Vanessa's POV

"You think you can just throw a tantrum and walk out like that?” Scott’s eyes were burning.

I stared back, not backing down. “Tantrum? Seriously? You let them tear me apart tonight. You, Scott. Not me. You’re the one who flipped out like I was doing something shady!”

He frowned like I was being dramatic. “You embarrassed Clarissa. Valerie’s crying her eyes out because of you. You hurt her!”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Valerie? Wow. So now you’re her knight in shining armor? You know what, I’m done. Done trying to explain myself. Clearly, in your world, she’s the princess. I’m just the villain.”

He didn't answer. His face flushed with anger-or because he couldn't deny it.

"Stop your arguments! Well, let me give in, I am the most guilty person here. Scott, don't yell at your sister anymore." Valerie again seized the opportunity to attract everyone's sympathy. Her fake tears kept flowing to add to this drama.

"You are a ruiner of the atmosphere, Vanessa. You know, I never invited you. You should have noticed from the beginning!" Clarissa snapped in a shrill voice.

I shut my mouth. I didn't have to ask so many more questions now. Although Scott and Valerie still tried to stop me.

As I pushed through the group of guests that surrounded us, a waiter passed by, carrying a large tray of bowls of hot soup. Then everything happened so fast - Scott pulled my arm again, I, with all my strength, let go, my body wobbled, and my elbow accidentally nudged the tray.

The hot soup hit my skin. It felt like it was burning alive. I shrieked.

"ARGHH!"

I fell to my feet on the floor, grasping my scalding arms, tears escaping unpreventably. I was shaking, shivering, not just from pain, but from shame and disappointment.

"Valerie!" Clarissa suddenly ran in the other direction. "Valerie! Did you get hit?!"

I turned my head. Valerie sat sweetly on the floor with amazing drama, hugging her arm that only splashed a little. "She was on purpose. I'm scared. She really wants to hurt me! "

I'm the prime suspect again in Valerie and Scott's story. Now the angled stares are not just from one or two people, but all of them. I hear some cursing at me.

"Shameless woman!"

"She attacked her own brother's lover. Annoying!"

The whispers began to travel, like a blaze.

Scott just stood still. Looking at me, not moving or defending me, and asking about my situation. As if I were nothing to him anymore. He turned to his lover instead.

My eyes caught something that made my heart ache even more. The burn on my arm felt nothing compared to the bitterness in my chest. Scott and Valerie were dressed in matching clothes. They had everything ready.

They looked like a couple. At the same time, I was fighting for my safety instead.

I wanted to waste more time. Without saying anything, I got up even though it hurt. Every movement felt heavy, but I forced it. I walked past the disgusted look and cynical smile that accompanied me. I didn't want to be in the room for a single second.

***

I came home after getting treatment in the hospital, but when I got home, I met someone I didn't want.

Scott's mom.

"You're here," I said flatly. "Funny. I thought you were busy hugging Valerie after she got hurt at the party. Hasn't she called you yet?"

She sighed. "I just want to talk. Scott got carried away with emotion, you have to understand. Valerie suddenly came into his life after he moved on."

I laughed. "Emotions? He told me everything that quickly. But instead of asking about my situation, you were busy defending your son."

"Vanessa -"

"He was a disgrace. He let me be hurt. Ridiculed. And now, you're here to keep only his good image?"

Her face seemed to scowl. "You know, Valerie comes to me more often. She listens. Unlike you, who always fight back."

"Fight back?" I took one step forward, my voice shaking. "Because I didn't let myself be stepped on? Because I couldn't pretend to be an obedient daughter-in-law who turned a blind eye when treated like trash?"

She didn't answer. But the expression on her face was enough.

"I will never forgive him. Or you."

She looked at me once more before walking away, saying,

"Perhaps Valerie is more appropriate."

* *

The next day, I came to the lawyer's office. I no longer cried. I no longer hesitated. I had planned my departure to make Scott regret it.

I took the divorce papers to Scott's office, hoping to get things done quickly. But from the first step into the lobby, I knew it was impossible.

Everyone looked at me with a probing look.

"That's it."

"Still dare to come here."

"Even though it made a scene at the party."

I pretended not to hear. I stood by the receptionist and said quietly, "I want to see Scott."

"Sorry, Mr. Scott is receiving a guest. You can wait until Mr. Scott is done."

I nodded and walked towards the office garden. But before I arrived, the bustling sound from the lobby made me pause and turn my head.

Valerie walked in with an elegant smile. All the staff greeted her as if she were the queen.

"Good morning, Valerie!"

"Wow, our new Manager!"

Manager?

I almost laughed. A trusted staff member walked up to me and whispered, "Scott just appointed Valerie as manager. He said, Let 's work together more often. It's been a long time since we saw her come to the office and have lunch together. Valerie said they were getting married soon."

The pain came again, the fact stifling my chest. Valerie captured the hearts of everyone behind me. I looked down, clenched the divorce papers in my hand, and walked towards the garden, avoiding the euphoria of all of them.

While I was sitting, contemplating. Valerie appeared near me. And this time, her face was no longer full of pretense.

"Vanessa," he said lightly. "You came. Still expecting Scott to come back to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm tired of pretending. I knew you were his wife from the start," she said with a smile. She whispered, "But I also know, Scott no longer cares about your relationship because I told him to."

"Asked him to?"

She stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest. "I didn’t steal your husband. I simply took back what was mine to begin with."

She sat beside me, acting as if we were close, and leaned in with a smug smile. "You’d better recognize your place and give up now. If you keep clinging to Scott, I’ll make sure plenty of humiliating things happen to you. No one even knows you’re his wife. To them, you’re just the unwanted sister.”

Vanessa's POV

Valerie pulled away from our little fake moment when her phone buzzed.

"Oh, look. Clarissa's calling. Wanna hear what we’re plotting next?" she sneered, holding her phone up and tapping the speaker like it was a show.

"Hey, Clarissa! Guess what? I'm officially the new manager at Scott’s office."

"Finally! Took long enough. After that stunt we pulled at my party, I knew you'd land the spot. Honestly, I’m rooting for you and Scott. Vanessa’s been a damn leech in his life forever. Time to get rid of her for good."

"Talk soon, babe," Valerie ended the call with a sickeningly sweet tone.

It all clicked. The party disaster. The whispers. It was all them. Planned from the start. I was their damn target.

I clenched my fists, not wanting to get into much more with Valerie. I got up from my seat and prepared to leave this place.

"Where are you going? Want to cry about all this to Scott? Do you think he'll believe you?" Valerie held my arm, holding me back.

I brushed it off, so tight this time that she was startled.

“Oh, you want to challenge me?"

Valerie smiled at me. She held her phone and turned it, then threw it down tight.

"Vanessa! What are you doing? Don't smash my phone!" Then she crouched down and picked up a fist-sized stone.

I tried to do it, but losing quickly, Valerie consciously hit herself with the stone on the temple until it was bruised and injured.

I was horrified at her recklessness. She also scratched her arm until there were reddened scratch marks.

"Enough, Vanessa! You want to kill me?" Valerie shouted.

"What are you doing? I didn't hurt you!"

I tried to grab it, and she let go this time, but after that, she crouched down and covered her head.

"Forgive me, Vanessa, I never influenced Scott to be mad at you."

I was silent long enough for the sound of footsteps to come to us.

"What have you done, Vanessa? You hurt Valerie again?" Scott came, followed by a staff member.

He confronted me and slapped me with a strong force. I've got to take a few steps back. The heat in my cheeks coupled with the heartache that attacked my inner self.

He took the stone from my hand and handed it over to his staff. "Keep this well, for evidence of molestation."

The staff nodded and left us.

Scott, with his cold face and red eyes, looked at me with anger. "Do you feel superior to think you have the right to hurt the people I love?"

"Do you believe I did all this?"

"Why not? You don't like Valerie. You will do anything for revenge."

Scott's words this time were not held back at all. He admitted it. He no longer felt compelled to lie.

Valerie hugged Scott and cried, her tears feeling fake to me. She flashed me a sly smile.

"I just wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with Vanessa, but she was busy instead. She said I had you. She also attacked me. It's a good thing you came, I was so scared, Honey. I was traumatized. Vanessa lost her mind."

"Are you lying again, Valerie? I have absolutely no intention of doing anything to you! You're the one who lost your mind and hurt yourself!"

"Enough!" Scott roared.

"You are cunning, Vanessa. I never thought that behind your innocent face, you are a rude person. If you don't want our relationship to continue, then get out of here. I don't want to see you again, Vanessa! I hate you!" Scott hugged Valerie tighter and kissed her injured forehead. Then he carried her and left me alone.

* * *

It didn’t take long to snap out of it. Who was I kidding? This marriage was a lie from day one

I left the office heading home. I prepared my suitcase and put the divorce papers in the file. I didn't ask for Scott's signature. He already stepped on my pride and kicked me out. I will grant it, but before that, I have to defend my pride.

Tomorrow is Scott's office's birthday. A massive party will be held and attended by all the staff, business colleagues, and his friends. I will give him the last present.

I started recording myself. And said everything on the recording. The beginning of the meeting, the wedding, the pretense of fake status that I had to obey, and lastly, the humiliation and betrayal I received from him and Valerie.

I put the divorce papers on the bed.

When I was done, I booked a plane ticket heading to my hometown. I was going back home. I wanted to hug my mom and dad. I needed peace.

After everything was done in this house, I handed the footage to my trusted staff. I asked her to put this video up as an opening at Scott's office birthday event.

I spent the night at the hotel. In the afternoon, I went straight to the airport. Along the way, I waited for the staff to send video evidence that had been played along with people's expressions to see the reality that I proved completely.

I got it and could smile contentedly throughout the journey.

When I reached the airport, a barrage of messages and several calls from Scott came insistently, almost blowing up my phone.

I didn't answer any, I just read it and turned off my phone.

"Goodbye, Scott. Let's never meet again.”