"I worry about him working cases day in and day out—and somehow, even that ends up being a crime!"
Once upon a time, I might’ve believed Marco stayed away from his parents’ house to protect me. But now that I knew the truth, I couldn’t even pretend to feel anything.
He didn’t avoid the family estate for my sake. He just didn’t want to face Amina as her brother-in-law. Didn’t want me bringing up that murder case in front of everyone and making her uncomfortable.
Around me, people chimed in, showering Amina with compliments—how well she’d kept her figure, how pregnancy didn’t seem to wear her down at all.
Meanwhile, I stood forgotten by the door.
The wind cut through the hallway just as Marco finally showed up, fashionably late. He wrapped an arm around me like everything was fine, gently brushed my forehead.
“Why are you still standing here? Did my parents scold you?”
The moment she saw her son walk in, Marco’s mom softened her tone.
"Oh, me? I wouldn’t dare scold the Vogel heiress! Your wife is far too precious for that. Come on, take her upstairs to rest."
Right then, Amina stepped in with a rehearsed sweetness. "Mom, I’ve already arranged a dinner from the hotel—should be delivered soon. You should relax and not let these things get to you."
The Fishers' relatives instantly rallied around her, going on about how thoughtful and mature Amina was. No one even looked in my direction.
Marco guided me upstairs to the bedroom, murmuring some excuse to his mother about me not feeling well—that I hadn’t meant to be disrespectful.
Not that it mattered. His relatives had never liked me and no one cared enough to even pretend anymore.
They all gathered around the mountain of gifts Amina had brought, taking turns gushing about what good fortune Mrs. Fisher had, having a daughter-in-law like her.
What a dutiful daughter-in-law she made.
Laughter and cheerful voices echoed through the cracks in the door, seeping into the room like smoke, pressing down on me until I could barely breathe.
I was just about to step out for some air when Amina suddenly appeared in front of me.
She looked me up and down, clearly savoring the sight of my pale face. Her smile grew sharper.
“Long time no see, old classmate,” she said sweetly. “What’s wrong? It’s only been five years—don’t recognize me anymore?”
“Actually, I should be thanking you. If you hadn’t brought me home back then, I never would’ve found the people I’d been looking for.”
My hands curled into fists at my sides as I stared her down.
“People you’d been looking for? What’s that supposed to mean? What the hell did my parents ever do to you—to deserve what you did to them?”
Her expression changed in an instant. The mask dropped. Her eyes were cold, gleaming with hatred.
“What did they do to me?” she hissed. “You should be asking what they didn’t do. If it weren’t for your precious parents, my dad’s company wouldn’t have gone under. He wouldn’t have been pushed to the edge. He wouldn’t have jumped off that building.”
“You destroyed everything I had. Everything. And now that I’m returning the favor, you’re the one who can’t take it?”
She stepped closer, her voice venomous.
“What’s wrong? Hard to breathe, seeing your parents’ killer standing here without a scratch? No punishment. No justice. Just me, living my best life. Oh—and I should really thank your fiancé and your husband. Without them, none of this would’ve been possible.”
She leaned in, smiling like it was all a game.
“You know, your dad was still begging for your life in his last moments. Kept asking me to spare his daughter. I recorded it, actually. Want to see it?”
“Then get on your knees and beg.”
The image of my parents’ brutal deaths flashed before my eyes. My vision burned red with rage. Without thinking, I raised my hand and slapped her—hard.
The sharp crack of it echoed through the hallway.
Amina didn’t get angry. Instead, she laughed. She let the momentum of the slap carry her, collapsing dramatically to the floor.
Before I could even react, Marco came rushing in—his expression twisted with panic and fury—and drove his foot straight into my chest.
The force knocked the wind out of me. I hit the ground, coughing, stunned.
He didn’t look back at me. Didn’t ask if I was okay. He just scooped Amina into his arms like she was made of glass, shooting me a glare like I was a stranger—no, worse, a threat.
“Pauline, what the hell is wrong with you? Are you out of your mind?” he barked. “She’s pregnant, for God’s sake! What were you thinking?”
By now, the Fishers’ relatives had rushed over, eyes full of judgment, like they wanted to tear me apart.
Amina clung weakly to Marco’s shoulder, tears streaming as she whimpered through trembling lips.
“I’m sorry, Marc... I just—I wanted to apologize for the misunderstanding five years ago. I didn’t think she’d hit me... I didn’t mean to upset her…”
