3

“What? Th-This is bullshit!” I stared wide-eyed, my heart rate picking so fast, I wasn't even aware when I hit the phone so hard, it flew a good distance before landing with a crash.

“How dare you?” Amber sucked in a breath, stepping forward, her face rage filled. “Do you even have any idea how expensive that phone is?”

“How can she, when she just stole an entire twelve million!” Sophie growled in disgust. “Where is your shame?”

“No, this isn't true!” My body was starting to panic, shaking at what I was being accused of. “I didn't do it! I love Dale! I would never—”

I was cut short by a strike on the cheek.

Amber's nose was flared now. “Don't ever say his name again! I don't want to hear your filthy mouth do such.”

Tears were already welling in my eyes.

Twelve million?

I was being accused of not only laundering twelve million dollars, but also planned murder?

That wasn't good.

Not at all.

It spoke of potential life in prison, and I knew one thing was for sure, neither Amber nor Sophie would stop that from happening.

So I rushed to the one who could.

Finn.

“Please, please believe me Mr Beldson.” My hands clasped together, tears already pouring. “I didn't do anything! Please.”

He stepped back, a deep frown on his face. “This is something I'd have expected from many others, but not you.”

A satisfied smile grew up Amber's lips as she moved to stand beside her husband. “Are the cops around?” She asked a worker by the corner, obviously eavesdropping.

“Y-Yes ma'am.” The person startled from getting caught.

“Then bring them in.”

Police?

Oh, no no. “Amber, don't do this.” I shook my head, and without second thoughts, dropped to my knees in front of her, tears pouring even more. “Please Amber, I promise this is some kind of conspiracy. Don't get me arrested.”

Her smile grew to one of satisfaction.

“You have always been a golddigger, haven't you?”

“N-No Amber, I promise—”

“Please Chloe, will you stop all this already.” Nora's voice made me tilt my head in her direction. “You know I've liked you ever since you got married to Dale, and I've always tried to stand by you whenever you aren't being treated well, but this…” she shook her head in obviously feigned disappointment. “This is overdoing it. You've done what you shouldn't have.”

Her voice immediately dried the tears.

And when I noticed the smile she was obviously biting back, anger filled me.

“You!” I growled, jumping to my feet. “You asshole!”

The fury made me run to her, throwing a punch to her face first.

That had obviously come as an unexpected surprise, because she staggered back, her hands flying to her bloodied nose with wide eyes.

Everyone in the room gasped in shock.

“Are you mad?!”

“Shut up.” I threw another punch, determined to destroy that hypocrisy of hers.

This one sent her falling, so I quickly straddled over, throwing punches that led to her bleeding and screaming and wailing, hands flailing.

This was all her doing! It was!

“Help!”

At that moment, the police arrived, and quickly rushed to grab both arms of mine before Amber and Tina could beat them to it.

“You are under arrest now, and you had better not do anything or else this might not end pretty.” The cop said.

“You've gone mad! You've turned crazy!” Amber crouched beside Nora, helping her to her feet.

“Yeah, you can say that.” I tried freeing myself of the officer's grip, but it was just too strong.

Still, that didn't stop my leg flailing. “I've done nothing but been nice to this stupid ass family, and look at how you've all treated me. With nothing but hatred.

“If it wasn't for Dale, you think I'd still be here! I'm not that shameless! And now, she's done the worst by making it seem like I wanted to kill my own husband to elope with some idiot that probably doesn't exist and you expect me not to run mad!”

“Stop this! You're just bringing more disgrace to the Beldson family.” Finn sounded very mad. “Officers, take her away!”

I gasped. “No! No! Where's Dale? I need to see Dale!”

He would never allow them to do such.

He loved me, and I knew that. He would stop this from happening.

He would.

I tried, once again, to free myself from the grip, but they were just too strong.

Then, they began pulling me towards the door, ignoring my scream of innocence and pleas to see Dale.

“Leave her!” Finally, after what felt like an eternity, my help was back.

The cops paused, same as everyone in the room.

Nora straightened, touching her bruised face, but seeming more interested in Dale's words.

“Mom,” he turned to Amber with the deepest frown ever, “drop the charges.”

“Wha—?”

“No questions. Just drop it.” He spoke firmly, and with a deep frown, Amber did that, so the cops released me.

“Thank you so much Dale.” I rushed to his side, tears filling my eyes. “I knew you'd come to my rescue.”

“Dale, this girl is dangerous. She just almost killed me.” Nora said in disbelief, obviously not expecting her plans to not work.

He ignored her. Instead, grabbed my wrist in one hand, while holding what looked like a suitcase in the other.

He began pulling me with him to… somewhere.

Somewhere private, but I didn't even care about that.

Only the fact he literally just saved me from possible years in prison.

“Dale, thank you so much for believing me.”

My words made him stop when we were both alone now, then turn to me with that still over cold expression.

“What makes you think I do?” He asked, his tone matching his look.

“H-Huh?”

“I didn't drop the case to save you Chloe.” He started plainly. “But because I know how much of a stain it would be to my reputation if it came out that the wife of a Beldson is a criminal.”

“What?” I was in utter shock.

Dale didn't believe me either?

“I've been able to retrieve the money, but can't risk such repeating itself.”

“Wha-What do you mean?” Even before he said the words, I already suspected them, my breath hitched, heart stopped.

Then he dropped the bomb. “We're getting a divorce. Now.”