Chapter 4

"You think you're worthy of making me avoid you?"

She paused, then something crossed her mind, and her eyes filled with mockery:

"I almost forgot, you're a mute. You can't answer my questions."

"Even if you send me to prison, what difference does it make? There are plenty of people who'd love to get me off the hook, like... your dear husband."

"Zoran has done quite a bit for me, you know. Including cleaning up after your parents' car accident..."

I suddenly widened my eyes, hurriedly scrambling up from the ground. I grabbed her collar and frantically signed:

"What do you mean? Did you kill my parents?"

Goldie sneered at my clumsy attempt at sign language and chuckled:

"Who told those old farts to discover Brent's affair? They even wanted to take back the shares they were going to give Brent! Those belonged to Brent! What right did they have to take them back?"

"Brent and I had no choice but to team up and deal with them first."

An overwhelming wave of grief drowned me. With bloodshot eyes, I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face.

Goldie stumbled and hit a headstone, the sharp edge cutting into her leg and drawing blood.

Just as I grabbed the fruit bowl from the ground, ready to smash it against her body. My hand holding the fruit platter was suddenly knocked away by a pair of large hands, and I was forcefully pushed, falling directly onto the ground.

The fruits that should have spilled on Goldie ended up crashing down on me instead.

"Summer! Have you gone mad?"

Goldie nestled into Zoran's arms, covering her face pitifully, tears streaming down her cheeks:

"Uncle, I know I made a mistake back then. I just wanted to come and apologize to Summer."

"Even if Summer wanted me to kneel and beg for forgiveness, I'd willingly do it. But I never expected her to become so agitated as soon as I approached..."

I stared fixedly at Zoran, who was shielding Goldie behind him, gritting my teeth and gesturing with trembling hands:

"Didn't you say she was in prison?"

A flash of panic crossed Zoran's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by anger:

"She behaved well in prison, so she was released early. That's all."

"She feels guilty about what she did to you and wants to make amends. That's why she came to apologize. She even said she'd kneel if that's what it takes for your forgiveness. How could you lash out without even hearing her out?"

"Just because she's willing to kneel, I'm supposed to forgive her? Does that mean all the harm I suffered doesn't count anymore? Zoran furrowed his brow impatiently:

"She's already been punished by going to prison. Why are you still harping on about the past?"

With that, Zoran stopped looking at me. His eyes fixated on the wound on Goldie's leg, his brow creasing with concern. He scooped Goldie up in his arms and turned to leave.

Completely forgetting about me still on the ground.

I sat there on the floor, letting out a bitter laugh.

Zoran had kept up this facade for so many years, yet he easily revealed his true nature in front of me because of Goldie.

It was enough proof of Goldie's place in his heart.

I finally gave up hope.

I took out my phone and called a cab to take me back to Langdon Manor. After grabbing all my important documents, I booked a hotel near the hospital.

I couldn't stand to stay a moment longer in this house filled with traces of Zoran's life.

I had just signed the new equity transfer agreement when the divorce papers from the lawyer came through.

I printed them out, signed them, and casually left them on the table.

Then I took a cab straight to the hospital.

After the abortion procedure, I saw several missed calls from Zoran on my phone.

I was about to turn off the screen when another video call came in.