Tides of Betrayal의 모든 챕터: 챕터 1 - 챕터 10

The agony of having my flesh torn apart and devoured by fish had finally ended. Yet instead of disappearing, I found myself trapped at the side of the one who had set everything in motion: Lucian Crowe.The heater filled the room with a gentle warmth, so comfortable it almost made the bone-deep cold I had endured before death feel like nothing more than a distant dream.A call came in from Damon Cross, the bodyguard assigned to watch over me.Lucian spoke first."Has Iris Malone finally admitted her fault?" His voice was cold, laced with contempt. "If she had behaved this obediently from the start, she wouldn’t have suffered so much. Bring her up. Make her kneel properly in front of Selena’s grave and repent. Otherwise, she shouldn’t even think about returning to the Crowe family."Every word dripped with scorn. In his mind, I was already the culprit who had killed Selena. If I refused to confess, then I was unforgivable, beyond redemption.There was a pause on the other end of t

Back then, he had held me tightly after almost losing me, swearing he would protect me for the rest of my life, never letting me suffer again.I tried to use that guilt to awaken what was left of his conscience.He only lowered his head, avoiding my gaze, and repeated quietly, "Iris, even if you give birth to this child, no one will love it. Its existence is unnecessary."In that moment, I had to grip the doorframe just to keep myself from collapsing.It wasn’t just his judgment of the child. It was the way he tore open the deepest wound in my heart without hesitation.From the moment I was born, I had always been the unnecessary child in this family. No one loved me except my grandmother.My parents and everyone around me favored the lively, cheerful Selena.Until I met him.Thirteen years.Thirteen years to heal me.He was the one who said I was never unnecessary and that I was the most precious treasure in the world.After a lifetime of being ignored, scolded, and discard

Selena died.She left behind a suicide note and threw herself into the sea.Every word in that note seemed to defend me, saying I was pregnant and that she didn’t want the family to be torn apart because of her.In truth, though, it only made her seem virtuous while painting me as vile.Every sentence was an accusation. Every line condemned me.My parents and Lucian were all blinded by that letter. They forced me to abort my child. They dragged me to Selena’s funeral hall and made me kneel.Even when I passed out from pain, they would throw cold water on me, shouting, "You killed Selena and still have the nerve to sleep? I don’t think you’re even truly remorseful!"Mom threw herself at me, beating me relentlessly, screaming over and over, "Why wasn’t it you who died?"Dad just watched me being beaten and sighed. "Why didn’t I just strangle you when you were born?"In the end, Lucian bandaged my wounds and told me to admit my mistake. He said that if I knelt sincerely in the ch

With tears streaming down her face, Mom looked at Selena. "My poor Selena, even now, you’re still thinking about that heartless Iris. Lucian, this is her only wish. Can you grant it?"Dad added, "Lucian, she doesn’t have much time left. This is her only wish. Consider it a favor to me."At that moment, they had completely forgotten all sense of decency. They had forgotten that Lucian was their other daughter’s husband and Selena’s brother-in-law.Absurd.Utterly absurd.I looked at Lucian, wanting to know his answer, but I already knew. He had abandoned our child and me for Selena.What was this, compared to that?After a brief hesitation, Lucian nodded.Even though I had expected it, it still felt laughable that thirteen years of love had come to this.He moved quickly. He had a lawyer draft the divorce agreement and began preparing for his wedding with Selena.On the day of the wedding, he even called Damon, who was watching over me."I’ll have someone deliver the divorce

The next second, Grandma slapped him again."That’s your sister’s son! Iris’s cousin, Carson Allen! You cut ties with your own sister and can’t even recognize your own nephew, yet you put such a filthy label on her? Where is Iris?!"Silence fell over the entire hall."How… how could it be Carson?" Dad stared at the photo, his mind blank, then turned to Selena. "Selena, didn’t you say this guy was a delinquent?"Even if he had cut ties with his sister, Vivian Allen, he had still heard from others that Carson was the youngest chief physician and professor at the provincial hospital, nothing like a delinquent.All eyes turned to Selena.Dad’s words confirmed the man’s identity."So… the child isn’t illegitimate? It’s really Lucian’s?" someone murmured.A loud crash echoed. Lucian had knocked over the microphone stand.The screech of feedback filled the hall.Without hesitation, he jumped off the stage and rushed toward the exit.Selena grabbed him, crying pitifully. "I didn’t k