Evelyn stared at the evidenceid bare, watching Dahlia desperately try to dodge the me. Evelyn couldn''t help but chuckle sarcastically.


    "Dahlia, if the video''s fake, any expert could tell—"


    Before she could finish, Dahlia cut in with a shrill scream.


    "Evelyn, shut up!"


    Dahlia''s eyes were bloodshot, ring daggers at Evelyn. Inside, she was fuming.


    That woman! So, she lost a daughter. Big deal! If she wanted more kids, she could just have them with someone like Brooks or even some random guy. Why drag her down with this?


    Holding back her growing resentment, Dahlia continued her act, "You''ll never win. Charles will never believe you!"


    She struggled to keep her cool. For years, she''d yed the Debbie card, effortlessly keeping Charles wrapped around her finger. No matter what she said, he believed her. To him, she was wless. Even when she imed she''d been assaulted seven years ago, he didn''t abandon her.


    She had nothing to fear. As long as she was Debbie, Charles wouldn''t doubt her. Thinking this, Dahlia felt her confidence return. Her performance of innocence and victimhood became even more convincing. With tear-filled eyes, she turned to Charles and pleaded, "Charles, you believe me, don''t you? I love you too much to let any other man near me!"


    "This is Evelyn''s revenge. She let Wesley out to destroy me, and when you stopped him, she came up with this scheme to nder me..."


    Charles quietly watched Dahlia, then suddenly asked, "Dahlia, are you sure it''s Evelyn and Wesley plotting against you?"


    His question caught Dahlia off guard, disrupting her act. Instinctively, she looked up, tears blurring her vision. She blinked, and as the tears fell, she could see Charles''s expression clearly.


    There was no anger or betrayal on his face-just an unsettling calm, which gave Dahlia a false sense of hope. No man could stay thisposed after learning his beloved had been unfaithful! If Charles believed her, he''d be livid, not this calm. So, he must believe her!


    Thinking this, Dahlia''s eyes welled up even more, and she looked at Charles with added vulnerability. "Of course..."


    That single phrase made Charles''s hands clench into fists, disappointment clear in his eyes as he looked at her.


    "Dahlia, I''m not an idiot! Whether the video''s real or you were willing, it''s obvious. You shouldn''t lie to me!"


    Charles stepped back, distancing himself. He had only trusted her because she was Debbie. Without evidence, he''d instinctively taken her side. That was his bias. But that


    the


    didn''t mean he was blind. With evidence right there, he couldn''t blindly believe her lies.


    Hearing Charles''s words, panic overwhelmed Dahlia. Tears streamed down her face. She lunged toward Charles, copsing at his feet, then crawled back to his side. Gripping his clothes desperately, she


    knelt by him, sobbing, "Charles, I didn''t mean to deceive you!"


    "Please believe me, seven years ago, Wesley really did force himself on me!" Seven years ago, Wesley didn''t have proof. If he did, he''d have


    l.ne


    show it long ago! Dahlia clung to


    the story that their beginning was an


    assault, not an outright lie!


    Otherwise, Charles would never forgive her.


    Dahlia''s tears fell even harder. "Later, I was forced to leave you and went abroad. He found me and kept threatening me!"


    "Because of Grandma, I didn''t dare tell you. I was afraid you''d get involved, Grandma would find out, and her condition would worsen. So I silently endured it, always under his control!"


    "I thought I''d never have another chance with you, so I just gave up."


    “But, Charles, I couldn''t forget you. You''re the one I''ve always loved. I never loved Wesley!"


    "Even though I had something with him, Wesley was just a physical need, like how you were with Evelyn."


    "Charles, I never minded your five years with Evelyn because I know the one you love is me. You can understand and forgive me, right?"