A sarcastic smile appeared on my lips, cutting deep through my heart. His words still echoed in my head.

The man I had loved and trusted for years had not only betrayed me but had actively participated in my brother’s destruction.

I was finding it difficult to stand by after listening to everything. I wanted to go insde and confront him directly but sddenly my phone rang.

It was a jailor. His voice was urgent." Mrs Williams... your brother... he fainted."

I immediately stumbled out of the house, the rain-slicked streets a blur of lights and colors. I ran to the police station. My heart clenched seeing my brother whole body soaked in blood.

"L-Liam!" My voice trembled, "Who did this to you?"

"I-I'm fine, Laura." He barely managed to speak. But, I could see, he was not. Kinleys must have bribed the officials to bully my brother.

"Don't worry, brother." My voce choked, "I'll soon take you out from it, and I promise those who are responsible for this, will suffer a worst fate!"

I had only a brother in my family, who was now a hollowed-out ruin.

I came out of the police station and stood in the rain, the cold drops washing away the last traces of my past life.

My love for Julian, once a vibrant flame, was now nothing but a pile of cold ash. I looked at the rain, and I knew what I had to do.

I then dialed a number. Julian's rival.

"You want the secret information of Julian's company? An information that can destroy him completely? I have them all." I said, my voice firm.

"What do you want from me?" A deep male voice sounded from the other end, excited.

"An evidence that can prove my brother's innocence." I replied.

"Give me two weeks and consider it done!"

Magus Cooper was my childhood best friend, a rock against all the storms in my life. But, I had cut all the ties with him once I got married to Julian.

Reason– Julian did not approve me meeting my male friends and I took all his wishes as a command, a fool in love. Meanwhile, he continued meeting his childhood sweetheart in the name of family gatherings.

Five years, no contacts. Still, he assured me he would help my brother. Once the words escaped through his lips, I knew even if the world collapsed, he would fulfill his promise.

I finally took a sigh of relief as I hung up the call and came back home. I peeked through the door. Julian was sleeping soundly, embracing the red muffler through his heart– a gift from Lesley.