Bai Lan, Lu Shiyan's stepmother, once had a daughter with Father Lu,but the girl died young, leaving a scar that never healed.Years later, by a twist of fate, she adopted Su Ning'an.
When Mrs. Lu passed away, three years later Father Lu brought Bai Lan home,and she became the new Madam Lu.Because of Su Ning'an, she never liked me.
The moment they saw each other, Su Ning'an called out sweetly,"Dad, Mom."
Father Lu's expression darkened as his gaze fell on Lu Shiyan."You still have the nerve to show your face here?You've humiliated our entire family!"
At yesterday's wedding, just as we were about to exchange rings,Su Ning'an called, crying that her heart hurt.And Lu Shiyan—without a word—ran to her,leaving me standing there alone,turning what should have been a celebrationinto the city's biggest joke.
Su Ning'an dropped to her knees before Father Lu,"Dad, it's all my fault. I thought I was having an attack,so I called Shiyan. I didn't mean to ruin the ceremony.If you want to blame someone, blame me—not him."
Bai Lan immediately rushed over to hold her,"An'an still suffers from heart palpitations—ever since her sister pushed her into the river years ago.And it's not like the other family said anything.Why are you so angry? An'an, get up, the floor is cold."
Scenes like this had played out countless times.Every time Su Ning'an and I had a conflict,Father Lu would always scold harshly but punish lightly.In the end, Su Ning'an got away with everything,and I was left with all the bitterness.
Lu Shiyan scanned the room, not seeing me anywhere."Dad, where's Su Wan?" he asked.
"You have the nerve to ask about her?!"Father Lu's voice thundered."Yesterday, you abandoned her at the ceremony,left her to face all the guests alone.She calmed everyone down,took her wedding dress and said she was going to change—and never came back!She gave the Lu family face,but you trampled her dignity into the dirt!"
Lu Shiyan's expression shifted."What do you mean she never came back? Where did she go?She sent me her location last night!"
His fingers trembled as he pulled out his phone."This morning," he murmured, "the police called me.They said they found Su Wan's wedding dress… by the river."
Ha.
So now you finally realize I'm dead?
Father Lu's tone was sharp, "Where she went? How should I know?You didn't think about her when you ran off,and now you act like you care? For whose benefit?"
"Dad, I'm going out for a bit," Lu Shiyan said curtly.
"I'll come with you, brother," Su Ning'an added quickly,grabbing her bag and following him.
Watching his hurried, panicked figure,I couldn't help but laugh.Now you're anxious?Isn't it a little too late for that?
At the police station, Lu Shiyan got straight to the point."Officer, what's going on exactly?"
The officer replied calmly,"This morning, a wedding dress was found floating on the river.A jogger thought it was a corpse and called it in.We retrieved it and confirmed it matches your wife's custom-made gown."
Su Ning'an cut in before he could finish,"Besides the dress, did you find anything else?"
"No," the officer said, glancing at her.
Su Ning'an sighed delicately,"My sister probably threw it in the water to spite my brother.She's always playing these tricks.Officer, we don't have time to indulge her childish games."
Her tone was light, almost amused.The lead officer, Huang Yu, frowned slightly."And you are…?"
"I'm Su Wan's younger sister," Su Ning'an said sweetly."When I was five, she tricked me into going out and pushed me into the river—I almost drowned.Even after I came home, she kept trying to frame me.She loves using pity to win people's hearts."
Her voice trembled just enough to sound convincing.
I tried to scream, to defend myself."No! That's not true! I never did that!"
But no one could hear me.Just like before.
I'd said those words countless times in the past,but in everyone's eyes,Su Ning'an was always the victim,and my truth was always dismissed as excuses.
I thought Officer Huang Yu would believe her too—but his expression didn't change.
He continued flatly,"We found traces of blood on the wedding dress.The DNA matches Su Wan.There are also two puncture holes in the fabric,likely caused by a sharp object penetrating the body.If Miss Su was wearing this dress at the time,she would have sustained fatal woundsto both her abdomen and back."
He paused, his tone grave."So we suspect Miss Su Wan has already been murdered."
The color drained from Lu Shiyan's face.The paper cup in his hand trembled,and the hot water spilled across the table.