Hedy’s POV
After hearing my words, Bryson’s expression finally softened.
He gently wiped the tears from my face, his tone turning tender.
“See? If you’d done this earlier, your brother and your mom wouldn’t have had to suffer.”
My hand trembled as I signed my name on the letter of forgiveness.
The moment he turned to leave, I grabbed his hand tightly.
“I’ve already signed it. You should let my brother out now, shouldn’t you?”
Bryson froze, taken aback by the distance and distrust on my face. His brows furrowed deeply.
“Hedy, those pieces of evidence haven’t passed the prosecution period yet. I can’t release your brother until at least seven days later. Don’t make things harder for me, okay?”
As soon as he finished speaking, his phone buzzed.
I caught a clear glimpse of the screen. It was a message from Debbii.
[Bryson, did you get the letter of forgiveness? If it’s too hard on Hedy, maybe don’t force her. I can go turn myself in. After all, everything is my fault. From now on, you and Hedy should live a good life together.]
The instant he read it, his entire demeanor turned frantic.
He yanked his hand free from mine and bolted for the door.
I bit back the pain in my wrist and caught hold of his sleeve again.
“Bryson! If you can’t let my brother out, then sign this promise instead!”
My eyes locked onto his, unwavering.
He stopped dead. He turned his head and looked at me in disbelief.
“You don’t trust me?”
I said nothing, only holding out the prepared divorce papers.
Just as I expected, Bryson—anxious to go to Debbii—didn’t even look at the documents in his hand.
He shot me a furious glare, then scrawled his signature across the page with a hard stroke. His voice dripped with mockery.
“As I thought. You still don’t understand what mistake you’ve made. You don’t value Debbii’s life, and you don’t trust me.”
With that, he gave me one last cold look, turned, and left without hesitation.
I carefully folded the divorce agreement, a bitter smile curling on my lips.
How could I still trust him?
The last time I trusted him, my brother was thrown into prison, and my mom was left on the brink of death, trapped in a coma.
If I offered my trust again, the only thing waiting for me might be death itself.
With that thought, I arranged everything for my mom, then turned and went back to the villa.
Not long after Bryson left, the screen of my phone displayed a message from Debbii.
I didn’t know where she’d gotten my number, but judging from today, she had been planning this for a long time.
I opened the video, and there he was—Bryson’s anxious figure filling the screen.
“Debbii, don’t worry. I’ve settled everything with Hedy. No one will send you to prison, no one will hurt you. I promise.”
As he spoke, he pulled her gently into his arms, his eyes holding the same tenderness he once reserved for me.
At that moment, I felt my heart shatter.
The pain my mom, my brother, and I had endured—to Bryson, it was all nothing but a bargaining chip to please Debbii.
Even after knowing the truth, he still chose to stand by her side.
At the end of the video, Debbii leaned in and pressed her red lips to his. Bryson, that jerk, did not even refuse.
I watched that video three times over until the ache in my chest numbed into nothing.
As if knowing I had finished watching, Debbii sent another message—this time more openly provocative.
[Bitch, is that wretched mom of yours still not dead? What a pity. She suffered so much because of a daughter like you. Yes, I gave her the drug on purpose, but Bryson still chose me over you. If you know what’s good for you, you’d better leave. Otherwise, watch out for your brother’s and your mom’s lives!]
She really had done it on purpose!
My eyes burned with hatred. If she appeared before me right now, I might not stop myself from tearing her apart!
Message after message, she goaded me, as if trying to drive me mad.
And then, suddenly, I widened my eyes in disbelief.
