Chapter 1035: Chapter 1034
Martin was utterly crushed, feeling as though his whole world had come crashing down around him. "The Collins family couldn’t warm your heart in eighteen years, and I thought I could. I believed that with true sincerity, even metal and stone would be moved. I thought that as long as I was good to you, we’d have a happy life together. But I almost killed my own mother and sister!"
Seeing Martin in such a state of regret and agony, Serena realized that things had taken a terrible turn. With him like this, odds were, he had evidence.
"If you won’t speak," Martin said, pulling out his cell phone, "I’ll hand over all the evidence to the police. After that, it’s none of my concern whether you live or die anymore."
As Martin moved to call the police, Serena quickly maneuvered her wheelchair forward, trying to grab his hand, but he shook her off forcefully.
"Martin." When he was determined to make the call, Serena clutched at the hem of his shirt in desperation. "What are you doing?"
"What am I doing?" Martin looked down at her, eyes red with a mix of grief and fury. "You tried to murder my mother and sister, and you killed an innocent driver. What do you think I should do? Pretend like nothing happened, keep pampering you, treating you like royalty? Serena, this is murder taking a life has its price! You’re terrifying, completely deranged! You’re beyond redemption!"
Only now could he truly empathize with how disappointed and hurt the Collins family had been before. Had they seen him as a fool for trying to rescue Serena from their clutches?
The Collins family had showered her with love, spoiled her, tried to warm her heart, but it hadn’t made a dent and Martin had been oblivious to the problem.
Now he understood that the person he loved wasn’t this monstrous, heartless girl before him, but the simple, pure Serena of the past.
But that Serena was gone, forever locked in memory, a past that should remain untouched, for uncovering it revealed only a monstrous truth.
Watching Martin resolute to call the police, Serena could only move her wheelchair forward again, pleading as she clutched his shirt. "Martin, listen to me. I was so angry at that time. I made a mistake. When I saw them being rushed to the ER, my heart was in agony. I was full of remorse. I was too scared to tell you."
Martin looked at Serena’s two-faced, hypocritical demeanor, remembering how she had feigned concern when he received the call about his mother and sister’s accident right after their engagement party.
All orchestrated by her! "So, are you admitting it?" Martin asked with a sneer.
Serena knew that excuses were futile. He was ready to call off the engagement and even willing to call the police in front of everyone clearly showing he was utterly disillusioned and hurt.
"Martin, can we talk in private?" Serena tried to soften her tone and her stance.
But as soon as she made the request, Martin laughed coldly. "Are you still worried about saving face at this point?"
Not even an apology.
Always trying to justify herself and when that failed, hoping to play the victim behind closed doors.
That was her usual game.
"You have one minute," Martin said icily, as if he didn’t want to waste another second on her.
Serena had no choice but to make the most of that minute, even as he kept shaking off her hand. She kept trying, her voice trembling with shame but persistence. "I admit it. It was all my doing. I had someone push your mother down the stairs, and I arranged your sister’s car accident."
"How did you get the people to help you? And where did you get the money?"
When Martin posed the question, Serena couldn’t even muster the courage to meet his gaze. "It was all left to me by my father before he passed. Both the people and the money."
Even though Martin had suspected her all along, hearing the words fall from her lips and seeing the guilt etched across her face tore through him like a jagged blade.
Tears spilled from his eyes once again, his composure crumbling. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to hold back the volcanic surge of emotion, but it was no use. With frustration lacing his tone, he pressed, "Is it really you?"
Serena was taken aback by his reaction. What did he mean? Did he have no actual proof and had all this been a ploy to trap her into confessing?
Had she been played? The sound of a recording echoed in the room as Fitch played back her own words from his phone.
"You two?" Serena’s eyes darted between Martin and Fitch, reeling from the realization that they had teamed up to trick her into spilling her secrets.
But now she had to swallow her pride; she couldn’t lash out. After all, Martin was her rock, her lifeline. If she lost him, she’d be left with nothing. "Martin." Serena reached out to touch his hand.
"Don’t you dare," Martin’s heart shattered into a million pieces, his voice ragged with grief and betrayal. "How could you be so cruel?"
He was filled with loathing, loathing his past arrogance and ignorance, and the fact that he hadn’t listened to his family, causing them so much suffering.
"You don’t deserve..." As Martin’s gaze landed on the jewelry he had given her, the clothes he had bought, and the custom wheelchair he had arranged, regret gnawed at him.
She didn’t deserve his affection.
"Get out." Martin closed his eyes, struggling to tame the storm of emotions. After a moment, he managed to speak, "From now on, stay out of my sight. Get as far away as possible. I never want to see you again!"
Serena felt a chill pierce her heart.
She couldn’t believe that the man before her the one who had once vowed to stand by her no matter what could now fall out of love so completely.
Just then, a young nurse stepped off the elevator onto the sixth floor, holding a critical condition notice to present to Martin.
"Mr. Cooper, Ms. Cooper’s condition is deteriorating rapidly. The doctors have issued a critical notice. She may not have more than a couple of hours. Please sign here and brace yourself for the worst."
Clutching the notice from the nurse, Martin seemed to find new strength, no longer appearing helpless or frightened.
He knew Rosemary was on the same floor, and after saving his mother, she would surely find a way to save his sister.
So he replied steadily, "I’ll sign it later."
The nurse looked puzzled. Why did Mr. Cooper seem so calm, almost serene,a stark contrast to the concern he had shown earlier for Florence?
Could it be that he wasn’t close with his sister?