Chapter 4

I stared at the text message for a full ten minutes.

Then I replied with only two words: [I'll go.]

After putting down my phone, I looked at my father's urn and gently traced it with my fingers.

"Dad, please wait a little longer. I'm going to get justice for you."

The next evening, an Ellison family car stopped downstairs. The driver, Jamie, had come to pick me up.

"Ms. Reynolds, get in. Mr. Ellison doesn't like waiting."

He didn't even bother getting out of the car. He simply shouted through the window.

I opened the door and sat in the back seat.

The car reeked of perfume. It was Luna's usual brand.

By the time we arrived at the hotel, Jeff was already waiting in the lounge.

The moment he saw the cheap dress I was wearing, he frowned deeply, disgust written all over his face.

"You're wearing that?"

He tossed a garment bag toward me.

"Change into this. Don't embarrass me."

Inside was a fitted white evening gown, elegant and expensive, but not my size.

I glanced at the label. It was a designer brand Luna often wore, even down to the exact size.

"I'm not changing."

I tossed the dress back onto the couch.

"I'm here for a divorce, not a fashion show."

He sighed impatiently.

"If you won't change, then fine. Just remember one thing—don't say anything stupid at the banquet."

The ballroom glittered with lights and luxury, but all around me were strange, mocking glances.

"Isn't that Mr. Ellison's wife? Why does she look more like an assistant?"

"Shh, didn't you hear? The one Mr. Ellison favors now is his assistant, Luna."

"Seriously? And Carol still puts up with this? That's pathetic."

Expressionless, I stood alone in the corner with a wineglass in hand.

But Luna clearly had no intention of leaving me alone. Holding her own glass, she walked over with several rich heirs trailing behind her.

"Carol, drinking alone?"

Swirling the wine in her glass, she smiled mockingly.

"I heard your dad's sick. Why aren't you at the hospital taking care of him?"

Laughter erupted around us.

My grip tightened around the stem of my glass until my knuckles turned white. I stared at Luna without blinking.

"Get lost."

The smile on her face stiffened for a second before turning vicious. She leaned close, lowering her voice so only the two of us could hear.

"Carol, you still don't know, do you? That day, I was the one who used Jeff's phone to reverse the ransom payment."

She clicked her tongue dramatically.

"Honestly, I didn't expect the kidnappers to be so sensitive. Who knew they'd actually kill him?

"Tsk, tsk. I heard your dad died horribly. Every bone in his body was shattered…

"Tell me—do you think he was screaming your name before he died?"

The final thread in my mind snapped. Every ounce of restraint, every shred of reason vanished in an instant.

I raised my hand and slapped her across the face with all my strength.

Luna spun sideways from the force. Her wineglass flew out of her hand, and red wine splashed across her dress.

The music stopped.

Everyone turned to look.

Clutching her cheek, Luna stared at me in disbelief. Then her eyes reddened instantly, tears spilling down her face.

"Carol… why did you hit me? I was only asking about your dad's condition… how could you…"

Jeff rushed over immediately. He shoved me aside and pulled Luna behind him protectively, his expression so vicious it looked like he wanted to devour me alive.

"Carol! Have you lost your mind?! Apologize to Luna right now!"

The shove sent me stumbling backward into a table. Bottles crashed to the floor, glass shattering everywhere.

But I felt no pain.

"Apologize?"

I laughed harshly.

"Jeff, you want me to apologize to a murderer? Keep dreaming!"

I pointed at Luna, my voice hoarse yet sharp enough to cut through the entire ballroom.

"It was her! She used your phone to reverse the money that was supposed to save my father's life! She was the one who got my father beaten to death!

"And you, Jeff! What were you doing at the time? You were taking pictures with this murderer! You shameless pair of adulterers should both pay for my father's life!!!"

My scream exploded through the ballroom like a bomb.

Jeff's face instantly turned deathly pale. He stared at me, and for the very first time, panic appeared in his eyes.

"Carol! Shut up!"

He lunged toward me, trying to cover my mouth, but I shoved him away violently.

"What? Feeling guilty now?"

I pulled out my phone and raised it high above my head.

"You want proof? I have it! These are the bank transfer records! These are the reversal records!

"This is the official death certificate from the police! And this one—!"

I opened the photo that the entire city had already seen, turned the screen brightness to maximum, and shoved it right in front of Jeff's face.

"Jeff, do those five-million-dollar photos look good? They were bought with my father's life!"