Chapter 21

"Nicole Capra, you're insane!" Susan Thompson abruptly ended the call, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Her chest heaved violently as she leaned against the wall and slowly slid to the floor. The phone screen still glowed, displaying Nicole's final threatening message.

Outside, rain pattered against the window. Susan gazed at Daniel, asleep in the hospital bed. His pale face still bore the exhaustion from treatment. She gently stroked his cheek, silent tears rolling down her face.

Catherine Capra. The name sent a tremor through Susan's heart.

She remembered that rainy day when she had curled up in a muddy corner of the schoolyard. Catherine had walked over with an umbrella, her expensive dress splattered with mud, yet she hadn't cared. When those warm hands lifted her up, Susan had felt cherished for the first time.

"Why...?" Susan clenched her fists. The hatred Nicole held for her own mother sent chills down her spine.

Her phone suddenly vibrated with a notification: Vincent King Officially Takes Over as Head of King Group Today.

Susan's pupils contracted. The man in the photo, dressed in a tailored suit, was unmistakably the same Vincent who had endured the darkness of that prison cell with her.

Memories flooded back. In the darkness, Vincent's weak voice still echoed in her ears: "Susan, once we get out, I promise I'll cure Daniel..."

By the time Susan rushed out of the hospital, the rain had stopped. The sunlight stung her eyes.

The King Group building buzzed with activity. Security stopped her at the lobby, forcing her to head for the underground garage. Her shadow stretched long across the cold concrete floor.

Every minute of waiting felt like torture. Then the elevator doors opened, and at last, the familiar figure appeared.

"Vincent!" Susan lunged forward, grabbing his arm. "It's me! Daniel, he—"

The man coldly shook her off, his brow furrowed. "Miss, please control yourself."

Susan froze. The look in Vincent's eyes was terrifyingly unfamiliar.

"Vincent~" A saccharine voice called from behind. Candy Wilson looped her arm through Vincent's, eyeing Susan with a challenge. "Who's this?"

"I don't know her." Vincent smiled down at Candy, his gaze so tender it hurt.

Susan's entire body went cold. The man who had once called her "Susan" was now using the same endearment for someone else.

"Vincent, look at me!" Her voice shook. "In that cell, you said—"

"Ah!" Candy suddenly shrieked, collapsing to the ground.

Vincent's expression darkened instantly as he pulled Candy protectively into his arms. "Susan, what did you do?"

"It wasn't me!" Susan pointed to the security camera in the corner. "Check the footage—"

"Apologize." Vincent's voice was ice.

Susan stared at him in disbelief. The face that had once smiled so gently at her was now filled with disgust.

"Vincent, my ankle hurts..." Candy whimpered against his shoulder.

Vincent's eyes turned stormy. Before Susan could react, a sharp pain shot through her knee—he had kicked her.

She staggered and fell to her knees. When she looked up, all she saw was Vincent walking away with Candy in his arms.

The rain had started again without her noticing, mixing with her tears and blurring her vision. Curled up on the cold ground, Susan suddenly remembered Vincent's words from long ago:

"Susan, even if the whole world betrays you, I'll stand by your side."

Turns out, even memories can betray you.