Mom's Murderer was My Husband's Mistress

It was only three years after my marriage that I discovered the truth—my mom’s death three years ago was no accident. It was murder! And the culprit was my husband’s first love!

The day before my supposed wedding, Mom fell off a cliff. Her body was never found.

Instead of grieving with me, my thenfiancé showed no sympathy at all. He even complained that I brought bad luck, and on the wedding day, he replaced me as the bride—with Heisley Nixon.

I crashed the ceremony in a fury. But he ruthlessly threw me out, and guests mocked me for wanting to get married so soon after my mother’s death.

Just when I was drowning in grief, Garth Mulligan stood up for me, asking me to marry him.

“I’ll love you for the rest of his life. I’ll find the one who killed your mother. I’ll make sure they pay for it,” he promised.

I was so moved I said yes.

In the third year of our marriage, I got pregnant. When I was about to give birth, I overheard him speaking with the doctor.

“Mr. Mulligan, do you really want to go through with this? Back then, you married Fallyn only to protect Heisley. These past years, I’ve seen you and your wife live quite happily together. Why dig up the past now?”

Garth’s voice came out cold.

“Marrying her was the only way to keep her from uncovering the truth about that year. Only then could Heisley live a happy life. As long as Heisley is happy, nothing else matters to me.”

Tears slid silently down my face as the truth hit me—my mom’s tragic death had been tied to Heisley!

I had thought my marriage to Garth was my salvation. But now I see. It was nothing more than a carefully woven dream meant to deceive me!

If that’s the case, then I will wake from this nightmare. I will make him and Heisley pay for what they’ve done!

——

Fallyn’s POV

I could feel the doctor’s gaze shifting to me lying on the bed. A flicker of pity must’ve crossed his eyes as he heaved a quiet sigh.

“Sir, you’ve already hidden the truth about her mother’s death. Why take away the baby in her womb as well? After all, he is your own flesh and blood.”

Garth reached out, gently wiping the tears from my face. But his voice was cold and merciless.

“I promised Heisley that I wouldn’t allow Fallyn’s child to inherit the company. I’ve been putting contraceptives in her milk for the past three years, yet she still got pregnant. Her baby was never meant to exist at all. He shouldn’t be born. Now, just go ahead and take care of it for me, Doctor.”

I could imagine the doctor’s eyes widening in shock, as though he hadn’t imagined Garth could be this ruthless.

“Sir,” he blurted out, “you’ve already taken her father’s donor. Without it, I’m afraid he won’t live for long. And now you want to take away her baby as well? I’m afraid she won’t bear it when she wakes up!”

Garth must’ve shot him a cold look when he barked, “Your only job is to follow my orders. Everything else is none of your business, Doctor. I will compensate her. She’ll lose her father and her baby, but I’ll forever keep her as my wife.”

He added casually, “When the time comes, even if Heisley’s son inherits the G.M. Corporation, I’ll still make it up to Fallyn.”

Hearing that made tears slide down my cheeks again.

Just then, a knock sounded at the ward door.

The voice of my father’s attending doctor rang out. “Sir, I’ve already transplanted the donor heart into your child with Ma’am Heisley. It’s just… because your fatherinlaw was anesthetized but didn’t receive the donor heart, there’s a high chance he will…”

“That’s enough!” Garth cut him off sharply. “You don’t need to worry about these things. I’ll take care of the rest. I’ve already wired the money I promised to your account. From now on, remember to keep your mouths shut, or else…”

His threatening voice rang out next.

Then he turned to the doctor by my bedside. “And you—get rid of Fallyn’s baby as soon as possible. Make sure there’s no chance of survival. Give my wife extra anesthesia; she’s terrified of pain. I’m going to check on Heisley and Judd. They’ve just come out of surgery. They must be waiting for me.”

The moment the words left his lips, the ward door shut without hesitation.

At that point, my tears would not stop.

I had never imagined Garth could be… this cruel. He clearly knew my dad had waited five years for such a donor heart!

Yet he still heartlessly took it away!

All of this… was because the woman he loved wasn’t me. For Heisley’s sake, he had already taken my mom, my dad, and now… he was about to take my baby, too!

I couldn’t help but think back to the time when he had tenderly caressed my belly, speaking with me about our baby’s future. The memory now felt like a cruel mockery; my chest ached as if my heart had been gouged out.

Before long, I was pushed into the operating room. A rush of icy anesthesia seeped into my body.

The next moment, everything faded to black before my eyes, and I fainted.

Fallyn’s POV

When I opened my eyes again, I stared blankly at the hospital ceiling.

The moment Garth noticed I was awake, his reddened eyes brimmed with emotion. He took my hand, his voice thick with pain and distress.

“Honey, you’re finally awake! Are you still in pain?” he asked.

Without waiting for my response, he continued, “I was waiting outside the OR this whole time. You have no idea how scared I was. I was terrified… you wouldn’t make it through. If something had happened to you, then from now on, we…”

Before he could finish, I cut him off.

“Where’s the baby?”

I tried to sound calm, as though I hadn’t heard his ruthless plans, but my fingernails were digging deep into my palms.

Could he really be so cruel… that he would kill our baby alive?

If only he gave the baby back to me, I could forgive him for everything that had happened before.

Silently, I prayed with all my heart. ‘Please… don’t let him disappoint me.’

But in the very next moment, his words ripped my heart apart.

“Honey… I’m sorry. The baby… The baby didn’t make it.”

A tear slid down his cheek as he spoke.

But I felt he was only faking it.

Without noticing the shift in my expression, he went on, “Honey, after what happened this time, I’m truly terrified of losing you. The baby is gone, and if something happened to you too… I couldn’t go on living.”

“How about… we don’t try for another next time? We could adopt instead,” he suggested.

I lowered my gaze to the stitched wound on my abdomen.

My baby… was taken from here—torn from me while still alive!

I asked again, my eyes teary. “Did Dad’s surgery succeed?”

His gaze flickered before he answered with a trace of guilt, “It failed. The chief surgeon said that donor heart wasn’t suitable for your father. If they had gone through with it, he wouldn’t have survived the operation.”

Probably seeing the color drain from my face, he hurried to pull me into his arms, murmuring gently, “Don’t worry. I’ll find another donor heart for him. I promise I won’t let you go through the pain of losing another loved one.”

A sharp ache pierced my chest; he had said the exact same thing when Mom fell from the cliff.

And in the end, not a single one of his promises came true.

My dad had fought to survive for five long years, and he should have finally regained his health.

But Garth ruined everything!

For Heisley’s sake, he had already taken two of my loved ones from me!

And now… he wanted to take the third!

At that thought, hatred burned in my eyes as I looked at him.

But he didn’t seem to notice. He just kept making his assurances.

“Until you recover, I’ll stay by your side, honey.”

He gazed at me with that same gentle look, as if nothing between us had ever changed.

Just then, his phone rang.

Through the small gap between us, I saw the caller ID clearly—it was Heisley.

I saw hesitation flicker across his face.

But the next moment, he bent down and pressed a light kiss to my cheek.

“There’s something at the company I need to handle,” he lied. “I’ll step out for a bit and come right back. You must rest well.”

I nodded in silence, watching him walk away.

When his figure finally disappeared from view, I took out my phone and dialed a number.

“I’ll marry you,” I said evenly, “but on one condition—destroy the Mulligans.”

A soft, amused laugh came from the other end.

“You can name another condition. Destroying that family… is something I’m more than happy to do.”

Fallyn’s POV

Three days later, under my firm insistence, Garth finally helped me complete the discharge procedures and brought me home.

I had already made an agreement with that man I called earlier—ten days from now, I would leave, taking the divorce papers with me.

Once we arrived home, Garth treated me with the utmost tenderness.

Anything concerning me, he handled without complaint. He even went so far as to personally make meals for me in the kitchen.

For three years of marriage, he had done this almost every single day.

I used to believe it was because he loved me. Now I realized it was nothing more than a carefully spun illusion—a false dream he wove for me to live in.

When I thought of my mom and my baby’s tragic deaths, all I was left with inside was a cold emptiness, a numb desolation.

I said nothing, and Garth didn’t seem to mind.

Once everything was tidied away, he gently pulled the covers over me.

The very next second, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and a flash of urgency crossed his face.

“Honey, something’s come up at the company. I’ll go take care of it. You just rest, okay?” he said quickly.

Before I could answer, he had already turned and hurried out the door.

I watched his car disappear down the road, and then I turned and went into the study.

Over the past three years, I had saved countless photos of us together.

Now, one by one, I deleted them all.

After that, I began typing out the divorce agreement word by word.

When I was done, I noticed something strange—a hidden folder in the computer’s file library.

My chest tightened. On impulse, I tried opening it with Heisley’s birthday.

It unlocked immediately.

Inside were hundreds of thousands of photos and countless videos—every single one of Heisley.

From when she was fifteen up until now, every stage of her life had been carefully stored by Garth.

There was even a detailed list of her preferences: what she liked, what she hated—all recorded with absolute clarity.

During our threeyear marriage, every time Garth said he was away on a business trip, he had actually been with Heisley.

And I had never once suspected.

The Telegram icon was still open in the corner of the screen. Almost without thinking, I clicked it.

At the top of his pinned chats, there was only one contact. Just one.

And it wasn’t me.

I opened it, and the entire chat history was filled with Garth and Heisley’s messages—three years’ worth, without a single gap.

In their most recent conversation, he told her that everything had been taken care of.

She replied.

[If Fallyn finds out, will she be angry? I already owe her so much, to begin with. And now, she’ll probably hate me to death, Garth.]

Garth comforted her with a few patient words at first. But then his tone turned cold and merciless.

[I’ve already kept her as my wife. No matter what, she should be satisfied with that.]

At that point, I could no longer hold back my tears.

Clutching the divorce papers tightly in my hands, I swore to myself, ‘I’ll gladly let Heisley be his wife. But they will pay the price for two lives!’

The next second, a voice came from outside the study.

“Honey? What are you doing in here?”

Fallyn’s POV

I turned and saw Garth standing at the doorway.

“I’m just organizing some documents,” I replied evenly.

Before he could speak, a voice suddenly came from behind him.

“What documents are you working on, Fallyn? Didn’t you stop going to the company after you got married? Don’t tell me… you’re secretly chatting with another man behind Garth’s back?”

Peeking her head out from behind him, Heisley spoke with a voice dripping with malice.

I didn’t answer. My eyes just stayed fixed on Garth.

To my surprise, a flicker of suspicion passed through his gaze before he finally looked at me.

“Heisley’s baby is in the hospital. Since our place is closer, I told her she could stay here for now,” he explained dryly, obviously already bracing himself for the outburst he expected from me.

Because of the previous generation’s grievances, my relationship with Heisley had never been good.

And after my mom’s fall from the cliff, my exfiancé had chosen her without a moment’s hesitation.

From that point on, we were sworn enemies.

Garth knew I would get mad and had already planned how to coax me.

But to his surprise, I didn’t lose my temper—instead, I simply nodded.

Hesitation flashed in his eyes. I reached over and handed him the divorce papers.

Just as he was about to read the contents, a pair of hands suddenly covered his eyes from behind.

Heisley’s gaze fell on the divorce agreement, and her eyes actually lit up.

In a deliberately sweetened voice, she said, “Why bother reading the papers your wife gives you, Garth? Just sign them right away. Don’t hurt her feelings.”

He paused in the motion of prying her hands away, and then he smiled at her indulgently.

“Alright. Whatever you say.”

The next second, he picked up a pen and signed his name without hesitation.

I carefully put the divorce agreement away, and only then did Heisley remove her hands.

She looked at me smugly, her expression silently mouthing the words, “Well, at least you know your place.”

Garth, oblivious to her gesture, opened his mouth as if to say something to me.

But Heisley stepped forward first, looping her arm through mine with a bright smile.

“Garth, let me have a good chat with Fallyn. After all, it’s been such a long time since we last saw each other,” she said, her grip on my arm tightening painfully, digging in until I felt warm blood beading under her nails.

I winced and struggled to pull away, but the next moment, she stumbled backward and fell hard to the floor.

In that instant, panic flashed across Garth’s face. He rushed over and scooped her into his arms.

With tears brimming in her eyes, Heisley looked up at him.

“Why would Fallyn do this to me, Garth? I just wanted to talk to her...”

The moment her words fell, his gaze toward me turned to anger.

If she weren’t still in his arms, I was certain he would have come at me.

“It wasn’t me!” I burst out. “You can check the security cameras! She’s the one—”

“Enough!”

His roar cut me off. Then, seeing the expression on my face, his own flattened into a cold mask.

“I believe Heisley,” he said with a deep frown. “Honey, you shouldn’t have done this. Apologize to her!”

When I didn’t move, he stepped forward and seized my arm in a bruising grip.

“I told you, it wasn’t me! I won’t apologize!” I protested.

His hand tightened so much it felt as if he might snap my arm.

When he realized I truly wouldn’t give in, he suddenly flung me to the floor.

“In that case, you won’t be attending tomorrow’s family party. I’ll be bringing Heisley with me instead.”

My eyes widened.

He knew perfectly well that the family party was a major event.

If the woman by his side was Heisley, it would mean, in the eyes of the entire family, that she was the official wife.

Did he have any idea what position that would leave me in?

Fury shook through me, but still, I gritted my teeth and refused to apologize.

In the end, he looked at me with disappointment before carrying Heisley away.

Once I was sure they were gone, I took the signed divorce agreement and walked out of the study without a second thought.

Fallyn’s POV

The next day, I dressed neatly and was about to head out when I ran into Garth coming back with Heisley.

Seeing me ready to leave, he suddenly stepped forward.

“I’ll give you a ride, honey,” he offered.

I hadn’t even replied before he went on, speaking as if my answer didn’t matter.

“About what happened yesterday, you were indeed in the wrong. But I’ve already apologized to Heisley on your behalf. Just don’t let it happen again, alright? Anyway, you’re going to the hospital to see your dad, right? Well, you’re right on time. Heisley’s going there, too.”

With that, he grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the car.

Heisley was quicker than me, slipping straight into the passenger seat. And then she looked back at me with open provocation.

“I get carsick, Fallyn,” she explained. “Please let me sit here, okay?”

Garth nodded in agreement beside her.

I swallowed the bitter laugh that rose in my throat and said flatly, “Whatever.”

When we reached the hospital, I ignored them entirely and went straight into Dad’s ward.

He was still asleep, so I didn’t wake him. Instead, I turned to find a doctor and get an update on his condition.

His previous attending physician had already been sent abroad by Garth. At least now, I could finally get the truth.

A while later, I returned to the ward, gripping Dad’s medical report tightly in hand.

I hadn’t even stepped fully inside when I saw Heisley leaning toward him, speaking in a low voice. Garth stood a short distance away, watching them.

In the next instant, Dad’s eyes flew open, and his face flushed a dangerous red.

I froze for a moment, and then I rushed forward and shoved Heisley away.

“Dad! Dad, what’s wrong?” I cried.

He pointed at Heisley, gasping for breath.

“SShe…”

Before he could finish, he clutched his chest and collapsed.

I didn’t have time to think. I shot to my feet, calling frantically for help.

By the time he was rushed into the operating room, I spun on my heel and stormed toward Heisley.

“What the hell did you say to my dad?!” I demanded.

Before I could even touch her, Garth stepped in front of me, blocking my way.

His entire face was tense as he turned to check on the woman behind him, as though worried I might frighten her.

She gazed at him with pitiful eyes, though a glint of triumph flickered deep within them.

“Garth, I really didn’t do anything!” she swore.

“Garth! Let go of me!” I demanded.

But instead of releasing me, his grip only tightened so hard it felt like he might break my wrist.

I looked into his face, and a wave of despair swept over me.

In his heart, I was worth far less than Heisley. Whether I was right or wrong, he would always take her side.

The thought drained the last of my strength. I let my hand fall limp in his grasp.

For a moment, he seemed to falter when he saw the hopelessness in my expression.

But before he could say a word, Heisley suddenly rushed forward and slapped me across the face.

The force was so strong a sharp crack rang out in the corridor.

My head snapped to the side, and I even tasted blood in my mouth.

“Fallyn!” her eyes brimmed with tears. “I told you, I didn’t do anything! Why did you have to kidnap my mom and my dad?!”

I stared at her, utterly stunned.

Fallyn’s POV

“I did not!”

I shouted it with every ounce of strength I had.

Garth paused when he heard me.

Noticing this, Heisley’s gaze flickered with a hint of malice. She pulled out her phone, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded toward him.

“Garth, please… please make her release my parents. I’ll beg and apologize to her as long as she’s willing to let go of them!”

Garth glanced at the video on Heisley’s phone, his expression unreadable.

The next second, he began walking toward me, each step slow.

“Fallyn. Apologize to Heisley,” he said. His voice was calm, even tinged with exhaustion.

“Tell me,” he asked, “where did you take her parents?”

A chill seeped through me. My voice came out hoarse and strained.

“I didn’t fucking kidnap them!”

The next moment, his hand clamped around my chin, hard and unyielding.

“Why?” His deep, shadowed eyes bored into mine. “Why would you do something like this?”

“If you don’t tell me the truth right now,” he warned, “I’ll have no choice but to stop your dad’s surgery.”

My eyes widened in disbelief. I stared at him, unable to believe what I’d just heard.

“Garth! That’s my father!”

He let out a long sigh, but his tone was chillingly damn serious.

“You’re the one who chose to disregard the lives of Heisley’s parents. Now, cooperate with me—tell me where they are, and nothing will happen to your dad.”

I glared at him, my heart twisting in bitter realization at how laughable all my devotion to him had been.

“Garth,” I rasped, forcing the words out, “I told you—I didn’t do it. Why won’t you believe me?”

Something flickered in his eyes. He released me suddenly, and for the briefest moment, guilt crossed his face.

But almost instantly, Heisley’s sobs rose from behind him.

She crawled closer on her knees, tears falling as she choked out, “Fallyn… my parents can’t hold on much longer. Please, I’m begging you, let them go! I’m begging you—just please…”

Before her words had even faded, Garth’s face darkened.

He waved a hand sharply. And in an instant, bodyguards rushed toward Dad’s operating room!

The next second, the red light above the door went dark…

And then, the chief surgeon was dragged out by force!

My vision went red. I lunged forward, trying to shove the surgeon back inside, but Garth’s grip locked around my wrist like iron.

“Let me go! I told you I didn’t do it! Let the surgeon back in! Hurry!”

My voice broke into a hysterical shout.

But Garth only stared at me with indifference, his grip not loosening in the slightest.

“Apologize to Heisley, tell me where her parents are, and your father’s surgery will continue,” he demanded.

“Otherwise…” he warned, “that red light above your father’s OR will never come on again.”

My whole body trembled like a leaf in the wind.

“They’re in the basement of the West Hill Villa.”

Clinging to the last scrap of hope, I lied.

Garth studied my face for several seconds, and then he finally released me.

I rushed to the surgeon, shoving him back through the doors of the OR.

But only minutes later, he came out again.

He sighed, shaking his head.

“I’m sorry. We couldn’t save him.”

My pupils trembled. My eyes went wide.

“No… No, that’s impossible. Dad wouldn’t just die…”

I couldn’t hold myself back any longer. I stumbled into the room, only to be met with Dad’s lifeless, pallid face.

All strength drained from my body, and I collapsed to the floor.

Even Garth froze for a moment at the sight.

He reached out, as if to comfort me.

But then Heisley’s choked voice came from the doorway.

“Garth, can we go find my parents now? Please, I’m really so worried about them…”

His outstretched hand stilled in midair.

A few seconds passed before his voice came, rough and low.

“Sorry. Lives are at stake.”

With that, he turned and strode away, his steps urgent and eager to rescue Heisley’s parents.

That made a cold laugh escape from my throat.

“Garth. If you walk out that door, I swear, I will never forgive you for the rest of my life!”

His stride faltered for a split second. But in the end, he didn’t hesitate. He left.

I stared after his disappearing figure, feeling the hatred burning in my chest.

So Heisley’s parents’ lives mattered, but my dad’s didn’t?!

Thank God… Thank God, I had already prepared for this.

I felt Dad’s faint and shallow breath, and tears spilled down my face.

Calming myself, I sent a single message.

Within minutes, someone came to take him away.

In just four more days, I would be able to leave this hell for good!

Fallyn’s POV

After taking care of Dad’s affairs, I returned to the villa.

I packed away all my identification documents and a few changes of clothes.

Everything Garth had ever given me—I had no intention of taking with me. In fact, I had already destroyed part of it.

The door swung open just as I zipped my suitcase shut.

Garth’s eyes darkened when he saw the scene before him.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

I glanced at him calmly, offering no reply.

He froze for a moment, as if remembering what had happened in the hospital. Then he said, “I know you’re still grieving. Your father’s death… I feel sorry about it too.”

In an instant, he shifted the blame to me. “But in the end, this all happened because you kidnapped Heisley’s parents. Otherwise, none of this would have occurred. You’re just paying for your crime.”

He actually said it matteroffactly. Behind him, Heisley suddenly appeared, tears streaming down her face.

She clutched the sleeve of his shirt, crying in a pitiful, trembling voice. “Garth, we still don’t know where my parents are. What do I do?”

The moment her words fell, Garth’s expression hardened.

His gaze turned cold as he looked at me. “Fallyn, that address you gave in the hospital was fake. Heisley’s parents were never there. Now, tell me where they are. Right this instant.”

I met his eyes and let out a cold laugh.

“I already told you it wasn’t me. Now that my dad is dead, what more can you possibly threaten me with?”

His brows knitted tightly.

After a moment of hesitation, he said, “Stop being difficult, honey. Don’t make me use extreme measures. As long as you tell us where Heisley’s parents are, everything can be put behind us. But if you refuse… I’ll have no choice but to let the law deal with you.”

After that, a glint of ruthless determination flashed in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Heisley tugged timidly at his sleeve. “Garth, isn’t that going too far? No matter what, she’s still your wife.”

Her tone was soft, almost pleading. But when her gaze flicked toward me, a trace of mockery flashed in her eyes.

Garth looked at her with pained tenderness. “Heisley, you’re far too kind. Even if she is my wife, that doesn’t excuse what she’s done!”

Her eyes reddened with emotion, and she bit her lip before throwing herself into his arms.

Garth instinctively glanced my way. When he saw the unshakable calm on my face, irritation flickered across his expression.

Almost as if to prove something, he wrapped his arms around Heisley even tighter.

“Garth, you’re far too good to me,” she murmured tearfully. “If Fallyn is willing to tell us where my parents are, then don’t lock her up. But if she still refuses… just imprison her for a few days.”

Garth was silent for a few seconds before his gaze turned cold again.

“You heard her, Fallyn. Speak up. Heisley has already been more than forgiving toward you.”

There was a flicker of something complicated in his eyes.

But in the end, I answered, my voice firm and unwavering. “I didn’t do anything!”

With that, I gripped my suitcase and made to leave.

His heart probably gave a faint tremor at my resolute demeanor, but anger quickly outweighed any trace of panic.

Glancing at the stillcrying Heisley, he shut his eyes for a brief moment. When he opened them again, he gave a sharp wave of his hand.

The next second, someone seized me in an iron grip. I struggled with all my strength, but it was useless—I was dragged out with brutal force!

Fallyn’s POV

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a detention center.

It had only been three days, yet it felt like half a year.

From the moment I stepped inside, I became everyone’s target.

They hurled every kind of insult at me, shoving me to the floor again and again no matter how hard I struggled.

Sometimes they would grab me by the hair and slam my head into the wall over and over.

Every inch of my body bore bruises.

I asked for help, but no one came.

In the end, all I could do was curl up in a corner, battered and broken, enduring those hellish three days.

On the morning of the fourth day, they tossed me out like I was nothing more than trash.

Shaking and unsteady, I walked back to the villa alone, one slow step at a time.

My documents were still in my suitcase. I needed it before I could leave.

I hadn’t even stepped inside the villa when I heard Heisley’s tinkling laughter, followed by the sweet and playful voice of a child.

I froze when I saw the little boy leaning against Garth’s side.

Now, they looked like a real family of three.

With a blank expression on my face, I walked past them.

But Garth suddenly called out to me.

His brows knitted tightly as his eyes swept over my disheveled figure.

There wasn’t a single clean patch on me—my face, my hands, every visible inch of skin was covered in cuts and bruises.

A faint tightness seemed to have gripped his chest because he rasped, “It’s only been three days. How did you end up like that?”

Heisley clung onto his arm.

“Maybe she wants your sympathy,” she said lightly. “If you ask me, my parents are even more badly hurt than she is, but… ah…”

She sighed theatrically, and Garth’s face instantly darkened.

“Have you made enough trouble?” he snapped.

I gave the barest curl of my lips, too drained to explain. Turning away, I slowly made my way upstairs.

After finding my documents, I began to pack.

Just then, Garth came in through the front door.

When he saw me dragging a suitcase, a mocking smile tugged at his lips.

“Enough. Games like this lose their effect if you use them too often. I know you can’t bear to leave.”

I didn’t respond, simply sidestepping him to head out.

But he caught my wrist. His tone was calm, almost casual, as he said, “We’re celebrating Heisley’s son’s recovery today. He’s just been discharged from the hospital in good health. Get yourself ready and come join us.”

I froze for a heartbeat, and a silent, bitter laugh curled in my chest.

The heart beating in that boy’s chest was supposed to be my father’s. Garth stole it from him, and now he had the nerve to invite me to that kid’s party!

He didn’t wait for my answer. Certain I would agree, he turned and headed downstairs.

Only after they had left did the car I’d been waiting for arrive.

Before getting in, I sent out one last message.

[Proceed as planned. Deliver three gifts. Starting today, I want Garth and Heisley to live in hell!]

With that, I snapped the phone in two and stepped into the car without looking back at the villa I used to call my home

From this day forward, Garth and I would have nothing to do with each other!