I looked up at the woman I hadn’t seen in years.

“Skye, save my dad…” I said, my voice coming out hoarse and broken.

Seeing how miserable I looked, Skye Ashford’s expression darkened instantly. She glared at Heather, as if she wanted to kill her.

She strode forward and helped my weak, trembling mom to her feet. Without even turning around, she ordered, “Get the old man to the hospital first!”

One of the men behind her answered immediately and quickly carried my dad into the car.

Skye looked at the tear stains and finger marks on my face, and a storm gathered in her eyes.

“We’ll head to the hospital first. You can tell me everything on the way.”

Her voice was gentle, but it carried a calm sense of safety that made people trust her instantly.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

I couldn’t say anything else, so I simply nodded.

Just as I was about to get into the car, someone suddenly grabbed my arm. Heather stared fixedly at Skye, her tone frighteningly cold.

“Who is this woman? What’s your relationship with her?”

I replied flatly, “What does it matter to you who she is? And what gives you the right to question me?”

Heather froze. Then, noticing the crowd watching nearby, she lowered her voice. “Haven’t I explained everything to you? Why are you still kicking up a fuss?”

I shook off her hand, my expression icy. “You cheated on me, allowed people to accuse me of being an adulterer, and stood by while my dad nearly died. And you still have the nerve to call me unreasonable?”

Embarrassment flashed across Heather’s face.

“I didn’t expect things to turn out like this either. But isn’t this your fault, too? If you hadn’t smashed the car and made such a scene in front of everyone, none of this would’ve happened. Why don’t you blame yourself for acting impulsively instead of blaming me?”

I looked at her completely unapologetic expression and suddenly felt too exhausted to argue anymore.

“You’re right. I should blame myself for being blind enough to fall in love with you. Heather, there’s nothing left to say between us. Let’s break up.”

The moment Heather heard the mention of a breakup, she went still. In the five years we’d been together, those words had always come from her, and I had never once dared to say them myself.

She opened her mouth, stunned for several seconds before finally coming to her senses. “What did you say? You want to break up with me?”

Her voice rose unconsciously, and several nosy bystanders immediately leaned closer to listen. In a panic, Liam quickly grabbed Heather’s arm and tried to pull her back toward the house.

“Aren’t they taking him to the hospital? This has nothing to do with us anymore. Let’s go inside. My parents are waiting for us!”

Heather instinctively tried to pull away until she met Liam’s pleading, pitiful eyes.

“Heather, everyone’s watching. If the truth gets out, how am I supposed to show myself in public after this?”

She hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she let go of my hand.

Watching her walk back toward Liam, I let out a bitter laugh. When everyone treated me like the other man, she didn’t care at all, but as soon as Liam’s reputation was at risk, she became more anxious than anyone. It was painfully obvious who she loved and who she didn’t. At least now, I could finally see it.

Halfway there, Heather suddenly turned back to look at me and said softly, “Wait for me. I’ll explain everything. I’ll go over later and talk to your parents as well.”

Now she remembered wanting to meet my parents? Well, too bad. It was too late.

I ignored her and got into the car with Skye. At some point, Anthony had climbed in, too. He had heard quite a bit earlier, and now he looked at me with disbelief written all over his face.

“That woman… Was she really your girlfriend?”

I was too worried about my dad’s heart condition to say anything, so I simply nodded. Then, after thinking about it, I added, “She’s my ex-girlfriend now.”

Skye glanced at me quickly before fixing her eyes back on the road and asking Anthony, “What exactly happened today? Start from the beginning.”

Anthony had always been a little afraid of her growing up, so now he didn’t dare mock me anymore. He obediently explained everything from start to finish.

When Skye heard that Heather had silently allowed Liam to accuse me of being the other man in front of everyone, her grip on the steering wheel tightened so hard that her knuckles turned white.