Chapter 3

Meeting my stunned gaze, Alvin slowly said, "Grandma once told Aston that he was never to return to the country, ever. But he broke the rule and disobeyed Grandma's order for the first time, all just for you.

"You're both like star-crossed lovers at this point, but I don't find it the least bit touching at all."

What Alvin said next plunged me into an icy abyss. He took the tablet from Tamara and casually told me that he wasn't as empathetic as Muriel, who still harbored a very slight affection for Aston.

He told me that the horrific car accident that was about to happen to Aston on the highway would take his life and make him completely disappear from the world.

"But you know, when I think about how horribly you're going to be crying after his death, I feel a little bit sorry for you," Alvin said, laughing in my ear.

"Should I tell the driver to hit the brakes a little earlier to spare his life? But if I do that, you must come back with me afterward. Aston only deserves the scraps from my table."

Mom and Dad were furious, but they were taken away by Alvin's men. I lay on the floor, powerless, as I watched the accident happen on the highway in real-time.

"No!"

I used the last of my strength to grab the hem of Alvin's pants. I rasped, "I'll go with you."

…

Now, Aston was once again tearing open the wounds of the past that I'd deliberately hidden from him. He was doing it in public this time.

He picked Hailey up, stood next to Tamara, and glared at me.

I felt just about as hopeless as I did back in the mountains years ago.

"You don't have a conscience at all!" Mom screamed, clawing at Aston's face without warning. "Belinda did all that for your sake!"

Aston frowned and glared at Mom. His men immediately came up to drag Mom and Dad away once more.

Tamara held a hand to her heart and said, "I'm Aston's sister-in-law. I only did that because I couldn't bear to watch Belinda make a fool out of him anymore."

She then turned to Aston, whose face was as dark as night, and suddenly ran toward the nearest wall with all of her might.

"I'm a sinner, after all. Dear God, please just let me bear all the punishment on their behalf instead!"

Things happened too quickly. Aston hurriedly tried to stop her from "killing herself", but she still got a massive wound on her head.

"Tammy! No!" Hailey screamed, rushing up to me and hitting me angrily. "Mommy! You're the one who did something wrong! Why must you make Tammy take the punishment instead!"

This entire farce quickly turned into a subject of gossip amongst the rest of the guests.

"It's no wonder that the Crawfords ended up like this. They've had corrupted values from the start!"

"I must have been blind to have lent so much money to them in the past."

"How could Mr. Powell even put up with this kind of humiliation in the first place? In-laws? Mark my words, they're going to be sworn enemies in the near future!"

The huge red patch on Tamara's head thoroughly angered Aston.

"Eat!"

He kicked me down to the messy floor and personally shoved my head face-down in the spilled food with the same hands he'd used to put our wedding ring on my finger. He then grabbed handfuls of the soiled food and stuffed them all down my throat.

"Aston! Stop it! There are peanuts in that! Belinda's allergic!" Mom screamed.

Aston stopped. Tamara then said weakly, "Forget about it. I'll still make it every year for Hailey's birthday if she wants me to. It's fine if it's ruined this year."

Hailey burst into loud sobs at once.

"Mommy! You're the worst! You did this on purpose because you knew that I wanted to eat Tammy's food!"

Aston hurriedly gathered Hailey into his arms and gave me a cold look.

"You destroyed Hailey's birthday. You brought this upon yourself."

He'd already forced me to swallow mouthfuls of the soiled food on the floor. I felt a burning sensation from my stomach to my throat. I couldn't even get a word out.

I grabbed Aston's pant leg again, forcing myself to croak, "The debts…"

Aston glared coldly at me. "I did say that I'd consider it once you've finished eating everything."

Seconds later, a cruel smile broke across his face.

"I've considered it. The verdict is: I won't do it."