“So you want to make me regret ever being alive?”
Staring at the investigation results Stephen flung before me, I felt no remorse—only the thrill of revenge accomplished.
Stephen could no longer maintain his gentlemanly facade. “What did Tabitha do to make you hate her so much?”
“You used to be so generous and optimistic. Now you’re like some unreasonable, resentful woman?”
His disappointment was written all over his face. “Valerie, how did you become like this?”
“What right do you have to question me?”
I swept the evidence off the table with a wave of my hand, glaring at him as I fired back.
“Let me tell you that I’m not just a bitter woman. I can become a shrew!”
I immediately contacted my lawyer and reclaimed the estate from Tabitha under the grounds of marital property.
Another lawsuit followed, charging her with unlawful entry into a residence and landing her in police custody.
“Who are you? What right do you have to arrest me?”
As the police shoved Tabitha into the patrol car, she still carried herself like a wealthy socialite, her face mask still plastered on.
“Save your energy for talking later, Miss Gamelin. You’ll be locked up for a long time.”
“You bitch, Valerie! I won’t let you off! I’ll kill you!”
Even after the patrol car had driven far away, Tabitha’s curses and her defences crumbling, still echoed through the hall.
I directed the servants to gather all items used by Stephen and Tabitha and burn them. The entire estate was shrouded in smoke, obscuring even human figures.
“Sweetheart, what mischief are you up to now?”
Stephen wrapped his arms around me from behind, his tone light and brimming with affection. I turned to him with a faint, ambiguous smile.
“Why is it you?”
He pushed me away abruptly. His gentle expression turned to repulsion as he scanned the room.
“Where’s Tabitha?”
“You mean her?”
I casually tossed a garment into the flames, kindly adding.
“She is illegally trespassing in a residence. Probably being interrogated by the police right now.”
Stephen said nothing, then turned and walked away. His urgent silhouette overlapped with memories of the past.
“Did he still remember that Christmas Eve two years ago, when we got separated and he searched frantically for me in the crowd? When he shouted my name, was his urgency the same as it was now?”
Back in reality, the estate before me no longer held its former beauty.
“Sell it.”
“Hold on, what did you say?” The waiting butler was confused.
“Sell the estate. I don’t want it anymore.”
Within half a day, Stephen bailed Tabitha out and sought me out to reconcile.
“If she kneels and apologizes to me, admitting she’s the mistress, I’ll reconcile.”
Hearing this, Tabitha immediately teared up and looked at Stephen.
“How dare you humiliate my woman?”
Stephen shielded the woman behind him, acting like a deeply devoted “husband.” He narrowed his eyes and threatened me, his nominal wife, fiercely.
“I’ll ask one last time. Are you certain you won’t reconcile?”
“Yes, certain!”
“Fine!” Stephen waved to the bodyguards outside. “Bring him in!”
My heart suddenly pounded violently. A man was dragged in, covered in blood, his legs dangling limp beneath him like noodles.
“How disgraceful, like a dog.”
The guard kicked him angrily, lifting his face, beaten beyond recognition.
“Xavier!” I lunged forward but was surrounded by other bodyguards.
“Get out of my way!” I gritted my teeth, raising the gun and aiming it at one of their heads.
“Your gun can only kill one person at a time.”
Stephen challenged me with his gaze. “But I have five bodyguards. Can your brother afford to wait?”
“Let’s go, Valerie. Let’s go...”
Xavier’s voice was so faint it seemed the wind could scatter it. I lowered my head, hiding my unwillingness, forced to drop the gun.
“What do you want?”
Stephen smiled with satisfaction, pulling the woman forward behind him.
“Tabitha, what do you want to do?”
Tabitha narrowed her eyes at me, malice nearly spilling over. “Kneel and apologize to me. Admit you’re the mistress.”
“It’s simple, just like what you made me do when you demanded reconciliation.”
