hapter 12
Chapter 12
When Matilda went upstairs to pack her things, she noticed their wedding photos.
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She had never been much of a smiler, and on their wedding photo day, no matter how hard the photographer tried, she just couldn’t force a natural smile.
Brandon had joked to the photographer, “Other people get married for happiness. I’m marrying for her cold face–how about that?”
Hearing that, Matilda had laughed for real, from the heart, sweet and happy.
Back then, she never could’ve imagined she and Brandon would one day be spitting venom at each other, standing on opposite sides.
A sharp pain tightened in her chest, making it hard to breathe. Beads of sweat broke out on her forehead as she sank to the floor. It took a while before she could finally catch her breath again.
Matilda braced herself on the bed and stood up. Then she went to the living room’s activity area, grabbed a golf club, and smashed every wedding photo in sight.
Then she tore up the promise letter Brandon had once written by hand.
Back then, Brandon had promised in front of her parents and begged, “Please let me marry Matilda. I’ll love and cherish her for life. If not, then let me lose everything I love and never be able to stand again.”
Matilda let out a bitter smile, scattered the scraps of paper, and dragged her suitcase downstairs.
Zack was already gone. Brandon and Shelby were still in the main hall.
Shelby clung to Brandon, whispering, “Brandon, I’ll never betray you. I’ll never leave you.”
Brandon held her hand. “I believe you.”
Tully rolled her eyes in secret. When she spotted Matilda coming down, she rushed to hand Matilda an umbrella. “It’s raining out.”
Before Matilda could thank her, Brandon’s cold voice cut in. “If you’ve got a backbone, don’t use anything from the Grimes family.”
“Brandon, come on. Everything Matilda owns was bought with the Grimes family’s money. How’s she supposed to pay it all back?” Shelby sneered.
Matilda let out a cold laugh. Then, as if she had snapped, she hurled her suitcase straight at Shelby.
Brandon quickly pulled Shelby into his arms. The suitcase slammed into his shoulder and hit the floor, spilling clothes everywhere.
Matilda’s eyes burned red. “Stuff bought with the Grimes family’s money, right? Fine, I’ll give it all back. Earrings, necklace, watch–take it all.”
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Chapter 12
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She threw each piece of jewelry at their faces. “Don’t you just love picking up other people’s leftovers? I’m giving them all to you!”
Then Matilda yanked at her clothes. “Here, take these too!”
She was left standing in nothing but her underwear, her hands moving to strip that off as well.
Brandon panicked, shouting at Tully, “What are you waiting for? Stop her!”
He thought Matilda had completely lost her mind. The servants were all watching—she had no shame left.
Matilda screamed, “Even if I walk out of here naked, I’m still clean! Unlike you two, pawing at each other, calling yourselves family while hiding filthy thoughts nastier than anyone could imagine—”
Tully scrambled to grab a beige embroidered dress from the suitcase and rushed to cover her.
Matilda shoved her away, but when she saw it was the dress her mother had sewn by hand, her rage crumbled. Only heavy breathing remained after her outburst. She let Tully help her into the dress.
Her eyes were wet with tears. She looked up, trying hard not to let them fall. “I’ll remember today.”
She turned back, her bloodshot eyes blazing. “You’d better stay alive and wait for me.”
Matilda stumbled into the street. The misty rain blurred her vision, drops rolling down her cheeks–she couldn’t tell if it was the rain or her tears.
A matte gray Porsche pulled up. The window rolled down, revealing Shelby’s gloating face. “Your car is a pain to drive. I’ll tell Brandon to send it to the junkyard.”
She smirked and added, “Oh, and Matilda–I don’t pick up leftovers. Some things were mine from the start. If it doesn’t belong to me, I wouldn’t take it even if you gave it to me. Like that ugly dress you’re wearing.”
Her smile twisted as she backed up the Porsche, then suddenly gunned it forward.
By the time Matilda realized what Shelby was doing, it was too late. The tires splashed muddy water all over her, soaking her dress and hair until she looked a complete mess.
Shelby’s shrill laugh rang out. “Matilda, you look like a stray dog now!”
“Shelby!” Matilda screamed through clenched teeth, her voice mixing grief and fury with the thunder
overhead.
She wanted to tear Shelby apart. She sprinted after the car, wild with rage.
Just then, another car stopped in front of her. Tessa jumped out and wrapped her arms around Matilda, holding her back. “I saw everything. Matilda, calm down. She won’t get away with this. Just hold on a little longer, okay?”
A flash of clarity flickered in Matilda’s red eyes. As she saw Tessa’s heartbroken face, her anger collapsed into
9:15 Mon, Oct 13
Chapter 12
sorrow.
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She finally broke down, sobbing. “Tessa, I was wrong. I should never have married Brandon. I should’ve left Itera City and taken my parents overseas. If I had, they wouldn’t have died. It’s all my fault!”
Tessa’s tears spilled. “No, it’s not your fault. You’re innocent. They’re the ones who are wrong. Zack’s not home -come stay with me. I even learned how to cook Domburgh food, just to make it for you.”
Matilda stared at Tessa, dazed, then wiped her tears and tried to pull herself together.
Tessa helped her into the car.
They had barely pulled away when a loud bang came from behind. A bulletproof Maybach had rammed them at a controlled speed.
The car jolted, but Matilda and Tessa hardly wanted to deal with it.
Tessa’s driver, Samuel, grabbed an umbrella and stepped out to check. Their white BMW had a long scratch down the paint.
Samuel was about to curse out the other driver, but then the Maybach’s window slid down.
Samuel immediately swallowed his words. He thought anyone who could afford such an expensive luxury car would hire a driver.
However, inside sat a distinguished young man, driving himself. He held out a bank card, his voice calm. “Let’s settle this quietly. This card doesn’t need a password. Fix the car first, then find a way to give the rest to Ms. Warren inside. Got it?”
His words and tone were even, almost gentle, like he was calmly teaching Samuel how to handle things.
But Samuel couldn’t meet his eyes. They were clear and soft, yet gave off the quiet pressure of a python coiled overhead–not the fear of being eaten alive, but a subtle weight that made his skin crawl.
Samuel swallowed hard, took the card, and hurried back to the car.
AD
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