Chapter 3

When I returned to our apartment, Chloe's belongings were all gone, leaving behind only scattered debris and empty rooms.

They silently mocked me, the abandoned fool.

On the wall, our sweet photos still hung.

I took down the picture frame, and along with every other trace of her in the room, I threw it into the downstairs trash can.

I had planned to get married yesterday, then bring the marriage certificate to my father's grave today, to surprise him.

My father, a respected and incorruptible judge during his lifetime, had passed away too soon from overwork and illness.

I carried a bouquet of white lilies to the cemetery.

From a distance, I saw a few people gathered around my father's tombstone.

As I drew closer, my feet froze.

It was Blake and Chloe.

Blake held an expensive bottle of wine, slowly pouring it over the top of my father's tombstone.

Dark red liquid snaked down the cold stone, staining my father's grave.

He was muttering obscenities under his breath.

"Stupid old man, had to make a big deal out of my dad's little business hiccup back then, cost us a fortune. Now what? Your favorite student is still happily lying in my bed."

Blake continued to pour, spewing insults and dirty words.

And Chloe just stood by, a document in her hand, her expression cold, her eyes vacant. She watched, unmoved, as my father's tombstone was desecrated.

In that instant, all the blood rushed to my head.

I lunged forward like a madman.

"Blake! I'll kill you!"

I shoved his bodyguards aside and punched him square in the face.

He staggered back a few steps, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

I lunged again, ready to fight him to the death, but his two burly bodyguards grabbed me, pinning me to the ground.

The taste of dirt and grass filled my mouth and nose.

I struggled, my eyes bloodshot, glaring at Chloe.

"Chloe! Look closely! He's insulting my dad! He helped you in your darkest hour, and he's insulting everything you once believed in!"

"Have you forgotten why you studied law? You said you wanted to be just like my dad!"

Chloe finally moved.

She walked to me slowly, then knelt. In her hand was a single document.

It was a summary of withdrawal requests-name after name of the victims from the corporate fraud case involving Blake's father years ago.

My father, the presiding judge for that case, had faced immense pressure but insisted on a thorough investigation until his dying day.

Now, Chloe had used every legal maneuver, every polished skill, to coerce and convince each victim to sign away their right to seek justice.

With these signatures, the case my father died trying to solve was buried forever.

Chloe wouldn't meet my eyes. Her voice was barely a whisper.

"We have to move on, Alex."

"Digging up the past helps no one."

Blake wiped the blood from his lip, a smug grin spreading across his face as he walked over.

He let out a triumphant laugh. He strode over, pulled Chloe against him, and fixed me with a look of pure contempt.

"You hear that? Your old man was just a stubborn fool who couldn't read the room."

"Now, your girlfriend, using all the tricks your dad taught her, has perfectly helped our family close all the legal loopholes."

He leaned closer, whispering in my ear, a voice only we could hear.

"You know, last night, she even went down on me."

"I'll kill you!"

I completely lost control, lunging at Blake again.

But before my fist could connect, his two bodyguards had me pinned to the ground.

My cheek pressed against the cold, rough earth.

Blake put his foot on my right hand and slowly, forcefully, twisted.

"Agh!"

The sound of bones cracking, accompanied by my agonizing scream, echoed through the entire cemetery.

Excruciating pain spread from my hand throughout my body.

I convulsed in agony, cold sweat instantly drenching my back.

In the moment before my consciousness faded, I used every ounce of strength to lift my head and look at Chloe.

She just stood there, watching, utterly cold and indifferent.

As darkness consumed me, I heard her say one last thing to Blake.

"Don't kill him. Keep him alive. He's still useful."