Chapter 7

Before, Selena had once given him a light peck on the cheek in front of their friends without asking first, and Ian had been so angry that he had ignored her for days.

So, it turned out Ian was never the reserved type. He was only as cold as ice when it came to her.

Selena felt sick.

She got up and walked toward the exit.

As she stepped outside, Ian caught sight of her. Startled, he shoved Vanessa away. Only then did the others notice Selena's presence.

Just as she reached the door, Vanessa caught up and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Selena, it's not what you think–"

"Let go." Selena frowned. She was unwilling to listen to any explanation.

However, Vanessa refused to let go. Instead, her grip tightened.

"Tell me, if I fell down right here, do you think your family would believe it was you who pushed me?"

The moment those words left her mouth, Vanessa let out a piercing scream and dramatically threw herself backward, shattering the restaurant's glass wall.

When the Carter family rushed over, they were met with a gruesome sight. Vanessa lay amidst the shattered glass, blood streaming from her head. Her body was covered in deep cuts.

"Selena, are you insane? Were you trying to kill her?" Ryan shrieked and rushed to cradle Vanessa in his arms.

Selena hadn't even spoken before Zachary slapped her across the face.

"Vile woman."

The force sent Selena crashing to the ground, blood spilling from her mouth mixed with a broken tooth.

She opened her mouth to explain.

But when she met the eyes of her own family, she saw that they were filled with hatred, fury, and an almost desperate desire to tear her apart.

The words got stuck in her throat.

Her blood relatives only believed Vanessa, an outsider. No matter what she said, it would be seen as a lie and a crime beyond redemption.

Nestled in Ryan's embrace, Vanessa let out a choked sob.

"Selena, if you hate me, just say so. I'll disappear from this world forever. If you blame me for taking Ian away, I can give him back to you. As long as it makes you happy, I'll do anything. Please just don't hit me again."

Her pitiful performance left the Carter family on the verge of tears.

"Selena, did you do this because you think Vanessa stole me from you?" Ian looked at Selena in disbelief.

Selena stared blankly at him.

Then, she let out a chuckle, spitting blood as she laughed. It turned out laughing was still possible even when one was emotionally numb.

Seeing her laughing at a time like this only deepened Ian's disappointment.

"You know, I don't even hate you anymore," he said. "What I hate is my past self. How blind I was to have ever loved someone as vile as you. You should just die. I hope you drop dead this very second."

With that, he turned away and left, carrying Vanessa to the hospital with the rest of the Carter family.

Selena watched them leave, but her laughter wouldn't stop.

Passersby thought she had lost her mind.

She lay there for a long time and couldn't get up.

Her heart had been torn to shreds and left in ruins. It was so hollow and broken that it no longer felt pain. Her gaze held neither hatred nor anger. Instead, there was only a numb indifference.

It didn't matter anymore.

In three days, they would never see her ever again.

-

When she returned home, the laughter inside immediately fell silent. Everyone turned to look at her with the same expression.

'How do you still have the nerve to come back?'

She was like a stray dog that had been beaten and thrown out, only to crawl back on broken legs.