Verity's POV

My parents were brutally murdered and dismembered at home. At the time, our company was on the verge of going bankrupt.

I begged my fiancé for help, but he turned his back on me—and went on to marry Sylvie Gaines in a so-called “wedding of the century.”

Just when I was drowning in despair, his older brother, a police officer, proposed to me right there at the funeral.

He promised to be my rock for life and vowed to uncover the truth behind my parents’ murder case.

I said yes without hesitation.

But in the end, the case went cold.

Consumed by grief, Monty Griffith took care of all the funeral arrangements himself and brought me back to live with the Griffiths.

For five years after we got married, everything seemed fine—until one day, I accidentally overheard a conversation between him and Detective Bishop, his close friend from the police department.

“Monty, Sylvie was clearly the only suspect in the Raleighs’ murder case. Why’d you drop the investigation? Doesn’t your job mean anything to you? You’ve let Verity live under the same roof as the murderer for five years—what if she finds out?”

“Sylvie’s innocent. She just happened to be at the Raleighs’ villa that day. What happened to the Raleigh couple had nothing to do with her. I believe in her.”

“I might’ve failed my badge, but I stayed true to my heart. Even if Sylvie didn’t choose me, I’d still do anything to keep her happy.”

The pregnancy report in my hand suddenly felt scorching hot.

‘So the murderer has been right beside me this whole time!’

‘And the man I love with all my heart—my husband—has been covering for her? For five years?!’

That marriage? Not worth it!

——

Just on the other side of the door, I heard Monty staring at a photo of us on the wall, his voice full of sorrow and unspoken regret.

“Since Sylvie didn’t choose me, the least I can do is clear the path for her. Make sure she has no worries. As for Verity… I’ll keep an eye on her. I won’t let her find out the truth.”

His buddy looked heartbroken, unable to hide his disappointment.

“You’ve been working on that case for eight years. You’ve got more awards than I can count. Why throw it all away for Sylvie? She doesn’t even love you! There’s no way her showing up at the Raleighs’ villa was just a coincidence!

“If this comes out, you won’t just lose your job—you’ll ruin your entire reputation. You could even end up in jail. Dude! Are you crazy?”

Monty chuckled like he didn’t care.

“Crazy? Maybe. Love doesn’t follow logic. That case is over. Don’t bring it up again.”

“What about Verity? You brought her into your home, made her live with her parents’ murderer. Didn’t you think about what that would do to her? She loves you—”

Before he could finish, Monty’s voice turned cold.

“Enough. I told you, Sylvie is not the murderer. If someone has to take the blame, I’ll die for her if I have to.”

“I just don’t get you. You had motive and evidence. You had everything. And yet… Ugh! Whatever, man. If you think this is fine, then go ahead.”

Next thing I heard were footsteps approaching, and I rushed back to my room in a panic.

All those haunting memories of my parents’ deaths came rushing back.

I also remember the company crumbling right after.

It was Monty who saved me. Paid off all the debt. Took me in. Married me.

I thought I’d found real love. God, I was so lost in happiness!

But I didn’t realize—everything was a carefully crafted fucking lie!

Bringing me back was never about love. It was about keeping me under his watch. So he could monitor me. So he could protect Sylvie—that murderer!

This marriage was nothing but guilt disguised as love.

And I… I took his pitiful charity and flaunted it like it was the happiest thing in the world!

‘Absolutely pathetic!’

Just then, I heard the door shut. His buddy must’ve left.

Verity's POV

Monty stumbled into the room, cupped my face, and kissed me on the forehead.

His drunken eyes were full of worry.

“Why are you standing at the door?”

“Nothing. I was gonna bring you some hangover soup, but I spilled it.”

“Let the housekeeper take care of stuff like that. You’ve been way too tired lately. Get some rest, okay? Or I’ll feel bad.”

After saying that, he kissed me again.

Just like before—gentle, loving.

But I couldn’t feel his warmth anymore.

‘Can one person really go that far for someone else?’

I closed my eyes, and the tears slipped down.

I helped him onto the bed and pulled the blanket over him.

The alcohol hit fast—he passed out in no time.

I sat at the bedside and quietly picked up his phone.

Ha. The password? Sylvie’s birthday.

Once it unlocked, it switched into another system.

The home screen was clean, barely anything on it—except for the photo album, packed full.

He had stored photos of my parents’ murder case from five years ago there.

A thousand of them.

Every single one had Sylvie’s name on it—from her motive to the evidence of her crime!

Even a video of her showing up at my parents’ villa!

All fucking crystal clear!

Yet… when I flipped to the end, Monty had marked it as an “unsolved case.”

Afraid his coworkers would get suspicious, Monty took the case files home.

He only kept records of it on his phone.

Only he could see them.

His bias and protectiveness were impossible to miss.

Admittedly, it made my chest ache.

He always had principles when working a case. Always had his own judgment.

That was one of the reasons I fell so in love with him.

God, I never thought he’d throw all of that away—for Sylvie.

Besides that, there was another hidden, private album.

I tapped it open—every photo was of Sylvie smiling.

Ten thousand shots, all from the past five years of her life after marriage.

As Monty’s brother’s second wife, any time she made a public appearance, he saved the image.

And in every family photo—Monty cropped out my face.

The message couldn’t be clearer.

I let out a bitter laugh and stopped looking.

Took pictures of everything on my own phone.

Booked a flight to leave the states in three days.

Filed to cancel all my personal documents.

Didn’t sleep a wink all night.

At dawn, when I went out to wash up, my phone rang.

Monty’s confused voice followed right after.

“Verity? Why are you canceling your documents?”

I quickly took my phone from him and kept my tone calm.

“Oh, nothing. They’re expired, I just booked an appointment to renew them.

“Hey, aren’t you supposed to have training today? Go do your thing.”

He didn’t think much of it—just pulled me into his arms, brushing his cheek against mine.

“Babe, are you trying to surprise me or something?”

I froze for a second.

He playfully tapped the tip of my nose.

“I saw your pregnancy report!

“My parents have been asking for a grandkid for five years. They’ll be over the moon when they find out!

“It’s almost your parents’ memorial day. Let’s visit them together and tell them the news, yeah? Maybe throw a family dinner too—Wiley hasn’t been back in ages.”

I smiled but didn’t say anything while he spun me around in excitement.

Over the past five years, he’d worked hard to bring the family together.

I used to think that was his way of loving me.

But now I see—it was all calculated.

He just wanted an excuse to see Sylvie more often.

This five-year-long lie…

It’s time to end it.

Verity's POV

Monty had just walked out the door when I left too to head to the law firm to print a divorce agreement.

I also got all my personal documents canceled.

The case files? Monty already took them, so going to the police now wouldn’t do me any good.

Leaving—that was my only option.

When I brought the papers to Monty’s police department, I overheard some of his staff talking.

“Is that the Detective Sergeant’s wife? She looks kinda familiar… Wait, wasn’t she part of that Raleighs tragedy five years ago?”

“Wanna get extra drills from the Detective Sergeant? Don’t talk nonsense. He already said she wasn’t the murderer. Shut it—if he hears you, he’ll lose it again. He’s already argued with the Chief enough over this case.”

“That outfit must be worth a fortune. I heard she just got back from France—she’s rich, no way she’d need to kill anyone. And did you see how the Detective Sergeant looked at her? Dang, he looked like he wanted to be glued to her side. If she really was the murderer, he would’ve arrested her on the spot.”

My nails dug deep into my palms.

I was standing outside the office door and heard a voice I knew all too well.

“Has Wiley been treating you well these past few years?

“You know your brother—once he heard I was coming back, he went and bought me a private jet. Wouldn’t take no for an answer. It’s been five years of marriage and he still acts like a kid…”

“That’s good. Then I can stop worrying.” Monty’s voice was full of bitterness, low and heavy.

“Monty, hey, I really owe you for what happened back then. If not for you, I might still be rotting in jail.

“By the way, I think I’ll skip tomorrow’s family dinner. Don’t wanna upset Verity. I mean, every time she sees me, she remembers Uncle Rauben and Auntie Aurelia. I don’t want her blowing up at you again…”

That’s always how Sylvie was—taking all the benefits, then turning around to throw shade at me. Mocking and sarcastic.

Back when Monty was investigating the case, I’d secretly read the files.

I knew she was the only suspect.

At the wedding, I called her out in front of everyone—said she was the one who killed my parents.

Tried to have her taken to the police department.

But everyone sided with her.

Everyone said I was immature and didn’t know what I was talking about.

Only Monty stepped in for me.

He became my one and only salvation.

But now…

He’s the one pushing me off the edge.

Inside the office, I could see him giving a bitter smile and pulling out a ceramic figurine from a drawer.

“I made this myself. It’s nothing fancy like what you’d buy in a mall, but it’s from the heart. I heard you’re pregnant—consider it a little welcome gift for the baby.”

Sylvie took it with a smile, even playfully stuck out her tongue.

Meanwhile, my hands were shaking so hard they rattled the door.

The noise made Monty glance through the glass. As soon as he saw me standing outside, his face instantly tightened.

“Verity? What are you doing here?

“Don’t get the wrong idea. Sylvie just got back, came by to say hi, catch up, and talk about the family dinner tomorrow.”

“Hey, Verity. Long time no see.”

Sylvie stood up, dressed head to toe in the latest designer couture.

Her expensive appearance made me look like some village bumpkin.

I just smiled, swallowed my bitterness, and said, “It’s okay. Just happened to be nearby and thought I’d drop by. Since you’re busy, I’ll head out.”

Monty must’ve thought I was upset—he chased after me, trying to explain.

“Verity, don’t overthink it. Sylvie’s pregnant too. I just wanted to ask her for advice so I could take better care of you.”

Seeing how worried he looked for me—honestly, I almost laughed.

To protect Sylvie, he broke all his principles.

Even threw away his own marriage.

‘If he already got what he wanted, then who’s he still pretending for?’