Chapter 4

Kimberly swept an assessing gaze over Dad before uttering nastily, "This old coot's attire and demeanor might be a cut above others, but that doesn't change the fact that he's already most of the way to his grave. He can't compare to Luke at all."

Clicking her tongue, she added, "You must be desperate for money if you're willing to sleep with him."

From her words, Dad immediately understood that Kimberly was the homewrecker who had ruined my marriage with Lucas.

He struggled to get up and seek justice for me, but the movement pulled at where he was hurting, causing him to collapse back onto the couch.

Noting the pained expression on his face, I lunged forward and landed a resounding smack on Kimberly's cheek.

"Watch your mouth! He's my father!"

A hint of surprise flickered in her eyes before it was replaced by mockery.

"If you really did come from such a prestigious family, how could I have gotten off with just a simple apology after bullying you so terribly back then? Selina, just admit it! Without Lucas, you're nothing!"

Although Lucas had helped her at the time, he hadn't actually told her the truth and had hidden my family background from her.

Little did he know, his thoughtful gesture to protect his first love's pride would ultimately become the reason for her downfall.

Kimberly still didn't realize that anything was wrong as her eyes gleamed with triumphant smugness.

"Thankfully, you were self-aware enough to leave before it was too late, allowing me to get together with Luke. Someone like you only deserves to be the mistress of an old man like him!"

She cackled with laughter, but in the next second, a terrified look crossed her face as she screamed, "Ah! Let go of me!"

"Kimberly Lane, you asked for this!" My eyes were blazing with fury as I grabbed her by the back of her collar and started dragging her out of the room.

Suddenly, an arm slipped between us and pried her from my grasp.

"Selina Quinton, what the hell set you off this time? You really don't change, huh?" Lucas bellowed at me with disgust in his eyes.

I could forget about him being biased toward Kimberly in the past, but I honestly never expected him to still be like that when my dad's life was on the line.

My voice wavered when I shouted back at him, "Do you have any idea what your precious lover did? Her words angered my dad so much that his condition took a turn for the worse!"

Only then did Lucas notice that my dad was unconscious on the couch. The family doctor had already arrived and was performing emergency first aid, while Mom was slumped beside Dad, holding his hand tightly as she wept softly.

A hint of guilt flickered in Lucas' eyes. When Kimberly noticed that, she hastily squeezed out a few tears and tugged on his sleeve, sobbing, "Luke, I'm in so much pain. Please help me!"

The hesitation in his eyes instantly vanished. While comforting the woman trembling in his arms, he roared at me, "Dad is still alive, isn't he? So did you have to hit Kimmy that hard? Look at how terrified she is!"

I couldn't stop scoffing at his words.

My dad's life was hanging in the balance, but of course, that wasn't as important as his precious lover being scared senseless by me.

In that instant, I snapped completely. "Lucas Gardner, open your damn eyes and take a good look! You think I hit her too hard? I'll show you hard!"

I abruptly lunged forward to seize Kimberly by the hair before I began bashing her head against the floor.

"This is for your vile and wicked words! This is for all the times you purposely tested my limits! This is for hurting my family!"

Red bloomed on the floor as the loud banging rang out continuously.

Lucas attempted to pull me away, only to realize that I was somehow stronger than him in that moment despite my smaller size.

In the past, he hated my thorns, so I kept them away and pretended to be a delicate and fragile lily.

However, after the events of today, that wild, vicious side of me was reawakened and had come back even more savage than before.