###Chapter 3
He hung up. Cold. No hesitation.
Seconds later, he sent a photo.
It was a scanned document. An investment contract signed between my mom and Piper.
Bold letters in the center screamed at me:
Investments carry risk. All losses due to personal judgment errors are the client’s own responsibility.
My mother’s signature and fingerprint sat neatly at the bottom.
He’d been preparing for this. His legal team-massive, ruthless-ready to crush me like I was nothing.
Still, I went to the Marks Corp building.
In the elevator, I ran into Piper.
She was wearing a custom Chanel gown, carrying a handbag worth more than most people’s cars and of course-the princess bracelet shimmered on her wrist.
She looked like royalty. Like someone born into love.
Her lips curled into a smile the second she saw me.
“Oh no, Annelise… you look awful,” she cooed. “Guess it’s true what they say when a womar gets old, the bloom fades. No wonder Colin lost interest.”
Then, with mock concern, she said, “Still haven’t buried your mom? Want me to help plan the funeral? I mean, we are family after all.”
My hands curled into fists. Rage boiled up inside me until it threatened to burn me alive.
‘You knew it was a scam,” I hissed. “You knew! That was telecom fraud and tricked my mom into giving up every cent she had!”
She feigned hurt, but the corner of her lips twitched with amusement.
‘How could you accuse me like that? I was just trying to help,” she said sweetly. “Your mom wanted to earn more for your wedding dowry. I couldn’t say no to her, could I?”
My chest tightened. I could feel the blood rushing to my
head.
‘Boy, that old hag love you like the world, didn’t she?” she sneered.
Then she leaned in close and whispered near my ear, “One day, I stepped on Mr. Marks’s favorite peonies-on purpose. The butler said he’d dock her three months’ pay. She begged on her knees. Right there.”
‘I found out later she hadn’t taken a day off in months. Just to save money… for you,” Piper went on, giggling. “When I told her to crawl through the garden like a dog? She did it. Just like that.” My world crumbled. All those times my mother smiled and told me not to worry about a thing while I planned my wedding… I never knew what she had to endure for my sake.
As the elevator doors opened, something inside me snapped.
I raised my hand, eyes blazing.
“Piper, you’re a monster!”
But before my hand even touched her, she threw herself out of the elevator, crying hysterically as she held her face.
“Annelise, I said I was sorry! I even knelt to you, but you’re still being so cruel-do you really want me dead that badly?!” she sobbed dramatically. “If you want me dead so bad, then fine! I’ll die for your mother!”
She staggered up, pretending to hurl herself into the wall.
“Piper!”
A figure rushed forward, arms wrapping protectively around her-Colin.
He yanked her into his arms and slammed into me with his shoulder. I wasn’t prepared. My head whipped back, smacking the wall behind me with a sickening thud.
The world tilted.
Warm blood trickled down the back of my neck.
Colin turned on me, his eyes bloodshot with rage.
“Anneliese Ward, how dare you? Apologize to Piper. Now.”
It was like she was his wife. And me? Just some lunatic who had to be dealt with.
Piper sobbed against his chest, trembling.
“I know she’s just hurt, she whimpered, clinging to him like he was her lifeline, “but I already said I’d pay for it. I’d take on every job I could, even illegal ones. But she… she still hit me. And she cursed me-said I should drop dead.”
Colin wrapped his arms tighter around her, jaw clenched, eyes dark with fury.
“Have I not compensated you enough?” he snapped at me. “Look at yourself. You’re just like your mother. Petty. Greedy. Always playing the victim. You two deserved the punishment.”
My breath caught in my throat. The room spun, but I stood rooted, too stunned to move.
“Petty and greedy?” I whispered, staring at him like I’d never seen him before. “Is that really what you think of me? That seeking justice for my mom makes me some money-hungry lunatic?”
Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall.
Something in Colin flickered when he saw me holding back my tears. But the moment Piper whimpered in his arms, his expression hardened again.
“I saw you try to hit her. I don’t care what your excuse is.”
He took a step forward. “This is the last time I’ll say it. Apologize.”
My heart clenched like it was being crushed in a vice.
“And what if I don’t?” I said coldly.
7:28 pm
4
