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—"

"Colette!"

Yareli suddenly called out with urgency, forcing a smile as she walked over to me, taking my hand in a seemingly friendly grip.

"I didn't realize you were the one bringing this case to court. If I had known, I'd have asked them to drop it. We're all like family; showing our problems in public is embarrassing."

I gave a cold laugh, shaking her hand off sharply.

"Family? With you, the other woman? This is about justice, and if you think a few apologies will fix it, you're dreaming!"

"Enough already, Colette! Will you ever stop? Keep up with this slander, and I'll sue you for defamation!"

Lennon stormed over, his expression stormy with anger, pulling me aside and shielding the pale Yareli protectively.

"I've reviewed all the footage from the Alpine retreat. Yareli never laid a finger on your grandmother. This whole thing seems like a drama your family invented, and you have the nerve to come at us!"

"Yareli's trying to make peace, and this is your attitude? Even if you begged us on your knees now, I'd still see this through to the end!"

He shoved me hard, and my arm slammed into the edge of the table, pain flashing across my face. But he didn't notice, his mind solely on defending his childhood sweetheart. Although I had resolved to leave him, witnessing this scene left me cold. In Lennon's eyes, his darling could do no wrong, no matter what anyone said.

"Then let's see this through," I said, staring pointedly at Yareli. I let out a sharp laugh and turned to leave. As I passed the audience, they glared at me with disdain, convinced from the start that I was at fault.

Lennon's attorney was indeed effective, presenting two main arguments. First, as a public figure, Yareli had no reason to suddenly attack someone in broad daylight. Second, crucial evidence was missing; both the elevator and rooftop cameras were conveniently down for maintenance that day, leaving no proof that Yareli had pushed my grandmother. Even the bystander who called emergency services had changed their story, now falsely testifying. According to their account, Yareli was a kind and innocent girl who had tried to help an elderly woman with mobility issues. Who would have believed this was all a scheme by the elderly woman to extort her?

I instantly knew Lennon's influence was all over this. He must have pulled strings to clear Yareli's name.

The defense attorney adjusted her glasses and declared, "In conclusion, the plaintiff lacks evidence to prove my client caused harm, while our evidence suggests the elder acted impulsively in a moment of emotional stress."

"Lies! My grandmother was clearly pushed by Yareli. Lennon erased the evidence!"

Furious, my vision blurred as I lunged from my seat, ready to confront Yareli. Lennon swiftly intervened, pushing me back. The searing pain in my chest left me gasping on the floor, unable to get up right away.

Lennon spread his hands before the judge, triumphantly. "You've seen her attempt to harm. I had to defend myself."

"The other party's emotions are over the top; it's actually her who attempted aggression. This was all an act, and now she’s irrationally enraged. I think she's unhinged, and her grandmother's behavior was disgracefully extortionate."

He actually said that aloud!

I shot Lennon a look filled with hatred. Feeling my intense gaze, he clenched his fists and awkwardly cleared his throat, returning to his seat. Yareli looked at him with admiration, her face full of gratitude. Emboldened, Lennon’s expression turned smug, raising an eyebrow at me with confidence in his impending victory.

His words didn’t sway the judge's final decision. Yet due to the lack of decisive proof, the judge declared Yareli not guilty, dismissing the case as an impulsive act by an extortionate elder.

As the verdict was announced, Yareli visibly relaxed with relief. The jury remained convinced of Yareli’s innocence, seeing me as a deceptive accuser.

"She’s crazy, trying to pin this on Yareli, but thank goodness her lawyer was sharp."

"Exactly, she seems unstable. This plaintiff's family doesn't seem right at all. Was that top lawyer actually hired by her partner?"

"Yeah, a friend at the law firm confirmed it. Her partner hired him personally, showing how devoted he is to Yareli. I'm all for this match!"

As they gathered, pointing fingers, Lennon held Yareli as they prepared to leave. Outside, the media, having caught wind of the trial, eagerly snapped photos of Lennon and Yareli.

Passing by me, Lennon kept his gaze steady, his words dripping with contempt.

"You deserved this! I told you to stop fighting with Yareli. Look at you now!"

"Maybe your grandmother’s death was warranted, your family driven mad by money."

Yareli added with false sympathy beside him, "Oh, Colette might have just gotten the wrong idea. She wasn't born into money, unlike us."

Lennon sneered, "That’s the mindset of poverty for you, years of living as a wealthy wife couldn’t change it, and it annoys me the most."

My hands clenched into tight fists, and I shouted at Lennon's retreating figure.

"Do you think anyone wants to be this so-called wealthy wife? Lennon Nichols, we're getting a divorce!"