Chapter 4

I froze, every hair on my body standing on end.

Cedric leaned closer and reached out to touch my cheek.

"I know you were hurt yesterday, and I'm sorry," he said softly. "But sweetheart, you shouldn't have made that post."

I jerked away from his hand.

Tears fell onto the back of his hand, and he flinched almost imperceptibly. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing.

The car drove straight to the hospital.

"Addie saw the post online and ended up in the ICU because of it. You owe her an explanation today," Cedric announced, dragging me all the way inside.

I stumbled after him into the hospital room, belatedly realizing how packed it was. I saw Cecilia, Kian, Scarlett, relatives from the Ross family.

The moment they saw me, they all glared at me with open hostility.

"Apologize," Cedric hissed, shoving me toward the hospital bed.

Addison lay in bed, her lips pale and her face still tear-streaked.

"Ms. Stanton, I've never done anything to you. But you ruined my wedding, and then you went online and spread lies about Cedric cheating on you. What exactly are you trying to accomplish?"

I stared at her and suddenly laughed.

"Do you really believe I was the one going after Cedric?" I asked. "I've been with Cedric for five years, three of them long-distance. Don't tell me you never noticed a single thing."

The room fell silent.

"Naomi, what are you talking about?" Cecilia quickly cut in, her expression changing. "Addie isn't well. Don't upset her—"

"Cecilia," Addison interrupted. "I'd like to speak with Ms. Stanton alone."

She smiled.

"I believe Ms. Stanton is reasonable enough to have a conversation with me."

Cedric frowned and shot me a warning look.

As soon as the door closed, the tenderness in Addison's eyes disappeared completely.

"Of course I know you've been with Cedric for five years. There's no way I wouldn't know," she said airily. "But so what? If I want something, I always get it.

"I just didn't expect Cedric to want both of us. He wanted to be with me, but he couldn't bring himself to let you go either. He dragged it out for three years without ever telling you the truth.

"I couldn't wait any longer."

Her gaze turned icy.

"So I showed your mother the wedding video and told her that you were a shameless woman who had seduced another woman's fiance."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and my whole body jolted.

"What did you say?"

"I wanted your mother to be the one to tell you the truth," Addison replied, grinning. "I wanted her to teach you a lesson herself.

"But I never expected her to be so fragile. You hadn't even made it home before… she died from the shock.

"And you were stupid enough to believe Cedric when he told you your mother died from kidney failure. You never even realized what had really happened.

"So, I had to push you a little harder.

"I was the one who posted the video from the wedding, and I leaked your personal information online too."

She gestured toward the hospital gown she was wearing.

"Even this? I'm pretending to be sick. I wanted to torment you. That's the price you pay for taking Cedric away from me for five years."

Every word felt like a knife driven straight into my heart.

My eyes burned with rage. I lunged at her and clamped both hands around her throat.

"You killed my mother! You!"

Addison's face turned beet red as I choked her, yet the smile on her face didn't waver at all. She reached out and violently knocked against the bedside table.

A loud crash sounded as the vase hit the floor.

The door flew open.

"Addie!"

Cedric's eyes widened as he rushed in.

He kicked me hard in the chest, sending me flying backward and crashing onto the floor.

"Naomi, have you lost your mind?"

He charged toward me, grabbed me by the hair and yanked me to my feet.

"Get on your knees and apologize to Addie!" he snarled.

I used every ounce of strength I had to shove him away. Staggering backward, I kept retreating until I reached the window.

We were 23 floors up. Wind rushed through the gap in the window, whipping my hair around my face.

Cedric's eyes widened in alarm, and he started toward me.

"Don't come any closer!" I screamed, leaning half my body out of the window.

Just then, an anxious voice rang out behind us.

"Mr. Lambert, we have a problem!" Cedric's assistant came rushing into the room. "The conversation in the hospital room just now was livestreamed!"

At the same time, hurried footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway.

Two police officers appeared in the doorway.

"We received a report of suspected assault and defamation. Which one of you is Addison Ross?"