Chapter 3

Back in the city, I ran to every single hospital. Finally, at a high-end private medical center, I found a lead.

A woman victims of a severe car accident had indeed been brought in two nights ago. But her body had been quickly taken away by the Qiao Group.

The hospital itself was owned by Jasmine’s family.

I collapsed onto the steps outside the hospital, watching the busy streets. The crushing weight of helplessness suffocated me.

My mom died without getting to see me one last time. She died with me on her mind.

And I had missed her.

When I got back to the apartment, only Jasmine was there.

I marched up to her, demanding answers.

"Jasmine, you knew she was my mom from the very beginning, didn't you?"

"Why did you do it? Where is her body?!"

Jasmine was painting her nails, her usual sweet, innocent act completely gone.

"Where do you think? Probably in some stray dog's stomach by now."

I clenched my fists, my body shaking with rage.

"Murderers go to jail, Jasmine. Aren't you afraid of karma?"

Jasmine looked up, meeting my eyes with a smirk.

"Lower your voice, babe. We wouldn't want Carter to hear you. In his eyes, I'm just a harmless little bunny."

"Look, don't be so dramatic. I can write you a check for five million dollars. I know you poor people love money."

"But on one condition—take the money and leave Carter forever, okay?"

The rage that had been building up inside me for days exploded. Looking at her smug, disgusting face, I raised my hand and slapped her across the face as hard as I could.

*SLAP!*

A bright red handprint appeared on her cheek.

Jasmine’s eyes flared with anger, but in the next second, she forced tears into her eyes and threw herself onto the floor.

Because the front door was opening. Carter was home.

Jasmine sobbed hysterically on the floor.

"Carter! Stella slapped me! She called me a homewrecker and a whore!"

"Nobody has ever treated me like this..."

Carter’s eyes turned bloodshot. He didn't even take off his shoes before rushing over to me.

"Don't worry, Jasmine. I'll handle this."

He glared at me with absolute hatred.

"Stella, are you actively trying to test my limits?"

*SMACK!*

A brutal slap landed on my face. Carter's blow was ten times harder than the one I gave Jasmine.

I lost my balance and crashed hard onto the floor.

The back of my head struck the sharp corner of the coffee table. A sharp, blinding pain shot through my skull.

Tears streamed down my face. "Carter... you idiot... Jasmine is a murderer! She killed my—"

Before I could finish, Carter kicked me hard in the stomach.

I doubled over, the pain forcing the rest of my words back down my throat.

Carter seemed to realize he had gone too far. Seeing me curled up on the floor in agony, a flicker of guilt crossed his face. He knelt down to help me up.

But Jasmine let out a dramatic groan.

"Oh, Carter... my stomach hurts so bad..."

"Take me to the ER, please!"

Without a second thought, Carter left me on the floor and carried Jasmine out.

The disappointment was crippling. Even after everything, my heart still ached.

Ultimately, it was a kind neighbor passing by who found me and called an ambulance.

At the hospital, the doctor gave me the news: I was pregnant. With triplets.

I didn't hesitate. "I want to schedule an abortion."

In the office, the doctor stopped typing on his keyboard. He looked up at me.

"Triplets, Stella. Are you sure you want to do this?"

My voice was flat. "They’re coming at the worst possible time."

"Just get rid of them."

The doctor’s hands froze over the keyboard.

"What if I told you... I want them?"

I froze. When I first walked into the clinic, I hadn't realized the doctor on duty was Julian Vance. If I had known, I would have canceled the appointment.

But he was the only specialist available.

Julian was my childhood friend. After I started dating Carter, I had cut off all contact with him.

Even though he used to text me to check on me, I had never replied.

"Keep them, Stella. An abortion will ruin your body," he said softly, his eyes filled with concern.

...

For the next week, Carter never came back to the apartment. He only sent a text saying Jasmine was traumatized by the "incident" and he was taking her on a trip to Hawaii to recover.

I didn't waste any time. During that week, Julian and I made a decision. We set a date to get married.

The day before Carter was scheduled to return, I moved all my things out.

The evening before my wedding, Carter finally called me.

"Stella, it's time to come home. I'll take you to the Ferris wheel tonight. Just you and me."

How pathetic, Carter. I'm about to get married, and only now do you remember me?

"Sorry, Carter. I'm getting married tomorrow. My fiancé wouldn't appreciate me meeting up with my ex."

Carter’s mind went blank. He yelled into the phone, "Stella! What the hell are you talking about?! I'm not even there! Who are you marrying?!"

I hung up on him.

Since I was already breaking his heart, I figured I might as well shatter it completely.

I sent him the audio recordings of Jasmine boasting about the murder, along with screenshots of her text messages.

Within minutes, my phone blew up with dozens of Snapchats.

*“Stella, please! Wait for me! You can't marry him!”*

*“Stella, there must be a misunderstanding. Please, just wait for me. I'm begging you...”*