Chapter 7
716words
The living room where I'd once been forced to kneel in humiliation felt frozen in time.
Summer had lost all her previous gentleness or sharpness—her face now pale with sheer terror and desperation.
Scattered before her were photos and document copies, like snarling mouths spitting out every filthy detail of her schemes: contacts with medical staff, transfer records, the carefully crafted rumors...
Landon sat across from her, suit still impeccably pressed, but he looked like a soulless statue carved from ice, his eyes filled with dead, chilling emptiness.
"Explain."
He uttered just two words, his voice cold enough to freeze the air.
Summer panicked:
"Landon, please listen... I didn't mean to cause your aunt's death!"
"I was just angry! We're the real couple! I put up with her clinging to you for so long—I just wanted her to back off..."
"Back off?"
Landon let out a humorless, icy laugh, tapping the evidence with his fingertips.
"By bribing a caregiver to repeatedly provoke a critically ill patient at her bedside, spreading rumors that could drive someone to despair, even hinting at delaying treatment—Summer, your idea of 'backing off' is murder."
"I didn't!"
She screamed in denial, lunging to grab his arm, only to be shoved away in disgust.
"It was a misunderstanding! I just told them not to take such good care of the mistress... How was I supposed to know your aunt was so fragile..."
"You didn't know?"
Landon shot to his feet, his tall frame casting a suffocating shadow, pain swirling in his eyes.
"You knew damn well her surgery was imminent—she couldn't handle any stress! You knew that was Chloe's mother! This was murder—in the most despicable, vicious way!"
His roar made Summer shudder, collapsing back to the floor.
She finally realized he was truly furious.
"Landon... I'm sorry, I really know I was wrong!"
She began to sob, pleading desperately.
"For the sake of our seven years as husband and wife, for all the years I took care of your parents... forgive me this once!"
"I swear I'll never appear in front of Chloe again—I'll sign the divorce papers right now! I won't take a thing, I'll leave, please..."
"Husband and wife?"
Landon laughed as if he'd heard the most ridiculous joke.
"Summer, that was just a business deal between our families."
"Your so-called 'care' was just a way to secure your position as Mrs. Bennett. You played the dutiful wife for seven years, but behind the scenes you were hiding this kind of poison."
He bent down, picking up a clear transfer receipt, his fingers white from the pressure.
"Begging now? Too late. Your father's company goes into bankruptcy liquidation tomorrow. All those shady dealings of his—they'll land him in prison for a long time. As for you—"
Summer's face drained completely of color.
She knew how dependent her family's business was on the Bennetts—Landon was cutting off every lifeline.
In the grip of absolute terror, a reckless, venomous rage surged up.
She looked up, her eyes sharp and crazed:
"Landon Bennett! Stop pretending to be the heartbroken hero! Stop acting remorseful! The one who deserves to die is you!"
"You hid the marriage from her! You wanted the family benefits and her love at the same time! You dragged her into this mess! You kept giving me hope while pushing me to the brink!"
"It's you—you're the root of all this tragedy!"
"Your aunt died, and now you're hurting? You deserve it! This is your karma!"
"A selfish bastard like you doesn't deserve anyone's true love! Chloe will never forgive you! She'll hate you for the rest of her life!"
His body swayed almost imperceptibly, his face ashen, but he didn't argue.
Because what Summer screamed was, in large part, the truth he couldn't face himself.
He was the source of every disaster.
"Finished?"
Landon's voice was exhausted, hoarse, and freezing.
"As for you—defamation, causing a disturbance, evidence is airtight. The police will contact you soon."
"Additionally, all assets in your name will be legally disposed of for compensation and debts. Your father will face legal judgment. And between us—this is over."
He didn't spare another glance at the woman on the floor, whose eyes had gone vacant in total collapse. He turned and left the apartment decisively.
