Chapter 8
The real reason was that she had been suffering long–term abuse from her adoptive father, which led to severe depression. She never dared to tell Sheldon, afraid that it would tarnish the perfect image he had of her. Lilia had planned to bury her past the moment she could escape that house and be with Sheldon, free and untainted.
Alas, Briella appeared. That girl was bright and dazzling, confident and beautiful, a princess adored by everyone. She liked Sheldon and pursued him openly and passionately, without hesitation or fear. At first, Lilia envied her. But that envy soon turned into jealousy. That was why she showed the scars she had never dared to reveal before and falsely accused Briella of causing them.
Even when she discovered she was pregnant with her adoptive father’s child, Lilia was so consumed by despair that she took her own life, but not before setting Briella up one last time. If she was going to hell, she wanted Briella to suffer in this world, too.”
Briella had managed to gather surveillance footage to prove her innocence. Later, Lilia’s adoptive father was imprisoned for assaulting another girl. He confessed his crimes and Briella even found the case records. The truth was laid bare, piercing through Sheldon’s heart like a blade. His eyes burned red with the realization.>
He could no longer deceive himself, could no longer find excuses to explain away the evidence. Briella knew that the past five years had been a massive deception, a long–planned revenge. Sheldon was in a daze. “She knows everything now. She doesn’t want me anymore.“} His friends were stunned into silence. “We … we misunderstood Briella.“}
“If everything she sent is real, then what happens to Sheldon and her now?“}
“What do you mean what happens? She didn’t even come here to confront him in person. If Sheldon ignores her, then that’s that. They go their separate ways, simple as that.”
It seemed like a reasonable ending, but Sheldon coldly refuted, “Who said I’m letting her go?“>
His friends were confused. “Then what are you going to do?“}
Sheldon had no answer. His mind was a chaotic mess, tangled in countless thoughts he couldn’t untangle. His friends kept talking over each other and Celia approached him, asking how he planned to retaliate against Briella now that the video was gone. Sheldon abruptly lifted his gaze, his expression ice–cold. “Who gave you permission to take my laptop?“>
His car keys were always with him. The only person who had access to the spare set was Celia. Celia flinched but stiffened her neck. “Why are you yelling at me? I was helping you and now the video is gone. Obviously, Briella tampered with it. You should be dealing with her, not taking it out on me!“?
Sheldon, like a beast provoked beyond reason, suddenly grabbed her by the throat. “Did I ever say you had the right to interfere in my affairs?”
Celia’s face turned red as she struggled, pounding at his arm. “L–Let me go!“}
Sheldon’s fingers tightened. Seeing that he wasn’t letting go, his friends were terrified and hurriedly pulled him away. Celia fell to the ground, coughing for a long time, then suddenly laughed mockingly. “Sheldon, you’re pathetic!“}
Sheldon glared at her with murderous intent, which alarmed his friends. “Just stop talking, my dear. Let’s go.” They tried to drag Celia away, but she pushed them off.
Celia looked at Sheldon dead in the eyes, shedding her usual weak facade. “Look at yourself. Do you really seem like someone who hates Briella? You claim you were acting, that it was all part of your revenge. But the moment someone says something bad about her, you lose control. What kind of revenge is that?”
“You think you’re being clear–headed, but you’ve been playing yourself all along. You love her and don’t even realize it. You’re a fool and you deserve to lose her!”
Her final words hit Sheldon’s deepest nerve. His eyes flashed with genuine fury. Jesse got goosebumps and the others forcibly carried Celia away. Sheldon stood there, his chest heaving. Someone came to greet him, but he ignored them, unplugged his laptop and stormed home. A voice roared in his head, telling him he had to see Briella immediately. She couldn’t leave him. He wouldn’t allow it!!
9:08 PM
