Verity's POV
“Forget it. Five years ago, when Wiley broke off the engagement, we were in the wrong. Everything that happened today is just a misunderstanding. Don’t blame Verity.”
A sharp pain started to spread beneath me, making me break into a cold sweat.
“Misunderstanding? How dare you even say that?! Monty, what the hell happened five years ago? Don’t I deserve an explanation?”
There was a flicker of panic in Monty’s eyes.
But he still forced himself to speak.
“I’ve been investigating the case. I’ve already told you, it has nothing to do with Sylvie. Why do you keep blaming her? I’m a cop. Don’t you trust me?
“Things aren’t clear yet. What gives you the right to hurt Sylvie? Verity, apologize to Sylvie!”
Lavinia’s face turned cold as she stormed up to me and slapped me hard across the face.
“Bitch! You’re still trying to frame Sylvie?! Everyone knows how good my son is at investigating! He said it has nothing to do with her—how dare you lay a hand on her, huh?!
“You’re nothing but an orphan! Don’t you know your place?!
“Good lord! If it weren’t for my son saving you, you’d still be out there selling your body to pay off debts! They say all businesspeople are crooked, and your parents’ death? I guess that’s just karma for their greedy hearts!
“Monty, don’t worry about her. Take Sylvie to the hospital. She’s still pregnant, you know.”
Monty didn’t look at me again as he picked up Sylvie and left the villa.
Five years of love evaporated at that moment.
Pain flooded beneath me as I started to bleed, and my in-laws kicked me out of their villa that same night.
I was taken to the emergency room by strangers, but my baby… didn’t make it.
In the middle of the night, Monty sent me a message, full of humility.
[Verity, don’t think too much about what happened tonight. I know you didn’t mean it. Sylvie is my sister-in-law, and I can’t explain this to Wiley if you hurt her. Once she’s out of danger, I’ll personally apologize. How about we go to your favorite restaurant? Don’t be mad. It’s bad for the baby. Mom was just upset and said some things they didn’t mean.]
‘Oh, wow, he remembers we have a baby.’
I forced a smile, bitter and mocking.
[Yeah, I’ll wait for you.]
[Thanks for understanding, babe.]
That night, Sylvie posted an update from the hospital.
The photo showed a man leaning by the bed, his face full of worry, though he tried to hide it as he slept.
The next morning, I checked out of the hospital, grabbed my suitcase, and headed straight for the airport.
On the way there, Monty sent me the location of the restaurant.
[Babe, I’ve got a surprise for you. I’ll pick you up soon. Wait for me.]
I opened Sylvie’s Insta Story to see her update from two minutes ago.
In the video, the man was carefully feeding her creamy pumpkin soup.
The tenderness in his eyes… That was something I had never seen before.
I clicked the like button and then deleted all their contact details.
When I boarded the plane, I sent a signed report to the Chief about everything that happened, using Monty’s phone records.
I also sent him the signed divorce papers.
Monty’s POV
At the restaurant, I was busy setting up, petals scattered all over the floor. I kept glancing at my phone, but still, no messages came through.
To be honest, I was starting to feel this rising sense of unease.
Just as I reached for my phone to make a call, the door burst open. Someone in uniform rushed in, pale as a ghost.
“Bad news, Detective Sergeant. You need to get back to the department right now. The Raleighs’ case just got reported, and the Chief’s looking for you everywhere! And, uh, your wife… something’s happened to her!”
