Veronica's face contorted into something truly repulsive. She laughed, a shrill, fake laugh, a far cry from the graceful image she always projected in public.
"Stole? Come on, look at your condition! Look in the mirror! Are you even worthy of being the face of that brand?" Her eyes were red with anger, and she roughly pushed me, my head hitting the wall. I was in pain, but my heart ached even more.
Outside, Julius pounded on the door. "Darling, are you done? Is everything alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
Veronica whispered, "Oh, you heard that? Do you know what your fiancé is really like?"
"So what? You want to destroy him? Don't you love him so much?" I whispered back, my eyes narrowed with meaning. Veronica flinched, her hand raised to slap me. I easily blocked her before she could touch me. Suddenly, the door burst open.
Julius appeared, panicked. "Darling, what's going on?!" He saw me, then was startled when he saw Veronica grimace, her hand clutching her cheek. Instantly, anger blazed in his eyes.
"What did you do to her?!" His voice boomed, pulling Veronica into his embrace. He glared at me, filled with hatred.
A charade. That's what I thought. Just now, Veronica was acting like a superhero, now she's transformed into a weak, abused girl. I held back a smile, enjoying her performance.
"Are you okay, Veronica?" Julius asked, his voice soft, but his eyes still fiery. His touch on Veronica was full of concern, I could feel it because that touch used to be for me.
Veronica sobbed, "I just wanted to help her, Julius. But she accused me of stealing her modeling contract and tried to slap me!" She showed her hand. "Look, she grabbed my wrist so hard it hurts!"
I almost burst out laughing. She was a true drama queen.
Julius looked at me with a murderous glare. "You're so strange, Lizzy. Don't blame others for your own failures!" His tone was cold, full of contempt. I knew this was all a trap Veronica set for me.
“I'm sorry, Lizzy, it's all in the past, three years ago, the bad fate that befell you wasn't my fault.” He continued his drama, making me sick.
The guests gathered around, observing the scene with curious gazes, drawing their own false conclusions. They praised Julius's feigned patience and Veronica's fake kindness, while I became the scapegoat for all the chaos.
Then, Julius's mother appeared, embracing and comforting Veronica with excessive, sickening affection. "She's crazy, depressed. Don't take her harsh behavior to heart," she said, her voice filled with hatred.
Veronica, in Mrs. Velden's arms, smiled sinisterly at me. Then, she pretended to protest, "No, Mrs. Velden. I'm sorry, it's my fault the party is disrupted."
Mrs. Velden smiled coldly. "Oh, no, Veronica darling. It's not your fault. And you," her gaze returned to me, sharp and piercing, "you're not burdening my son enough. Now you even dare to embarrass my party! If you're crazy, go to a psychiatrist, don't bother other people!"
Veronica snorted softly, her little laugh was cold and piercing. I stared back at her coldly, she was the woman who had destroyed my career and now was trying to destroy my mental state.
Then, I looked at Mrs. Velden. When I was successful, she was always friendly and affectionate, she also often urged me to become her daughter-in-law soon. Now, after I was paralyzed, her cruel and hypocritical nature was revealed.
"Please, Lizzy, can you stop clinging to my son? I beg you, I will worship you if I have to," Mrs. Velden said, pretending to plead while bowing excessively, a disgusting charade. Julius, with a feigned angry expression, pulled his mother away and slapped my face hard.
All the guests were shocked, Julius's face tensed. He looked at his own hand, the hand that had reflexively hurt me.
I couldn't avoid this humiliation and slap. I wiped the fresh blood flowing from the corner of my lip. "I didn't say anything. You've been begging and insulting me all this time, so why did you slap me?" I asked, my voice high with anger.
"Slap me again if you're not satisfied!" I challenged, with a cold, calculating smile.
"I'm sorry," he replied softly, full of fake regret.
I snorted, my gaze piercing Veronica and Julius. "What are you going to do?" Julius asked, panicked.
With a quick and brutal movement, I slammed my head against the corner of the sink, repeatedly, very hard. Not just a light bump, but a full-fledged blow of anger that made the world spin. It felt like my skull was cracking.
Fresh blood spurted, painting my face with a horrifying, bright red color. I wiped the flowing blood with the back of my hand, my expression remained cold, emotionless. All eyes widened in shock, surprised by my sudden "madness."
"Enough, darling. I'm sorry," Julius yelled, panicked, trying to stop my "madness" which I actually did on purpose so that my heart wouldn't hurt and be so depressed. Right now, I want to die. Desperate.
I looked at him, grinning, letting them imagine my mental instability. Mrs. Velden and Veronica left immediately, avoiding the scandal that would happen if the reporters found out about this.
Mrs. Velden was always known as someone who didn't like our relationship. Imagine if I walked out of her house covered in blood? It would be a sensational headline.
The wound on my forehead was deep enough and needed medical attention. While he went to look for the first aid kit, I quietly left, deliberately passing the journalists waiting outside. They took pictures of my blood-stained face, evidence that would destroy the Velden family's reputation.
In the moments after news of the Velden family's cruel treatment of me went viral, my life changed dramatically. I was no longer just a forgotten disabled woman, but the leading star in a gripping life drama.
My past as a renowned model resurfaced, the accident that robbed me of my mobility was brought to light, and every detail was linked to Mrs. Velden's cruel behavior. The media bombarded me with questions, and she, quickly, was crowned "the worst mother-in-law in the world." The sensation was overwhelming, like a tsunami wiping away everything in its path.
His betrayal made me lose my mind.
