Verity’s POV
I froze for a moment, then tugged the corner of my mouth into a sarcastic smile.
So Kelsey wasn’t clueless about Tucker’s feelings after all. Hah. This bitch actually enjoyed it.
These two were clearly in love, yet still playing the stupid act of devoted siblings in front of everyone.
But I didn’t care anymore. What they felt for each other had nothing to do with me.
“I’m leaving soon.”
My tone was calm. “After that, however you want to enjoy your time alone together—go ahead.”
She let out a cold laugh and looked me up and down.
“You think I believe you?”
She leaned closer, her voice sharp and poisonous.
“Oh right, Verity, do you know why my mom was able to marry into your family? Tucker played a big part in that.”
My chest tightened. “What do you mean?”
“Your dad and my mom met because Tucker introduced them. He wanted me to have the same kind of happy life you did.”
“He’s been in touch with me all these years.”
My head buzzed. I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
“I really was happy,” she said softly. “But now—”
“I’m not satisfied anymore.”
“I don’t just want the eldest daughter status. I want Tucker, too.”
The next second, she suddenly grabbed me.
I didn’t even have time to react before she shoved me hard toward the coffee table.
The sound of shattering glass exploded.
“What happened?!”
Tucker rushed out almost instantly.
His first reaction was to pull Kelsey into his arms and check her.
“Tucker, I don’t know why my sister yelled at me like that…”
Kelsey trembled as she cried.
“She said I was shameless, that I seduced you, that I’m a slut…”
“She even tried to attack me. Tucker, I was so scared…”
“You’re lying!”
My voice tightened.
“Kelsey, stop making things up! There are cameras in the living room!”
For a split second, her face went pale, but she immediately doubled down.
“I didn’t lie! If you hate me so much, I’ll just leave, okay?”
I laughed in anger. “You—”
“That’s enough.” Tucker cut me off. His gaze landed on me, cold and unfamiliar. “Verity, apologize to Kelsey.”
I froze. “You want me to apologize?”
“Kelsey doesn’t have those filthy thoughts you’re accusing her of. You’re the one with a dirty mind, twisting things out of jealousy! Shouldn’t you apologize for what you said?!”
At that moment, I almost couldn’t stay on my feet.
“Tucker, you don’t believe me?”
I stared at him. “I never said those things. Check the footage, and you’ll see she’s lying!”
“And what do you mean my mind is dirty? Can you honestly say nothing between you two crossed the line?!”
Like I’d hit a nerve, his expression darkened instantly.
“Verity, I’ve thought for a long time that something was off with you. I couldn’t figure out why, ever since Kelsey became your sister, you’ve targeted her at every turn.
“Cutting her allowance, framing her, threatening her—and now, you even want to hurt her. So this is why. You’re just irrationally jealous!
“You’re truly vicious!”
I laughed, my eyes burning.
“Vicious?
“What exactly did I do?
“I built an entire home for you. I learned everything you liked. I endured all your indifference. And in the end, in your eyes, I’m vicious?l
“Who asked you to do all that? Who begged you?!”
Tucker snapped, his face flushed with anger and embarrassment.
I finally lost control, my voice shaking.
“Tucker, without me, you’re nothing—”
Suddenly, a smack reverberated in the room.
The slap landed.
Sharp. Brutal.
“Even without you, I live just fine! Verity, I didn’t build my career on you.”
He looked at me coldly, then picked Kelsey up and turned away.
I collapsed onto the floor, my ears ringing. I closed my eyes and let out a bitter smile.
The last trace of feeling in my heart scattered into nothing.
I didn’t know how much time passed before I slowly came back to myself.
The ringing faded. The living room was silent, lit only by the cold reflections of broken glass.
I pushed myself up, my palm stinging. When I looked down, I saw a cut on my wrist, blood already clotted along my fingers.
Just then, my phone vibrated.
It was a message from my lawyer.
[Ms. Severin, all divorce procedures have been completed today. Effective immediately.]
I stared at the message for a long time.
My chest was strangely calm.
The taut string inside me finally snapped.
I stood up slowly and went to the bathroom to clean the wound—rinsing it, disinfecting it, wrapping it carefully. Every movement was steady.
The person in the mirror looked pale, eyes swollen and red, but not a single tear fell.
I returned to the living room and took out the wrinkled abortion report from my bag.
I placed it in the most visible spot on the couch, pressed under a cushion.
No note. No explanation.
If he saw it, then he saw it.
If he didn’t, that was fine, too.
I pulled out the suitcase I’d packed long ago. There was barely anything inside.
These past few days, Tucker hadn’t even noticed the closet was emptier, the books were gone, even my usual cup was missing.
Maybe his mind had never really been here.
Fine then. These ten years—I’d take them as my own one-sided devotion.
Standing in the elevator, I gently wiped away the last trace of moisture.
When I looked up again, my eyes were calm.
As the plane took off, the city shrank into a blur of lights beneath the window.
I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes.
From this moment on, Tucker and I had nothing to do with each other anymore.
Elsewhere, the instant his slap landed, Tucker regretted it.
But Kelsey was still trembling in his arms, crying so hard she could barely breathe, so he could only take her home first.
The whole drive, his grip on the steering wheel tightened again and again, his chest heavy and tight.
After settling Kelsey in, he didn’t even take a sip of water before heading back downstairs.
When he got into the car, he suddenly realized his hands were empty.
He frowned, hesitated for a few seconds, then turned the car around and drove to the cake shop I used to mention all the time.
The shop was crowded. Standing in line, he looked out of place, but he waited patiently anyway.
When he finally got the cake and was about to head back to find me, his phone buzzed.
The screen lit up.
A system notification,
[Good day, Mr. Afton. Your divorce from Ms. Severin was finalized today.]
With a soft thud, the strawberry cake hit the ground.
