Chapter 6: She Was Faking Illness

Having dealt with her for so many years and being accused constantly due to her dirty tricks, I finally wised up. The moment she approached me, I discreetly started recording, and as expected, she stooped to playing the same old trick of slandering me. I turned the volume up to ensure that everyone present could hear the recording clearly.

As the playback reached the part where Lindsay said she pretended to cut her finger, gloating about how Roderick ditched me on our wedding day for her, I deliberately observed Roderick's expression. It was indeed very telling. Panicked, Lindsay lunged to snatch my phone, shouting, "Elaine, how dare you scheme against me!"

I laughed, "I sure learned my lessons after all the years of dealing with you." The guests circled around, staring at her with disdain. Lindsay became visibly distraught, ducking her head in shame, unable to face the accusations of others. Roderick, having recovered from shock, looked at me, his eyes filled with guilt and astonishment.

"No, Roderick, it's not like that. I just love you too much. I can't live without you. You promised my parents you'd take care of me for life. How can you marry another woman?" Eventually, Roderick's gaze hardened as he looked at her, his eyes no longer warm and caring, but filled with deep disappointment and anger.

"Lindsay, I only ever saw you as a sister. My wife can only be Elaine!" Lindsay, stung by his words, shook her head in tears. "Roderick, you can't do this to me. You promised my parents. My parents were gone. I won't survive without you." Lindsay broke down crying, her voice filled with misery.

Their families had been close for generations. Lindsay was born with a congenital heart defect and was often hospitalized as a child. Roderick, a few years her senior, had been entrusted by Lindsay's parents to look after her, a promise he always remembered and honored. After Lindsay's parents died in an accident when she was ten, Roderick continued to fulfill his promise, taking great care of her. Over the years, she had manipulated him by feigning illness and playing the victim.

However, ever since Roderick and I were in a relationship, Lindsay would mysteriously fall ill, pulling him away from me. For a long time, I didn't suspect anything was amiss. Until a month ago, when I finally realized Lindsay had been faking her illness all along. Watching her cry and clutch her heart in her painful state, looking as if she was about to faint any second, I smirked slightly.

After a while, I played another video from my phone for everyone to see. Lindsay initially looked confused but stopped crying instantly as she saw clearly what the video was all about.

In the video, a woman with heavy makeup sat at a bar table, smoking a cigarette and exhaling clouds of smoke, surrounded by male escorts, partying wildly on the dance floor of the bar. So much for her heart condition! The next moment, she pulled a handsome escort towards her and kissed him passionately.

The crowd around them cheered, "Oh my gosh! That's a great French kiss!"

That day, I went to the bar upon my colleague's insistence and saw the scene by chance. I couldn't believe the woman was Lindsay until someone in the crowd called her name. I had always wanted to tell Roderick but hadn't found the right moment.

The video abruptly ended as Lindsay snatched my phone and furiously smashed it on the ground. Her expression was fierce, her eyes bloodshot as she glared at me.