Chapter 4

I looked at the three people standing across from me. They looked exactly like a real family, while I was left playing the villain.

“I’m losing my mind, Edmund? Aren’t you two the ones who drove me to this?

“You swore before God that you would love me and only me for the rest of your life. You knew perfectly well that my mother died because of my father’s infidelity. You knew an unfaithful husband was the one thing I loathe above all else.

“Yet, you betrayed me over and over again. Aren’t you the sole reason for the mess we’re in right now?

“You pushed me to the edge step by step, and now you have the nerve to blame me for breaking? Don’t you find all of this completely pathetic?”

Confronted by my questions, Edmund stood speechless. He lowered his head, a flicker of guilt crossing his features.

But right then, Avery stepped forward. She dropped down to her knees before me in a display of absolute humility, her voice thick with grievance.

“I’m sorry, Victoria. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have fallen in love with Edmund. But no one can truly control matters of the heart. Edmund has supported you financially for all these years, yet you do nothing but blame him. Do you have any idea how hard he works out there?

“I am truly sorry about what happened to your mother, but I was just a child back then. I was a victim, too. I’ll keep making it up to you, so please, just forgive me.

“If you’re angry, take it all out on me. Hit me, curse at me—I swear I won’t ever fight back. Just please forgive us.”

She wept openly, reaching out to grab my hand. Disgusted, I violently shoved her away.

“Get away from me! Don’t touch me, you make my skin crawl.”

Avery took the opportunity to collapse heavily onto the floor. Edmund and David instantly rushed to her side in a panic. Avery slid smoothly into Edmund’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably, while David glared at me with pure rage.

“You bad woman! Get out of here! Stop hurting Avery!”

Edmund looked up, his eyes burning with absolute fury. “Apologize!” he demanded coldly.

“Why on earth should I apologize to a mistress? You two are the ones who owe me an apology.”

I could never forget the day David turned one. Filled with joy, we had taken him to Edmund’s company to celebrate his birthday, only for me to overhear a devastatingly familiar voice.

“Edmund, do you think Victoria would actually divorce you if she caught us? She absolutely despises cheating husbands, after all.”

At that exact moment, the blood had frozen in my veins. I had stared at the scene before me, completely unable to believe my eyes.

I couldn’t comprehend how Edmund, who had once expressed nothing but disdain for Avery, could suddenly fall in love with her. We had been so deeply in love before.

And now, even the child I had raised with every ounce of my love was choosing Avery’s side.

“Victoria, what is it going to take for you to finally leave Avery alone?” Edmund snarled.

“I’ll leave her alone when she’s dead,” I replied, my expression completely blank.

“Fine, Victoria! Is my death the only thing that will make you forgive Edmund? I can’t bear to see you two constantly tearing each other apart because of me anymore!”

Before anyone could comprehend what she was doing, Avery bolted upright, grabbed the paring knife from the bedside table, and plunged it fiercely into her own stomach. She moved so fast that no one in the room could react in time.

It was only when bright red blood began pooling through Avery’s clothes that everyone snapped out of their shock.

“Avery! How could you be so foolish?”

Edmund lunged forward, gathering her into his arms, his heart breaking at the sight.

“David, go get a doctor right now! Avery, stay with me! Look at me!”

David scrambled out of the room in a blind panic. Edmund turned his head toward me, his gaze twisted with murderous malice.

“Are you satisfied now, Victoria? I swear to you, if anything happens to Avery, I will make you pay with your life!”

Edmund scooped Avery up and rushed out of the room. He slammed right into me on his way out, sending me crashing to the floor without a second thought. Or perhaps, he simply didn’t care.

The angle of my fall was brutal. The side of my forehead struck the sharp corner of the cabinet, and blood began to seep from the wound. My head throbbed violently, and my vision blurred into darkness.

In the distance, my phone began to ring its familiar tune, but I no longer had the strength to answer it.

I found myself wondering... if I died right here, would my mother and the professor be sad?

When I finally opened my eyes again, Professor Robert was looking down at me, his face etched with deep worry.

“Victoria, you’re finally awake. How are you feeling?”

“Professor Robert? Why are you here?”

The sharp throb in my forehead cleared my head slightly. I forced myself to sit up.

“You never showed up, and I got worried,” the professor explained softly. “When I called your phone, a nurse answered. She said they couldn't get a hold of any of your family members, so I rushed right over.”

Of course. In Edmund’s world, Avery would always be infinitely more important.

The professor took in my pale complexion, but ultimately chose not to press for details.

“Professor, can we leave early?”

The professor studied my face intently for a long moment before nodding.

“Alright. I’ll change the flights. Do you need to go back and pack your things?”

“No need, Professor.”

Meanwhile, in another ward, a pale Avery leaned weakly into Edmund’s chest.

“Edmund, I’m fine now. You should go check on Victoria. She must be absolutely devastated.”

“Don’t waste your breath on her,” Edmund replied coldly. “She crossed the line this time. Once you’re fully recovered, I’ll make sure she comes here and apologizes to you face-to-face.”

“I don’t mind suffering a little,” Avery murmured, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. “As long as it calms her down and stops her from making things difficult for you.”

When Edmund looked away, a triumphant smirk spread across Avery’s face.

But by then, I was already sitting on a plane bound for another country. Watching the city shrink into the distance beneath the clouds, an indescribable wave of emotion washed over me.

I was finally free.