Chapter 3

I turned to leave, but Kolson caught up, half-supporting, half-dragging me into the car, and then hit the central lock.

"Let me out!" I shouted.

"Jaxton is already at your place. You are still not going back, huh?" he said.

His words drained every ounce of strength from me. I stared at him in disbelief. "Does putting me through all this really amuse you?"

Kolson's brow furrowed. "Stop throwing a tantrum. Once we're back in Metrovale, our engagement will continue like before."

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he added, "But actually, we're not engaged anymore. Veronica and I are already married."

I couldn't help but find it ridiculous, turning away from his searching gaze. "Well, then I wish you two a happy marriage and lots of kids."

The car pulled up at the alley entrance. "Veronica is here too. I'll go get her."

I didn't bother responding to Kolson. I got out of the car, numb.

When I walked in, I saw Jaxton sitting on the couch, totally zoned out, staring at an old photo of me singing.

Jaxton said, "Didn't you use to love singing? Why don't you sing now?"

He looked up at me, confused, and then glanced around the shabby room, his voice raspy. "I'm not gonna fuss about you changing your name, but don't you know what kind of life have you been living these years?"

Maybe I was seeing things, but his eyes looked a little red at the corners.

I took the photo from his hand, my voice as calm and cold as ever. "Don't worry, I can't sing anymore. I'll never fight Veronica for the spotlight again. Will you let me go now?"

Jaxton clamped down on my shoulders, his eyes bloodshot. "After your contract ended, you disappeared without telling anyone.

"So, who is really tormenting whom? What do you mean you can't sing anymore? What's wrong with your voice?"

I turned my head away from his hand. "Drop the act, Uncle Jaxton."

My voice was barely above a whisper. "When they burned my throat, Charles called you. I heard everything."

What he said back then was like a knife coated in ice, stabbing right into the softest part of my heart.

"Her voice is wrecked? Whatever. Edith's always been too proud, always showing off her Best Song Award in front of Veronica. She needs to be taught a lesson. Send a doctor over later," he said at the time.

"You... You heard all that?" he said

Jaxton's voice snapped me out of my memories.

"No way. Charles told me you caught a cold and lost your voice. What do you mean someone burned your throat?" he said.

"Uncle Jaxton." A sweet, coquettish voice drifted in from the doorway.

Veronica walked in, clutching a stack of papers, and snuggled up to Jaxton's arm. "I asked everyone at the company who ever worked with Edith. They all said she strained her voice.

"It's nothing serious, just needed some rest. Nobody bullied her at all. Look, Uncle Jaxton, here are their testimonies. You don't need to worry about her."

Jaxton's hesitation disappeared in a flash, his expression twisting as he looked at me. "So, how did your voice get messed up?"

Same old story. No matter how badly I got screwed over, Veronica could spin any lie she wanted, and he'd swallow it whole.

I slipped the photo into my bag, my heart turning to ice. "Get out. Now."

Suddenly, Veronica thrust the latest smartphone right in front of me. "Hey, Edith, you've been missing for ages. Your fans are all worried about you. Come on, say hi to everyone."

I glanced at the screen. Over 300,000 viewers tuned in live. Panic hit me like a tidal wave.

It was like that press conference years ago. Everyone got duped by fake evidence, pointing fingers and calling me a killer right to my face, saying I should pay with my life.

"Get away. Stop filming me!" I completely lost it, smacked the phone out of her hand, stumbled back, pressing myself against the cold wall, gasping for air.

Panic and concern flickered in Jaxton's eyes. "What's wrong with you?"

"Edith, do you not want to see me? I'll leave right now," Veronica said, her voice all fake and choked up.

"Leave me alone, I'm begging you!" I cut her off.

"My voice is completely gone. I can never sing again. I'm not going to make it much longer, so why do you keep coming back to torment me?"

"Edith, Uncle Jaxton and I have been searching for you for ages. How could you say that?" Veronica said.

Jaxton's face instantly darkened. "Veronica has been worried sick about you, and this is how you repay her?"

He kept barking questions at me, but I couldn't process a single word.

I hugged my head, curling up defensively. "Please, leave me alone."