Chapter 4

All Victor did was defend Cynthia.

The moment the door opened, the police stepped in, and the crowd swarmed the entrance.

"That's her! She's the one who seduced someone else's husband and stole from us!"

The police were blocked at the entryway, trying to take down the details.

Cynthia let out a sigh.

"Just let it go. Stop giving Clem such a hard time."

She walked up to me and snatched the wedding ring from my hand, tossing it aside.

"Keep the ring. It's yours—"

As she spoke, her heel pressed down on my father's memorial portrait.

I instinctively reached out to protect it. My palm slammed straight into the broken glass, and the pain sent cold sweat down my spine.

Cynthia took the chance to stumble back, screaming as she dropped to the floor.

"Cindy!"

Everyone rushed over at once.

Victor knocked me aside and pulled her into his arms.

I crashed hard against the wall, and my vision went black for a moment.

Cynthia's parents happened to arrive at that exact moment.

Seeing her on the floor, they walked right past me.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

I steadied myself against the wall, wanting to explain everything to them one last time.

"Mom, Dad, I—"

Cynthia cut me off right then as she said through her tears, "Clem, just because you hate me, it doesn't mean you can hurt the baby..."

Jessica's expression darkened. She turned and slapped me across the face directly, without asking for any explanation.

"Don't you dare call me Mom!

"If I'd known we were raising such ungrateful trash, I would've left you to rot!"

Victor steadied Cynthia and looked at me disappointedly.

"I already explained everything about the wedding. You're the one being impatient.

"Look at the mess you've made. Clementine, is this what you wanted?"

I looked at him, and the last trace of feelings in my heart vanished. Only hatred remained.

I said through gritted teeth, "You saw the ring fall out of her pocket with your own eyes."

His expression stiffened, and he hesitated.

Cynthia clutched her lower belly and let out a soft cry of pain.

He immediately looked away and handed the purchase receipt to the police.

"That wedding ring is worth two hundred thousand dollars. We're pressing charges!"

A few friends chimed in and identified me as well.

In the end, the police told everyone to go to the police station and cooperate with the investigation.

I bent down to pick up the shattered memorial portrait. The glass dug in deeper, and blood dripped down through my fingers.

As I passed Victor, he raised his hand slightly, as if wanting to reach out to me. But in the end, he pulled Cynthia tighter into his arms.

I kept explaining myself until dawn.

In the next room, the people who had once been closest to me kept telling the same lie.

Finally, the police returned my phone.

"There isn't enough evidence right now. You're free to go, but stay reachable."

When I walked out of the police station, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

Nobody had texted me. The only thing blowing up my phone was a wedding group chat I had been added to by accident.

[The bride is getting her makeup done!]

[Picking up the bride at 10 a.m. sharp!]

In the photo, Cynthia's parents were gathered around her, adjusting her veil.

I left the group chat and opened my boss' chatbox.

[I'll take the long-term overseas position you mentioned.]

Before boarding, Travis sent a voice message.

"Ms. Revelle, there are wedding decorations all over the house, and the people are refusing to vacate."

On the other end, someone shouted angrily. "Nobody's touching our house!"

The next second, Victor's call came through.

"Clementine, did you sell the house?"

The airport announcement rang out right after.

"Now boarding for Meridova. All passengers, please proceed to the gate."

There was silence on the other end of the line. A moment later, his tone turned flustered.

"Clementine, where are you going?"

I did not answer. I hung up on him and ended the call.

By the time the plane landed in Meridova, I saw messages and calls flooding my phone screen.