My parents were brutally murdered in our home, and the family business teetered on the edge of bankruptcy.

In desperation, I begged my fiancée for help—but she turned away and, without hesitation, held a grand, century-style wedding with Karl Emerson

At their wedding, I was burying my parents.

Just when I thought I had lost everything, her older sister—an officer of the law—knelt beside me at the funeral.

“I’ll be your lifelong support,” Caroline Baker said. “I’ll help you uncover the truth.”

I didn’t hesitate. I said yes.

But the investigation ended in silence—no report, no closure.

Still, Caroline stayed. She handled my parents’ funeral arrangements personally, brought me back to the Baker Family, and stood by my side.

We married.

For five years, I believed she was my salvation.

Until one night, I overheard her talking to a colleague—

“Caroline, the Crow Family murder had only one suspect: Karl. Why did you stop the investigation? Do you think you’re worthy of your badge? Victor has been living under the same roof as the killer. What will you do if he finds out?”

“Karl is innocent,” she replied softly. “He was just... there. It had nothing to do with him. I trust him.”

“I may regret wearing this uniform,” she added, “but I don't regret following my heart. Even if he never chose me... if he’s happy, I can endure anything.”

The gift I had been holding slipped from my hand.

All this time—the one who killed my parents had been right beside me.

And the woman I had come to love… had kept that truth from me for five long years.

Our marriage—suddenly felt like a cage.

——

From behind the door, her voice trembled with quiet sorrow as she looked at an old photo hanging on the wall:

“Since Karl didn’t choose me, I’ll clear every obstacle for him. I’ll make sure he never has to look back.

As for Victor... I’ll watch him closely. I’ll never let him learn the truth.”

Even her colleague couldn’t hide the disappointment in their voice.

"You’ve been on this case for eight years. You’ve won countless medals and commendations. Why throw it all away for Karl?"

The voice was sharp, almost pleading.

"He doesn’t love you, Caroline! His appearance at the Crow Residence wasn’t a coincidence—you know that!"

"You could lose your badge, your career. Your name will be destroyed, maybe even prison. Are you insane?"

Caroline let out a soft chuckle, light and detached.

"Crazy? Maybe I am. But love doesn’t need to make sense. This case is over. Don’t bring it up again."

"What about Victor?" her colleague pressed. "You brought him back and let him live under the same roof as the man who killed his parents. He trusts you. He loves you—"

Before the sentence could finish, Caroline’s eyes turned cold.

"Enough," she said sharply. "I have already told you—Karl is not the murderer."

"And if someone must be held accountable, then I’ll take the fall. I’ll pay with my life if I have to."

A beat of silence. Then a sigh.

"I don’t get you at all. There’s evidence. Motive. But you just—"

The voice trailed off in defeat.

"Forget it. Do what you want."

Their footsteps faded down the hallway.

I stumbled back into my room, heart pounding, hands shaking.

The blood-soaked memory of my parents’ death five years ago surged forward—raw and merciless.

Our company crumbled in the aftermath.

Back then, it was Caroline who reached out to me, the one person who didn't turn away.

She cleared my debts. She brought me into the Baker Family.

I thought I had found salvation. A second chance in life. Maybe even love.

But now I know the truth:

It was all a lie.

She didn’t bring me back out of love.

She brought me back to keep me close—

To watch me. To protect him.

Everything—our marriage, our smiles, her warmth—

It was guilt wrapped in charity.

And like a fool, I took it. I embraced it. I even showed it off like it was something to be proud of.

How laughable.

The door clicked shut. Her colleague was gone.

A moment later, Caroline entered the room.

Her steps were unsteady. Her eyes… unreadable.

She knelt beside me, cupped my face gently and pressed a kiss on my forehead.

Her drunken eyes shimmered with pain.

“Why are you standing by the door?” she asked, voice soft and slightly slurred.

“It’s nothing,” I replied gently. “I brought you some hangover soup but ended up spilling it by accident.”

She frowned slightly. “You should’ve let the nanny handle that. You’ve been exhausted lately. Get some rest, or I’ll feel even worse.”

Then she leaned in and kissed me on the lips.

The gesture was as tender and familiar as always.

But I couldn’t feel her warmth anymore.

It’s true—one person really can give up everything for another.

I closed my eyes, and a tear slipped silently down my cheek.

Wordlessly, I helped her to bed and tucked her in. The alcohol worked fast—within minutes, she was fast asleep.

I sat by the bedside and quietly reached for her phone.

The passcode?

Karl’s birthday.

Of course.

Once entered, the screen unlocked—not to her usual apps, but to a hidden interface. The layout was clean. Only one folder sat on the screen: Album.

Inside was a chilling archive.

A thousand photos—each one related to the Crow Family murder case from five years ago.

Every image meticulously labeled.

And every single one pointed to Karl.

His motives. Forensics. Witness statements. Surveillance screenshots.

Even a blurry but unmistakable video of him standing outside the Crow Family villa that night.

Every detail preserved—vivid, damning, undeniable.

But at the end of the album, she labeled it: Unsolved Case.

Caroline hadn’t filed the evidence at the station. Afraid of raising suspicion among her colleagues, she brought it home instead.

Only this hidden archive remained—tucked away on her phone, seen by no one but her.

Her preference and protection were obvious.

And it broke my heart.

She used to be guided by principles, unwavering in her sense of justice.

That was the very reason I fell in love with her.

But I never imagined she’d abandon all of it—for Karl.

There was another album. A private one.

I tapped it open.

Every photo was of Karl.

His smiling face.

Thousands of candid shots—group pictures, selfies, public appearances—meticulously saved.

A five-year visual record of his life after marriage.

As the Baker Family’s second son-in-law, he had appeared at countless events.

Caroline saved them all.

And in every family photo, without fail—my face had been cut out.

The message couldn’t have been clearer.

I chuckled bitterly and stopped scrolling.

That night, I backed up everything from her phone onto mine.

Then, I booked a one-way ticket abroad—three days from now.

I submitted a request to cancel all my IDs and documents.

I didn’t sleep a wink.

At dawn, I got up to wash. Just as the cold water hit my face, my phone rang.

It was her.

"Victor?" Her voice held a trace of confusion. "Why did you cancel your documents?"

I quickly pulled the phone away and forced a calm tone.

"Ah, nothing. They were expiring. I just scheduled a renewal."

"You don’t have training today?" she asked softly. "Go on, get busy."

Then she wrapped her arms around me, her voice full of affection.

"Are you planning a surprise for me?"

I froze.

She giggled and reached up to tap my nose.

"I saw the new necklace you bought!"

"You’re always trying to hide things, but you forget—I can see right through you. You’re like glass to me, you know that?"

She leaned in again, her voice turning gentle.

"It’s almost your parents’ death anniversary. Let’s go burn paper together. Tell them the good news about our marriage, alright? We’ll hold a family dinner. Doreen hasn’t come home in so long."

I smiled faintly but said nothing.

She twirled in my arms, laughing.

For the past five years, she had been arranging these so-called reunions—telling me they were to help mend things between me and Doreen.

I used to believe it was love.

Now I know better.

It was all a cover.

An excuse to see Karl again.

This five-year deception—it ends now.

As soon as she stepped out, I left home.

I went to the law firm and had the divorce papers printed.

I canceled all my documents.

The case file had already been taken away by Caroline.

If I called the police now, without evidence, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

Leaving was my only option.

When I arrived at her workplace with the agreement in hand, I overheard her colleagues whispering in the hallway.

“Isn’t that Captain Carol’s husband? He looks familiar… Oh right, the Crow Family tragedy five years ago!”

“Shh, do you want to be punished during training? Don’t talk nonsense. Captain Carol has said time and again he wasn’t the killer. Don’t bring it up unless you want her to blow up. She even argued with the director over that case.”

“That suit looks custom—worth millions, I bet. I heard he had just come back from abroad. Someone like that wouldn’t need to kill anyone, right? And the way Captain Carol looks at him… If he really was the murderer, she’d have arrested him herself.”

My nails dug into my palm, the pain sharp but grounding.

I stood outside her office. Through the slightly ajar door, I heard voices—too familiar to mistake.

“Has she been treating you well these past years?” Caroline asked, her voice soft and strained, heavy with emotion.

Karl laughed lightly. “Don’t you know your sister? When she found out I was coming back, she bought me a private jet. No matter how I tried to talk her out of it, she wouldn’t listen. She’s still the same—so naive, even after five years of marriage.”

Caroline’s voice trembled slightly. “That’s good… Then I can rest easy.”

“Sis, I still owe you everything for what happened back then. If it weren’t for you, I’d probably be rotting in prison.”

“I think it’s best I don’t show up at the family dinner tomorrow,” he added with a sigh. “If Victor sees me, he’ll just be reminded of his parents. I don’t want to make trouble for you again…”

Karl—he’s always been like this. Playing the victim, twisting words.

And somehow, turning everyone against me.

Even now, I could still hear his mocking tone, his sneers behind a veneer of politeness.

Back when Caroline was still investigating the case, I read her notes in secret.

I knew—I knew—he was the only suspect.

At our wedding, I stood up and publicly named him as the murderer of my parents.

I tried to drag him to the police station myself.

But everyone turned on me.

They said I was ungrateful. They said I was ruining the day. They said I was insane.

Only Caroline stood by me, trying to explain away my outburst.

She used to be the only light in my life—the only salvation.

But now, it's her who pushed me into the abyss.

In the office, Caroline forced a bitter smile and pulled a small ceramic ornament from her drawer.

“I made this myself,” she said softly. “It’s not as expensive as the ones in stores, but it’s from the heart. I heard Doreen is pregnant… Consider it a gift for the baby.”

Karl accepted it with a grin, his eyes glowing with satisfaction and pride.

My hand trembled without me realizing. The slight shift made the door creak.

Caroline looked up and froze when she saw me through the glass. Her expression instantly tensed.

“Victor? Why are you here?”

“Don’t misunderstand,” she added quickly, walking toward me. “Karl just got back from abroad. He stopped by to say hi—and to talk about tomorrow night’s family dinner.”

“Victor, it’s been a while,” Karl greeted, rising to his feet. He wore a freshly tailored designer suit, polished down to the cufflinks.

Next to him, I looked like a street drifter.

I smiled faintly, suppressing everything boiling beneath the surface.

“It’s nothing,” I said. “I was just passing by and thought I’d check in. Since you’re busy, I’ll head back.”

Thinking I was upset, Caroline chased after me, her heels echoing in the hallway as she tried to explain.

“Victor, please don’t overthink it. Doreen is pregnant, and I just wanted to ask him for advice. To prepare.”

She looked up at me, eyes full of urgency. “Didn’t you always want a child of your own? I’m ready now. I agree.”

I stared at her—really stared. The woman I once loved so deeply. The woman who swore on her badge to uphold justice.

And now, here she was, compromising everything she stood for… just to shield Karl

Even her marriage.

Looking at her desperation—her need to reassure me—I almost laughed.

If she got everything she wanted in the end, who exactly was she still pretending for?