Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 177
Fire sparked in Kaitlyn’s dark brown eyes.
She had hated this woman from the very beginning.
So many people loved her, which Kaitlyn saw as unfair.
That woman had no particular skills or talents. She wasn’t deserving of anyone’s love.
She was just the youngest daughter of a wealthy, influential family, raised delicately with all the affection in the world, married to a husband who adored her, and surrounded by friends like the Saintess and the Crown Prince who treated her as a treasure.
Aside from nearly dying once in place of the Saintess, there was no hardship in the life of ‘Adeline Bertrand’.
She lacked the suffering that everyone should experience.
She had protective brothers who would threaten anyone who dared speak ill of their cherished younger sister.
A husband who wouldn’t be swayed, no matter how she tried to tempt him.
Friends who shielded her from public scrutiny, literally becoming walls around her.
People who covered her ears, keeping her ignorant of anyone who might hate her to spare her even the slightest hurt.
She lived surrounded by a cocoon of soft petals, in beauty and privilege.
Princess Mia had been the same.
Despite her lack of skills, the royal family doted on her, protecting her from anything harsh or uncomfortable, as if her happiness alone was all that mattered.
For the longest time, Kaitlyn had scorned Princess Mia, but deep down, she was actually envious of her.
It was something she didn’t want to admit.
She had suppressed that envy because she took pride in being different from Mia. Unlike her, Kaitlyn believed she had earned her place through her own abilities.
I achieved this through my own power. I am smarter than you…
But in the end, who had truly been clueless?
The gaze of the woman with proud, hazel eyes, looking down as if she were something filthy, overlapped with those of green eyes full of contempt.
Kaitlyn slapped Adeline’s cheek—hard.
Adeline fell to the floor, but Kaitlyn didn’t stop there. She kicked and stomped on her without mercy.
“Lady Adeline! Stop! I said stop!”
She’s going to die, she’ll die if this keeps up…
Despite her arm being painfully crushed by the sailor holding her down, Genevieve twisted her body and struck him hard in the face, finally breaking free.
As Genevieve scrambled out from under him, Kaitlyn shouted in a rage.
“Grab her, Harrison!”
“Don’t touch me!”
Harrison, who had been moving to obey, froze at Genevieve’s fierce command. Taking advantage of the moment, Genevieve charged at her former husband like a bull.
Harrison barely resisted her initial push, but he couldn’t withstand the force when she shoved him with all her might, sending him crashing against the wall.
Without even glancing at Harrison, who had hit the wall, Genevieve knelt down to cradle Adeline.
Adeline’s face was bruised and bloodied from the relentless blows. If all she had wanted was to buy time, it would have been better if Adeline hadn’t fought so fiercely.
If she’d merely pretended to comply with Kaitlyn’s demand to kill Genevieve, she wouldn’t have had to endure such a beating.
But Adeline had resisted with everything she had, as if there were no way she could harm Genevieve. Genevieve would rather take the injuries herself.
Even if Adeline had raised a weapon against her, Genevieve wouldn’t have doubted her intentions. She wouldn’t have been hurt emotionally.
“Lady Adeline, Lady Adeline! Oh no… please, stay with me!”
Genevieve’s hands trembled as she poured her divine power into her.
Barely conscious, Adeline felt the pain quickly fading, marveling at the sensation, and held Genevieve’s hand. Tears fell from Genevieve’s eyes, landing on Adeline’s cheek.
