Chapter 6

I couldn't tell if the pain was making me hallucinate or if I was just so hurt that my mind started wandering.

My nose suddenly felt a bit stuffy.

Raymond used to treat me well.

The first time I was punished and made to kneel, he was the one who pulled me up with one hand, just like now.

He knew I had knee surgery and couldn't take too much damage, or it would affect my ability to walk in the future.

Back then, he held my hand and led me away.

"Raymond."

I couldn't help but call out his name.

But as soon as Raymond spoke, it was like a bucket of cold water extinguishing my foolish hopes.

"Why did you push Ethan down the stairs?"

"Caroline, I actually overestimated you. Ethan is not only hurt but also scared out of his mind."

Push Ethan down the stairs?

No wonder the Brown family had me kneeling and treated me so coldly this morning.

Thinking back to what Emily said yesterday, I had a vague idea of the truth.

Compared to the coldness of the Brown family, Raymond's distrust felt like a slap in my face.

I bit my lip and looked at him.

"You don't believe me?"

It was the same face, but the distrust in his eyes made me feel like his past kindness was all in my imagination.

"Caroline, are you joking?"

Raymond's voice was pleasant, but his words cut like a knife.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind: 'I had seen how much you loved me, so it was even harder to bear when you stopped.'

I looked at his face, and five years of love and resentment exploded in that moment.

"There are cameras in the villa. I didn't do it."

"The cameras are broken, Caroline. Don't tell me you didn't know."

Raymond's tone was as cold as a winter wind.

Broken?

So, I was easily convicted just like that.

We had been married for five years, and he didn't trust me at all.

Emily was his first love.

And what about me?

Ignoring the reactions of the Brown family behind me, I grabbed his hand and bit down hard.

For some reason, Raymond didn't even flinch, making me look like a fool.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

"Raymond, I hate you."

"If you think I hurt Ethan, then call the police."

With that, I ran out of the Brown family home.

I ran until I was exhausted, then sat by the roadside, hugging myself.

I haven't had a home since five years ago.

Besides Prestige Estate, I had nowhere else to go.

Back then, I thought Raymond and I would have a home of our own and a cute child.

But fantasies were just fantasies.

I wiped my tears messily and called Flora. "Flora, I'm at our old spot."

I went to the bar we used to frequent in our college days, the same bar where I first met Raymond.

I ordered a strong cocktail, but even after downing it, the bitterness in my heart didn't fade much.

Instead, the pain felt like a knife cutting into my flesh.

Love at first sight didn't always have a happy ending.

Thinking of Raymond's cold eyes, I numbly drank more, hoping the alcohol would numb my pain.

By the time Flora arrived, I was already a bit out of it.

She was shocked.

"Caroline, what happened..."

"Flora," I couldn't stop crying, "he doesn't believe me."

"He still doesn't believe me."

Thinking about the fake pregnancy incident five years ago, I sniffled.

"Maybe he stopped trusting me since five years ago, and I was just foolishly hoping we could clear up the misunderstanding."

"Caroline," Flora looked at me with pity, "you need to leave him. You can't waste your life on him."

"Leave? I want to leave, but do you know what Ronald said? He threatened me with my mom's life, just like he did to force my mom into a divorce."

"I can't just walk away."

The bitter alcohol burned my throat, and my whole stomach felt like it was on fire.

When I looked up, I saw a man standing at the door.

He was wearing a simple white shirt and black dress pants, looking clean and out of place in the chaos of the bar.

I froze, rubbing my eyes.

Raymond.

Five years ago, he walked into my heart just like this.

I stumbled towards him, step by step, until I was in front of him.

He just looked at me.

How annoying.

That look.

I stared at him for a long time, then suddenly raised my hand and slapped him hard.

"Why are you here, Raymond? Do you enjoy watching me suffer?"

Flora hurriedly grabbed my hand before I could hit him again.

"Caroline, you've got the wrong person."

"Nonsense."

My mind felt like mush.

"He's Raymond. I can't mistake his eyes."

"Flora, don't stop me."

"Sir, I'm sorry. My friend is drunk."

I couldn't hear what Flora said next. She forcefully dragged me out of the bar, and I couldn't remember anything after that.

In a daze, it felt like someone was wiping my face with a wet towel.

The warmth of their hand made me fall into a sweet dream.

"Raymond."

In my dream, that person wiped away my tears.

When I opened my eyes again, it was almost eleven the next morning.

I sat up, my head throbbing like someone was stabbing it with a needle.

I turned and saw a glass of water on the table beside me.

Flora was no longer in the hotel room.

I washed my face, feeling a bit more awake.

When I came out, Flora had returned with breakfast.

"Feeling better?"

"Yeah."

"Caroline, do you want to work?"

"What?"

"Given your current situation with Raymond, your marriage could end any day. You need to plan for the future. I have a producer friend who's looking for a voice actor for a new project. It might help you take your mind off things."

Now that I was sober, I wasn't feeling as down.

"Sure."

Over the past five years, I hadn't been a helpless damsel relying solely on Raymond. The Brown family wouldn't allow me to act, but I had secretly become a voice actor and even started a social media account for dance choreography.

I had gained some popularity.

Even though I loved Raymond and couldn't let go of him just yet, I wasn't foolish enough to give up my whole life.

Without money, I couldn't do anything.

"Then get ready. We'll go for the audition in a bit, okay?"

"Okay."

I quickly pulled myself together and followed Flora to the film company.

I wasn't surprised it was this company. They had recently gotten a new owner from abroad and had many popular projects. They were on the rise.

If I could get in with them...

As soon as Flora and I entered the company, a man walked towards us, with director Leroy Allen by his side.

Leroy smiled at us. "Hello, Ms. Lynn, Ms. Scott."

"Let me introduce you to our head, Mr. Edward Lopez."

I nodded, then turned to see Flora's expression turn strange.

"Flora, what's wrong?"

"Caroline, the man you slapped last night was Mr. Lopez."

I stood there like I had been struck by lightning.