“Forget it, Doreen broke off the engagement five years ago, and we were wrong. Today's incident should be seen as compensation. Don’t blame Victor.”
The broken ribs throbbed painfully, and I felt a cold sweat break out across my skin.
“Misunderstanding?” I hissed, my voice trembling with fury. “How dare you call it a misunderstanding?”
“Caroline, what happened five years ago? Don’t I deserve an explanation?”
Her eyes flickered with panic, but she forced herself to speak.
“I’ve been investigating the murderer of that case,” she said, her voice wavering. “I’ve told you, it has nothing to do with Karl. Why are you blaming him? I’m a police officer. Don’t you trust me?”
Her words stung like a slap. "What right do you have to defend Karl when the matter isn’t clear? Victor, you need to apologize to him!”
Before I could respond, my mother-in-law’s face turned icy. Without warning, she rushed at me and slapped me hard across the face.
“Are you crazy? You want to accuse Karl now? My daughter’s investigative skills are well-known. She’s already said it has nothing to do with him. Who do you think you are to attack him?”
Her voice dripped with contempt. “You’re just an orphan whose parents are dead. Do you think you have any standing here?”
“If it weren’t for my daughter saving you, you wouldn’t even know how to sell yourself at that hotel to pay off your debts! It's said that all businessmen are deceitful. Maybe your parents’ death was just karma for their evil deeds.”
“Caroline, don’t waste your time on him. Take Karl to the hospital first.”
Without another glance in my direction, Caroline walked out of the house, Karl cradled in her arms. Five years of love—gone in an instant.
Blood began to trickle from the corner of my mouth as Carol’s parents drove me out of the house. Passersby took me to the emergency room, where I learned that my broken ribs were dangerously close to my heart.
Late that night, Caroline sent me a message. Her words were soft and apologetic.
“Victor, don’t think too much about what happened tonight. I know you didn’t mean it. Karl is my brother-in-law after all, and I can’t explain things to Doreen if you hurt him. Once Karl is out of danger, I’ll apologize to you in person, okay? Go to your favorite restaurant. Don’t be angry. My parents are just talking nonsense in their anger.”
So, she still remembered she had a home, didn’t she?
A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Well, I'll wait for you to come back."
“Thank you for understanding, husband.”
That night, Karl posted a photo with the hospital location. The woman beside him, lying on the bed, looked worried, her face a mix of tenderness and care. The next morning, I discharged myself from the hospital, packed my bags, and headed straight for the airport. On the way there, Caroline sent me the location of the restaurant.
“Husband, I have a surprise for you. I’ll pick you up at home soon. Wait for me.”
I opened Karl’s latest update, posted just minutes ago. In the video, the woman lovingly fed him white porridge, her eyes filled with a tenderness I’d never seen before.
I quietly liked the post, then deleted all their contact information.
As the plane took off, I sent a complaint letter to the director, attaching the records from Caroline’s phone.
I also sent her the signed divorce agreement.
At the restaurant, Caroline was preoccupied with organizing the scene, instructing her colleagues to spread petals across the floor.
Her phone lay on the table, the message I sent her still unread, stirring a feeling of unease deep in her chest. She reached for it, her finger hovering over the screen, tempted to call, but hesitating.
Then, a colleague in a police uniform rushed in through the door, his face drained of color.
"It's bad, Captain Carol," he said, breathless. "You need to get back to the bureau, quickly. The Crow Family case has been reported, and the director is looking for you everywhere! Mr. Crow is in trouble too!"
