Lily's POV
Rage like I had never felt burned inside me.
However, before I could act on my violent thoughts, a glint of gold among the ashes caught my eye, and I realized from its shape that it was my mother's locket.
Without a second thought, I reached into the pile and began digging it out with my hand.
Stacy gasped in horror and stumbled away from me.
The pain was almost unbearable, but I didn’t stop until I successfully pried it out and held it up in my blistering red hand.
The necklace was fine. That was all that mattered to me even as Matthew hurried to my side, panicking about my wounded hand.
His furious yelling at Stacy drew Vincent out of the house.
She immediately ran to his side, looking innocent, and he began comforting her, even as I was the only one visibly injured.
Vincent turned to me with a glare that wavered when he saw me in the arms of another man.
His jealousy reared its ugly head.
"YOU BRING YOUR NEW BOYFRIEND TO STIR UP TROUBLE IN MY HOUSE?!"
"It's my house, and I'll prove it when the police get here to kick you out and arrest her for destruction of property."
I pointed at Stacy, who cowered behind him with a pitiful whimper.
My words flipped a switch, and suddenly Vincent had on his professional smile.
"Calling the police is extreme, don't you think? Let's go inside and discuss this like adults. There's no reason all three of us can't be together peacefully."
"Vincent!" Stacy squawked, staring up at him in disbelief and betrayal.
I sneered, wondering how I had let myself be strung along by a plastic ring from a man like him.
"The police are on their way, Mr. Collins. I suggest you both get changed before their arrival."
Matthew helped me to my feet with gentle care, then led me into the kitchen.
There, we ran water over my hand while we waited for the police and ambulance to arrive.
Vincent tried to convince me to drop the charges, promising we would go back to what we used to be.
He still believed I was the little fool who would rather be a mistress than lose him. I was glad to prove him wrong.
When the police led Stacy away in handcuffs, kicking and screaming, I watched with hollow victory, knowing what I had lost to gain it.
Vincent chose to follow Stacy to the station while I was taken to the hospital. Not once did he stop to ask how I was doing.
My burns were second-degree, so I was discharged from the hospital soon after with a bandaged right arm.
When I stepped into the car with Matthew, he informed me that Sebastian was away on a trip and would be gone indefinitely.
I felt stirrings of longing and sorrow at the news.
We had just met, yet I craved his steady presence for comfort. The thought of returning to an empty house didn't sit right with me, so I decided to make better use of my time.
One phone call later and I had the house put up for sale.
I refused to let Vincent play house with Stacy in the home I had made for us.
I would need substantial evidence for a lawsuit against Vincent. And to get that evidence, I would have to find every single document that could incriminate him.
Knowing he was still with Stacy at the station, I had Matthew drive me back to the house.
The blackened lump was still on the lawn when I arrived. My heart ached from the loss, but I refused to pay it any mind as I made my way to the study, then to the safe, and began to rifle through it for what I needed.
The documents were just as I had found them, but further searching revealed a hitch in my plans.
The transfer of ownership and other documents within name were present, but the originals—the ones that had my name and signature—were nowhere to be found.
I searched through every cabinet and drawer but still, nothing.
Vincent was smarter than I gave him credit for.
He had planned ahead and made sure if I ever discovered his fraud, I'd have a hard time getting proof of it.
Months ago, Vincent had installed a safe in his office, behind a portrait. What he forgot was that I was notified of every change, down to new light bulbs in the company.
At the time, I had thought nothing of him having a safe he didn't tell me about. Now I knew it was the perfect hiding place for the original documents, and I was determined to get into that safe.
I stuffed the files into his briefcase and made my escape, returning to Matthew waiting in the car.
From there, we headed for the Hart Inc Head office, where it had all started.
