Her voice turned cold as ice. "The family's fortune belongs to me and my child. Willy loves me. He loves us. He even got rid of your son for me." She leaned in, her lips nearly brushing my ear. "To be a woman as pitiful as you… it’s honestly humiliating. If I were you, I’d just bash my head against a rock and end it all."
Something inside me snapped. My hand flew up, ready to strike, but before I could touch her, Sophia suddenly let out a sharp cry and tumbled down the stone steps.
I barely had time to react before a strong hand shoved me backward. I stumbled, barely catching myself as Willy rushed forward—his arms reaching out to catch her just in time.
He cradled Sophia against his chest, his face twisted with fury as he turned on me.
"Carol!" he roared. "Are you insane?! Who gave you the right to lay a hand on Sophia?!"
Without giving me a chance to explain, Sophia clutched Willy’s arm, her delicate face contorted with sorrow as tears welled in her eyes.
"Willy, I only came to comfort Carol, but she accused me of wearing red on purpose to curse her. She said I was mocking her grief and even tried to push me down the steps to my death so I could be buried alongside Little Treasure!" she sobbed pitifully. "She even threatened to find a master to perform dark magic so that Little Treasure would return as a vengeful ghost to haunt me! I’m so scared, Willy!"
Her voice trembled as she buried herself deeper into his embrace. "I rushed here straight from the airport—I didn’t even have time to change! I was only thinking about paying my respects to Liam. How could she misunderstand me like this?" Her body shuddered as she wept. "I’m really afraid..."
Willy's face darkened with anger as he turned to me, his eyes filled with disappointment and disgust.
"Carol, you’re the one who brought this misfortune upon yourself, but you dragged Liam into it too," he accused coldly. "Sophia only came out of kindness, yet instead of being grateful, you lashed out at her?"
His voice sharpened. "And what’s wrong with wearing red? Sophia said it wasn’t intentional. Maybe Liam liked bright colors. Why do you always assume the worst?"
I clenched my fists, my entire body shaking with fury. "You think I’m heartless?" My voice cracked as I pointed to Little Treasure’s tombstone. "Then tell me, Willy, do you have a clear conscience?"