Chapter 2

In front of her stood Ophelia, with bright and clear eyes that were black and white like yin and yang. She smiled faintly, as if carefree and at ease. The air of superiority that used to emanate from her was nowhere to be found. She was now silent and unassuming, like a small beast hiding in a corner to lick its wounds, weak and vulnerable.

Like a dusty uncut gem, she radiated a brilliance that could not be ignored with her every word and action displaying a calm and steady demeanor. She also exuded an inherent pride and haughtiness that was sharp and unstoppable, making it impossible for anyone to ignore her radiance!

Vera widened her eyes and felt a bit uneasy for no reason. Was it just her imagination or had Ophelia completely changed? She now knew how to resist and had a strong aura, making it seem like she could no longer be easily manipulated like before.

Suppressing her doubts, Vera pouted and coquettishly complained to the two men beside her, Zachary and Fernando: “Look, Ophelia is definitely mad at me. You guys promised me that you would apologize to her. Hurry up and do it, or I will be angry.”

After speaking, she gave Ophelia a provocative look, clearly implying that she should take a good look at the two men who were her blood-related brother and long-time fiancé, who were both now siding with her, Vera.

Ophelia just smiled gently. Vera’s words not only confirmed her accusation but also reminded her that even if these two men apologize, it would only be for Vera’s sake.

“It’s not that I don’t understand your kindness, but every one of those seemingly sympathetic words is just a jab at me. If it were the previous me, who was always ignored and gloomy, hearing those words would have made me feel even more hopeless and despairing. But unfortunately, I am now Ophelia Tudor, the eldest daughter of the Chicago Tudor family! I am a female warrior who has been on the battlefield and remains unruffled in the face of the enemy! I don’t even bother with such petty tricks.”

At this point, Zachary Tudor reluctantly stepped forward and spoke condescendingly to Ophelia, saying, “I’ll reluctantly apologize to you for Vera’s sake, but don’t get too cocky. Vera is the real victim here. She…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Ophelia interrupted him in a calm and pleasant voice.

“Zachary.”

The sound of her voice saying his name stunned Zachary. The previous Ophelia was always silent, like a mute. Hearing her call out his name caught him off guard.

Ophelia looked at him and said slowly, “Last night, after you and the others rushed to take Vera to the hospital, some people at the party pushed me into the river. They held my head down so I couldn’t float to the surface.”

“And then?” Zachary frowned and said, “You were the one who pushed Vera down the stairs first. Otherwise, how could Vera’s friends have treated you like that?”

The painful feeling of a blunt object hitting his heart resurfaced when he heard such matter-of-fact words.

The pain of drowning was still vivid in her mind. Ophelia asked back, “So you think I deserve to suffer for what happened to me?”

Zachary’s pupils shrank, and he hesitated for a moment before replying.

Ophelia smiled bitterly and said, “But I can’t swim.”

The gentle seven words struck Zachary like a hammer. If those people had pushed her into the water and held her head down, how was it any different from murder?

Zachary was stunned for a moment.

Seeing him lost in thought, Vera broke the silence: “Ophelia, it’s my fault. If I hadn’t fainted, Zachary wouldn’t have neglected you by rushing me to the hospital. Fortunately, you’re okay, or I wouldn’t be able to live with myself!”

Hearing this, Zachary breathed a sigh of relief and began to defend himself: “Yes, exactly. Since you’re okay now, it’s clear that Vera’s friend knew the severity of their actions. They just gave you a small punishment and didn’t really hurt you…”

Didn’t really hurt her?

Ophelia laughed angrily.

At the moment when she was drowning, the little girl opened her frightened eyes and saw the figures floating on the shore through the clear water. Those faces with mischievous smiles looked like ghosts in the reflection on the water’s surface.

Hell is empty, and all the devils are here.

Does anyone know what the little girl was thinking as she gave up struggling and sank to the bottom in her confusion?

She thought that the world was beautiful, but she would never come back again…

A fresh life ended in its prime. Which of these executioners was innocent?

Suppressing the intense coldness in her eyes, Ophelia said word by word: “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Even if I’m okay now, they are still suspected of attempted murder!”

This charge is enough to put them behind bars for over a decade!

Vera held Ophelia’s hand and pleaded: “Ophelia, we’re all friends. If you have any anger, take it out on me. They only hurt you because they heard that you pushed me down the stairs and acted impulsively. Fortunately, you’re safe now, so forgive them, okay? Even if you want to blame someone… just blame me, okay?”

Ophelia smiled sardonically as she looked at Vera, who was tightly holding her hand. A throbbing pain shot through the back of her hand, making it both sore and numb.

It was like this last night, after the original owner, Ophelia, caught Vera and her fiancé having an affair. Vera explained tearfully, but secretly, Ophelia had to shake her off when she pinched her.

With this push, Vera fell down the stairs, and everyone saw that Ophelia had ‘pushed’ her.

Ophelia stared at Vera’s face for two seconds, and then lightly lifted her other hand.

Just as Vera thought Ophelia was about to hit her in pain, there was a glint of triumphant light in her eyes. However, Ophelia only placed her hand on Vera’s shoulder and smiled softly, “How could I blame you? You’re such an innocent little flower.”

With just a gentle pat, Vera felt a pain in her shoulder. Half of her body suddenly became numb, as if someone had pressed on an acupuncture point, and she felt like needles were piercing her body!

“Ah!”

Vera recoiled in pain, and in her anger, slapped Ophelia’s hand behind the wheelchair, questioning her, “What did you do to me?”

Behind the wheelchair, Zachary and Fernando, her fiancé, who had been silent, immediately rushed forward and berated Ophelia without hesitation: “Why are you so malicious? Vera was always supporting you even after you pushed her down the stairs!”