Killed her sister and married her brother-in-law. How is someone like her still alive? This is unjust."
• The moment Daphne walked through the doors of Jackman Group, the women at the front desk began muttering as they nibbled on their snacks.
• Daphne had long grown used to these whispers.
• Everyone connected to Hudson knew her as a despicable and shameless woman.
• When she reached the top floor by elevator, she was stopped by Hudson's assistant.
• "Mrs. Jackman, Mr. Jackman said his office allows people and even dogs, but you're not allowed in."
• The implication was clear. In Hudson's eyes, Daphne was worse than a dog.
• Through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, Daphne could see Hudson in his office, focused on his work. Natalie was standing beside him, showing him something on her phone with a cheerful laugh.
• The man raised his hand and affectionately ruffled Natalie's hair.
• Daphne's heart felt as if a sharp knife had been driven into it, twisting painfully.
• "Mrs. Jackman, you've seen it yourself. Going in there will only make things unpleasant for them."
• Is that so? Daphne sneered. Then I would make things unpleasant for them!
• Shoving the assistant aside, she strode straight into the office.
• As she got closer, Daphne heard Natalie's voice.
• She said, "Sonny, when are you finally going to divorce Daphne? Every time I see her face, I think of Evelyn…"
• The man replied in an indifferent tone, "I'll divorce her once she's in prison."
• Natalie's coquettish voice carried a hint of anger. "Daphne is so vicious and calculating! But if there's no evidence, does that mean you won't divorce her?"
• Hudson let out a light chuckle, his deep voice laced with coldness. "Even if I don't divorce her, do you think her life will be any easier?"
• The conversation behind the door sent another wave of pain through Daphne's heart.
• She took a deep breath, pretending not to have heard anything, and pushed the door open as if nothing had happened.
• "Oh, Daphne's here."
• Noticing Daphne enter, Natalie stood up with a smile. "Well, Sonny, I'll be going now. I wouldn't want to disturb the two of you as you bond as a couple."
• She looked at Daphne, her smile seemingly sincere, a complete contrast to the sharp words she had just spoken.
• "There's no need for you to leave."
• Hudson didn't even bother to glance at Daphne, his voice cold and commanding. "You, get out."
• Daphne stood in place, her fingers brushing against the edges of the pastry box. The dull pain mirrored the ache in her chest.
• The next second, Hudson picked up the phone and dialed, his tone detached. "Come in."
• "I've told you before, my office doesn't welcome things like this."
• He referred to her as "things."
• Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Daphne placed the pastry box on the table. "I'm here to bring you pastries. Mom prayed for them at St. Peter's Cathedral."
• "Now that you've delivered them, leave."
• His cold, disdainful gaze made Daphne's heart tremble painfully.
• She pressed her lips together. "Mom told me to make sure I watched you eat them."
• Hudson's eyes narrowed as he sneered, "Daphne, don't think you can do whatever you want just because my mom likes you. It only makes me despise you more."
• Is that how it is? I've loved him for seven years, and married him for three. In his eyes, all I am is disgusting and malicious.
• Feeling numb, she turned around, her voice dry and bitter. "I've delivered the pastries. Eat them or don't, it's up to you."
• As she left the office, she heard Hudson's indifferent voice behind her. "I'm not hungry. Natalie, you can have them."
• Natalie's voice was sweet and sugary. "Okay."
• Daphne left the room, her heart heavy with bitterness.
• "Daphne."
• The elevator hadn't arrived yet when a cold, angry voice sounded behind her.
• She turned around, but before she could make out the man's face, he grabbed her by the neck.