Chapter 6

Ralph set down his silverware and spoke with deliberate neutrality, "Kevin, when are you planning to leave this time?"

Kevin leaned back in his chair, his eyes cold as ice. "I'm planning to stay and spend more time with Father."

Ralph's smile revealed nothing of his true feelings. "How remarkably filial of you, considering you previously threatened to cut ties with the family altogether."

"The past is the past. Things change," Kevin replied.

His lips curved into a cool smile as his disinterested gaze swept over Rachel, who was visibly uncomfortable from the way his leg kept brushing against hers under the table.

"I suddenly realized that life at the Smith Manor can be quite... entertaining. Especially with new additions to the household," he added.

Rachel's knuckles had turned white from gripping her utensils too tightly.

She subtly shifted her position, avoiding Kevin's advancing leg beneath the table.

Ralph let out a derisive snort. "Really? Hearing those words from your mouth is rather out of character."

Kevin fixed him with a cold stare. "Ralph, are you unhappy about me staying here?"

That blunt question instantly froze the already tense atmosphere around the dining table.

Kevin had never voluntarily discussed Smith family matters before, yet Rachel had quickly discerned over the past few days that everyone in this family harbored their own hidden agendas.

They maintained a veneer of harmony while secretly nursing their private schemes.

Isaac shot Ralph a disapproving glance.

Ralph forced a smile. "Not at all. I'm just asking out of concern."

Kevin dragged out his response with deliberate slowness. "I see. So that's how it is."

Isaac cleared his throat loudly. "Enough talk at the table. Let's eat."

The uncomfortable conversation finally ended.

Rachel twisted herself into an awkward position to completely avoid Kevin's touch.

She stared at the half-eaten porridge in her bowl, her appetite completely gone.

All she wanted was to be as far away from Kevin as possible.

Rachel set down her utensils and looked up at Isaac. "I'm full."

Isaac glanced at her bowl. "You've hardly eaten anything."

Rachel replied flatly, "I don't have much of an appetite this morning."

She stood up and continued, "An old friend of mine is back in town. I'm going to meet her and stay at her place for a few days."

Kevin suddenly threw down his utensils. The harsh clang of silver against china grated through the room, drawing everyone's attention.

Rachel reluctantly looked his way.

Kevin's eyes roiled like the gathering of a violent storm, mixed with undercurrents of rage and malice.

He hooked one corner of his mouth into a sardonic smile.

"Weren't you from the red-light district? I imagine your friends are all the same low caliber as yourself."

Rachel froze, his words stinging worse than a physical slap.

Kevin continued with biting sarcasm, "Now that you've wormed your way into the Smith family, you should cut ties with those people. Otherwise, you'll just bring more shame to the Smith name."

Rachel struggled to contain her fury. "Those are my friends. Show some respect."

Kevin's animosity toward her was barely disguised, which dispelled whatever subtle thoughts Abigail had been harboring.

She leaned softly against Kevin's arm. "Kevin, regardless, Mrs. Smith is our elder now."

Kevin's scornful gaze remained locked on Rachel, his arrogance boundless. "Her marrying into the family has already tarnished the Smith reputation. If more scandalous matters come to light, what will become of the family name?"

Rachel felt the sting of his words, a flash of anger crossing her eyes.

Four years had passed, and Kevin had become increasingly unreadable to her.

In bed, their intimacy was seamless, as if they'd never been apart.

But once they left the bedroom, he seemed to forget her existence, treating her with open hostility.

The way Kevin looked at her, it was as if he wanted to nail her to a pillory with the label of "whore."

Rachel unconsciously dug her nails into her palm. "Since I've married into this family, I share in both its glory and its shame. I don't need your reminders."

Her rare show of firmness only seemed to displease Kevin further.

"You're so protective of this friend—is this a real friendship, or something else entirely?"

"You—!" Rachel was completely at a loss for words.

"That's enough bickering over trivialities," Isaac said irritably, waving his hand and exchanging a meaningful glance with the butler.

The butler immediately understood, respectfully presenting a thin black card with gold embossing to Rachel.

"This card has no spending limit. Go shopping this afternoon, buy yourself some clothes and jewelry."

Isaac's position was clear—no matter what happened, he would side with Kevin.

Rachel could only force a smile. "Alright."

Her plans to move out were thwarted.

That afternoon, Rachel went shopping with the card.

Though it was called "shopping," she had four bodyguards trailing her.

Under the guise of protecting her safety, they were actually there to monitor her.

While browsing luxury boutiques, Rachel's mind kept returning to one thought:

Gaining the trust of that old bastard Isaac was clearly not going to be easy.

She wandered aimlessly through several stores, delaying her return until nightfall.

Perhaps it was instinctual aversion to the Smith family, but she felt like every breath she took in the Smith Manor was poisoned.

Fortunately, the four bodyguards were only responsible for monitoring her movements outside—once she was in the car, they would disperse.

The night air was cold.

Rachel instinctively pulled her coat tighter, but as she rounded a corner, a hand suddenly grabbed her and pulled her into the shadows.

Rachel's eyes widened as she instinctively prepared to fight back, but her attacker blocked her with his other hand.

The person pressing against her carried the deep scent of snow-covered woods, mixed with a faint metallic tang of blood.

Kevin pressed his body tightly against Rachel's, using his tall frame to trap her in the corner.

Rachel looked at him in disbelief, acutely aware of Kevin's slightly erratic breathing. "You're hurt?"

Kevin wore black clothing, which made any bloodstains difficult to notice.

Fighting through the pain in his chest, Kevin managed to keep his voice relatively steady. "Take me with you."

Rachel pressed her lips together, her eyes betraying complicated emotions.

Who could be bold enough to attack Kevin? And to leave him in such a desperate state?

Rachel pushed against his grip, trying to free herself. "Let go of me first."

They were pressed impossibly close, so close that Kevin was putting his entire weight against her, with only two thin layers of fabric between them, their breaths intermingling in the narrow space between them.

Before Kevin could respond, urgent footsteps suddenly echoed from nearby.