Chapter 2

“Victoria, let it go. I’m sure Sophie didn’t mean it.” Adrian caught her arm and smiled gently. “It’s only a sprained ankle. I’ll be fine in a few days. Her health matters more.”

He glanced at me, barely bothering to hide the triumph in his eyes.

Just as he’d intended, Victoria’s face darkened.

She slammed her palm onto the table with a deafening crack. Her gaze cut into me like a poisoned blade.

“Where the hell have you hidden that little animal? Get her here right now!”

“She’s dead.” I stared at her, saying each word clearly. “Killed by her own mother.”

“You’re still pretending!” Furious, she charged at me and raised her hand.

I grabbed her collar. I couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears streamed down my face as I roared, “Sophie is dead! She’s dead!”

“Adrian lied about her, and you broke her leg like a goddamn lunatic! She died from the fever! You and your bastard lover killed her!”

“Victoria Hayes, you killed your own daughter!”

Her expression froze for a moment. Then she kicked me hard in the stomach.

I staggered backward and slammed into the corner of the table.

The searing pain tore through what little control I had left. Cold sweat broke out across my forehead.

“Dead, dead, dead! Is that the only lie you know?”

“Do you think I’m an idiot? You actually expect me to believe that?”

“That little animal has the same disgusting blood as you! You and your daughter make me sick! You’ll do anything to get your way. Shameless!”

“Even if she’s dying, she can drag herself here and apologize to Adrian first!”

It felt as though thousands of needles were piercing my heart. The pain was unbearable.

On the verge of breaking, I screamed, “Then go look! Our daughter’s body is lying in a refrigerator at the funeral home!”

Victoria had never seen me lose control like this. She stood frozen, her lips moving without a sound.

“Victoria, my ankle hurts so much. What if I can never dance again…”

Adrian clutched his ankle in pain. The uncertainty on Victoria’s face vanished, and she hurried anxiously to his side.

Then she looked at me.

“Aren’t you good at massage? Come work on Adrian’s ankle.”

My head rang.

I stared at the woman I’d loved for five years. Suddenly, I laughed, cold tears sliding down my cheeks.

Adrian raised an eyebrow at me, unable to hide his satisfaction. “Thanks, Evan. I’ve been meaning to find a massage therapist, but Victoria doesn’t seem to trust anyone else. She’s always saying how good your hands are.”

I struggled to my feet and lowered my eyes, hiding everything I felt as I walked toward him.

They watched me with contempt. Then, without warning, I overturned the dining table.

“What gives you the right? My daughter is dead, and you two are here enjoying yourselves!”

Dishes shattered across the floor. Grease splattered all over Victoria and Adrian.

I punched Adrian out of his wheelchair, pinned him beneath me, and hit him again and again. He couldn’t fight back.