Chapter 4

I must have been blind to ever believe a single word that came out of Logan's mouth.

"Did you really think I'd keep falling for your lies?"

"The truth is out. Keith offered you a lavish life and his sister's hand in marriage, all on the condition that you testify against me."

"All on the condition that I took the fall for your crime!"

So I became their scapegoat, paving the way for their picture-perfect romance.

And in return, I was left with nothing.

He grabbed my wrist abruptly, his voice tightening with panic.

"Who told you that?"

"Did prison drive you crazy? How dare you make up such nonsense?!"

I had known Logan for far too many years.

Seeing him panic like this confirmed that he had been in on it from the very beginning.

It felt like the sickest joke in the world, and I let out a sharp, mocking laugh.

"Look at you. Getting nervous now, aren't you?!"

"How did it feel, locking the woman who loved you behind bars with your own two hands?"

"How does it feel, playing house with a woman you don't even love?"

"Logan, did you really think you won?"

"The truth is, you lost everything!"

Logan brushed off my words defensively.

"Serena, are you out of your mind? If you're pulling this stunt just to get my attention, save your breath. The only woman in my heart is Madeline!"

"Besides, I'm a married man with a family now!"

I had grossly underestimated how shameless he could be.

Perhaps on the way here, a tiny, foolish part of me had still held onto a shred of hope.

Yet reality slapped me back down without mercy.

I shifted my bloodshot gaze toward Keith, taking slow, deliberate steps toward him.

"Didn't you say I'm a criminal?"

"Didn't you claim I attacked you on purpose back then?"

"Claimed I caused internal bleeding and smashed your skull open?!"

"Let's see how you like getting a taste of that again!"

The moment the words left my mouth, I snatched a decorative brick from the display shelf and hurled it toward his head.

Seeing this, Madeline instinctively lunged forward to pull me away.

Using her momentum against her, I redirected the impact so the brick struck Keith again, and the instant she hesitated in shock, I threw myself onto the floor.

Madeline's hands were covered in blood. She shrieked hysterically, instantly whipping out her phone to dial 911.

"She's insane! She's completely lost her mind!"

Logan stood to the side the entire time, frozen like an unfeeling mannequin.

When the police arrived, Madeline immediately tried to dump all the blame onto me.

"Officers, you have to arrest her!"

"She's an ex-con! She just tried to murder my brother all over again!"

Yes, I had been in prison, but that was a wrongful conviction!

My name was clear now.

The officer shook his head sternly. "Ma'am, calm down. Let us handle the investigation."

Logan chimed in immediately, "My wife isn't lying! Everything she said is true! My brother-in-law's injuries were entirely caused by Serena!"

"Is there security footage here?"

The room fell silent before someone mumbled, "N-No..."

Of course there wasn't. Keith and the others had planned to force themselves on me today regardless of my consent.

I was a stranger in this part of town; even if I screamed my lungs out, no one would have come to my rescue.

Left with no footage, they could only sputter feebly, trying to paint me as the violent aggressor.

I glanced at the officers, pointing pitifully at the bruises and cuts blooming across my skin.

"I'm just an ordinary woman. How could I possibly overpower them?"

"Officers, I want to report Madeline and Logan for premeditated assault and attempted murder!"