Falsely Accused, Truly Betrayed

Persistent as I was, I met the manager's gaze head-on, ready to speak, when the clerk shoved my head brutally down against the floor. "Our manager said he doesn't know you. Speak another word, and I'll cut off your hand!"My forehead buzzed with electrifying pain. My body collapsed to the ground, a wave of dizziness crashing over me so hard I couldn't even speak."Mr. Paxton, we've got no idea how this thief acquired information about our customers. He came here, trying to impersonate someone and steal the necklace. You can't trust anything he says!"The manager, whose name tag read "Nicholas Paxton", glanced at me with an indifference reserved for a dead stranger. "Have I taught you nothing about dealing with people like this? Beat them up and then call the police!"His words landed like a verdict. I soldiered on through the dizziness and excruciating pain and used all my strength to yell, "You called and told me to drop by the store yesterday! Doesn't that ring a bell?""This du

Madeline's expression shifted slightly at my words. She slowly turned around, biting her lip, her eyes full of conflict.I knew, at that moment, she finally remembered what kind of family I came from."Consequences, you say? Who the hell are you to scare my wifey like that?" Jacob scolded, seeing me as someone insignificant as an ant.Before I could expose Madeline's secret, she lunged toward me, voice shaking, and softly pleaded, "Christian, please, just bear with it a little for now. We'll talk once we're back home, okay? I promise to explain everything to you."I skipped her question and coldly asked, "I may be able to bear with it, but what about Molly? She needs the money so she can have the treatment she needs! How can you, as her mother, be so brutal and awful…"Her eyes darted away, face flushed red, and after a long pause, she finally squeezed out a sentence. "She's… She's not as sickly as you think. She's fine! It's just that… Can we talk when we get home?"In the end,

Molly wept so hard that her shoulders were shaking. "Mommy didn't let me. She said you were busy working. She told me I'd get beaten if I didn't listen to her. If I tell you, I'm a bad girl…"Her words, unfortunately, only added fuel to my fury. I couldn't believe I had married such a devil."I see. That's why you never let me bathe her!" I said through gritted teeth, kicking Madeline to the ground.Jacob struggled to break free from the bodyguards' grips and lunged toward Madeline, his gaze thick with disbelief. "Maddie, didn't you say you finally found a bone marrow match for our son? What's going on?"At that moment, he realized the identity he had always been so proud of, and the arrogance he carried thanks to her backing, might've all been nothing but a carefully spun lie.Having received my slap and Jacob's frenzied questioning, Madeline felt closer to the edge. She had been humiliated in front of everyone, and whatever composure she had left snapped completely.Suddenly, s

Madeline stood outside, ringing the doorbell repeatedly. Her overly sweet smile only made me feel uneasy."Christian, Molly, open the door! How come you moved without telling me?"I opened the door, a little annoyed. "Are you serious, Madeline? Haven't you gotten the divorce papers yet?"Her smile stiffened. "You!"She stepped forward, trying to barge into my home. "Do you have to be so ruthless? Don't you remember what we had?"She continued, "I admit, I wasn't perfect during our marriage, but how could you be so unforgiving? You stood by me and fell out with your family for my sake back then. Why can't you just forgive me now?"Why would I forgive her?"Do you think that's possible?" I questioned. "Do you realize how much effort I'd put in for us? And what have you done?"You had the means to give Molly a good life, but you lied to me, saying you were broke, while you were out there, spending away with your little boy toy!"Even if feelings are gone, have you never thought a