The Quaids pulled Connor off Liam, Mrs.
Quaid said, “There must be a
misunderstanding. We’ll hire experts to check
the videos and give everyone an answer. My son and Madison are close, but nothing
happened! We knew about the baby. We’re
family friends, and Natalie wanted to help her
sister after her loss.”
“We agreed with the Chens to keep it quiet
so the kid wouldn’t be ashamed. Please be
reasonable and don’t spread rumors.”
The words sounded like threats. The crowd
backed away.
The Chens weren’t as cooperative.
“Liar! You killed our daughter and try to lie?
The videos aren’t fake!”
“Your son cheated on Natalie and killed his
wife. He’s a psychopath! Arrest him!”
The Chens hired experts, who confirmed that
the videos were real.
Their daughter was dead, and they wanted
justice.
Mrs. Quaid sneered. “We wanted to marry
Natalie. She’s Chen blood. You didn’t love her,
so why should we? Liam made mistakes. Are
you innocent?”
“Madison seduced my son. Maybe she
planned the murder! Or the Chens planned
L
it!”
She was trying to drag everyone down with
her.
The Chens fought back, a mess of biting and
clawing..
Madison wanted to break it up, but Mrs.
Quaid shoved her away, disgusted.
“Troublemaker. Stop pretending.”
3
Her loving parents and brother stared at her,
suspicious.
“Why did you get involved in your sister’s
marriage, Madison? Were you trying to kill
her?”
No.
That wasn’t it.
Madison cried. Why was everyone blaming
her?
She ran to Liam, wanting him to protect her,
but he was smiling and crying.
“Natalie, I was wrong. Please come back. I
<
don’t want Madison. I just want you!”
Madison cried, “Liam, help me! I didn’t want
her to jump!”
“You know I bought a ticket to Europe and
was giving you the baby! I didn’t mean to hurt
you. Why doesn’t anyone believe me?” a
“Why did she jump today? She always hated
- me. She should have told me!”
Seeing Madison cry, Liam’s heart used to
break.
But now, looking at her, he was disgusted.
He saw Madison’s birthday banner. He
thought of Natalie cooking alone.
How sad was she? The Quaids and Chens
forgot her birthday.
But Madison claimed she was innocent.
Liam stared at Madison.
“Are you as innocent as you look? When I
married Natalie, you sent me photos of the
aurora borealis.”
“You said you didn’t want to break us up, but
you always flirted.”
“You called me crying, saying someone was
following you. I flew out to find you. Are you
innocent? You’re not innocent!”
“Natalie’s death is my fault, but it’s your fault
too!”
Madison trembled, looking at the Chens, but
Liam interrupted.
“You Chens killed Natalie. Don’t forget,
yesterday was her birthday, but you threw a
party for a foster daughter!”
He ignored the police and charged onto the
ambulance.
Liam held Natalie’s bloody body, murmuring,
“Don’t be afraid.”
This time, she didn’t answer.
At the hospital, Liam couldn’t get into the
morgue. The police hauled him away as the
press arrived.
<
