Chapter 4

The yacht deck shimmered with silk and champagne, the air thick with chatter and clinking glasses.

Lily, dressed head to toe in a pristine white designer gown, looked like a delicate little flower nestled against Liam's side, soaking up everyone's well wishes.

"Lily really is blessed. After such a serious illness, and look at her, glowing already."

"Right? It's all thanks to Mr. Hayes. He searched the entire country to find a matching donor."

I walked into the ballroom in a low-cut red gown that turned every head, champagne glass in hand, ten-inch heels clicking against the deck with every confident step.

The moment I appeared, every pair of eyes in the room locked onto me.

Liam's face darkened instantly. He stormed over and hissed under his breath, "Vera! Who let you in here? Get out!"

I blinked innocently, pitching my voice just loud enough for the people nearby to hear.

"Liam, we're legally married, aren't we? You're throwing Lily a recovery party — how could your own wife possibly miss it?"

The room erupted into murmurs.

Everyone stared at us, stunned. Liam was married? And not to Lily?

Lily's face went rigid for a split second before she composed herself, her eyes welling up as she walked over, the picture of fragile grace.

"Vera... no, Mrs. Hayes. I know you must resent me for taking Liam from you, but today is supposed to be my happy day. Please, don't make a scene. Okay?"

[High alert! The bitch is about to pull a move!]

[She's going to fake-fall into the pool and frame you for it! Host, get ready!]

The golden text floated into view again.

I looked at Lily's pitiful, innocent face and let a knowing smirk tug at the corner of my mouth.

Fake-falling into the water?

So predictable.

Just as Lily moved closer, getting ready for her "accidental" stumble, I gasped loudly and grabbed her wrist first.

"Watch out, Lily!"

I gripped her wrist with all my strength and let my own foot catch on something at the same time.

A loud thud.

It wasn't Lily who went into the pool — it was the two of us, crashing hard onto the deck together!

And I was the one underneath, taking the full impact!

My side slammed directly into a raised edge on the deck.

"Ahh—!" I let out a piercing scream, clutching my side, my face going white as a sheet, cold sweat breaking out across my forehead.

The whole room went dead silent.

Liam's eyes blazed with rage. He shoved Lily aside and scooped me up into his arms.

"Vera! Are you okay?!"

I trembled as if I were in agony, pointing at Lily, tears streaming down like rain.

"Liam... it hurts so much... my stitches must have torn open... it was her... she pushed me..."

Lily stared at me, dazed, sitting on the floor in disbelief.

"I didn't! Liam, I never pushed her! She tripped on her own!"

"Enough!" Liam roared, and for the first time, the look he gave Lily was sharp and cold. "Lily, Vera just donated a kidney to save your life. And you push her, now, of all times? I am so disappointed in you."

Lily had no defense, bursting into hysterical tears.

I rested against Liam's chest, eyes closed, looking utterly weak — but at an angle no one else could see, my lips curled into a wild, triumphant grin.

You want to play the innocent flower with me?

Sweetheart, I wrote that playbook.