Katie's smile froze. But she quickly regained her composure, laughed nervously, and attempted to appease him. "Mitchel, there were too many people earlier, so I didn't get a chance to explain. The invitation... They forced me to do so."

Katie covered her teary eyes with her hands but secretly observed Mitchel's reaction.

Deep inside her, she couldn't help cursing Henley. It turned out Henley wasn't a legitimate son. He even had no connection with the Dixon family. How dare he tell her he was Alexis' only child, the rightful heir of the Dixon Group! And she was too foolish to believe his account that Mitchel was adopted.

It was only now that Katie realized that neither Henley nor Alexis resembled the members of the Dixon family. The members of the Dixon family were all dignified and upright people. On the other hand, Henley and Alexis had dubious and slippery demeanors. She scolded herself for being blind. But she also felt lucky that she didn't go too far.

"Mitchel..." When Mitchel didn't respond, Katie said softly, "It was Henley who approached me and forced me to give him an invitation. He threatened that if I refused, he would reveal that you weren't a Dixon. I feared it would tarnish your reputation, so I had no choice. I gave him the invitation."

It was an excuse full of loopholes. But under such circumstances, it was the best Katie could come up with. Anyway, it didn't matter whether or not Mitchel believed her. His life was still in her hands, given the toxin within his body. So, with her excuses, she was essentially offering him a way out.

Seeing his stern face, she added quickly, “But I really didn't know he had bad intentions. If I had known they would cause trouble, I would never have agreed to give them invitations."

Caught in the act, her dramatics surged uncontrollably. After deliberately putting on an aggrieved look, she pleaded, "Mitchel, you must believe me. I am your wife, so I will stand by you for better or worse."

"Wife? We are not husband and wife," Mitchel said after being silent for a while.

And what he said was the last thing Katie wanted to hear. His icy tone and expression were devastatingly heartless and indifferent.

Katie's expression changed. She retorted, “But... Everyone in Ardlens knows we are married."

"Katie." Mitchel's expression was solemn when he uttered her name.

"That's because I want them to know."

"Why?" Katie asked in confusion. Why would he want everyone to know they were married but insist they were not husband and wife?

After studying Mitchel thoroughly over the years, she felt confident in her understanding of him. But now, she felt like she didn't know him anymore. It seemed he didn't show her the real him.

Instead of answering Katie's question, Mitchel looked at her intently with a penetrating gaze and asked, "Katie, have you ever regretted what you've done?"

The expression on Katie's face changed again. She stammered, “Mitchel, what... What do you mean?"

Mitchel's face was extremely cold. His thin lips slightly parted when he said, "You know exactly what I mean."

"I... I don't understand what you're trying to imply. Mitchel, I swear I've never thought of harming you. You know my feelings for you. I love you so much..."

“That's why you harm the one I love?" Mitchel interrupted her sharply.