6
Venice’s POV
I froze where I stood, unable to believe what I’d just heard.
Had my seven-year marriage to Jericho officially ended a month ago?
And on that very same day, he’d married Verona?
I felt like a complete fool, deceived by the two of them right in front of me.
The more I thought about it, the more my body trembled with fury.
When I returned to the villa, the first thing I saw was the two of them embracing in the living room.
With a blank expression, I walked past them without a word and headed straight upstairs.
“Venice, shouldn’t you apologize to Verona?”
Jericho’s voice came from behind, filled with reproach.
I almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
“Why should I apologize to her?”
I turned to glare at them both.
“Because you pushed her,” he answered coldly. “She hasn’t been able to perform surgery for an entire month because of you. Do you know how many patients have been delayed because of that? Even your own mom’s operation was postponed.”
That was the last straw. I spun around, glaring at him.
“I will never apologize to her, Jericho. And my mom’s surgery wasn’t delayed because she’s already—”
Before I could finish, Verona tugged gently at his sleeve and interrupted, her tone soft and pitiful.
“Forget it, Jericho. I don’t need her apology. I can handle a little suffering. Think of it as letting Venice vent her anger. After all, it’s because I failed during her mom’s surgery that Odessa fell into a coma, but I truly didn’t mean any harm. The aftereffects from when I saved you that time suddenly flared up, and I—”
Halfway through, she acted like she realized she’d said too much and covered her mouth in feigned panic.
Jericho immediately pulled her into his arms, his face full of tenderness.
“It wasn’t your fault. If anyone’s to blame, it’s her mom’s weak body.”
I was too exhausted to even fake a smile anymore. The sight of them together just made my stomach turn.
Just then, Jericho’s phone rang. The shareholders’ meeting was approaching, and he was busier than ever.
The moment he stepped out to take the call, Verona suddenly transformed into a different woman.
The gentle, pitiful look on her face twisted into smug and sarcastic.
She slowly took a ring out of her purse and slid it onto her finger.
“This diamond looks familiar, doesn’t it?” she said with a mocking smile. “I heard it’s your family heirloom. But honestly, I think it’s mediocre. It’s my one-month wedding anniversary gift from Jericho.”
She spoke each word deliberately, her eyes gleaming with pride.
My breath caught. That pink diamond…
It was my mom’s gift to me when I got married!
Now, it had become her last keepsake.
Rage quickly surged through me. Without thinking, I grabbed her hand, trying to rip the ring off.
But she shoved me away, her voice dripping with scorn.
“I’m Jericho’s wife now, bitch. The woman he loves is me. Can’t you take a hint and leave on your own? Or do you need me to throw you out myself? Hasn’t your mom’s ‘lesson’ been enough? This pink diamond, and everything else you own—I’ll take it all. You can join your doomed mom in hell.”
Her nails dug deep into my arm. I winced in pain but still reached stubbornly for the ring.
“That was my mom’s. Give it back to me!”
Just then, a sound came from the doorway.
Suddenly, a glint of malice flickered in Verona’s eyes. The next thing I knew, she flung herself backward—straight toward the glass coffee table.
“Ahhh!” she screamed as blood instantly streamed down her hands.
She did the same act as last time—only this time, she played it even cruelly.
When Jericho rushed back in, this was the scene that greeted him.
And just like last time, his face darkened with rage again.
“Venice!” he barked, eyes full of disappointment. “Can’t you learn your lesson? I step out for one moment, and damn it, Venice, you attack Verona again!”
I stared coldly at the pathetic spectacle before me.
“You actually gave my mom’s pink diamond to this woman!”
His brow furrowed. “Verona got injured because of you. The pink diamond was compensation. If you have a problem, take it up with me. Why must you always go after her?”
At that, Verona’s eyes shimmered with fake tears. She clutched his arm and choked out, “Jericho, it’s not Venice’s fault. I know—I’m in the wrong. I shouldn’t have kept the pink diamond. After making such a big mistake, I don’t deserve to stay by your side. I-I’ll leave right now.”
Just like that, that manipulative woman turned and ran out the door.
