"Caroline," he whined, "I'm sorry... I just wanted to apologize to Victor for the misunderstanding from five years ago... I never thought he'd suddenly... do this..."
“Forget it, Doreen broke off the engagement five years ago, and we were wrong. Today's incident should be seen as compensation. Don’t blame Victor.”
The broken ribs throbbed painfully, and I felt a cold sweat break out across my skin.
“Misunderstanding?” I hissed, my voice trembling with fury. “How dare you call it a misunderstanding?”
“Caroline, what happened five years ago? Don’t I deserve an explanation?”
Her eyes flickered with panic, but she forced herself to speak.
“I’ve been investigating the murderer of that case,” she said, her voice wavering. “I’ve told you, it has nothing to do with Karl. Why are you blaming him? I’m a police officer. Don’t you trust me?”
Her words stung like a slap. "What right do you have to defend Karl when the matter isn’t clear? Victor, you need to apologize to him!”
Before I could respond, my mother-in-law’s face turned icy. Without warning, she rushed at me and slapped me hard across the face.
“Are you crazy? You want to accuse Karl now? My daughter’s investigative skills are well-known. She’s already said it has nothing to do with him. Who do you think you are to attack him?”
Her voice dripped with contempt. “You’re just an orphan whose parents are dead. Do you think you have any standing here?”
“If it weren’t for my daughter saving you, you wouldn’t even know how to sell yourself at that hotel to pay off your debts! It's said that all businessmen are deceitful. Maybe your parents’ death was just karma for their evil deeds.”
“Caroline, don’t waste your time on him. Take Karl to the hospital first.”
Without another glance in my direction, Caroline walked out of the house, Karl cradled in her arms. Five years of love—gone in an instant.
Blood began to trickle from the corner of my mouth as Carol’s parents drove me out of the house. Passersby took me to the emergency room, where I learned that my broken ribs were dangerously close to my heart.
Late that night, Caroline sent me a message. Her words were soft and apologetic.