When fate plays its hand

“How dare you?” Timothy’s veins bulged with rage. Each word was squeezed out between clenched teeth.

Nelly’s eyes flickered briefly before feigning confusion. “Honey, what are you talking about?”

Timothy let out a cold laugh. “Honey? If you weren’t feeling guilty, would you still call me that after I slapped you? Wouldn’t you be screaming at me instead?”

Her expression froze, and a chill spread from her spine to her neck. “I… I just thought you

must have been drunk to act that-”

Timothy’s voice cut her off sharply. “I didn’t drink tonight.”

Nelly swallowed hard, her voice now tinged with grievance. “What could possibly have happened to make you this angry with me? I…” She trailed off, her tone faltering.

Tears began to slide down her face, pooling at the corners of her eyes and lending her a forlorn elegance. Her age showed only in the richness of her expressions, a maturity steeped in allure.

“After all, I was pampered growing up,” she murmured. “You hit me so suddenly… Where does that leave my dignity?”

Her voice grew softer as she spoke, and her head lowered with an air of vulnerability. She looked like a mistreated wife airing her grievances to her husband.

There was complaint in her tone, a trace of coquettishness–and, undeniably, the faintest

undercurrent of seduction.

However, Timothy remained unmoved, his face cold and expressionless. Slowly, he curled his lips into a mocking smirk.

His sharp gaze swept over Nelly from head to toe and back again, scrutinizing her with deliberate precision. “I never knew you had such a talent for lying through your teeth. And I certainly didn’t realize you had such audacity

“Ah, and pampered, you claim? Back at the Garrison estate, you were singing quite a different tune.‘ 11

He heard it.

He heard everything!

Nelly felt her very soul tremble. Her gaze darted in desperation–from bewilderment to terror, then to sheer panic.

“Honey, it’s a misunderstanding. I–I didn’t mean to argue with Min. Were you… were you

on the balcony? Did you overhear something?”

Timothy let out a bitter laugh. “Misunderstanding? Nelly, are you still not ready to tell the truth?” novelbin

He leaned in closer, his voice lowering to a dangerous tone. “Let me make it clear. I wasn’t on the balcony–I was in the garden, and I heard everything–every word. And now, I finally know the truth about Min’s disappearance all those years ago.

“Your scheming caused her to be recaptured when she could have escaped. Your lies, your delays–those directly led to the police missing their chance to rescue her.

“You,

“he spat, his voice breaking into an accusatory roar, “you are the reason she spent over 20 years lost, separated from her family! It was all your doing!

“It’s no wonder Mom and Dad have been growing distant from you over the years. They must’ve suspected something–maybe they even knew–but they had no proof. They were too consumed by their search for Min all over the world to deal with you. And so, you got away with it.”

Even with his words laid bare, Nelly clung to denial like a lifeline. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand any of this. What truth, what lies? Timothy, you know how Min and I always argued when we were younger. This was just another one of those spats!”

“Oh, sure. And I suppose in the garden, it was all just harmless banter too? Nelly, do you think I’m stupid? Do you think you can still fool me?”

“If you’d at least had the decency to admit it outright, I might’ve respected you a little. But Min was right–you’re just rotten to the core.”

Nelly stumbled; the weight of his words struck her like lightning. He had heard everything. He had truly heard everything.

“Fine! Yes! I did it on purpose! I made sure she got caught again! I wanted her dead! Is that what you wanted to hear? Are you happy now?”

Timothy’s hand flew across her face, the sound sharp and deafening in the room. He was shaking with rage.

Why? Why on earth would she do such a thing?