Verity’s POV

Hunter Hutcherson and I grew up together. We’ve known each other since we were kids.

The people I can truly say I’m close to now—after everyone else has come and gone—are just him, my older brother, and Tucker.

After I got married, I almost completely lost touch with my old group of girlfriends.

So at this moment, the only person I could call was Hunter.

He arrived quickly. When he saw I was hurt, he rushed me to see a doctor, had my wounds treated, then drove me all the way home.

Along the way, I talked in bits and pieces about getting a divorce, about going to Canada.

Hunter didn’t try to talk me out of it, and he didn’t comfort me either. He just said casually,

“That’s good. The divorce package your mom prepared for you should be ready soon, too.”

I froze for a second and turned to look at him.

That’s when he explained that my mom and his mom had been best friends for years.

Before my mom passed away, she’d specifically told them that if my marriage ever fell apart and I chose divorce, everything she left behind was to be given directly to me.

“She said,” Hunter spoke evenly, “she didn’t want you relying on anyone. She wanted you to be able to live well on your own.”

My eyes immediately turned red.

So my mom had already thought everything through for me.

All the assets she prepared were premarital property. My dad didn’t even know about them.

She loved him, but she never fully trusted men—so she left everything to me.

Hunter added, almost as an afterthought, “And hey, about what happened back then, stop doubting your mom. She would never hurt anyone, and she definitely wouldn’t kill someone just to climb higher. Your parents dated overseas for a full year before getting married. People from that generation all know this.”

“It’s just that your brother was too stupid to bother checking.”

That was when I finally broke down, tears spilling uncontrollably.

The tight knot that had been sitting in my chest for years felt like it was finally being loosened.

My mom wasn’t a murderer.

She loved me more than anything.

Just thinking about those two things made my whole body feel warm.

By the time we reached my place, it was already late.

Hunter told me to get some rest, then said that in a few days he could go to Canada with me. He had businesses there too, so I didn’t need to be afraid.

I smiled and said I wasn’t a kid anymore.

He glanced at me and said quietly, “A young woman is going abroad alone… How could I not worry?”

The porch light came on just as he finished speaking.

Tucker’s car pulled up. He walked in with Kelsey.

When he saw Hunter and me standing together talking, his expression darkened immediately.

“What are you two doing?”

Hunter never held his tongue. He glanced at him and sneered.

“Mr. Afton, what’s with that ‘caught you cheating’ look? You’re the one who brought Kelsey home.”

Tucker’s face darkened further. He pressed down his temper and explained, “We’re just siblings. Nothing improper. Kelsey was scared at the hospital, so I brought her home to rest.”

Hunter put on an exaggerated look of realization and casually wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

“Oh—siblings,” he repeated. “What a coincidence. Verity and I grew up together, too. Real close. Brother. Sister.”

Tucker’s face went completely dark. He instinctively reached for me, but Kelsey suddenly said softly, “Tucker, I’m a little hungry.”

He pressed his lips together, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me into the apartment, slamming the door shut behind him and leaving Hunter outside.

He’d never liked Hunter. Always said he was frivolous and unreliable.

“Stay away from him from now on,” Tucker said coldly.

I looked at him and asked quietly, “Why?”

“He’s like a brother to me,” I said. “We’re completely innocent.”

I returned his own words to him exactly as he’d said them.

He clearly froze, like something had gotten stuck in his throat and he couldn’t respond.

I didn’t wait for him. I pulled my hand free and went back to my room.

He seemed distracted after that. He didn’t even hear Kelsey calling him.

After she moved in, she never once mentioned leaving.

She always had a reason.

She said my family’s house was too big and unfamiliar, that it scared her.

She said San Antonio made her feel unsafe.

She said she could only sleep if she stayed by Tucker’s side.

Our two brothers felt sorry for her and indulged her in everything.

For days in a row, gifts kept arriving at the door.

Designer bags, jewelry, supplements—one after another.

When the servants collected them, they’d instinctively glance at me, then quickly look away.

Not a single item was meant for me.

This was their “punishment.” But I no longer cared, and it didn’t hurt anymore.

Because I knew my mother was innocent.

And now, there was only one day left before I left.

That evening, I unusually wanted to sit down and have a proper meal with Tucker.

Just to give this marriage a decent ending.

But the moment I stepped into the living room, I stopped.

I saw Kelsey standing on the balcony, practically pressed against Tucker.

She tilted her face up as she talked to him, her hand naturally hooked around his arm, her body relaxed and unguarded.

Tucker looked down at her, his expression gentle, his voice soft.

That ease—I hadn’t seen it in a long time.

I used to circle around him like that too, like a small bird with no sense of security.

I liked the calm focus in his eyes when he worked. I liked the way he stepped in front of me to chase off drunk men. I even liked how, when I casually said, “That stray cat stuck in the rocks looks so pitiful,” he would immediately pull over, roll up his sleeves, and go save it.

But he rarely responded to my love.

I could say “I like you” twenty times, and he would answer once, “I know.”

I wanted to be close like an ordinary married couple, but he always kept a distance.

In this house, only in bed could I be sure he felt any desire for me.

But now, with Kelsey, his closeness came so naturally.

Maybe this was the married life he truly wanted.

When I walked closer, I noticed that he paused and instinctively stepped back.

Kelsey’s expression darkened for a split second before smoothing out again.

“Honey, are you eating with us tonight?”

He seemed to be trying to ease the tension and asked proactively, “What do you feel like eating? I’ll cook.”

“Whatever.”

He went into the kitchen. It was the first time he’d ever cooked for me.

And yet, I didn’t feel even a trace of happiness…

Because he’d already cooked for Kelsey countless times.

Only she and I were left in the living room.

The obedient look on her face vanished immediately. She lowered her voice and said, “Verity, don’t you think you’re really in the way?”

She leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Can’t you see how happy my brother and I are, just the two of us? Did you come over on purpose to interrupt us?”

Verity’s POV

I froze for a moment, then tugged the corner of my mouth into a sarcastic smile.

So Kelsey wasn’t clueless about Tucker’s feelings after all. Hah. This bitch actually enjoyed it.

These two were clearly in love, yet still playing the stupid act of devoted siblings in front of everyone.

But I didn’t care anymore. What they felt for each other had nothing to do with me.

“I’m leaving soon.”

My tone was calm. “After that, however you want to enjoy your time alone together—go ahead.”

She let out a cold laugh and looked me up and down.

“You think I believe you?”

She leaned closer, her voice sharp and poisonous.

“Oh right, Verity, do you know why my mom was able to marry into your family? Tucker played a big part in that.”

My chest tightened. “What do you mean?”

“Your dad and my mom met because Tucker introduced them. He wanted me to have the same kind of happy life you did.”

“He’s been in touch with me all these years.”

My head buzzed. I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

“I really was happy,” she said softly. “But now—”

“I’m not satisfied anymore.”

“I don’t just want the eldest daughter status. I want Tucker, too.”

The next second, she suddenly grabbed me.

I didn’t even have time to react before she shoved me hard toward the coffee table.

The sound of shattering glass exploded.

“What happened?!”

Tucker rushed out almost instantly.

His first reaction was to pull Kelsey into his arms and check her.

“Tucker, I don’t know why my sister yelled at me like that…”

Kelsey trembled as she cried.

“She said I was shameless, that I seduced you, that I’m a slut…”

“She even tried to attack me. Tucker, I was so scared…”

“You’re lying!”

My voice tightened.

“Kelsey, stop making things up! There are cameras in the living room!”

For a split second, her face went pale, but she immediately doubled down.

“I didn’t lie! If you hate me so much, I’ll just leave, okay?”

I laughed in anger. “You—”

“That’s enough.” Tucker cut me off. His gaze landed on me, cold and unfamiliar. “Verity, apologize to Kelsey.”

I froze. “You want me to apologize?”

“Kelsey doesn’t have those filthy thoughts you’re accusing her of. You’re the one with a dirty mind, twisting things out of jealousy! Shouldn’t you apologize for what you said?!”

At that moment, I almost couldn’t stay on my feet.

“Tucker, you don’t believe me?”

I stared at him. “I never said those things. Check the footage, and you’ll see she’s lying!”

“And what do you mean my mind is dirty? Can you honestly say nothing between you two crossed the line?!”

Like I’d hit a nerve, his expression darkened instantly.

“Verity, I’ve thought for a long time that something was off with you. I couldn’t figure out why, ever since Kelsey became your sister, you’ve targeted her at every turn.

“Cutting her allowance, framing her, threatening her—and now, you even want to hurt her. So this is why. You’re just irrationally jealous!

“You’re truly vicious!”

I laughed, my eyes burning.

“Vicious?

“What exactly did I do?

“I built an entire home for you. I learned everything you liked. I endured all your indifference. And in the end, in your eyes, I’m vicious?l

“Who asked you to do all that? Who begged you?!”

Tucker snapped, his face flushed with anger and embarrassment.

I finally lost control, my voice shaking.

“Tucker, without me, you’re nothing—”

Suddenly, a smack reverberated in the room.

The slap landed.

Sharp. Brutal.

“Even without you, I live just fine! Verity, I didn’t build my career on you.”

He looked at me coldly, then picked Kelsey up and turned away.

I collapsed onto the floor, my ears ringing. I closed my eyes and let out a bitter smile.

The last trace of feeling in my heart scattered into nothing.

I didn’t know how much time passed before I slowly came back to myself.

The ringing faded. The living room was silent, lit only by the cold reflections of broken glass.

I pushed myself up, my palm stinging. When I looked down, I saw a cut on my wrist, blood already clotted along my fingers.

Just then, my phone vibrated.

It was a message from my lawyer.

[Ms. Severin, all divorce procedures have been completed today. Effective immediately.]

I stared at the message for a long time.

My chest was strangely calm.

The taut string inside me finally snapped.

I stood up slowly and went to the bathroom to clean the wound—rinsing it, disinfecting it, wrapping it carefully. Every movement was steady.

The person in the mirror looked pale, eyes swollen and red, but not a single tear fell.

I returned to the living room and took out the wrinkled abortion report from my bag.

I placed it in the most visible spot on the couch, pressed under a cushion.

No note. No explanation.

If he saw it, then he saw it.

If he didn’t, that was fine, too.

I pulled out the suitcase I’d packed long ago. There was barely anything inside.

These past few days, Tucker hadn’t even noticed the closet was emptier, the books were gone, even my usual cup was missing.

Maybe his mind had never really been here.

Fine then. These ten years—I’d take them as my own one-sided devotion.

Standing in the elevator, I gently wiped away the last trace of moisture.

When I looked up again, my eyes were calm.

As the plane took off, the city shrank into a blur of lights beneath the window.

I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes.

From this moment on, Tucker and I had nothing to do with each other anymore.

Elsewhere, the instant his slap landed, Tucker regretted it.

But Kelsey was still trembling in his arms, crying so hard she could barely breathe, so he could only take her home first.

The whole drive, his grip on the steering wheel tightened again and again, his chest heavy and tight.

After settling Kelsey in, he didn’t even take a sip of water before heading back downstairs.

When he got into the car, he suddenly realized his hands were empty.

He frowned, hesitated for a few seconds, then turned the car around and drove to the cake shop I used to mention all the time.

The shop was crowded. Standing in line, he looked out of place, but he waited patiently anyway.

When he finally got the cake and was about to head back to find me, his phone buzzed.

The screen lit up.

A system notification,

[Good day, Mr. Afton. Your divorce from Ms. Severin was finalized today.]

With a soft thud, the strawberry cake hit the ground.