I was the victim—obviously the victim.
But somehow, I lost the first trial. Worse, I was accused of extortion and even faced jail time.
The audience was giddy with excitement after Daniel’s righteous performance in court:
“This woman is unbelievable! Trying to scam a rich girl, and now she’s blaming her husband for not helping her?”
“Exactly. Good thing that handsome lawyer is such a stand-up guy. He should divorce her immediately!”
“Like grandfather, like granddaughter. Trying to blackmail a kind, rich woman? That old man deserves to be in the ICU!”
“Heh… Say what you will, she’s got a killer figure though!”
Their words pierced me like knives. I stood frozen, my chest tight with anger and humiliation.
Why?
Why did the guilty walk free?
Why was such flimsy evidence allowed?
Why did ten years of love collapse so easily?
I couldn’t accept it. I wouldn’t.
I had to ask him. I had to look Daniel in the eyes and ask why.
In the parking lot, I saw him. He was walking toward his car with Vanessa nestled against him, the two of them laughing like nothing had happened. That broke me.
I rushed forward. My voice cracked as I shouted, “Daniel! Who is your wife—me or her? Why are you treating me and Grandpa like this?”
Tears burned in my eyes. “Has Grandpa ever treated you badly? He’s loved you like his own grandson all these years!”
Daniel looked at me coldly. “Haven’t you had enough of this?” he said impatiently. “I get that you care about your grandfather, but you need to understand who Vanessa is. Don’t go digging your own grave.”
I clenched my fists. “You think you can hide everything just because you have money? Do you think power makes you untouchable? I will find the truth—and I’ll make sure you pay.”
Vanessa narrowed her eyes and glanced at Daniel. He got the message immediately and shoved me hard against the cold hood of the car.
Before I could recover, Vanessa stepped forward, smiling with disdain. She tilted my chin up with her sunglasses.
“You? Sue me? One of my tires is worth more than your entire life.”
She chuckled. “Emily, right? If you kneel and kowtow three times, maybe I’ll let you go.”
Daniel stood beside her, expression blank. “Don’t be stubborn. Apologize.”
“Miss Blake is giving you a chance. You should be grateful,” he added.
Tears fell onto his hand as he held me in place.
“You won’t get away with this,” I hissed. “I will find proof. And when I do, I’ll see you both in prison.”
They stared back at me—two people who saw the law as a toy and lived as disposable.
Then I saw something behind them—reporters approaching with cameras.
Daniel noticed them too and shoved me aside in panic. I stumbled, lost my balance, and fell hard onto the pavement.
Vanessa leaned in again, her voice a venomous whisper meant only for me.
“You know, you’re not all that. But I admit—you have great taste. Your husband’s not only great at arguing in court… he’s amazing in bed too.”
She laughed softly.
“Oh, and about your job? Your transfer to the entertainment channel—that was my first gift to you. The second? Your grandfather. The third… you’ll find out soon.”
My body trembled. I slapped her. Hard.
The sound echoed. Her head jerked to the side, her eyes wide in disbelief.
Daniel instantly stepped in and shielded her. “Have you lost your mind, Emily?! Do you even realize where you are? How dare you hit Vanessa!”
Cameras flashed. Reporters crowded in. All anyone saw was me, striking someone in public.
No one heard the truth. No one cared what led up to this.
Vanessa quickly put on her sunglasses and turned to face the cameras with a saintly expression.
“Please don’t blame her,” she said, her voice soft. “And netizens, don’t cyberbully her. Her grandfather’s in the hospital, and she’s under a lot of emotional pressure. I won’t press charges…”
The reporters gasped in admiration.
“Miss Blake, you’re so kind!”
Then they turned their venom toward me:
“Did your grandfather fake illness just so you could get media attention?”
“Is this revenge because you couldn’t keep your husband?”
“You used to be in media—did you plan this to move back to a better department?”
That wasn’t the truth. None of it was.
I tried to explain, my voice shaking, but no one listened. They’d already made up their minds.
When Vanessa tried to walk away, I grabbed her sleeve out of desperation. The sequins scratched my palm, drawing blood that stained her dress red.
“You’ll pay for this,” I said through clenched teeth. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Vanessa’s gaze darkened, though she kept smiling.
“Daniel,” she pouted, “your wife ruined my dress. I bought it just to see you… and now I’m really upset.”
Daniel’s face softened immediately. He reached out to wipe the blood with his hand.
“Don’t worry, Vanessa. Anyone who upsets you… will suffer.”
Still seeing the red smear, Vanessa yanked off Daniel’s tie and wiped the blood from her dress with it. Then, she dropped it to the ground like garbage.
People stepped over it, trampled it. It was ruined.
That tie…
I gave it to him on our wedding anniversary.
He used to say it was his lucky charm, that it brought him strength in court.
But now, he let her destroy it without a word.
And he just stared at me—cold, unforgiving.
“If you insist on going down this path,” he said slowly, “then you have no one to blame but yourself. You tried to frame Vanessa. We have all the evidence. It seems prison is the only place left for you.”
