I went to the law firm and had the divorce papers printed.
I canceled all my documents.
The case file had already been taken away by Caroline.
If I called the police now, without evidence, I wouldn’t stand a chance.
Leaving was my only option.
When I arrived at her workplace with the agreement in hand, I overheard her colleagues whispering in the hallway.
“Isn’t that Captain Carol’s husband? He looks familiar… Oh right, the Crow Family tragedy five years ago!”
“Shh, do you want to be punished during training? Don’t talk nonsense. Captain Carol has said time and again he wasn’t the killer. Don’t bring it up unless you want her to blow up. She even argued with the director over that case.”
“That suit looks custom—worth millions, I bet. I heard he had just come back from abroad. Someone like that wouldn’t need to kill anyone, right? And the way Captain Carol looks at him… If he really was the murderer, she’d have arrested him herself.”
My nails dug into my palm, the pain sharp but grounding.
I stood outside her office. Through the slightly ajar door, I heard voices—too familiar to mistake.
“Has she been treating you well these past years?” Caroline asked, her voice soft and strained, heavy with emotion.
Karl laughed lightly. “Don’t you know your sister? When she found out I was coming back, she bought me a private jet. No matter how I tried to talk her out of it, she wouldn’t listen. She’s still the same—so naive, even after five years of marriage.”
Caroline’s voice trembled slightly. “That’s good… Then I can rest easy.”
“Sis, I still owe you everything for what happened back then. If it weren’t for you, I’d probably be rotting in prison.”
“I think it’s best I don’t show up at the family dinner tomorrow,” he added with a sigh. “If Victor sees me, he’ll just be reminded of his parents. I don’t want to make trouble for you again…”
Karl—he’s always been like this. Playing the victim, twisting words.
And somehow, turning everyone against me.
Even now, I could still hear his mocking tone, his sneers behind a veneer of politeness.
Back when Caroline was still investigating the case, I read her notes in secret.
I knew—I knew—he was the only suspect.
At our wedding, I stood up and publicly named him as the murderer of my parents.
I tried to drag him to the police station myself.
But everyone turned on me.
They said I was ungrateful. They said I was ruining the day. They said I was insane.
Only Caroline stood by me, trying to explain away my outburst.
She used to be the only light in my life—the only salvation.
But now, it's her who pushed me into the abyss.
In the office, Caroline forced a bitter smile and pulled a small ceramic ornament from her drawer.
“I made this myself,” she said softly. “It’s not as expensive as the ones in stores, but it’s from the heart. I heard Doreen is pregnant… Consider it a gift for the baby.”
Karl accepted it with a grin, his eyes glowing with satisfaction and pride.
My hand trembled without me realizing. The slight shift made the door creak.
Caroline looked up and froze when she saw me through the glass. Her expression instantly tensed.
“Victor? Why are you here?”
“Don’t misunderstand,” she added quickly, walking toward me. “Karl just got back from abroad. He stopped by to say hi—and to talk about tomorrow night’s family dinner.”
“Victor, it’s been a while,” Karl greeted, rising to his feet. He wore a freshly tailored designer suit, polished down to the cufflinks.
Next to him, I looked like a street drifter.
I smiled faintly, suppressing everything boiling beneath the surface.
“It’s nothing,” I said. “I was just passing by and thought I’d check in. Since you’re busy, I’ll head back.”
Thinking I was upset, Caroline chased after me, her heels echoing in the hallway as she tried to explain.
“Victor, please don’t overthink it. Doreen is pregnant, and I just wanted to ask him for advice. To prepare.”
She looked up at me, eyes full of urgency. “Didn’t you always want a child of your own? I’m ready now. I agree.”
I stared at her—really stared. The woman I once loved so deeply. The woman who swore on her badge to uphold justice.
And now, here she was, compromising everything she stood for… just to shield Karl
Even her marriage.
Looking at her desperation—her need to reassure me—I almost laughed.
If she got everything she wanted in the end, who exactly was she still pretending for?
