James' POV

Every word that Wanda uttered rang clearly in my ears, cutting me deeply.

Everyone in the world had chosen to keep me in the dark regarding Mom's death, including Wanda, the one person I trusted unconditionally.

That night, I had run through the rain to get to the police station. Wanda even got into a car accident when she chased after me. She mustered all her strength to crawl out from under the car and grabbed my ankle with her bloody hand.

"Go home, James. I'll handle the rest."

I naively believed that she would seek justice for me and Mom. I refused to believe that Mom would take her own life and leave me behind.

I never would have guessed that my own father and wife would betray me.

…

The next day, I showed up at Mason's birthday party in a disheveled state.

Mason had one arm intimately wrapped around Wanda's slender waist as he excitedly showed off the gold ring she had given him. It was a family heirloom that had been passed down in the Foster family for generations.

The way he behaved made it seem as if he was Wanda's actual husband.

Everyone turned to look at me when I stepped into the hall. Some looked at me with disdain, while some looked at me with a mocking glint in their eyes.

Meanwhile, Wanda looked completely at ease. She spread her arms in my direction, probably assuming that I was there to pathetically beg her for reconciliation.

Unfortunately for her, she would be disappointed.

"Wanda, was Mason the one who killed Mom? You're his accomplice, aren't you?"

Wanda's breath hitched in her throat, but the remorse in her eyes swiftly disappeared.

"It's Mason's birthday today! Don't cause any trouble."

Dad also rushed down the stage and slapped me hard across my face.

I finally accepted the truth when I saw them exchange cautious glances with one another.

Everything in the video had been real.

Just then, Mason threw himself at me with bloodshot eyes.

"James, I know that Mrs. Gulliver hated that she couldn't kill me while she was alive, but we're supposed to rely on each other for the rest of our lives. I'm begging you. Please don't hurt me anymore. I'll forget about how you tortured me in the past. I'll be good and listen to everything you say."

He revealed the scars on his arms as he spoke, looking pitiful.

Wanda's heart ached terribly when she saw the scars. She frowned deeply and shot a disappointed look at me, snapping, "He's your brother, James. How could you abuse him like that?"

The guests inhaled sharply and began discussing among themselves.

"James' mother tried to murder Mason, but she ended up killing herself instead. She got what she deserved."

"I had no idea that James was such a shameless man. He hurt Mason just because he wanted Wanda all for himself. Old virgins like him are always causing problems."

"He and his mother must have gotten used to harassing others to get their way. In the end, they're just despicable people who came from the sticks. They'll never change their terrible ways."

The image of Mom falling from the window flashed through my mind as the guests bombarded me with a barrage of criticism.

I couldn't take it anymore. When I finally snapped back to my senses, I realized that I had clamped my hands around Mason's neck.

"I'm going to make you pay with your life!"

Mason thrashed wildly in my hold.

In the next second, a massive force roughly shoved me aside.

Wanda raised a trembling hand and slapped me with all her might.

"What do you think you're doing, James?" she roared. "I want you to tell everyone the truth now! You're the one who slandered Mason! You and your mother were the ones who harassed him! If you don't…"

She suddenly lowered her voice. Her tone was gentle yet immeasurably cruel when she said, "If you don't, I'll destroy your mother's grave. It's her death anniversary today, isn't it?"

James' POV

I looked up at Wanda in shock. Her eyes were devoid of emotion, making the threatening glint in them all the more apparent.

She looked like a completely different person from the woman who used to look at me with deep affection.

I stubbornly stared at her as my eyes reddened. "I won't!" I shouted.

Wanda pulled out a remote from her pocket upon hearing my words, saying, "Don't force my hand, James. There are explosives buried under her grave."

Although she said my name softly, I couldn't help but feel as if the devil was whispering in my ear.

It turned out that Wanda had laid this trap a long time ago. She had been prepared to threaten me at a moment's notice just to protect Mason.

Mom's grave was the only thing I cherished in the world. I couldn't just stand by and let Wanda blow it to smithereens.

I swallowed the bloody taste in my mouth and shoved Wanda aside. I then stalked toward Mason and sank to my knees.

"Mom and I were the ones who wronged you, Mason. I'm sorry!"

I raised my head and came face to face with Mason's smug expression before turning to look at Wanda. "Is this apology enough?"

Wanda's chest heaved briefly before she cleared her throat and said, "It's fine as long as you've learned your lesson. You should leave now. Pay my respects to your mother on my behalf."

She then locked arms with Mason and turned around to continue the celebrations.

I could hear the guests whispering among themselves amidst the lively laughter and chatter.

"It's no wonder Ms. Foster refuses to touch him. I didn't know he had such a filthy heart. It makes sense now that his private photo was leaked a few days ago."

"Both he and his mother were bullies. I didn't expect him to ruin his brother's engagement and steal his fiancee with his connections. He's the other man in this case!"

"They've been married for five years, but he's still a virgin. Who would be willing to marry him? Those who don't know any better probably think that he has some sort of disgusting disease."

I pathetically sank to my knees and numbly listened to their insults.

I no longer had the heart to care about the promises of forever that Wanda and I had once made to each other.

Just as I prepared to leave, the chilling sound of a beep resounded in my ears.

Mason stood a short distance away in a secluded corner. He was holding the remote, waving it at me.

The fine hair on my neck stood on end as I watched the numbers rapidly count down. I mustered all the strength I had left to scramble to my feet and stumbled out of the hall.

Wanda stared at my retreating back. She was just about to call out to me when Mason tugged her to his side.

"Come share a toast with me."

Wanda's lips curled up into a smile as she focused her attention on Mason again.

…

Meanwhile, in the cemetery, I frantically tried to dig out the tombstone with my bare hands. My bloodied fingers ached terribly.

In the next second, the sounds of massive explosions reached my ears.

Mom's tombstone was blown to smithereens, with shattered pieces flying through the air in all directions. The casket that had been buried had also exploded with a deafening bang.

My heart turned completely hollow as I watched the ashes flutter in the air around me. A few seconds later, a wave of heat crashed over me, catching me off guard. The next thing I knew, my vision turned pitch-black.