Third Person's POV
During that time, the private investigator Hazel had hired brought her good news. He sent over a massive 128-terabyte folder filled with evidence of all the shady things Caroline had done behind Dominic’s back. Every single piece of it was enough to destroy their so-called love.
She couldn’t wait to see the look on Dominic’s face when he finally saw it, the regret, the realization that he’d hurt her for a woman like Caroline.
Before she knew it, the cooling-off period for their divorce was over. The county clerk's office called to let her know she could pick up her divorce papers that afternoon. Hazel readily agreed.
As she packed her things, preparing to leave the city that same night, Caroline suddenly showed up at her door.
It had only been a few days, yet Caroline already looked radiant, her skin glowing, her entire body wrapped in luxury. She was dressed head to toe in designer brands, clearly spoiled under Dominic’s care.
Hazel frowned, her tone sharp. “What are you doing here?”
Caroline folded her arms, a mocking smile playing on her lips. “What do you think? I came to laugh at you. You and Dominic might have grown up together, but so what? In the end, he still chose me. He even pretended to lose his memory just to trick you.”
She paused, then rested a hand lightly on her belly. “Dominic’s been keeping me in bed every night these days,” she said, her tone deliberately smug. “And now, I’m carrying his baby. Once our child is born, he’ll divorce you for real, and then I’ll be his wife.”
Hazel’s fingernails dug deep into her palms as she let out a cold laugh. “You don’t need to wait for the baby to be born. Dominic and I are already divorced. Congratulations, you’re Mrs. Blake now.”
With that, she grabbed her suitcase and turned to leave.
But Caroline blocked her path, a wicked glint in her eyes. “Oh, so that’s your new trick, huh? Trying to make Dominic feel sorry for you again? Not this time. I’ll make sure he despises you completely, so he’ll love me even more.”
Before Hazel could react, Caroline snatched a vase off the table and smashed it over Hazel’s head.
Blood poured down her forehead, blurring her vision.
Just then, the door burst open, and Dominic rushed in, drawn by the commotion.
Caroline immediately ran into his arms, tears brimming in her eyes. “Dominic, please help me. Hazel hit herself with the vase to frame me! You know I wouldn’t hurt a fly. How could I possibly do something so cruel? I didn’t do anything; you have to believe me.”
Dominic’s expression softened with pity. He pulled her into his arms protectively and murmured, “Silly girl. If I don’t believe you, who would I believe?”
Then his gaze hardened as he turned toward Hazel. “Caroline came here to check on you out of kindness, and this is how you repay her? I’m beyond disappointed. Apologize to her right now.”
Hazel stared at him in disbelief. “After everything we’ve been through, you’d rather believe her than me?”
Dominic frowned impatiently, unwilling to hear another word. “If you won’t apologize, then I’ll make sure Caroline gets justice myself.”
Right after he spoke, the sound of Cooper’s anguished cries came from outside.
Hazel froze. She ran out, heart pounding, and what she saw made her world collapse.
Cooper lay on the ground, hit by a car. His body was twisted, his insides crushed and spilling out onto the pavement.
She stood there, trembling uncontrollably. Dominic had killed the last living piece of her mother.
Something in her broke completely.
She stormed back inside, grabbed a baseball bat, and swung it toward Dominic. Before she could strike, his men grabbed her and knocked her unconscious.
When she came to, it was already afternoon.
The house was a wreck, Cooper’s lifeless body still lying outside. Tears streamed down her face, unstoppable, until her whole body shook with the weight of regret, regret for ever meeting Dominic, regret for ever loving him.
She didn’t know how long she had cried before a call from the county clerk's office broke through her daze.
Wiping her tears, she buried Cooper, cleaned herself up, and went to collect her divorce certificate.
The bold red word “Divorced” stamped on the document made her exhale a long, shaky breath.
Finally, it was over.
That night, she boarded a plane out of the city.
Before she left, she hired a hacker to spread evidence of Dominic’s infidelity all over the internet. Then she uploaded the entire 128-terabyte folder of Caroline’s crimes straight into Dominic’s computer.
When everything was done, she pulled out her SIM card, tossed it in a trash bin, and walked away, leaving her past, and everyone in it, behind for good.
