Ch20 - She’s lying

Violet had just stepped out of the apartment building, planning to walk to a nearby shop—barely a ten-minute trip, close enough that she didn’t bother use the driver.

She’d barely gone two steps when two figures suddenly jumped out from behind a parked van, scaring the life out of her.

It took her a second to register who they were—and then her breath caught. One of them had a swollen black-and-blue face, the kind that made him look like he’d lost a bar fight.

“Aunt Polly? Uncle Benny? What happened to your face?”

Polly and Benny froze for half a heartbeat, then their eyes lit up. They’d gotten an anonymous text the day before saying Violet would be here today. They hadn’t been sure if it was real, but they’d waited outside all morning anyway—just in case. 

And now, unbelievably, there she was.

“FINALLY!” Polly rushed forward and grabbed Violet’s hand like she might vanish any second. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

Violet frowned and immediately pulled her hand free. “How did you even find me? What do you want? I thought we agreed we’d never see each other again.”

Polly’s face stiffened for a moment, but she quickly forced on a smile. “Oh, come on, we’re family. Back then we all said things we didn’t mean. You’re not still mad at us, right?”

Violet said nothing. Her lips pressed tight, eyes cold and steady.

Behind Polly, Benny was scowling, his jaw twitching like he was about to explode. Polly saw it coming and tried to hold him back, whispering for him to calm down—but he shoved her off.

“ENOUGH of this crap,” he barked, his voice rough and angry. “All this sentimental bullshit, and you still haven’t gotten to the point!”

Polly stumbled forward.

On instinct, Violet caught her arm, steadying her. Violet’s brows drew together. “You don’t have to be such an asshole.”

She might’ve wanted nothing to do with them, but she couldn’t stand watching him manhandle Polly like that. The second Polly was back on her feet, Violet stepped away again, keeping her distance.

“Cut the act,” Benny snapped. “You think I’m just gonna let you scam us and walk away?”

Violet’s voice stayed calm. “What exactly did I scam you for?”

“OH, don’t play dumb! We went to see Mr. Hill—he told us everything. You never married him, you didn’t even show up after you ran off that night!” 

He jabbed a finger at his swollen face, spitting out his words in rage. “YOU see this? He beat the crap out of me! You tell me, how are you gonna make that right?”

His voice echoed off, every word soaked in fury and frustration—as if his bruises were somehow her fault.

Violet’s expression hardened. “Why would you go looking for him? What did you say to Hill?”

Benny blurted out without thinking, “’Cause this month’s payment didn’t come in—”

He froze mid-sentence. Too late—he’d already said it.

Violet’s face went still for a beat, then everything clicked. Of course. That’s why they’d suddenly shown up a month after she left home—they’d realized the monthly transfer hadn’t hit their account. They must’ve assumed she’d married Hill, figured he’d gone back on his word, and stormed over to confront him—only to get thrown out and beaten for it.

So that’s how it was. There’d been more money involved than just that first 200,000. They’d made some kind of deal with Hill behind her back.

It was never about seeing how she was doing, never about concern—it was always about money. If it were just a check-in, they could’ve called or texted. No, this was pure self-interest.

Benny scrambled to fix his mistake. “Anyway, that’s not the point! We’re pissed because you lied to us!”

Violet stared at him—his face red with anger, still trying to play the victim. Disgust crept into her voice. “I didn’t lie. I never once said I was marrying Hill.”

Benny froze. He looked over at Polly, who looked just as lost.

Polly nervously licked her lips, trying to remember exactly what Violet had said a month ago. She really hadn’t said it, had she? She’d only mentioned she was getting married. But… if it wasn’t Hill, then—who?

Benny’s voice rose again, thick with frustration. “DON’T play word games with me! You said you’d take care of that two hundred grand—that it’d be your way of paying us back for raising you all those years!”

Violet met his eyes, calm and unflinching. “So… did Hill ever ask you to return that money?”

Benny blinked. “What?”

Silence fell.

Polly’s eyes darted as she tried to replay what happened at Hill’s office. They’d gone there a few days ago, desperate for help with their latest financial mess—and maybe to ask him to pass a message to Violet. But Hill had lost it the second he saw them.

“I haven’t even started with you two yet, and you’ve got the nerve to come to me?” he’d shouted.

They hadn’t understood a word of it. Benny, being Benny, had mouthed off, thinking Hill was bluffing—and that’s when Hill’s security guards had beaten him bloody and thrown them out.

Now that Polly thought about it… if Hill and Violet really hadn’t married, shouldn’t Hill have been demanding that 200,000 back? But he hadn’t. He’d just wanted them gone. The thought unsettled both of them.

Violet’s voice cut through their confusion—cool, even, with a quiet steel. “Since he never asked for that money back, that means I already kept my end of the deal. Now it’s your turn to keep yours.”

Polly frowned, her brain lagging a few beats behind. Violet’s logic sounded airtight, but something about it still felt off. “That’s not— I mean—”

Violet gave them a polite little nod, already stepping back. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”

“Hey—wait!” Polly lurched forward and grabbed her.

Violet jerked her arm back, brushing off the woman’s hand. “If you’ve got something to say, just say it. Stop grabbing me.”

“I didn’t mean it like that…” Polly twisted her fingers, voice trembling. “I’m here to ask you to help Lilia. Please.”

Violet frowned. “Didn’t you say last time you’d already paid off her medical bills? Why are you asking me to ‘save’ her again?”

“Listen to me, that money only covered one month.”

Violet inhaled sharply. “$200,000—for one month?”

Polly’s gaze flicked nervously to her husband, who was suddenly fascinated by the ground.

Violet’s voice cooled. “That doesn’t make sense. I checked before—enzyme replacement therapy costs about $200,000 a year. You told me you paid it all upfront. So if it only covered a month… what did you actually pay the hospital? A few thousand? Where did the rest go?”

Benny exploded. “YOU don’t know shit! It’s not just hospital bills—we’ve got to feed her, clothe her, hire care taker, you think that’s free? Stop acting like we’re stealing from you!”

His neck flushed red, words tumbling over each other—too fast, too defensive. Violet just stared at him, and realization slowly settled in her eyes.

Her tone dropped, sharp and quiet. “You gambled it away again, didn’t you?”

Benny’s eyes went wide. “I—I didn’t—”

Violet didn’t bother listening to him. She turned to Polly. “Tell me. Did he lose all of it again?”

Polly’s lips parted, but nothing came out.

Violet let out a bitter laugh. “Fine. Perfect. But forget it—you can both stop dreaming. I don’t have any money.”

“DON’T lie!” Benny barked, jabbing a finger toward the high-rise behind her. “You live here, in a place like this—look around! Private garden, uniformed doormen, luxury cars lined up at the gate—you expect me to believe you’re broke?”

Violet’s eyes went cold. “I said I don’t have money. That two hundred thousand wasn’t even mine to give. I still owe it.”

Polly blinked, startled. “Wait—seriously?” Her eyes darted, suddenly worried Violet might ask them to pay it back instead.

“SHE’S LYING!” Benny snarled, then suddenly lunged forward and yanked at Violet’s handbag.

Caught off guard, Violet instinctively held on. The tug jerked her arm upward, and light flashed off the diamond ring on her finger.

“See that?!” Benny shouted, triumphant. “She’s wearing a damn rock the size of my eye, and she’s saying she’s broke?!”

Polly’s eyes went wide. “OH MY GOD—is that real?” She grabbed Violet’s hand, pawing at it.

“Let go of me! It’s not mine!” Violet tried to pull back, but it was too late—one had her sleeve, the other her wrist.

“Just lend it to us for now!” Polly pleaded, eyes fixed on the glittering stone. “I’ll pay you back, I swear! We just need it for Lilia’s treatment!”

The ring had never been properly fitted—it was a little loose. With one hard pull between them, it slipped free.

The moment it left her finger, both of them let go. The sudden release threw Violet off balance—her foot slid back, the world spun—

—and then a firm arm caught her waist.

A familiar scent hit her all at once: warm, dry wood and a trace of cologne. Masculine. Calm.