Chapter 5

"Ruth, tell me, who's really the homewrecker here?" I demanded, emphasizing every word.

Marvin's face went pale for a moment.

Ruth couldn't bring herself to look at me. "Cedric, now isn't the time for this."

I laughed, though it felt as if someone had just carved a chunk out of my chest.

"Now isn't the time? They insulted my parents for not raising me properly, called Mom a terrible person, and even tried to beat them up—and you're telling me now isn't the time?"

Marvin wrung his hands nervously and tugged at Ruth's arm, his eyes red. "Ruth, don't let Cedric pressure you. I know you're a big softie, but we grew up together, and you made me a promise."

Then he turned to me, deliberately putting on a wounded expression.

"Cedric, I know you're upset right now, but you can't force someone to love you. Ruth and I genuinely love each other. Why do you insist on coming between us?"

I almost laughed in disbelief at his audacity. "I'm talking to Ruth. What does any of this have to do with you?"

Marvin's face went pale, and his tears fell even harder.

Mrs. Knapp immediately exploded. "How dare you bully Marvin! You shameless little gold digger! Someone like you needs to be taught a lesson, and if your parents won't do it, I will!"

She raised her hand to slap me.

Mom cried out in alarm, and Dad tried to rush over.

But instead of dodging, I simply kept my eyes on Ruth. "Answer my question—who's the homewrecker?"

Ruth finally moved. She stepped forward and held Mrs. Knapp's hand down.

"Mrs. Knapp, please stop," she said quietly.

Mrs. Knapp trembled with fury. "You're still defending him?"

With tears streaming down his face, Marvin also looked at her and said, "Tell everyone that I'm your boyfriend, that he's the one who keeps chasing after you."

Every eye in the hospital room turned toward Ruth.

I was watching her too. Even at that moment, some foolish part of me was still waiting for her to give me an explanation and for her to tell the truth.

But Ruth merely clenched her fists. Then, she glanced at me, her eyes filled with guilt and conflict. She was silently pleading with me to put up with it a little longer.

"Cedric, just apologize for now," she said.

My blood ran cold, and an eerie silence fell over the hospital room.

Mom stared at Ruth in disbelief, while Dad's chest heaved with rage.

Marvin jutted his chin at me triumphantly.

Mrs. Knapp seized on Ruth's words and sneered, "Did you hear that? Even Ruth is telling you to apologize! And you still claim you're not the homewrecker. Is this how your parents raised you? To steal another man's girlfriend and then refuse to admit it?"

Ruth lowered her head, unable to meet my eyes.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, her eyes riddled with guilt.

Suddenly, I found the whole thing absurd. So, this was the woman I'd loved for eight years.

I turned and picked up my bag from the bedside table.

Thinking I was about to leave, Mrs. Knapp immediately shouted, "Where do you think you're going? You're not going anywhere until you get down on your knees and apologize to Marvin!"

Some of the onlookers joined in.

"Yeah, apologize!"

"You ruined someone else's relationship! You owe them an apology!"

"His parents should apologize too!"

Dad roared, "Shut up! Cedric hasn't done anything wrong!"

But nobody listened. All they knew was that even Ruth had admitted it.

I pulled my phone from my bag, my fingers trembling slightly with anger.

The moment Ruth saw what I was doing, her expression finally changed.

"What do you think you're doing?"

She reached out to stop me, but I shoved her hand away. Then, I opened an audio recording on my phone and held it up for everyone to hear.

"Everyone, let me show you who the real homewrecker is!"

I pressed play, and Ruth's voice rang out.

"There's really nothing going on between Marvin and me. I was just doing him a favor by playing along for his parents' sake. He's the one who keeps clinging to me."

All the color instantly drained from Marvin's face.

I turned to Mr. and Mrs. Knapp, who had been so aggressive just moments earlier, and smirked.

"Did you hear that? Ruth is my girlfriend, so that makes Marvin the shameless homewrecker!"