Chapter 1

Cindy Chase was my best friend and my college roommate.

She claimed to be my closest friend but often threw me under the bus for things that were her own fault.

When I got a call from her husband, Shaun Cross, my first instinct was to touch my ribs—I was still alive!

What a blessing.

"Rainey, where's Cindy? She said she was going shopping with you today, but she's still not back yet at this hour," Shaun said. He sounded furious, his disdain for me apparent. "Don't you have friends of your own? Why do you keep bothering her? She's pregnant, you know!"

I thought back. Cindy should be with her lover at this hour.

Smiling, I told Shaun, "She's probably at the café right now. You know, the one below my place."

"Wait right there!"

I would wait. I would wait for him to make a scene and drag his entire family down to hell!

I ensured that all the security cameras in the house were working. I'd even installed one at the front door.

Just as I finished setting up everything, someone pounded on the door.

"Rainey, come out right now!"

I pulled open the door. Shaun and his family were standing outside.

"Rainey, where are you hiding Cindy? She's not at the café!" Shaun roared, stomping into the house and kicking at a vase, breaking it.

I shrugged. "Maybe I misheard her. She told me that she was going to the café."

"You're messing with me on purpose!" Shaun yelled. "If anything happens to Cindy, I'll make you pay!"

His mother, Elizabeth Simmons, interjected loudly, "Why waste time on her? This woman is sly. She's just jealous of you. If she doesn't tell you where Cindy is, call the police!"

"Sure, call them. Call the reporters while you're at it too. I'd like all of them to know how a full-grown adult can just disappear," I said. Then, I pointed at Shaun. "And you—you broke into my home. We'll have to settle that today!"

Shaun was furious. "Stubborn woman! I'll make you eat your words!"

He lunged at me, slapping me hard across the face. My head jerked to the side by the force of it. My ears were ringing.

By then, the neighbors had heard the commotion and gathered outside the door.

"What's happening?"

"Why is he hitting her?"

Elizabeth started telling them an embellished story. "This woman lured my daughter-in-law out. She's three months pregnant and still not home at this time. She hid her and refused to let us take her home!

"Besides, she also borrowed 300,000 dollars from my daughter-in-law and never paid her back. She used the money to buy luxury goods for herself. Isn't that despicable?"

The neighbors exchanged glances.

"Who would've thought she would be such a person?"

"Exactly. She's pretty but rotten to the core!"

"She must be vain. I don't think she's a good person."

I scoffed silently. "Slander is a crime, Shaun. Do you dare to say all that in front of a camera?"

"Slander?" Shaun was furious. " You're still being stubborn, Rainey!"

He raised his hand to hit me again, but I rushed into the kitchen and grabbed a knife. "Don't you dare!" I warned him. "Take another step, and I won't hold back!"

"She's bluffing, son. Slap her!"

Elizabeth egged Shaun on. I did not hesitate—I slashed at her with the knife. She raised her hand to block it, but the knife went straight through her palm. The pain made her scream.

I pulled the knife back and growled, "Let's see who's bold enough to face death here!"

My crazed look probably scared Shaun. "Just you wait!" he said.

Just then, the police arrived. Seeing this, they were shocked, and quickly took us all into custody.

I wanted to see how Shaun would get himself out of this mess.

As for Cindy, I'd also called the police on her anonymously. She would be taken into custody soon too.