“You still want to upset Ashton? No way!”
The phone screen shattered completely. I cried out and lunged forward, trying to grab it back.
Inside that phone were the photos and messages, the last things my mom left behind.
Jade raised her foot and stomped down hard on my hand, directly on the wound from earlier.
The broken glass on the ground was pressed deeper and deeper into my palm under her force.
I screamed in agony, cold sweat pouring down my face, but I had no strength to fight back.
Right in front of me, she picked up the broken pieces of the phone, pulled out the SIM card, and tossed it off the building.
“Now, let’s see how you plan to upset Ashton and slander me!”
“You and your mother tried to deceive me. I used to think she was a good person, but I was wrong about both of you!”
She spat viciously at me, then turned and spoke in a gentle voice,
“Ashton, do you see now? There’s no way I’m marrying him. Come down, please.”
A glimmer of joy appeared in Ashton’s eyes, and he reached out his arms to be held by her.
The crowd suddenly understood:
“So that’s what’s going on.”
“It was all a show to deceive people and drive a wedge between them. Despicable!”
“He’s not even a lover, just clinging to her out of pity. I almost wrongly accused this woman!”
Jade held Ashton, a flicker of guilt and hesitation flashing in her eyes as she looked at me.
She had been accused of being unfaithful, and if she defended herself, even a slight mistake could upset Ashton.
But if she turned it on me, she could clear her name without question and save Ashton.
She chose to hurt me to protect herself and Ashton.
So, I was the one who could be discarded and hurt at any time.
She crouched down and whispered in my ear,
“Corey, don’t blame me for being cruel. You’re the one who provoked Ashton first. If he jumps, it’ll be your fault.”
“I’m only saving you. I forgive you and your mom for lying to me. I’ll have the doctor treat your wounds later.”
Even now, she could twist the harm she did to me into an act of saving me.
How ridiculous!
At that moment, I was at my lowest-covered in blood, my lips swollen, and my hand torn apart by glass.
But none of it compared to the pain in my heart.
“Jade, you abandoned me for your ex-boyfriend and caused my mom’s death, and now you dare to twist the truth?”
“I’ll make sure the world knows what you’ve done!”
A metallic taste filled my throat, and I coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Caught off guard, the blood splattered across Jade’s face and dress.
The guilt in her eyes vanished instantly.
She stood up, wiped the blood from her face, and kicked me hard in the face again.
“Still lying? Still threatening me?!”
This time, she put all her strength into the kick. There was a sharp crack.
She broke my nose. The pain was so overwhelming I nearly blacked out.
The crowd gasped, some saying that no matter what I did, it didn’t justify her beating me like that.
“Don’t worry, we’re in a hospital. I’ll cover his medical bills.”
“But he needs to learn this lesson forever!” Jade snarled through clenched teeth.
Just then, a young girl burst from the crowd and slapped Jade hard across the face, yelling furiously,
“You wretched woman! Not only did you ditch the wedding and cause Mrs. Moore’s death, but now you beat my brother for Ashton?!”
The crowd erupted in shock. Jade, clutching her face, shouted angrily,
“Who are you? Corey doesn’t have a sister!”
“I’m his neighbor! I rushed back for your wedding, only to find you abandoned him for that man. Don’t you know Mrs. Moore is dead? She was driven to her death by you!”
The girl pulled out her phone and started playing the wedding video.
In the footage, after Jade left, Auntie Chen collapsed, causing chaos and confusion.
Jade’s face turned pale. Trembling, she turned to me and asked,
“Your mom… did something happen to her? Did… I really drive her to her death?”