The caption was only a single line:

“They say if the sky falls, he’ll hold it up for me. As long as I’m happy, that’s his greatest joy in life.”

I couldn’t tear my eyes away, torturing myself with every word.

Sarah Johnson snatched the phone from my hands, furious.

“These two shameless bastards!”

“He’s cheating on you during your marriage and still has the audacity to frame you?”

“Rachel, choosing him was your biggest mistake from the start!”

“If only the man from the Hughes family…”

Realizing what she’d said, she quickly covered her mouth.

I gave a bitter smile.

“You’re right. The so-called dirt about the Hughes family overseas—that was fed to me by Jason Miller.”

“I trusted him so much I didn’t even bother to verify it.”

“Looking back now… maybe the truth was never what we thought it was.”

I took the phone back, only to see another post beneath it. This one was an obituary notice—an invitation from Emily Brooks’s family to her funeral. It was scheduled for tomorrow.

Thinking of that innocent, lively girl—her face slashed, yet still smiling with optimism—I felt a pang of guilt. I had failed her trust.

“Tomorrow I want to attend her funeral, to see her off one last time.”

Sarah nodded and urged me to be careful, before retreating to her bedroom for rest.

I didn’t sleep a wink that night. With dark circles under my eyes, I arrived at the funeral the next morning—only to run into Chloe Miller.

She was holding a basket of supplements, bowing deeply as she apologized to the grieving family.

“It was my fault for not listening to my brother. I should’ve stopped my sister-in-law from going out alone. If I’d been more careful, maybe this wouldn’t have happened…”

Her voice trembled with tears, her appearance pitiful. She even took the victim’s mother’s hand.

“Auntie, don’t worry. My brother promised he won’t shield his wife from punishment. The confession has already been signed. Just wait for my news—the murderer will face justice!”

Instead of anger, the family seemed touched by Chloe’s thoughtfulness, even thanking her.

I couldn’t stand it any longer. I stormed forward and yanked her away.

“What are you doing here? What lies are you spewing?”

“You slashed her face yourself, and you killed her in that crash! What right do you have to show up at her funeral? Get out!”

But Chloe only cried harder at the sight of me.

“Sister-in-law, I know you can’t remember what you did when you’re unwell, but you can’t just falsely accuse me!”

“When that girl was attacked, I was in Jason’s office. He testified for me. You’re his wife—you were just jealous she was younger and prettier, so you lost control and made a mistake.”

“I’ve been apologizing on your behalf, and you don’t even appreciate it. How can you throw baseless accusations like this?”

The words had barely left her lips before Emily’s family surged toward me.

“You monster! How dare you come to my daughter’s funeral?”

“She isn’t even cold in the ground, and you show up like this?”

“Did you come here to flaunt yourself? I’ll kill you and make you pay with your life!”

Though Chloe mouthed empty words about keeping calm, she deliberately stepped aside, giving them a clear path to reach me.

“Rachel, don’t you remember? You were the one who scratched her face in the stairwell. She screamed so loudly, even begged you on her knees to let her go—promising never to speak to my brother again…”

“And you had been drinking when you ran her down. Otherwise, why would you flee the scene?”

At that, Emily’s mother lunged forward and tore at my hair.

“You wretched woman! My daughter was only twenty! Just twenty when she died!”

“She used to tell me how wonderful the Miller Group was, and I was so happy for her. Who would’ve thought she’d run into a rabid dog like you?”

Dozens of slaps rained down on me. I struggled desperately, but Emily’s family pinned down my arms and legs.

“Keep hitting her! If the law can’t punish her, then we’ll do it ourselves!”

“Do it in front of Emily’s gravestone—let her see how we avenge her!”

I was thrown to the ground, blood bursting from my mouth as soon as I tried to speak.

“It wasn’t me…”

“You still dare to deny it? Keep beating her—make her confess!”

A brutal kick landed on my chest, the taste of blood flooding my throat. Like a stray dog, I tried to crawl away, but someone grabbed my ankle and dragged me back.

Fist after fist crashed into my face until I was unrecognizable, swollen and bleeding. Only when they grew tired did they pause to mourn their dead daughter.

Seizing my chance, I dragged myself up and clutched Chloe Miller’s arm, screaming:

“It was her! I was Emily Brooks’s lawyer—her last words were begging me to clear her name!”

Chloe sneered.

“Do you have any evidence? Defamation is illegal. I could have you arrested for this!”

“The evidence is at the Evans Law Firm!”

But as the words left my mouth, the chilling realization hit me—the firm had already been shut down by Jason Miller. I had no way to prove anything. Cold sweat soaked my back.

Emily’s family glared at me with bloodshot eyes.

“You won’t admit your guilt and now you slander Miss Chloe? You deserve to die!”

“If we don’t kill you today, we’ll never face our daughter again!”

“Beat her! Beat this vile woman to death!”

They rushed at me. In desperation, I clung tightly to Chloe. She too was caught in the chaos, receiving several blows to her face.

She clutched her cheek and screamed hysterically,

“Stop! All of you, stop!”

The next moment, a familiar voice rang out from behind.

“What are you doing? Who hurt Chloe?”

Chloe instantly shoved me away and bolted into Jason Miller’s arms, clinging to him tightly.

“Brother, you’re finally here! Rachel refuses to admit her crime and is framing me instead! You have to testify for me!”

I was a wreck—my clothes torn, a patch of hair ripped from my scalp. Barely managing to stay upright, I lifted my eyes to Jason with a desperate plea. If he would just defend me, if he would just say one word on my behalf, I could…

But his gaze slid past me, cold and detached, and landed instead on the grieving family.

“Chloe’s right. When the victim was first harmed, she was in my office with me.”

“And on the night of the accident, she was having dinner with me the whole time—she never left my side.”

“It was Rachel Evans who skipped her medication and ran out of the house. I searched for her all night.”

Jason’s eyes were colder than I had ever seen—so cold that even if I dropped dead before him, it wouldn’t matter.

“And this isn’t the first time Rachel’s jealousy made her violent. She’s repeatedly targeted my sister, even to the point where they both ended up in the hospital. I pitied her because she’s a lawyer and tried to protect her, but now my leniency has led to an even greater disaster. That’s my fault.”

He was referring to the time Chloe framed me for pushing her down the stairs—when in reality, I was the one beaten so badly I lost my child.

I closed my eyes, a bitter smile curving my lips.

“Jason Miller, let’s get a divorce.”

His face darkened instantly.

“Deal with your problems first before talking about that. Look at yourself—what a disgrace.”

Emily’s family, emboldened by his words, shouted for me to be dragged to the police station.

Jason’s voice turned to ice as he said:

“The investigation isn’t finished yet. The police will give you justice. And when it comes to sentencing, a mentally ill defendant isn’t treated the same as an ordinary criminal—you’ll have to wait.”

“As Rachel Evans’s husband, it’s my duty to apologize on her behalf. I’ve already reserved a restaurant—let’s sit down and discuss compensation.”

The family still looked uneasy.

Chloe Miller spoke up with a sweet smile.

“Don’t worry. This is my brother—he’s a good man! He’s also the one who signed the confession papers for my sister-in-law. He’s already arranged people to watch her. She won’t escape.”

The crowd finally dispersed, leaving the cemetery in a noisy procession.

My tears broke free completely, flooding down my face. I couldn’t hold myself up any longer. My vision went black, and I collapsed.

I didn’t know how much time passed before a familiar woody fragrance filled my nose.

“You’re awake? Are you alright? I’ve arranged for a doctor to wait at the mansion.”

“Rachel, I told you before—no matter what happens, you can always come to me. You don’t have to carry everything alone.”

Sarah Johnson was in the car as well. Seeing me stir, she hurried to help me sit up.

“You scared me half to death! I thought they were going to kill you for revenge!”

“Thank God Victor Hughes arrived in time.”

“Weren’t you just supposed to attend a funeral? How did it turn into this?”

I shook my head, unable to say a word.

As I unlocked my phone, intending to find divorce papers, a livestream notification from Chloe popped up.

“Good afternoon, everyone! Guess what I’m doing?”

“You’re so smart—I’m at the restaurant, apologizing to the victim’s family on behalf of my sister-in-law!”

“My brother said the compensation will be two million, but there won’t be a settlement. He wants my sister-in-law to remember this lesson. Do you think this is fair?”

The livestream chat exploded, line after line spamming: “Murderers must pay with their lives.”

Chloe nodded happily at the comments, then clung to Jason Miller’s arm, pouting.

“Brother, look! They say the punishment is too light. Can’t we hold the trial sooner? Hundreds of thousands of my followers are waiting to see the verdict!”

Jason smiled indulgently, brushing her hair as though she were precious.

“Alright, we’ll do as Chloe says. The trial will be in two days.”

“Come on, sit down. Your favorite dishes will be gone if you wait—don’t expect me to pack them for you.”

Chloe stuck out her tongue playfully at the camera.

“My brother is like this—tough on the outside but soft-hearted. Still, he’s the best person in the world to me.”

When the livestream ended, Sarah slammed the table in fury.

“This is what he calls keeping things clean? And you’ve put up with this for five years?”

“Rachel, you could qualify as a ninja with how much you endure!”

I let out a self-mocking laugh. I never wanted to tolerate it, but what choice did I have?

I had asked Jason before to send Chloe away from the Miller family, but every time, he slammed the table and glared coldly.

“She’s my sister. How many times do I have to explain it?”

What began as three days of cold war turned into three months.

I loved him too much to let go. And so, I deceived myself—until today, when I was left to choke on the bitter fruit.

Victor handed me a document.

“This is my personal attorney. I’ve already told him about your situation. He can help.”

“Stay at the Hughes family mansion for now, so those lunatics can’t get to you.”

As I reached for the file, his hand pressed gently over mine, his voice soft enough to melt stone.

“Rachel, don’t fight so hard alone. I’ve always been here for you.”

Sarah let out a teasing squeal and shot me a wink.

I gave Victor a grateful nod.

Two days later, Jason arranged for Emily’s family to stay in a Miller-owned hotel.

On the day of the trial, the entire internet was in an uproar. No fewer than ten cameras were pointed straight at me.