Chapter 3

Just as I expected.

It was exactly like my past life.

Julian not only publicly slandered me to reporters, accusing me of arson and attempted murder, but he'd also brought those reporters himself.

In my past life, I couldn't understand why Julian would say such a thing. My eyes red, I looked at him for a long time.

"Julian, are you delirious from the smoke? How could I possibly set you on fire?"

"I'm your girlfriend, and I'm covered in burns from saving you!"

Back then, I had just returned from skin graft surgery.

But Julian violently shoved me to the ground.

"Don't make excuses!"

"You only got close to me for my money! You knew I had an apartment off-campus, and you wanted to kill me so all my assets would be yours!"

My lips trembled, unable to utter a single word.

I couldn't comprehend how the sweet boyfriend I had yesterday could turn into such a monster.

But my distraught appearance, to the reporters, looked like an admission of guilt.

Now, Julian, just like in my past life, was accusing me of arson and attempted murder in front of the cameras.

I remained completely calm.

"I have an alibi."

I patted Leo's shoulder.

"If you don't believe me, you can ask him. I was on a date with him when the fire started."

Julian's friends stood there, mouths agape, speechless with shock.

Some were even whispering:

"Holy crap, is she playing that hard? Iris actually cheated on him!"

"I told you, Big River, Leo's family is way richer than yours. Even if she was after money, she wouldn't pick you."

"But then again, it could be a crime of passion! You never know what's in someone's heart, right?"

Julian's expression froze. He hadn't expected me to say that.

His face darkened, and he stared at me intently.

"I don't know how you hooked up with my friend, but even if he's covering for you, it doesn't change the facts."

He clenched his fist, veins bulging on the back of his hand, and angrily declared:

"I saw the fire with my own eyes. You set it."

I couldn't help but scoff.

"Don't be ridiculous. If you saw it with your own eyes, why didn't you stop it?"

"Julian, even if you're going to lie, at least try to make it logical."

I yawned lazily.

"A full day of dating is quite tiring. I'm going home to sleep."

"Stop right there!"

Julian grabbed my arm, a cold sneer on his face.

"You think I don't have proof?"

Soon, Julian produced the surveillance video.

Indeed, it showed a girl.

In the dead of night, pouring gasoline and dropping an unextinguished cigarette butt.

And the clothes the girl was wearing were identical to what I had on right now!

Suddenly, I was the target of universal condemnation, harsh glares and accusations raining down on me.

"Holy crap, it's actually true! The surveillance video is right here, what more do you have to say for yourself?"

"How could a young woman be so malicious?"

"Exactly! Isn't he your boyfriend? Even if he rejected your proposal, you shouldn't resort to murder to silence him!"

Julian, it turned out, had told the cameras earlier that I was not only after his money, but also retaliating because he'd recently postponed our wedding plans.

Julian's eyes welled up for the camera, as if deeply hurt by me.

"Iris, if there's anything you want, you can just tell me. If you want to break up with me and be with Leo, I wouldn't stop you. Why did you have to try and kill me?"

I broke out in goosebumps. What a performance!

Hearing how 'pitiful' he was, the people around him started cursing me even more venomously, practically foaming at the mouth.

My gaze fell on the surveillance video, and I suddenly spoke.

"Since you're all so convinced that I'm the one who committed arson and attempted murder—"

"Why don't you take a closer look? Is the person in that video really me?"

They insisted it was me.

The face was identical, and the clothes were exactly the same as mine.

But I smiled.

"That face is indeed identical to mine, and even the clothes are pretty much the same."

I zoomed in on the video, pointing to a specific detail.

"But this woman in the video has six fingers. Are you sure that's a real person?"