Chapter 4

I took the invitation, half in doubt.

The moment I opened it, my pupils shrank.

Printed clearly across it: the engagement party of Mr. Nat Delgado and Ms. Violet Head.

The time and place were exactly as Prudence had said.

I stared at those two lines, my fingers trembling slightly.

Prudence added one more thing.

"The two of them have decided to get engaged tonight."

"After the trial ends, once you've been successfully put away in prison."

"Then they'll formally hold the wedding."

The more I listened, the more alarmed I became.

I thought I already knew a good deal of the truth.

But the reality was far crueler than I'd imagined.

I frowned at the woman in front of me.

"Why are you telling me all this? Aren't you and Violet best friends?"

Prudence gave a faint smile.

"We've only been best friends for three years."

"To put it nicely, we're friends."

"To put it bluntly, we've just been using each other."

She paused, then added another line.

"I simply can't stand watching them bully someone like this."

I knew she definitely wasn't telling me the whole truth, but I didn't press her.

After all, what she was giving me now was real, solid help.

I murmured a thank you.

She stood up to leave.

She walked to the door, then turned back.

From her bag she took out a manila evidence envelope.

"This is for you."

It was heavy in my hand.

She didn't say what it was—she just left.

Only when I opened it did I understand.

Inside was the evidence of my mother, Violet, and Nat conspiring to frame me.

Chat logs, audio recordings, videos.

Every single one was enough to nail them.

I sat there holding the envelope for a long time.

The more I looked, the harder my hands shook.

My phone rang many times during it all.

I didn't answer a single call.

I just sat on the sofa and smoked half a pack of cigarettes.

Six o'clock in the evening.

The Century Grand, the private banquet hall.

Quite a few guests had come.

Most of them relatives and friends.

There were also clients who did business with our family.

Violet and Nat stood up on the stage.

One in a long white dress.

One in a made-to-order suit.

To outsiders, they looked bright and dazzling.

A talented man and a beautiful woman, perfectly matched.

My mother held both their hands, tears in her eyes.

"Nat, Violet."

"Mom has waited so long for this day."

"You two have to be good to each other."

My father sat at the head table.

Raising his glass and chatting with friends and relatives, his face creased with smiles.

The whole scene looked warm and joyful.

But they seemed to have forgotten.

There was still one more member of this family.

Standing at that very moment in the doorway of the banquet hall.

Watching everything before him with cold eyes.

My mother wiped away her tears and looked at Violet.

"Violet, dear, you and Nat should have a baby soon."

"I'll take care of the child from now on."

"All I want in this life is to hold a grandchild."

Violet covered her mouth and smiled.

"Mom, don't worry."

"We will."

The words had barely left her lips.

She seemed to sense something.

She slowly raised her head.

Her line of sight collided with mine at the doorway.

The smile on her face froze in an instant.

Her lips quivered, and then she screamed.

"Thomas Delgado?"

"You... how are you here?!"

Every pair of eyes in the room turned to look at once.

My mother froze too.

Nat frowned before he could stop himself.

I walked calmly into the banquet hall.

Picked up a wine glass that hadn't been used yet and slowly filled it.

Then I lifted my head and scanned the room.

Finally my eyes settled on Violet and the rest of them.

"First of all, I wish you a lifetime of happiness together."

I raised my glass, my tone calm.

A faint, barely-there smile still on my face.

"Second, you ask why I'm here?"

"Simple. I've come to settle the accounts."