Just as the words left Ylona's mouth, a familiar voice rang out behind her.
“What evidence? What are you doing?”
It was Cyrus.
Ylona quickly suppressed her emotions and turned around, her tone was calm and indifferent as she replied, “Nothing. You must've misheard.”
In the past, Cyrus would've questioned her thoroughly. But now, his heart was entirely with Rylee—he didn't care what Ylona was doing anymore.
He glanced around the room, frowning.
“Where's Cedric? You two have been fighting for over a day—haven't you had enough?”
Ylona lifted her eyes and stared at him, trying to understand what his heart was made of—how it could be so cold.
This man had strapped a bomb to his own son, just to protect his mistress. And now he dared to call it “just a fight”?
Her lips parted. She wanted to tell him the truth—that Cedric was dead. That the bomb he had placed had taken their child's life.
But before she could speak, Rylee walked up from behind and naturally wrapped her arm around Cyrus'.
She clung to him, putting on a frightened act.
“Cyrus, I get so scared when I see my sister now... what if she tries to send me away again?”
Instantly, Cyrus' face darkened.
“Ylona, apologize to Rylee, and promise you'll never pull something like that again.”
Beside him, Rylee smirked at Ylona with a smug look of triumph.
Ylona clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white. She knew this was all part of Rylee's scheme.
She looked Cyrus straight in the eye and said coldly, “I didn't do it, so why should I apologize?”
Apologize to the woman who ruined her marriage and destroyed her family?
Never.
Rylee shrank back behind Cyrus, pretending to be weak and gentle.
“Let it go, Cyrus. Whatever my sister says, let's just go along with it. After all, we're family.”
“She might be cruel to me, but I can't be heartless to my own sister.”
Cyrus gazed at her tenderly, as if her false compassion moved him.
“Don't worry, Rylee. From now on, no one will ever bully you—not even Ylona.”
For a moment, Ylona could hear echoes of the promises he used to make to her.
“Ylona, marry me. I'll never let anyone hurt you.”
And yet now, that same man stood with another woman—mocking and humiliating her, the mother of his children.
Her knees weakened beneath her, and she nearly collapsed.
Just then, a child's voice called from inside the house.
“Daddy! Come play toys with me!”
Cyrus' gaze softened. He whispered something to Rylee and went inside with a smile.
Ylona let out a bitter laugh.
How ironic.
When Cedric was alive, he would often ask his father to play with him too. But every time, Cyrus would reply coldly, “Daddy is busy. I don't have time.”
Yet now, he was full of patience for the child of his mistress.
After Cyrus disappeared into the house, Rylee finally dropped the act.
Her lips curved into a mocking grin, and she taunted, “I told you—whatever I set my sights on becomes mine. No one can take it from me.”
Shrugging her shoulders, she nonchalantly continued, “Honestly, I didn't expect much. I just played a little trick and went on a trip... and Cyrus actually ended up tying a bomb to your child.”
She stepped forward, grabbed Ylona by the hair, and forced her to look into the window—at the warm family scene inside.
“See that? Cyrus only cares about us. You're the real mistress in this relationship.”
She tightened her grip and sneered. “He loves me that much—and you're still clinging to him like a dog. Aren't you ashamed?”
Ylona's eyes blazed with fury. “Ashamed? The one who should be ashamed is you. You and your mother really are cut from the same cloth—professional homewreckers.”
Rylee's expression froze. But then she laughed coldly.
“Fine, say you're not the mistress. So what? You still couldn't even protect your own child.”
“I heard it was a sea of red when your son died. You watched him die right in front of you. Tell me, how did that feel?”
Ylona snapped.
They could insult her all they want, but never ever her child.
She raised her hand to slap her—but before she could bring it down, Rylee scoffed victoriously. Then Cyrus stormed back in, grabbing Ylona's wrist and shoving her hard.
“Ylona! How dare you lay a hand on Rylee in front of me!”
