Chapter 2 Fallen Angel

I covered my face with my hands, helplessly looking at my father. He had never struck me before. This was the first time.

"Enough! You're no longer welcome in the Lynch family. Get out! You're not a Lynch anymore."

My father turned away as if escaping some terrible curse, and left.

I could only stare after him in shock. Then I looked toward August's father, who glared at me with equal disgust before turning away.

Once, he had treated me better than my own father.

I turned my gaze to August again. I saw the bewilderment in his eyes, the sadness.

"You! You!"

In the end, August couldn't form a complete sentence. He, too, walked away.

I watched as everyone who should have loved me abandoned me.

Unable to bear the crushing weight of it all, I fled the scene.

I hid in a corner of a building across the street, but to my surprise, Scarlett had followed me.

I glared at her furiously.

"You did this! You set me up!"

Scarlett let out a soft laugh, seemingly pleased with herself. "Aviah, what are you talking about? I don't understand."

Hearing her laugh, I could no longer contain the rage burning inside me.

"Scarlett, you think I don't know? You've always wanted August, but he was my fiancé—the man you couldn't have. You seduced him the night before our wedding and had me drugged and raped by another man. You did all this just to have him? Wasn't I good enough to you?"

An icy chill spread through my heart, making me feel worthless—both to myself and to my father. "Scarlett! Hasn't the Lynch family been good enough to your family? Your father had no business skills, yet my dad still brought him into the company, including him in everything. He even let your family live in our mansion to take care of you all. Is this how you repay us?"

"Repayment?" Hearing my accusation, Scarlett laughed coldly. "Yes, I admit it. I did it all."

"Why?" My voice trembled with the question.

"Why? The first time I walked into your mansion and saw you at the piano, it was obvious; you were treated like a princess. Everyone adored you. Standing next to you, I just felt invisible."

"Why did you get to be the favorite? Why did everyone always love you more? Even August, whom I'd loved for years, was so infatuated with you."

Scarlett paused briefly. I listened, my hands shaking uncontrollably. She continued, "Why did you get to have everything while I could only stand beside you, watching enviously?"

She added, "Every act of charity you showed me felt like humiliation! I hate you! I'm jealous of you! I wanted to destroy everything you had! Take everything from you! Now I've finally succeeded. Yes, I did it. Last night must have been wild? How did it feel, being with a man?"

"You!" I was too furious to speak.

"What's wrong, Aviah? I didn't think Lakeview's princess ever got upset. I always thought you were above all that."

"You must want to kill me now, don't you?"

I admit I did. I tried to get up, intending to tell my father and August the truth—that I had been set up.

But Scarlett kicked my shoulder, knocking me to the ground. She stepped on my head, smirking coldly.

"I forgot to ask, did you see August and me making love last night? How did it feel? He's quite obsessed with my body. Your man is mine now. Everything that was yours will be mine!"

She humiliated my soul with her words, trampled my body under her foot, crushing my spirit.

I cried in agony, my entire body trembling.

"Aviah, you look like a stray dog now. Why don't you just die quietly in some forgotten corner? That's the last mercy I'll show you. I need to comfort August now. After all, we were so wild last night."

With that, she turned and left.

I forced myself to stand despite the humiliation. I needed to go home and find my father.

If I explained everything to him, he would listen. I was his daughter. He had just been angry. He wouldn't abandon me.

With this thought, I gathered my strength. Once I explained everything to my father, he would help me get revenge.

Now, my father was my only lifeline.

With this in mind, I ran desperately toward home. I needed to tell him everything.

When I finally reached the entrance of our home, a figure fell rapidly from above.

With a sickening thud, the ground was covered in blood and flesh.

I froze. It was my father.

My father had committed suicide?

Had he chosen death because he couldn't bear the disgrace?

Had I caused my father's death?

At that moment, I completely broke down.

I knelt numbly beside the body, which still held the warmth of life. Just hours ago, at noon, he had been alive.

"Dad... Dad."

I choked, my voice hoarse. I called out softly, hoping he would respond.

But he could never answer me again.

The only true family I had in this world was gone.