My voice was sharp and merciless.
The surrounding guests began to whisper among themselves.
‘Now that she mentions it, it is strange. One is their biological daughter, the other adopted. It’s one thing not to treat them equally, but why such extreme favoritism?”
Would any mother really be this cruel to her own flesh and blood?”
Could it be that…”
Hearing these comments, Mom’s face turned deathly pale.
f there hadn’t been so many people present, she would have slapped me across the face already.
Riley, how dare you say such outrageous things?”
Mallory is your sister! As the older sister, shouldn’t you help her? It’s only right!”
just smiled and raised an eyebrow, looking toward my father who had been silently observing, seemingly noticing something vasn’t right.
Dad, don’t you find it strange?”
I’m your biological daughter, yet Mom is willing to spread all kinds of rumors to destroy me and get Mallory into the Valentine family. She’s even ready to sacrifice my life to pay off Mallory’s debts–almost as if Mallory is Mom’s real daughter,
lot me.”
fearing that, he frowned and grabbed my mother’s arm.
Enough! Hasn’t this farce gone far enough?”
This is Riley’s wedding day. Leave now and stop causing trouble.”
‘Let go of me!”
Mom impatiently shook off Dad’s grip and raised her hand to slap me.
The expected pain never came. Her wrist was caught in Rhys’s firm grip.
“Riley is my wife. I’d like to see anyone try to touch her.”
Rhys spoke through clenched teeth, every bit the protective husband.
The guests murmured in admiration. “Mr. Valentine is so cool, defending his wife like that. I love it!”
Mom’s expression immediately became more subdued.
Though she wanted to hit me, she didn’t dare offend the Valentine heir.
04:22
Attempting to Steal My World? Easy! My Rebirth Comes with a Playbook
38%
Chapter 9
During this tense standoff, a police car pulled up outside the wedding venue, and several officers approached.
“Which one of you is Mallory Brooks?”
Hearing this, everyone exchanged bewildered glances.
“Why are the police here? What happened?”
“Mallory must have done something serious to warrant this many officers.”
My parents looked worried too, but I wasn’t surprised at all.
Before Mallory could speak, the police identified her from a photograph and handcuffed her.
Mallory’s face turned white as she screamed.
“What are you doing? Why are you arresting me?!”
“Let me go! Today is my wedding day! I’m about to become Mrs. Valentine–you can’t touch me!”
The officer replied without emotion.
Through security camera footage, we’ve discovered that you tampered with the screws on the rooftop railing. Someone was having a barbecue up there, and when he leaned against it, the railing broke, causing him to fall to his death.”
Mallory Brooks, you’re suspected of attempted murder, please come with us.”
Mallory never expected things to turn out this way.
She had assumed I would flee to the rooftop to escape the loan sharks and fall to my death, so she was feeling triumphant and completely forgot to destroy the security footage.
She turned to me with pure hatred in her eyes.
Suddenly, Mom stepped forward and held out her hands.
“Officers, take me instead.”
“I did it. I’m the one who killed that person!”
Dad stared at her in shock. “What are you talking about? Mallory made her own mistakes. She’s just our adopted daughter–why would you sacrifice yourself for her?”
Mom’s eyes reddened, but she couldn’t form a response.
She simply repeated to the police that they should take her instead.
Then she turned to face me, her tone filled with malice:
“Riley is about to become Mrs. Valentine. I don’t believe she’ll let her own mother go to prison without doing something.”
A perfect example of emotional blackmail.
But I truly wasn’t going to intervene.
04:22
Attempting to Steal My World? Easy! My Rebirth Comes with a Playbook
Chapter 9
She was volunteering to destroy herself.
As Dad tried to stop her, his eyes red with emotion, I pulled an envelope from my purse.
“Dad, you might want to look at this when you have time. It might explain why Mom is acting this way.”
04:22
