Chapter 5

It was two days later when Derek finally returned.

I was in the middle of packing my few belongings.

However, seeing another man in the apartment made Derek blow up instantly.

He stormed over and grabbed Luke by his collar.

"Who the hell are you? What are you doing in my apartment?"

"What's your relationship with Chloe?"

Luke grit his teeth and shoved Derek back with force.

"My relationship with Chloe is none of your business!"

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly. I had been with Derek for five years.

I had asked him countless times to meet my family.

But he always had excuses, corporate meetings, business trips, or taking Serena for her medical checkups.

As a result, he didn't even recognize my own younger brother.

Hearing that I was released, Luke had booked a flight to see me immediately. When he found out about Derek's betrayal, he was livid.

But I still didn't tell him that I had spent the last three years taking the blame for someone else.

Derek turned his furious gaze back to me.

"Chloe, you're sleeping around, aren't you?"

I kept my head down, folding my coat.

"I should be asking you that question."

Derek punched the wall, his eyes narrowing into cold slits.

"How many times do I have to tell you? Serena and I are just friends! We aren't compatible!"

I didn't get angry. I just looked up calmly.

"I've never heard of 'just friends' sleeping together and raising multiple kids."

Seeing Derek's rage escalate, Luke clenched his fists, reaching into my bag to pull out my medical reports.

"Derek, do you have any idea how sick Chloe is..."

Before Luke could finish, the front door swung open. Serena stood there, clutching her stomach, her face pale with pain.

"Derek... my stomach hurts so bad. Please, take me to the hospital..."

......

Luke took me back to Seattle. I visited my mother's grave, and then we went to the beach, a place I had always wanted to see one last time.

By the time Derek tracked Luke down, Luke was just walking out of the local police station.

"Where is Chloe? I need to speak with her."

Luke looked exhausted, his voice devoid of any energy.

"What do you want? Tell me directly."

Derek's tone was filled with icy disgust. "Serena almost had a miscarriage. The doctor said she took abortion pills."

"She said Chloe slipped something into her water cup. I need to ask Chloe face-to-face why she did something so sick."

Luke remained calm, asking quietly, "When did Serena say she saw Chloe do it?"

Derek thought for a moment and said confidently, "Two days ago, in the afternoon."

"She has nothing to deny."

Luke suddenly let out a broken laugh, tears streaming down his face. "But Chloe was buried three days ago."