The leading police officer frowned and spoke in a stern voice. “What is going on here?”

Vanessa forced herself to stand despite her pain. She pointed at Layla, her voice shaking. “Officer, I am Vanessa Summer from the Summer family of Capital City. This woman stabbed my friend with a knife and tried to set us on fire with a lighter. The evidence is clear. My dad is already on his way.”

My tense body relaxed slightly.

I believed everything was finally coming to an end. The two police officers exchanged glances after seeing Layla, and their expressions changed. When they looked at Vanessa and me again, their eyes were filled with anger.

“You two beat someone in broad daylight. Do you know what kind of crime that is?”

The other officer walked toward Layla with a respectful smile. “Mrs. Stanford, are you alright? Tell us how you want us to handle them. We will give you a result that satisfies you.”

“A result that satisfies you?” Vanessa’s eyes widened. She pulled open her sleeve, revealing deep cuts and bruises. “Look at this. She attacked us first. We are the victims. You have to be fair…”

A loud thud cut her off.

They allowed Layla to swing an iron stick and strike Vanessa’s forearm.

Vanessa cried out and stumbled back.

“Be quiet,” the leading officer snapped, his tone full of flattery. “Mrs. Stanford’s husband is a well-known philanthropist in this city, and Mrs. Stanford herself is extremely wealthy. If you touch her, you go against us. The Summer family? No one will believe that. We will enforce the law today even if it really is the Summer family.”

“Who told you she is Mrs. Stanford?” Vanessa forced herself upright and pointed at me. “My friend Nora is the real Mrs. Stanford. Your superior attended their wedding. If you do not believe me, call him here for a confrontation.”

The officers paused and glanced at Layla. They burst into laughter.

“If you are Mrs. Stanford, then I am the richest person in the world.”

One officer turned to Layla. “Mrs. Stanford, what do you want us to do?”

Layla smoothed her messy hair and smiled coldly. “She killed my two‑million‑dollar pedigree dog. I only wanted to use her father’s urn. She refused, beat me, and pretended to be me to scam me.”

It was complete slander.

I never claimed to be Mrs. Stanford. We never killed her dog. She was the one who tried to take my father’s urn.

“Take these two troublemakers away immediately,” the officers shouted, cutting off my thoughts.

“This is abuse of power. You want to hand over the urn for Mrs. Stanford’s dog?”

I stood up. “Do you know who is in that urn? It is my dad. My dad is a national hero. If you touch him, the entire Capital City will be shaken today.”

I had no choice but to reveal my father’s identity. I hoped it would make them hesitate until the Summer family arrived. One officer pulled out a stun gun and drove it into my waist.

The electric current shot through me. My mind went blank. My limbs felt hollow as I collapsed. I held the urn tightly and forced myself not to cry out.

Vanessa rushed forward and was shocked the same way.

The officer laughed. “Keep making things up. Pretending to be related to a high‑ranking official is an even bigger crime. Keep talking. We will still get credit even if we beat you to death today.”

He turned to Layla with a fawning smile. “Right, Mrs. Stanford? Your problem is our problem.”

Layla looked down at us, her smile relaxed and cruel. “Officers, you saw it. They are lunatics. Send them to a mental hospital so they do not cause trouble again.”

The officers grabbed Vanessa and me and dragged us toward the car.

A screech of brakes echoed through the air.

A black sedan stopped in front of us, and Ethan stepped out. His gaze swept across the scene before landing on Layla.

He rushed toward her, his voice shaking with panic. “Layla, are you alright?”

Layla seemed to regain her confidence the moment she saw Ethan. She threw herself into his arms. “Ethan, you are finally here. This crazy woman bullied me…”

The two police officers straightened their posture and spoke with forced respect. “Mr. Stanford, do not worry. We were about to deal with these troublemakers and make sure Mrs. Stanford receives justice.”

Vanessa trembled with rage. She pointed at Ethan and demanded, “Ethan, look at what they did to Nora!”

Ethan raised his hand to silence her. His gaze swept over me with a strange expression. “Nora, why are you causing trouble?”

I looked at him and slapped him across the face without hesitation. “Explain when you got another wife.”

A flash of shock and anger crossed Ethan’s eyes. He slapped me hard in return, his jaw tight. “Lunatic. What are you talking about? My wife has always been Layla and only Layla.”

Layla’s eyes filled with triumph. “I knew you were lying. Someone hold her down and beat her. Take that urn from her and give it to my dog as compensation.”

Punches and kicks landed on me again. I held the urn tightly, refusing to let go.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Ethan’s eyes. He stepped closer and whispered, “Layla is the little princess of the Lewis family of Oceania. We cannot afford to offend her. Just endure it. It is only an urn. Your dad’s spirit will not blame you.”

Endure it. Only an urn.

I tightened my grip on the urn and forced out each word. “The little princess of the Lewis family? We have been married for seven years. Do you really think I am just an ordinary employee and my dad works in an ordinary company?”

Ethan froze for a moment. Layla urged him impatiently.

Ethan grabbed my hair and spoke coldly. “Nora, what is the point of this act? I advise you to stop resisting.”

He signaled the officers. They rushed forward, tore the urn from my arms, and handed it to Ethan.

My eyes burned as I screamed, “Ethan! How dare you? My father is a martyr. If you touch his ashes, all of you will pay the price!”

Ethan paused, then let out a mocking laugh. “Nora, I told you this act is pointless. When we married, your father said he was a security guard.”

He opened the urn. The gray‑white ashes scattered across the floor.

My world shattered.

“Dad…” I fell to my knees. Blood seeped from the skin where I hit the ground, but I felt nothing. My shaking hands tried to gather the ashes, but they slipped through my fingers.

“Dad… Dad…”

Tears dripped onto the floor, mixing with the ashes.

Vanessa rushed to support me. “Nora, do not worry. We will make this cheating couple pay today.”

Behind us, Layla laughed. “These ashes look cheap. They even smell cheap. Security guards are supposed to be useful. Giving this urn to my dog is his good fortune.”

She laughed, and Ethan laughed with her.

Everyone laughed.

A deafening roar suddenly filled the air. A military‑green helicopter hovered above us like a watchful eagle.

Vanessa looked up, her eyes bright with hope. Her voice trembled with excitement. “Nora, it is my dad. My dad’s men are here.”

The smile on Ethan’s face froze.