Chapter 3

Without a shred of mercy, I shoved Chloe into the pool.

Then I wiped the blood from the knife onto Julian’s shirt.

No one dared to step forward at the sudden turn of events.

Julian called me a psycho, but his eyes... they were clearly alight with a disturbing thrill.

"Psycho?"

"Isn't this exactly what you wanted?"

He'd been pushing my buttons from the moment I arrived at this party.

Julian and I had fought for so long that I’d even forgotten what it felt like when we were in love.

On the day Julian proposed, I sold off his company's top-secret files.

On the day I agreed to marry him, he had someone disconnect my mother's oxygen tank.

That day, after his car accident, when he was being flown abroad for emergency treatment…

He was hooked up to countless tubes.

When he saw me, he ripped off his oxygen mask and bit savagely at my lips.

"Ava, if I die, promise me you'll marry me in our next life. Let's not torture each other anymore, okay?"

He slowly slumped, gasping for air, as I watched his hopeful eyes and shook my head.

"There is no 'next life' for us."

At the hospital, Julian rolled up his sleeves. "We're the same blood type. Take mine. If it's not enough, drain me dry."

When he stumbled out of the blood donation room, he was swaying on his feet.

He pressed on my shoulder, desperately wanting to prove himself.

"Ava, do you see? I know how to love now."

"Bro, you've given too much blood. You're not thinking straight. Let me help you."

Julian pushed Leo away. "Get lost!"

"I'm not that out of it."

He looked at me again. "Do you see now? I *can* love someone deeply! I can pick anyone, *anyone*, and love them with all my heart! Don't you get it?!"

Red and blue police lights flashed across our faces.

I pushed him towards Leo, then, with my usual germaphobia, brushed off the spot where he'd touched me.

"The police are here. Time for statements. I'll cover her medical bills."

"Ava, I'm giving up first. Let's just let each other go."

I didn't answer him.

I had already let him go two years ago.

At the precinct, we were placed in separate interrogation rooms.

After giving my statement, I just sat there.

The murmurs from the next room grew louder.

"Bro, you can fool others, but you can't fool me. Is this another one of your schemes? You know she won't marry you, so you're trying to force her hand, just to spite her."

"What about Chloe then? Oh, right, Chloe's so obedient, she'd probably even be happy just being your mistress."

"I'm serious. But until she agrees, I won't break it off with Chloe. She's young; it would be too much for her if I suddenly did."

"Bro, she won't hear us, will she?"

After a long silence, Julian's voice finally came through.

"If she heard, she'd be in here in a flash, slapping us both without mercy. She's not here, so she clearly can't hear."

I found it amusing. I lowered my head and made a call. "Hey, come pick me up."

Less than ten minutes later, a police officer called my name.

"Ava, your family is here for you."

"Okay, thank you."

"You can leave after you sign."

I walked out of the room, passing theirs.

Leo scoffed. "Family? Doesn't she only have her paralyzed mother?"

"Probably a friend."

Leo suddenly couldn't resist. He pushed the door open with a grin. "Officer, who came to pick up Ava just now?"

"What business is that of yours? Go back inside."

"Officer, don't be like that~"

Leo stood on his tiptoes, peering around the hallway corner.