Second Chance: Marrying into Wealth Chapter 96

Lawrence's eyes were bloodshot, his emotions running wild. His gaze was like a demon crawling out of hell. So this was why he killed Kyle.

He was rotten to the core, yet he blamed Kyle. I regret it so much. Why did I ever fall for Lawrence? Maybe Kyle would still be alive if I hadn't.

With Kyle's skills back then, even if he couldn't completely ruin Lawrence's career, just one black mark on his record would have made it impossible for him to stay in Starlight City.

A guy like him, who clawed his way out of the sticks, would never willingly leave the city's glitz and glamour. He probably couldn't stand the thought of slinking away in disgrace.

"You know the cops are gonna hear everything we say, right?" I asked coldly, trying to keep the hatred boiling inside me under control.

Lawrence stayed calm. He was actually pretty smart in some ways, and he knew how to learn things that benefited him, like the law. I remember he had books on the subject at home.

I had once asked him out of curiosity, and he said it was always good to learn more. Even if he didn't do anything wrong, it could prevent others from harming us.

I had praised him for being ambitious and thoughtful back then.

"So what if they do? I'm already in this mess. What do I have to fear? I killed your parents, so what? I enjoyed watching you suffer, seeing you rely on me. Do you know how satisfying that was? Every time we visited your parents' graves, and you clung to me, I silently gloated, telling your dad, 'Kyle, see? You looked down on me, but your daughter can't live without me.'"

"Lawrence, you sick freak!" I spat out the words through gritted teeth.

Lawrence seemed to revel in my reaction.

Though I was filled with righteous anger and hatred, he was already behind bars. My emotions quickly calmed, and I continued, "My parents' deaths weren't solely your doing, were they? What about Clara? Wasn't she involved? Or are you just pretending to be noble, trying to take all the blame yourself? Do you really think you and Clara are true love, and you're willing to take the fall for her?"

Lawrence looked at me deeply. He seemed to finally understand my true purpose for being here.

He chuckled and shook his head. "I wondered why you came today. But you're wrong. Your parents' deaths were all my doing. Clara had nothing to do with it. She never knew about my plan to kill them."

I scrutinized Lawrence, searching for any sign of deceit. "Can you really protect Clara? Are you pretending to be noble now? Should I say you've suddenly grown a heart, or mock you for being delusional?"

Lawrence frowned. "What do you mean? Do you want me to drag Clara down with me? You're naive."

He didn't waver at all. Judging by his expression, he didn't seem to be lying. But my gut told me Clara wasn't innocent in all this.

Clara must have some serious skills to have Lawrence so devoted. He probably still believed Clara loved him, even though she didn't want to see him anymore.

Lawrence likely thought Clara might save him. He was the truly naive one.

"Lawrence, you're pathetic!" I laughed, a mocking sound.

Lawrence frowned but stayed silent.

I didn't wait for him to speak and continued, "You think you and Clara are true love, but you don't realize she chose you because of me."

"What nonsense are you spouting? What do you mean, because of you?" Lawrence glared at me coldly.

But I could see the anxiety and emotional turmoil in his eyes.

My mocking smile grew wider. "Lawrence, why did you choose me in the first place? Think about why Clara would choose you. She's wealthy and has seen plenty of outstanding young men. Her ex-boyfriends were all rich and handsome. What do you have that they don't?"

"Are you handsome? Maybe a bit more than the average guy, but not enough to make someone fall for you at first sight. And why would she choose you over those rich, good-looking men to be her secret lover?"

"You're trying to drive a wedge between us? I won't believe you." Lawrence was clearly shaken but refused to accept it. Believing me would mean admitting he was a fool.

Just as he had shattered my world, I wanted him to experience the same. I continued, "Clara chose you because of me. I'm her half-sister, and she was jealous of my loving parents and my seemingly perfect boyfriend. She couldn't stand my happiness, so she wanted to destroy it. So, she chose you. She told me this herself when we met recently."

I raised an eyebrow, watching Lawrence's face. His eyes were filled with terror, disbelief, pain, and despair.

He grabbed the iron bars, his eyes red and wild. "No, that's impossible. Melinda, you're lying to me. I won't fall for it."

The more agitated he became, the happier I felt. It meant he believed me deep down.

His outburst quickly drew the guards' attention, and they warned him to calm down.

Though I wanted to see his reaction to the truth, that wasn't my only goal.

So I spoke soothingly, "Lawrence, I'm not here to provoke you or argue. We're at this point because of your own actions, not mine. But we were once married, and I don't want to see you again. Let's settle everything now, once and for all. What do you say?"

Lawrence's emotions slowly calmed as he listened. His once bloodshot eyes now seemed empty and lifeless.

I continued, "Clara's mother was briefly with my father after my mother gave birth. They separated for various reasons, and my father returned to his family. I grew up in a loving, complete family. Clara was jealous and wanted to destroy everything I had. When she saw how happy I was with you, she targeted you as her first move."