Chapter 4

"I'm not lying. What would I gain from that? Yes, our daughter needs money to save her life. But it can't come from your ill-gotten funds! If you use dirty money, she'll only be ridiculed and looked down on!" Russell said brazenly.

I fixed my gaze on Russell and spoke, "Russell, Alicia is your only child. To frame me, are you really willing to disregard her life?"

His eyes were icy, yet his voice sounded earnest.

"Melissa, I'm doing this for our daughter! Stop being so stubborn. Turn yourself in. I'll find another way to pay for her surgery. Alicia and I will wait for you so our family can be reunited after you serve your time."

His emotional performance quickly won over the crowd.

"It looks like her husband really isn't lying. What kind of father would ignore his daughter's life just to frame his wife?"

"Exactly. I heard they only have one child. Of course, a father wouldn't bear to see his daughter unable to afford surgery. But if the money is illegal, it shouldn't be used no matter what."

"Russell is being rational. If they don't have money for surgery, crowdfunding online would still be better than embezzling company funds."

"And the company's missing more than a million. Surgery wouldn't cost that much. Melissa is just using her daughter's illness as an excuse to spend the money on herself."

Standing side by side, Russell and Kristen looked at me with smug satisfaction.

My face remained expressionless, though inside, doubts churned.

Russell had often complained about our daughter's frequent illnesses, saying the medical expenses lowered his quality of life. He had even once urged me to give up on her treatment and try for a healthy baby boy instead.

But our daughter only had a heart condition—it wasn't terminal. As long as the surgery succeeded, she could be cured.

There was no way I would abandon her. After that, Russell had never brought it up again.

Now I had won 800 thousand dollars. With that money, her illness could be treated immediately, and there would still be a substantial sum left over.

I was also about to be promoted with a raise. Our future would only grow brighter.

So why was he so determined to betray me with Kristen?

After all, Kristen was already married, with a husband and a two-year-old son. What made Russell think that getting involved with her wouldn't end with her husband finding out and beating him to death?

If he insisted on having an affair, he could at least have chosen a single woman. Why entangle himself with someone who already had a family?

Seeing me stand there in silence, Russell assumed I had run out of options.

Putting on a look of gentle concern, he said, "Melissa, you've already broken the law. There's no escaping it. Think of it as setting an example for our daughter. Turn yourself in. I promise I'll make sure she gets the treatment she needs. All right?"

Kristen added smugly, "Melissa, I have a son too. I understand how a mother would do anything for her child. Precisely because of that, you should surrender for your daughter's future."

I stared at the two of them exchanging knowing glances. In a sudden flash of realization, scattered details from the past came together, and at last I understood why they had colluded to betray me.

At that moment, the general manager said impatiently, "Call the police."

I glanced at my phone and curved my lips into a faint smile.

"No need. The police are already on their way."

As soon as the words left my mouth, several officers stepped into the office.

Russell and Kristen were overjoyed. They hurriedly pointed at me.

"Officer, that's her—that's Melissa. Take her away!"

The officer looked at me, nodded, then asked, "Which one of you is Kristen Meyer?"