I Burned for Proof, Not for Love

The searing heat from the grill burned into my skin. My entire right hand was swollen and badly burned. Blisters quickly formed across my skin, and the smell of burning flesh filled the air.

The cold indifference in Theo Zeller's eyes finally gave way to panic.

"Ivy Gibson! Have you lost your mind? Are you really willing to die just to fight her over a necklace?" he asked, grabbing my wrist tightly.

An excruciating pain shot through my palm. My whole body trembled from the agony, but I refused to let go of the pendant.

…

Seven years ago, after my father, Mark Sanders, was sentenced to death, I did everything I could to save him. I searched for lawyers and filed appeal after appeal.

But my father was just an ordinary truck driver with no connections. To the Zellers, he was the perfect scapegoat.

They didn't even need to show their faces. A single word from them was enough to make lawyers turn down my case, shut every door at every government office I approached, and silence anyone who dared to speak up.

That was when I learned the cruel truth—In the face of power and influence, an ordinary person's life was worth less than nothing.

Later, determined to uncover the truth, I took my mother's surname and hid my real identity. I became Ivy Gibson, the woman Theo knew.

First, I became his lover. Then, step by step, I fought my way into becoming Mrs. Zeller.

I had taken a knife for him and stood by his side through the darkest days of his power struggle.

Now, I was just one step away from bringing my father home.

…

"Go get a doctor!" Theo roared toward the door.

He took off his suit jacket, trying to wrap it around my injured hand. But I pulled away and hid the pendant behind my back.

His hand froze midair, and his expression darkened.

"Give it to me," he ordered.

"It's a keepsake from my mother," I reasoned.

After a brief pause, I continued, "When Diana slapped me and tried to take my necklace, you did nothing to stop her. Now that I've risked my hand to get it back, are you going to hand it over to her again?"

Theo stiffened.

Just then, Diana Scott approached him with red-rimmed eyes and gently tugged at his sleeves.

"Theo, I had no idea that the necklace was a keepsake from Ivy's mother."

She bit her lip, her voice trembling slightly. "I just thought it was pretty and casually mentioned it. If Ivy didn't want to give it to me, she could've just said so. Why did she have to hurt herself and make everyone think I was mistreating her?"

Those seemingly innocent words were enough to make Theo look at me with the same impatience as before.

"Tonight is Diana's welcome party. You've already made enough of a scene."

With that, he forcibly pried my fingers open. The wound split open under the pressure, and blood instantly smeared across the pendant.

I clenched my teeth, refusing to let go even as he nearly pried my last finger loose.

"I can give her anything else… Just not this." I glared at Theo, tightening my grip around the pendant.

His hands paused for a moment.

Then, Diana suddenly clutched her chest. Her face went deathly pale as she staggered backward.

Theo immediately released me and caught her in his arms.

"Diana!" he cried, hurrying away with her.

As he passed me, he shot me a cold look. "If anything happens to her tonight, I'll make you pay."

I watched his retreating figure, then let out a sudden laugh.

Theo, you'd better remember what you just said. Once my father was cleared of all charges, there would be no future between us.