Chapter 5

Audrey rushed in, trembling, her voice shaking.

“Fiona, you just don’t want me to be with Kate, do you?”

“Fine, I won’t get engaged! Will you just leave me alone?”

Kate quickly pulled her into his arms, murmuring comforting words.

Then, he looked at me, his eyes full of pleading.

“Fiona, go post a clarification, admit that you slandered Audrey.”

“Once the fuss dies down, no one will remember it.”

I thought of my own terrible experience with cyberbullying in the past, and my face instantly turned pale:

“I won’t admit to something I didn’t do.”

Then, before Kate could react, I dragged out the large suitcase I had packed last night.

I reopened it. On top was the first photo of Kate and me after I joined the Brown family.

My voice was soft, but every word was clear:

“If I prove that I no longer like you, would that prove it wasn’t me?”

As soon as the words left my lips, I picked up that photo and tore it into pieces.

Kate’s face changed.

I didn’t look at him. I picked up the next item—a custom-made dress, his eighteenth birthday gift to me.

The scissors fell, and the sound of silk tearing was particularly grating.

One item after another.

Photos, gifts, souvenirs. Each one was etched with my former obsessive, fervent love.

I had once treasured them, but now I destroyed them all without batting an eye.

A surge of inexplicable irritation welled up in Kate’s heart. He stepped forward and grabbed my wrist.

“Fiona, that’s enough.”

I looked up at him, my eyes calm and devoid of emotion.

In the stalemate, Audrey’s eyes darkened. She forced a smile:

“Fiona, why are you doing this? It makes it seem like I’m being pushy.”

She tugged at Kate’s sleeve again, her voice as soft as water:

“It’s alright, Kate, don’t pressure her.

“Even if it really was her, what is there for me not to forgive?”

I couldn’t stand her fake sympathy and manipulative tone. My voice stiff, I asked them to leave.

“Kate, is there anything else? If not, I’d like to rest a bit more.”

Kate looked at me, wanting to say something, but Audrey pulled his sleeve.

“Kate, let’s go. Let Fiona get some rest.”

He finally nodded, turning to walk out.

Just as I was about to close the door, a man holding a fruit knife suddenly charged straight at us.

“Audrey, you caused my sister to drop out of school and commit suicide! Today, I’ll make you pay!”

Kate reacted instantly, wrapping an arm around Audrey’s waist, shielding her as they dodged aside.

But I, standing behind him, couldn’t react quickly enough. His protective turn even pulled me, sending me straight into the path of the knife.

“Thwack!”

The blade plunged into my chest then was pulled out. Large gushes of blood sprayed forth.

My legs gave out. I slid down, leaning against the doorframe.

Through my blood-blurred vision, I saw Kate’s lips move, as if calling my name.