Chapter 3

Caitlin left.

I knew she had gone to investigate the truth.

Pathetic me. My closest friend was running herself ragged over whether I was alive or dead, while my fiancé did nothing but stay by the side of his frightened sister.

I had always known how much Ron doted on Lisa.

Lisa had gone missing when she was young, and Ron had always believed it was his fault. Half a year ago, he suddenly brought a girl home, excitedly introducing her to everyone as Lisa. Then, he showered her with all his affection.

Ron never refused anything Lisa asked for. Even when Lisa took a liking to the wedding gown, I had chosen for myself, Ron casually told me to give it to her.

“It’s just a wedding gown. I’ll buy you another one,” Ron said.

However, that dress was the one I had designed myself, a handmade piece by the most renowned Italian artisan. I had finally waited three months to receive it.

I tried to reason with him, but he looked at me as if I were being unreasonable.

“Lisa has suffered so much. Why are you, as the future Donna of the Corleone family, arguing with her over something like this? I’m truly disappointed in you.”

I loved him. I did not want to disappoint him.

So, I even gave Lisa the necklace I had chosen to match the wedding dress.

Now, that necklace was hanging around Lisa’s neck.

Ron lowered his gaze to look at her. I wondered whether he ever thought of me when he saw that necklace.

Suddenly, Ron reached out toward it.

“Ron!” Caitlin burst in at that moment. Ron withdrew his hand.

Caitlin placed a test report in front of him.

“I found some bloodstains in the cold storage at the fishing harbor. The analysis confirms its human blood. The blood type matches Wendy’s. It should be Wendy’s. She was injured.”

Ron flicked the report aside with disdain. “So many people share the same blood type. It was probably some dock worker who cut his hand.”

“Ron, that blood was in a corner. Why would a worker’s blood be there?”

“Even Lisa only suffered minor injuries. With Wendy’s skills, how could she possibly be hurt badly enough to bleed?”

Ron was right. Under normal circumstances, if Lisa had only suffered minor injuries, there was no way I should have been hurt.

But that night was different…

Caitlin looked at Lisa, who was sitting nearby with reddened eyes, and suddenly asked,

“Did you really not see Wendy get hurt that night?”

Lisa wiped away her tears. “I was very scared at the time… I can’t remember clearly. The kidnappers separated us. I didn’t see Wendy.”

“If you didn’t see her, how did you know Wendy abandoned you and escaped?”

“I…” Lisa lowered her head, her voice trembling. “I didn’t know if she managed to escape… I was just guessing… After all, she is so capable…”

“Capable enough to escape on her own, yet leave you behind with the kidnappers?” Caitlin stepped closer. Though she was speaking to Lisa, her words were clearly meant for Ron.

“Lisa, even if you’ve only spent half a year with Wendy, you should know she’s not the kind of person who would abandon you. If she really had gotten away on her own, she would have brought the Marino family back there immediately. She would have rescued you because you are Ron’s sister, even if it meant bathing the place in blood.”

Ron fell silent, as if considering her words.

But Lisa quickly looked up, tears instantly welling in her eyes. “Caitlin, I know you and Wendy are close, but none of what you said happened. I really was kidnapped because of Wendy, and Wendy really didn’t come back to save me. Those are facts, aren’t they?”

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly clutched her shoulder as if startled, her body shaking violently. She cried out hysterically, “I’m your sister too! Why won’t you believe me?!”

A flawless performance, tears on cue, and her voice trembling at just the right pitch.

To Ron, it was like a blade stabbing straight into his heart.

He roared at Caitlin, “Get out!”

Caitlin looked at Ron for a long time before saying calmly, “Ron, you will regret this.”