Shadows Drift Beyond Memory by Xarin Vale novel Chapter 51

Chapter 4

My parents, wiping away tears, rushed me to the hospital.

After surgery, the doctor exhaled heavily.

“Half an hour later and you’d have lost both legs.”

‘With proper treatment, you might have a chance of walking again.”

I grabbed my phone and called my lawyer friend.

‘I need you to file charges against Drew Sullivan for attempted murder.”

She didn’t hesitate.

“Done.”

The wedding venue footage is solid evidence. He’s not getting away with this.”

Then she added with regret:

“I warned you before–Drew Sullivan and Marissa Vaughn’s relationship might not be what you think. Maybe they stopped being enemies a long time ago.”

“But you didn’t believe me.”

Back then, on our one–year anniversary, Drew ditched me the second Marissa called.

Left me alone with a candlelit dinner.

I was so confused, I called this friend over to drink.

She told me to watch out for Marissa.

I laughed it off, saying they were mortal enemies–no way anything was going on.

Later, Drew delivered cold medicine to Marissa in a rainstorm, let her kiss him, even “helped her” through some sketchy situation…

Afterward, Drew explained the families had no choice but to collaborate for business. Asked me not to overthink it.

And like an idiot, I believed him.

Looking back now–what a joke.

Five days later, Drew received the court summons.

He immediately called, hysterical:

“Lucia Hayes! Are you even a human?”

Chapter 4

“It was just a joke–those low temp coals couldn’t possibly hurt anyone, and you’re suing me?”

My voice was flat:

“If you’re so sure you’re innocent, explain it to the judge.”

I hung up.

I never expected Drew to be this shameless.

Five minutes later, Sullivan Enterprises posted the summons on their official site with a caption:

[Ms. Lucia Hayes abandoned the wedding and is now maliciously suing us. The Sullivan family will not be bullied. We will fight this to the end!]

Wealthy family drama always gets clicks.

Within half an hour, it racked up tens of millions of views.

The comment section was flooded with hate directed at me:

Ditching the groom at the altar? That’s straight–up humiliation. Why don’t you just drop dead?]

What kind of psycho does this? Deliberately messing with people, huh?]

Not only publicly bail on the wedding but sue him too? Who do you think you are?]

Furious netizens swarmed Hayes Corp headquarters, causing chaos and panic among employees.

Some business partners, worried about the association, proposed delaying collaborations.

Hayes Corp’s stock plummeted.

Mom stormed into my hospital room, fuming:

This is the husband you picked! Not only did he nearly cripple you for his mistress–now he’s slandering us online!”

Dad tried to calm her down:

Let it go. At least he didn’t actually marry into the family–who knows what kind of damage he’d have done then.”

furting me wasn’t enough–now he was coming for my whole family.

Guess I loved him too much over the years. Made him forget what I’m capable of.

Mom, Dad–don’t say anything. Don’t do anything.”

Let them talk.”

Give Drew a taste of victory,

The more public opinion defended him now, the harder it would turn on him later.

Chapter 4

Seeing Hayes Corp stay silent, Drew thought I was scared.

He called to gloat:

“Lucia Hayes, drop the lawsuit now and maybe I’ll consider forgiving you.”

Otherwise, you’ll drown in hate.”

I didn’t respond to that. Instead, I asked suddenly:

When did you and Marissa start hooking up?”

He froze.

Marissa’s smug voice came through in the background:

“The day Drew turned eighteen, he gave himself to me.”

“I’ve had him so many times over the years, honestly I’m bored.”

My blood ran cold.

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