His Cheating Photo Went Viral, I’ll Marry New

Chapter 3

I stormed down the stairs. The banquet hall buzzed with clinking glasses and raucous laughter, packed shoulder to shoulder with guests.

Lucas stood at the center of the crowd, preening like a peacock with arrogance radiating off every inch of him.

Right at that moment, he was showing off the black signet ring glinting on his finger to anyone who would look.

I shoved my way through the people blocking my path, my fury coiled so tight in my chest I could barely breathe, and snapped, "Take the ring off."

Lucas arched an eyebrow, a cruel, gloating smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Aw, I'm so glad you showed up to my birthday, big brother. This necklace, this ring, is a gift from Dad. If you like it that much, I can even lend it to you for a couple of days once I get bored with it."

"Take. It. Off!" My voice boomed loud enough that every eye in the hall snapped at us in an instant.

While the crowd clustered around to gawk, my stepmother, Lizzy, clicked her way over in her stiletto heels.

"Jerry, today is his birthday, please, I'm begging you, just don't start anything today..."

"Who do you think you are? A home wrecking slut who clawed her way up. You even dare call yourself my mom?"

The fake polite smile froze solid on Lizzy's face, like she'd been slapped.

I was long out of patience. I lunged forward, grabbed Lucas, and ripped at his hand to yank the ring off.

"Jerry!"

The commotion had alerted Robin, my father, who came storming out of his study in a hurry.

When he saw me grappling with Lucas, he roared furiously, "What are you all standing around gawking for? Separate them now!"

I didn't move an inch. I had Lucas by the throat, my gaze boring into him like white-hot nails.

Only when Robin's face went cold and stepped forward to pull me off himself did I yank hard.

The ring tore free from Lucas' finger with a sickening pop. A shrill scream ripped out of him. His thumb snapped clean, bending out of shape at a grotesque angle.

"Jerry Pattinson!" Robin's eyes bulged with rage. He stepped forward and slapped me so hard across the face my head snapped to the side. "Ungrateful brat! What madness has gotten into you this time? You hurt your own brother this badly over a stupid ring!"

A loud buzzing rang in my ears, my head spinning from the force of the blow.

I wiped the blood trickling from the corner of my mouth and held the ring up high for everyone to see.

"You don't remember this is my mother's heirloom? How funny, Mr. Pattinson. Isn't it enough that you drove your original wife to her death? Do you have to kill me too, just to please your mistress and your bastard spawn?"

"You!" Robin's face turned purple with rage, every vein on his neck popping out.

Just as he raised his hand to hit me again, a slender figure stepped firmly between us, blocking me from his view.

Winnie turned to face me, her expression so dark it could drip water. "Jerry, apologize to Lucas. Now."

I let out a cold, sharp laugh. "Does he deserve an apology?"

Beside us, Robin seethed, "You disgraceful piece of trash! Still too stubborn to see sense? If you don't apologize to your brother right now, I'll disown you!"

"Like I care!" I shoved Winnie out of my way and stormed up the stairs without a single glance back.

The door slammed shut behind me with a deafening crash, cutting off all the angry shouting from downstairs completely.

I dragged my suitcase out and carefully tucked every single one of my mom's things inside, one by one.

I'd just finished packing and was about to walk out when the door swung open with a creak.

That bastard Lucas had followed me up like the persistent pest he was.

I brushed past him, voice ice-cold, "Get out of my way if you don't want to die."

The next second, a hand wrapped tight around my wrist and wrenched me back.

Lucas gave me a sly, malicious grin, then dragged me out to the balcony, half-pulling, half-carrying me the whole way.

At that exact same second, the first firework exploded down below. Blazing, brilliant bursts of color lit up the entire city, turning the night sky bright as day.

A venomous smirk tugged at the corner of Lucas's mouth. "Pretty, isn't it? Weren't you looking for your mother's things? This whole fireworks show is made from that dead old hag's ashes. Do you like it?"

Every drop of blood in my body surged straight to my skull.

I froze, staring blankly at the blooming fireworks blazing across the sky.

Lucas looked like he'd just blown off a lifetime of built-up resentment, and purred, "Jerry, I heard Winnie still won't even let you touch her. You have no idea how gorgeous she was under me last night. We went seven whole rounds, and she was still begging for more."

When he finished, he tilted his chin up, his smugness only growing thicker.

"A useless trash like you doesn't even deserve her. If you've got any sense, you'll go call off the engagement yourself. If you don't—"

Before he could get another word out, I lunged, wrapped my hand around his throat, and slammed him back against the balcony railing.

"Lucas, you came here on purpose to get under my skin, didn't you? What dirty, rotten trick have you got planned this time?"

Lucas's face went rigid, all color draining for a split second, his smirk slipping clean off his face.

I laughed.

"But I'll give it to you. It worked. Since you're so desperate to die, I'll just grant your wish."

"Jerry! Stop this right now!"

Multiple panicked shouts erupted from downstairs.

My face stayed completely blank as I lifted my arm, coiled every last ounce of strength into my fist, and slammed it into him, sending him hurtling over the railing.