Chapter 2

For the past four years, I had not only been the respected and well-liked Mrs. Graham. I was also a key contributor within the Graham Corp. Many of the projects that brought the company substantial growth were proposed by me, and a large portion of the employee benefits were secured through my efforts.

Two years ago, when West said the company was facing a development bottleneck and urgently needed to collaborate with Smith Group, I agreed without hesitation. Jake Smith was my ex-boyfriend and the man who abandoned me when I was seeking justice for my sister, only to turn around and hire a top-tier lawyer for Nina. Yet, for the sake of West’s company, I set aside all resentment and reconciled with Jake without batting an eye.

Now, once again for West, I had personally proposed hosting a welcome party for the woman who killed my sister. With devotion like that, how could he not be moved? And how could the friends and family who knew the inside story not admire someone like me?

The welcome party was grand. The city’s elites and influential figures gathered in full force. Nina entered gracefully in a luxurious red gown, her arm linked with Jake’s. She carried herself with confidence and arrogance.

Nothing about her looked like someone who had just been released from prison. If anything, she looked more like she had just returned from an overseas vacation. Of course, that wasn’t far from the truth. She had indeed just come back from abroad, and West himself had gone to the airport to pick her up.

The moment Nina spotted West standing beside me, her eyes lit up. She immediately jogged over and threw herself into his arms.

“West, I’ve missed you so much!” she cried. “I went to prison for four years for no reason at all, and now we can finally see each other again!”

As she spoke, her resentful gaze cut toward me like a blade. At the same time, she clung to him coquettishly, showing off.

“This welcome party is amazing. Did you plan all this for me, West? I love it!”

West smiled dotingly at her and rubbed her head.

“Erin organized everything,” he said. “Come, say hello to your sister-in-law.”

Nina’s smile froze instantly. Then, she turned her eyes to me and forced a fake smile, greeting me stiffly.

Once the party officially began, Nina moved through the crowd like a social butterfly. She was eloquent and lively, drawing waves of laughter wherever she went. However, I could feel her gaze—subtle yet tightly fixed on me.

Finally, when West went to the restroom, Nina approached. At the time, I was resting quietly in a corner of the hall. Without a word, she lifted a glass of red wine and splashed it straight onto my face.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry, Erin,” she said. “I wanted to toast you and thank you for preparing such a luxurious party for me. I just didn’t hold the glass steady. Are you alright? Do you want me to wipe it off for you?”

Despite her words, she didn’t move an inch. She simply stood there, smiling mockingly, with no intention of helping at all.

I took out a handkerchief and calmly wiped the wine from my face, a faint smile forming on my lips.

“It’s fine,” I said. “Go enjoy yourself. I’ll wash up later.”

My indifference instantly ignited Nina’s fury. She slammed the wine glass hard onto the table beside her, no longer bothering to hide her malice.

“Erin, what are you trying to do here?” she sneered. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re plotting. Trying to play the pitiful wife so that West will feel sorry for you? You’re still too naive.”

Her gaze flicked past me. Then, she leaned in close to my ear and laughed softly.

“Do you think West would keep a woman who maliciously bullies his little sister to be his wife?”

After that, she suddenly raised her hand and slapped herself hard across the face. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

West rushed over at once and caught Nina as she swayed, pulling her into his arms.

“Nina, what happened?”

Nina shrank into his embrace, her lips trembling as tears fell. “I just wanted to come over and toast Erin, but she lectured me for being shameless. She slapped me, then snatched my wine and poured it all over her own face, trying to frame me for bullying her.”

West immediately looked at me. He saw the wine dripping down my face, soaking into my dress, staining it red.

“West,” Nina continued through tears, “I don’t understand why Erin would treat me like this. Is it still because of that car accident? But I really didn’t do it on purpose. I’ve spent four years in prison for it. Why won’t she forgive me–”

West’s expression darkened instantly, but not toward me. It was directed at Nina.