She kicked over the box, sending my mother’s belongings scattering across the floor.
Florence laughed even more arrogantly. "Hazel, after all these years, you’re still just as useless. You couldn’t protect your mother, you couldn’t hold onto the Thornton Family’s business and even the two men you once loved are paving the way for me. You’re nothing but a joke!"
Fury ignited within me and I could no longer hold back. I slapped her across the face. I didn’t even use much force, yet she fell straight down the steps.
The lunchbox in her hands slipped, spilling hot soup all over her face.
I stood there in shock, unable to react. Before I could process what had happened, a figure suddenly rushed forward and shoved me harshly to the ground.
Florence was cradled protectively in his arms.
Edward's gaze burned with fury as he glared at me. "What are you doing? Are you crazy? Florence was just being kind, bringing porridge for Mom. Why did you have to hit her? She's your own sister!"
His eyes were bloodshot, completely devoid of the affection he once had for me.
I curled my lips into a cold smile and slowly got up. "My sister? Does she even deserve that title?"
"Why did my mother fall ill? What about the video from the funeral? Edward, don’t you think you owe me an explanation? What right do you have to question me?" I sneered.
His brows furrowed, a flicker of panic flashing in his eyes. "Your mom was already in poor health. I arranged for her hospitalization and I was the one who deleted the video. What else is there to explain? Didn’t you already figure everything out? No matter what happened before, that doesn’t justify you raising your hand against your own sister!"
"Hazel, apologize! Or I’ll call right now and cancel all of your mother’s remaining treatments!" Edward’s furious shout drew the attention of several onlookers.
This neighborhood housed some of the most powerful families in the capital and now they had gathered to watch the drama unfold.
I laughed, but tears slipped from my eyes despite myself. "Cancel the treatment? Go ahead! Cancel it! I don’t need your fake kindness anymore. In fact, I never did!"
As soon as I finished speaking, Florence reached out, clinging to Edward’s shoulder. "Hazel, no matter how angry you are, you can’t joke about Mom’s health like this! I know you blame me. It was my fault for causing a scene at the funeral and I owe you an apology. But today, I really just wanted to make things right with Mom. I never meant any harm… Why would you do something so cruel to me?"
She turned to Edward and said, “Edward, since my sister hates me so much, we should stop contacting each other from now on. I don’t want to put you in a difficult position…"
My nails dug deep into my palms, piercing the skin and blood dripped silently to the ground.
Watching the two of them walk away together, I knew that it was over. Three years of love turned to ashes in an instant.
I pulled out my phone and sent him a message. [The wedding is canceled]
Five hours later, he finally replied, offering an explanation. [Florence is still my sister-in-law by name and she’s managing several key company projects. What happened today could negatively impact the Thornton Family. Asking you to apologize was just a strategic move, an act for outsiders. Don’t overthink it.]
[Once I finish treating Florence’s wounds, I’ll take you to pick out your wedding dress, okay? Don’t say things in anger. Mom would be heartbroken. Her last wish was to see your wedding.]
But I knew this wasn’t an act for outsiders. It was a performance for me. For three years, he had meticulously played the role of a devoted partner.
Now, it was time for the curtain to fall.
My mother had longed to see my wedding, but more than that, she had wanted me to be happy. And happiness didn’t have to mean marrying into the Granville Family.
If she were watching from above, she would understand my pain and be relieved by my decision.
After finalizing the arrangements for her funeral, I went to the hospital and printed out the records. It was proof that Edward had secretly switched her medication.
Two days passed and Edward still hadn’t shown up.
The only news of him came from the internet. It was headlines exposing that he had transferred half of the Granville Family’s shares to Florence.
For just a minor injury, he compensated her with a hundred million dollars.
In the photos, he held Florence in his arms. The tenderness in his eyes was something I had never seen before.
When the wedding planner called for final confirmation, I canceled the wedding.
The news quickly reached Edward and for the first time, he panicked. His call came almost instantly, his voice filled with desperation.
“Baby, are you still angry? Please, listen to me. The wedding is important. We’ve already sent out the invitations. How can you cancel now? Don’t you remember your promise to Mom? You said you’d let her see you get married.”
He sighed and continued, “I’ve already sent the wedding dress and jewelry to your house. Try them on, okay? Don’t be stubborn. Be good. I’ll come home to you as soon as I’m done.”
I knew all of them were lies.
Half an hour ago, the auction was being streamed live. Edward was seated in the VIP section, carefully selecting jewelry for Florence.
I didn’t reply. Instead, I deleted every trace of him from my phone. Then, I packed my bags and moved back to the Thornton Family home.
Before leaving, I sent his company a little parting gift. They were copies of the hospital records proving his tampering with my mother’s medication.
After securing the jewelry, he finally remembered his soon-to-be wife and his gravely ill mother-in-law in the hospital.
As he stared at the unanswered messages on his screen, a growing sense of unease settled in. He stepped out of the auction hall and dialed his assistant.
“Tell the hospital to adjust Mrs. Thornton’s medication. At the very least… she needs to hold on until the end of the year. If necessary, find some specialists abroad. I don’t want Hazel to be upset.”
The assistant, still holding freshly signed documents, turned pale as he scanned the contents. His voice trembled.
“Mr. Granville… Mrs. Thornton is already gone. And… Miss Hazel found out about the medication switch. The funeral is today. Maybe… you should go.”
