Chapter 3

I don’t know who called the police and notified the mental health professionals.

Startled, Victor tightened his grip on my mother.

The sharp tip of the knife dug deeper into her skin, and my mother winced in pain.

“Victor, calm down! Don’t hurt my mother!”

*Smack!*

Serena slapped me across the face, her eyes blazing with fury.

“Alex, why did you call the police and bring them here? Didn’t I tell you? We can’t send Victor to a place like that!”

I tried to explain it wasn’t me, but she wouldn’t listen.

And Victor had already lost control.

The scissors wildly slashed, piercing my mother’s throat. A gush of blood erupted.

I froze, stunned as if struck by lightning.

Then, in a flash, I lunged forward, seized the opportunity, and punched Victor to the ground.

He tumbled, crashing into a nearby wine rack, bottles shattering and wine spilling all over him.

Serena, who had always shown affection for my mother, completely ignored my mother’s bleeding throat.

Instead, her concern was solely for Victor, who wasn't seriously injured.

I helped my mother up, pressing my hand to her neck, screaming in horror, my face ghostly pale.

“Help my mother, quickly!”

But Victor, enraged by me knocking him down, got back up, grabbed a piece of broken glass, and lunged.

He savagely stabbed me, but I couldn't free my hands to defend myself.

The police reacted quickly, drawing their weapons and subduing Victor.

What was supposed to be a beautiful wedding had descended into utter chaos, a scene of complete devastation.

My mother clutched my hand, her voice weak with tears.

“Don’t cry, Alex. Don’t worry about me anymore. Just live the life you want… that’s all!”

As soon as she finished speaking, her eyes slowly closed.

Ignoring Serena and the others, I scooped up my mother and followed the ambulance.

But because her artery had been severed, they couldn’t save her.

She died on the operating table.

I collapsed by the door, tears of guilt and despair streaming down my face.

Was this love wrong? If not, how could our wedding be stained with my mother’s blood?

Serena called, but I didn’t answer.

Finally, she sent me a message.

“Alex, how’s your mom holding up?”

“I’m sorry, I apologize on Victor’s behalf! I’ve already gotten him out of the psychiatric facility. The director tested him, and all his indicators were perfectly normal.”

“As for why he stabbed your mother, it might have just been normal anger.”

“I’ve also taken care of the police. This is our family matter, we can resolve it privately. Pay them off, and it’ll be fine.”

I clenched my phone tightly, on the verge of exploding with rage.

Why was he still free after committing murder?

‘Normal indicators’? Ha, Serena must have pulled some strings.

In that instant, I sobered up completely.

I picked up my phone and called her.

“Why did you let him out? He’s a killer now!”

“But he only kills people who provoke him, and you and your mother were provoking him. Victor doesn’t just kill anyone.”

“So, if you want things to be okay, just give in to him, don’t provoke him.”

“You know, mentally ill people don’t get convicted for murder…”

The conversation had reached this point.

Nine out of ten sentences were defending Victor. There was no point in talking anymore.

I hung up, numbly dragging my heavy feet into the operating room.

Taking one last look at my mother’s face, I couldn’t help but break down into tears.

It was all my fault!

If I had lived my life on my own terms, if I had cut ties with Serena sooner, perhaps my mother wouldn’t have died.

But alas, there’s no second chance in reality, only brutal consequences.

Without notifying anyone, I quietly took my mother back to our hometown for burial.