I followed ude and Kate to the detective''s office.


    When the detective pulled out a severed finger, Kate''s eyes rolled back, and her legs gave way, leaning heavily against ude. "ude, is this ire''s finger? Didn''t she run away from home? How could something like this happen?"- Holding Kate by her shoulders, ude was in denial. "It can''t be. ire had a ring on her ring finger, and this one doesn''t."


    The detective asked, "Mr. Hart, are you sure it''s not Ms. Floyd''s? Because we found it near her phone."


    ude nodded. "I''m sure."


    The detective cracked a small smile, noting that ude''s detailed knowledge about the ring suggested a close rtionship with Ms. Floyd.


    I watched from the side, sneered.


    That ring would always be on my finger as if embedded in my bones because it was too small. I forced it on, thinking it would loosen over time. I thought ude''s heart would soften over time as well. But the ring became a part of me, impossible to remove. Regrettably, the detective approached with the forensic report, "The DNA doesn''t match ire''s, but this shoe was confirmed to be hers. Would you like to take it with you, or should we keep it here?"


    Seeing ude and Kate together, the detective asked with suspicion, "Mr. Hart, may I ask what your rtionship with Ms. ire is?"


    ude snorted, "Strangers."


    Strangers? Even my spirit shuddered at that. We were married and had sex. He was mywful husband.


    Aware of the marital status, the detective found it odd and nced at Kate again.


    Terrified, Kate sought refuge in ude''s embrace. "ude, I can''t stand being here anymore. Let''s go." ude''s expression darkened as he told the detective, "Leave it here. She''lle for it herself. She''s fine." ude believed I was only hiding, throwing a tantrum.


    The detective frowned, disappointed by thewyer''s apparent infidelity.


    Floating above, I scoffed at myself, "I won''t be returning. Not ever. In your heart, I was just a stranger."


    His indifference was like that day I had an ident. There was a moment when I woke up, my phone nearby, and I called ude.


    But he had coldly dismissed me. "What''s your drama now? Cutting wrists or jumping off the roof?"


    Then, the monsters found me on the phone and threw it away.


    Once outside the police station, ude dialed a number. "Richard, is ire with you?"


    Richard had always looked out for me, giving me the best of everything. Despite being a business prodigy, he ended up in jail for a crime he didn''tmit, all because he protected me. He had juste out of prison.


    Richard said, "I was hoping you''d tell me. She was supposed to pick me up from jail seven days ago, but I haven''t been able to reach her for days!"


    ude sneered, "You''re covering for her again, huh? Believe it or not, I can have you back in jail for kidnapping."


    Richard roared, "ude, have you lost your mind? I want to know what you did to ire! You promised to take care of her if I went to jail. Where is she now?"


    ude yelled, "Tell her, if she likes staying with you, she might as well stay there forever. Even if she dies, I won''t give her another nce."


    Watching ude, I felt only hopeless. He always thought I loved Richard while greedily chasing after him, ying games with both men. Just a word to Richard would earn me endless scorn from ude.


    Richard fumed. "ude, you''ll regret


    it. I called the police when ire disappeared. Damn it, you were her guardian once. That was why the police contacted you! If something happened to her, I''ll make you pay, уоуграу,


    including for the time I spent in jail."


    "I wouldn''t mind suing you for threats!" ude scoffed, "Whatever game ire''s ying, she just wants me to marry her."


    Tears blurred my vision. I wished I could tell Richard not to confront ude, the heartless man. It would only bring harm. He was cold and uncaring. No, his heart belonged to Kate.


    I remembered promising Richard that I''d pick him up from jail.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    When we got back home, ude locked me up and ordered the staff to keep a close eye on me, forbidding me from leaving.


    That night, as I protested, insisting


    on keeping my promise to Richard, ude overpowered me, his eyes filled with fury. "You wanted to get into my bed to have me marry you, and yet you still have the nerve to chase after other men? Or is this another test to see if I get jealous? ire, drop your little schemes."


    I retorted, "I didn''t. Richard has always been my best friend. You imprisoned him. I just wanted to make things right."


    Suddenly, he gripped my chin, sneering, "From today on, you can''t see him without my permission."


    I questioned him, "And what about you? You''re going to see Kate for her birthday, right?"


    "Mind your business." After saying that, ude left to meet his childhood sweetheart, who always held his affection. What ssic double standards.