I did not withdraw the lawsuit. The court hearing went on as scheduled.

However, with the transfer agreement in hand, Wayne had no trouble helping Alma win the case.

When the hearing ended, Wayne stopped me.

He asked tentatively when he saw the cold expression on my face, “Didn’t I tell you to drop the case? Are you still mad?

“It’s not that I’m playing favorites. Alma was my junior in high school when I studied abroad. We were close. I can’t help but feel sorry for her, seeing her like this now. That’s why I…

“There’s a new waterfront development I checked out. Its location and environment are even better than the old house. I’ll buy two units and give them to you. We can go take a look later. Consider it your compensation. I already promised you that from now on I’ll…”

Wayne had yet to finish his sentence.

Persistent as ever, Alma approached in her electric wheelchair and interrupted, “Jocelyn, I was just about to look for you!

“Wayne said he was worried I’d be bullied after coming back, so he’s hosting a party at the house tomorrow. It’s kind of a housewarming party, as well as a way to give me more legitimacy.

“Why don’t you come too, since you’re moving out tomorrow anyway?”

The moment Alma spoke, Wayne eagerly agreed.

“Exactly. Alma’s situation is awkward enough. If you’re there, it’ll help legitimize her.”

I frowned and could not help but sneer.

“Legitimize her? How, exactly?

“Her age and background speak for themselves. She was born while my parents were still married. If she’s not a mistress’s child, then what is she?”

Then, I turned and walked away.

Alma’s face flushed red with anger.

She swallowed back the curses at the tip of her tongue, turned around, and put on a fragile, pitiful look as she faced Wayne.

“Wayne, is Jocelyn still mad at me?

“It’s all my fault. I should’ve stayed overseas and been a useless cripple. It would’ve been better if I had just died instead of coming back to make people hate me.”

Wayne patted her shoulder to comfort her.

“What right does she have to be angry? I’ve already compensated her more than enough.

“Stop overthinking. I’ll handle things for you tomorrow.”

Handling things?

That was a veiled threat toward me.

While I directed the movers in the backyard, the party in the front yard was in full swing. Wayne pushed Alma through the crowd, patiently introducing her to everyone.

Even their formal outfits were carefully coordinated in matching colors.

From a distance, anyone would have thought they were the real engaged couple.

I let out a bitter smile and looked away. I never once stepped into the front yard, focusing only on urging the workers to finish faster.

At some point, Wayne came up behind me.

His voice was sharp with displeasure.

“I sent you so many messages last night. Why didn’t you reply to a single one? She’s already lost her legs. Is it really necessary for you to make sure she won’t survive in this circle?”

When I refused to even look at him, Wayne stepped directly in front of me and handed me his tablet.

On the live surveillance feed, a group of men were gathered around my mother’s grave, holding shovels and chisels. Their intentions were obvious.

“Jocelyn, if you’d just been a little more obedient, I wouldn’t have needed to go this far.”

I looked at Wayne, who stood in front of me.

The pain had gone so deep it turned numb.

Grave‑digging?

He had really gone to such lengths.

Of course, only a person who once loved you knew exactly where to stab to hurt you the most.

I could not even summon anger anymore. It felt like disappointment had hollowed me out completely.

My heart felt empty.

What I hated most was my own helplessness.

“There’s no need to make such a spectacle, Mr. Stone.

“It’s just a few words. Don’t disturb my mother’s peace.”

I handed the tablet back to him.

Suddenly, he grabbed my hand and demanded, “Why aren’t you wearing the engagement ring I gave you?”

“Forget it. Once this is over, I’ll buy you a prettier one.”

Wayne answered himself, cutting off the breakup that had nearly slipped from my lips.

I let out a soft, mocking laugh, pulled my hand back, and walked toward the backyard.

I took the initiative to stand beside Alma, picked up the microphone, and said a string of impeccably proper lies.

“Alma is my younger sister.

“Her mother wasn’t a mistress. She was my father’s second wife.

“This house was given to Alma of my own free will, as a welcome‑home gift from an older sister.”

…

Down below, Wayne led the applause, sealing Alma’s place in this circle once and for all.

Just as I was about to leave, Alma tugged at the corner of my sleeve.

“Jocelyn, thank you for clearing my mother’s and my names. Since I came back, we sisters haven’t really talked. Do you have a moment now?”

There was no way I could refuse with so many people watching.

I followed her into a quiet corner of the yard. The moment we stopped, Alma dropped the act.

She could not help but sneer.

“Did you really think forcing Father to send me abroad back then accomplished anything?

“Once I came back, everything became mine. So what if I’m an illegitimate daughter? With Wayne backing me up, who in this circle would dare to even frown at me?

“Jocelyn, soon you’ll end up just like that dead old dog, crushed under my feet!”

My gaze drifted upward, landing on the hidden surveillance camera under the eaves.

I let out a soft scoff and said, “The Stone family would never allow a cripple to become their family’s mistress.”

Just as I expected, Alma was not angered.

She slowly rose from her wheelchair right in front of me. Her eyes gleamed with triumph as she said, “Surprised? I was faking it.

“Just wait! The real show hasn’t even started yet.

“I’ve already taken your house, and your man will be mine soon too.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Alma stepped onto the railing and threw herself into the pond, screaming at the top of her lungs, “Help! Help me!”

When Wayne heard her cries, he immediately rushed over.

He dove into the water without hesitation, pulling her out.

Alma’s face was pale white. She curled weakly into his arms and accused me tearfully, “Jocelyn, why did you push me into the water?

“I know you’ve always held a grudge against me, but pushing someone with my condition into a pond is basically asking me to die!”

Wayne held her tightly in his arms. His eyes blazed as they locked onto me.

“Jocelyn, I thought you just lacked compassion. I never imagined you could be this vicious! Do you realize that Alma would’ve drowned alive if I’d arrived any later? How could you bring yourself to do this to a disabled person?!

“Apologize!”

I frowned, stunned that he would not even give me a chance to explain.

He had already passed judgment.

“She jumped in herself!”

That only made him angrier.

He practically roared, “Nonsense!

“She needs a wheelchair to get around. How could she possibly jump in on her own?!”

I lifted my hand and gestured toward the surveillance camera in the yard. My face was set with quiet certainty.

“There’s surveillance. Just check the footage to see whether I’m lying or not.”

I was just about to ask someone to pull the video.

Wayne grew furious and shoved me straight into the pond.

In an instant, I was struggling in the water.

“What’s there to check? If you dared to push her, you would’ve had an excuse prepared.

“Instead of forcing you to apologize against your will, I’ll let you experience drowning for yourself. Let’s see if you dare touch Alma again!”

The pond was not deep. I fought desperately to stand.

However, Wayne was determined to punish me.

The moment I managed to gasp for air, he shoved my head back under. Water flooded my throat. My airway spasmed violently, and my chest felt like it was about to burst.

Then, he hauled me up.

I barely managed two seconds of breath before being forced back under again.

Over and over, until my body went completely limp.

Eventually, I did not even have the strength to struggle anymore. My consciousness sank into a murky darkness.

Only then did Wayne finally show mercy, dragging me up and tossing me onto the bank, leaving me coughing miserably.

“I hope this taught you a lesson. Go back and reflect on yourself!

“Tomorrow at nine in the morning, I expect to see you apologizing to Alma.”

Then, he picked Alma up and walked away.

The crowd’s eyes lingered on me, layered with pity, ridicule, and thrill, before finally scattering.

I lay there, unable to even crawl up.

“Cough…”

I choked up a mouthful of water.

I wiped at tears I had not even realized had fallen, laughed softly twice, and then broke down crying again.

In a way, I should thank him.

He was cruel enough to end the relationship cleanly.

He doubted me, abandoned me, and tortured me decisively.

He left me without even a shred of lingering love.

In the end, I laughed out loud.

It was a toast to finally letting go, and a toast to being free again.

At nine the next morning, Wayne’s messages kept popping up as I scanned my boarding pass at the airport gate.

[Apologize to Alma. Don’t think you can run away.]

[Where the hell are you?!]

[Jocelyn, answer your phone!]

I did not reply to a single one.

Instead, I deleted them and blocked him from every way he could contact me.

Then, a new message popped up:

[Miss Peay, as instructed, the surveillance footage of Alma falling into the water yesterday has been released online. It’s estimated that the views will exceed one million within twenty minutes. It's one of the top three trending videos right now.]

[Good.]

The plane lifted into the sky, carrying me away from this land.

I made a vow in my heart.

The next time we met, I would take back everything that belongs to me.

…

Back at the company, Wayne stared at the red exclamation mark beside our chat, indicating his messages were not going through. He was stunned for a moment. He assumed I was just throwing a tantrum and refusing to apologize, and he was about to call me.

Suddenly, his assistant burst in, holding up a phone and shouting, “Mr. Stone, please check the trending topics. Something’s seriously wrong with what happened yesterday!”