3

Tonight, the night was exceptionally beautiful, with the dim lights casting an eerie glow on the folds of my red dress.

As I left the villa area, I entered a desolate area where some houses had been demolished in the past few months.

While waiting for the ride-hailing driver, I walked along the route, taking the opportunity to calm my mind.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated, and I saw a notification from the surveillance app installed for Kitty.

It alerted me to an intrusion.

Two figures abruptly appeared in my sight. Before I could react, I heard a woman's crisp cry through my earphones, "Is this the decoration done by Avery? I really like this style!"

The woman with long hair and a pale yellow dress naturally linked arms with the person beside her. Her words quickly turned from excitement to unease and guilt.

"Henry, I know I ruined your day to get the marriage certificate. But the moment I saw the message you sent me, I was really afraid that you didn't want me anymore!"

Damn!

The surrounding sounds disappeared instantly as I stood frozen in place, unable to move an inch.

So that was how it was. That was how it was!

Why did Scarlett happen to return on this day?

Why did Henry delay his departure until the afternoon?

What was I then? The whetstone of their love?

In the video, Henry gently comforted the weeping woman in his arms, with tenderness and deep affection.

"It's not your fault. I didn't want to get married. She and I are not the same kind of people."

I had self-respect, and I wasn’t a masochist.

He was the one who approached me first, saying I was like the sun.

He was the one who begged me not to leave when I gave up.

He was the one who said that our relationship always had marriage as its goal!

Years of my dedication had become Henry's comforting words to his lover.

It sent chills down my spine.

I didn't realize the surroundings were amiss until Kitty, who was always timid and gentle, gave an anxious warning.

It wasn't until then that I became aware of a shadow slowly following me.

Looking at the dim, deserted street, I couldn't help but feel panicked.

Subconsciously, I sent a distress message to Henry.

Avery: [Help, I'm in the demolition area. A man is stalking me!]

My palms were sweating, and my legs trembled involuntarily as I quickened my pace.

Just as I was about to call the driver, my hair was forcefully pulled back.

"Help!" I decisively pressed the call button,not knowing who I was calling.

I begged for someone, anyone, to please answer the phone!

"You bi*ch!"

Before I could react, a strong smell of alcohol and sweat enveloped me as a body lunged at me.

In a split second, I instinctively protected my head and was then heavily thrown to the ground, the cage slipping out of my hand not far away.

‘Henry, why didn’t you answer my call?’

Did that call go through to Henry?

In fear, I constantly reassured myself to stay alert and buy time for his arrival.

After all, he was closest to me, less than a five-minute drive away.

As I struggled to sit up in a daze, I saw that it was a tall and greasy middle-aged drunkard.

A strong will to survive instinctively made me plead, "Please, I can give you money. I'll give you all my money. Please spare me."

The man in front of me menacingly approached, his mouth reeking of a mix of alcohol and food as he sneered at me maliciously.

He grabbed my hair again and forcefully slammed my head against the steps beneath me.

"You think you're something just because you have money? I'll make you regret looking down on me!"

It felt like he had broken my hand. Amidst the immense pain, I could no longer control my body.

"How dare you run away with another man and abandon me? Give me all the money you took!"

I couldn't make a sound. Warm, sticky liquid flowed down as my consciousness gradually faded.

Suddenly, the heavy pressure on me disappeared. I struggled to see what was ahead.

‘Is it Henry? Did he come to save me?’

"Where did this damn cat come from? How dare it bite me!"

With all the strength I could muster, when I saw the scene before me, I suddenly felt deflated.

"No!"

The man lifted Kitty high and viciously smashed it against the cracked brick wall.

My Kitty emitted a piercing and unheard-of cry of anguish.

In the blurry redness, I saw Kitty curled up in the pile of garbage, motionless.

The earphones lying beside me transmitted a familiar voice with a cold and cruel tone.

"She? She's probably regretting it now. She must have come up with an excuse."

"Don't worry, she'll come running over soon."

Tears silently streamed down my face as I fell into utter despair.