After those words, he hung up on me yet again.

I never anticipated that because of Yareli Watkins’ interruption, Lennon would suspect it was my grandma who was in trouble.

Nor did I foresee that he would disgrace me over a fifty-thousand-dollar surgery fee.

Yes, my family has always had a modest lifestyle. My parents once had to request a thirty-thousand-dollar loan from Lennon when they couldn't afford to build a house.

Because of that, he deemed our family unworthy.

But right now, it's his grandmother who needs surgery!

Holding the bill in my hands, I was overwhelmed with urgency and anger, tears silently streaming down my face.

When I tried calling again, I found I'd been blocked.

Frantic, I searched for any possible way to contact him, but it was all in vain.

Probably tired of my "nagging," Lennon obliterated every means I had to reach him.

I was drenched in sweat from anxiety, but the priority was not squabbling with him.

Grandma's surgery was paramount—this was about life and death.

Running out of options, I began calling relatives, hoping to borrow money.

In the end, it was my parents back home who miraculously scraped together fifty thousand dollars to help me.

As soon as I got the money, I rushed to pay the hospital.

Then, I just stared blankly at the glowing red light above the operating room door.

Finally managing to pull together the surgery fee, my hands were still trembling with residual fear.

I clasped my hands together, seated on a bench outside the surgery room, and prayed fervently.

Please, whoever is listening, let Grandma make it through—she has always been kind-hearted and good.

Our family has always been humble. Grandma supported me throughout my education from high school to university.

"A girl needs her own capabilities. Wherever you study, I'll back you, Colette. Don’t worry."

Because of those words, I persevered and completed my master’s at a top-tier university.

After graduation, I got hired by Lennon's company through campus recruitment.

Grateful for Grandma's support, I promised to care for her in her old age, which led me to meet Lennon, who had just graduated.

Both his parents passed away early, and it was his formidable grandmother who raised him by herself.

Thanks to Grandma, Lennon and I grew closer and eventually got married.

Grandma was thrilled about it. She was a loving elder who never burdened me, especially after I had Kiara and was busy with her care.

The driver mentioned that Lennon called, asking Grandma to send over some files.

Thinking it was urgent, and with me not at home, my blind grandma took the files herself to his office—never imagining someone would cruelly push her down the stairs.

She was over seventy—how could she possibly endure the fall from twenty flights!

The nurses said when Grandma was brought in, she was drenched in blood, especially on the back of her head, where it was severely injured.

Wiping the cold sweat from my palms onto my clothes, I tried to suppress my anxiety.

Still, I couldn't help but feel the atmosphere outside the operating room growing thinner, suffocating me.

Every minute outside felt endless.

Finally, after an eternity of waiting, the operating room doors swung open.

The doctor took off his mask, sighing at me apologetically, “Her age was a significant hurdle, and the delay in payment didn't help. I'm sorry, we did everything we could…”

“The patient is still conscious. If you have anything to say, please do it quickly…”

His words were like a death knell for Grandma.

Paralyzed with shock, my legs buckled, and I stumbled into the hospital room.

Wires and tubes were tangled around her frail body, with a horrifying dent in her head.

Just yesterday, she was all smiles, talking about making ravioli for us. Now, there she lay, pale and motionless on the cold operating table, as if she might disappear any moment.

Tears poured forth, and I shakily reached to touch her slightly chilled face.

“Grandma?”

Since her blindness, this was our secret way of greeting.

Hearing my voice, her lifeless eyes sought my direction and softened.

“Is that you, Colette? Isn’t Lennon with you?”

I choked back a sob, “He... he’s working late, busy.”

Grandma didn’t reply, but the smile on her face dwindled considerably.

Gradually, she turned her gaze toward me, even reaching out with a trembling hand. I understood this was her final act of strength. My heart clenched, and I hurriedly leaned closer.

Grandma's eyes were red and swollen as she shakily wiped my tears away. "Colette, it was wrong of Grandma to have you marry into the Nichols family," she whispered.

"I know that scoundrel is seeing someone else. I wanted to stand up for you, but that arrogant woman pushed me down the stairs. It's Grandma's fault for being unable to protect you..."

"After I'm gone, leave that man... I've realized my mistake. All those years of supporting your education were never meant for you to stay in the Nichols family as their caretaker."

"You deserve your own happiness, Colette. Take care of yourself."

As her words faded, her frail hand dropped from my face, and the beeping of the monitor filled the room. I watched in anguish as a tear slipped from her eye and those eternally gentle eyes closed for the last time.

I gasped silently, collapsing onto the cold sheets and unable to hold back my sobs. "Grandma!"

After completing the paperwork, I returned to the Nichols house, clutching the documents Grandma left behind. It was already past midnight, and Lennon still hadn't come home.

Exhausted, I sank into the sofa and pulled out my phone, intending to confront Lennon. But as soon as I turned it on, a trending topic on Twitter caught my eye.

"Rising Star and Mystery Boyfriend's Sweet Getaway!"

There he was—Lennon Nichols—caught in a photo standing beside Yareli Watkins. The paparazzi had captured plenty of shots.

One showed him wearing sunglasses and carrying her shopping bags in his left hand, while his right arm curled around Yareli as they chatted intimately. Their relationship appeared undeniably close.

Feeling hollow, I clicked on Yareli's Twitter to see her response.

"Sorry to occupy public space," she wrote. "Since the photos are out, I won't hide it anymore. This is my childhood friend, and we're very happy. Please respect his privacy."

She tagged Lennon's profile at the end. Her surge in popularity had swiftly drawn protective fans around her.

"I know this guy—he's the brother-in-law, CEO of the Nichols Group! Who would've guessed they were childhood friends—so sweet," commented one user.

"They even wear matching rings. Looks like a wedding is on the horizon," speculated another.

"Our brother-in-law silently supporting without seeking credit—it must be tough. I'm rooting for you two. Sis, you deserve happiness."

Though Lennon remained silent publicly, Yareli pinned the post, cementing their relationship in the public's view. With each read, I felt an increasing chill. I glanced down at the diamond ring on my finger.

This was the ring Lennon bought when he proposed. Though we never had a formal ceremony, I treasured this connection, and hence, the ring, which I never removed after our wedding day.

I noticed Lennon had changed his ring.

When I questioned him about it, he lashed out angrily, "Can you stop being so paranoid? I can’t stand it when you’re like this! When you have a suspicious mind, everything looks suspicious!"

Convinced I’d misunderstood, I apologized profusely back then. Now, with hindsight, those words felt like a slap in the face.

Lennon had long since fallen out of love. His feelings for Yareli were anything but sibling affection or kindness. He was romantically involved with her.

While I was grieving at the hospital, while Grandma lay there never to wake again, Lennon had the nerve to be carefree with his 'beloved childhood friend.' Now, everyone online praised them as the perfect pair!

It was all so absurd. I couldn't help but sit there on the sofa, trembling with quiet laughter. Ultimately, I slipped the ring off my finger and tossed it into the trash.

The "clang" it made was jarring. I stared coldly at the now tarnished ring, reflecting the wreckage of my and Lennon's broken relationship.

If that was the case, then there was no reason to continue. Holding onto an unfaithful man was worthless.

The following morning, after dropping Kiara off at school, I immediately sought advice from a lawyer friend about filing for divorce. I also started collecting evidence to bring her murderer to justice in court.

What a perfect couple they were—one a killer, the other a cheating lover. Once the truth was out, I'd love to see if they could keep up those smug faces!

The police acted swiftly, and it wasn't long before Yareli Watkins received a court summons. As a public figure recently embroiled in a high-profile romance, the news of her murder charges quickly went viral, causing a frenzy on social media platforms like Twitter. Yareli's response was straightforward: "Justice will prevail, and I believe the truth will come out. I'll be in court to clear my name!"

Her composed demeanor only emboldened her fans, who attacked me online, casting me as an attention-seeking troublemaker. On the day of the trial, the media was in full force, and the courtroom was packed with her supporters and fans.

As I arrived, I saw Lennon Nichols escorting Yareli with great care. Despite her confident words, Yareli looked pale. It had been days since Lennon and I had seen each other. He hadn’t come home, hadn't returned to work, and hadn't even visited Grandma’s grave. All for this childhood sweetheart!

Perhaps my furious stare was too obvious, as Lennon immediately noticed me. His eyes filled with annoyance as he walked over, frowning.

"What are you doing here causing a scene? Shouldn't you be at home with Kiara? This isn’t the right place for you," he snapped.

I looked at him with a cold smile. "Why shouldn't I be here? I'm the one who brought this case forward."

He looked taken aback. "You're the one making all this fuss?"

Seeing the defense lawyer beside me, understanding dawned on his face. "So when you mentioned Grandma's fall, this is what you meant?"

Seizing the moment, Yareli moved to Lennon's side, blinking with feigned innocence. He patted her shoulder reassuringly, then turned to me with a smug look.

"Colette, no matter how hard you try to cause trouble, let me tell you, I've hired the best lawyer. We're going to win this case today!"

I shook with anger. "Who are you accusing of causing trouble?"

He replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "Isn't your dying grandmother just trying to scam people? As if what she got before wasn’t enough, now she wants to use her life to extort money from Yareli! But unfortunately for her, this time her little scheme is bound to fail…”

Before he could finish, I slapped him as hard as I could.

"Are you even listening to yourself? Yareli Watkins is a murderer! The person she killed is—"