Chapter 45

The bedroom was a disaster. Men's and women's clothing littered the bed; a pair of smelly socks lay crumpled on the floor, and used condoms overflowed from the trash can, several more scattered beside the bed. Just as Nicole had mentioned, the man was quite the powerhouse. The chaotic scene spoke volumes about the couple's wild escapades.

"Amanda, get out here, now!" Chase raged, kicking over the trash can and yanking the bedclothes off, leaving a trail of destruction.

"Chase, what's wrong?" Nicole rushed in, hand over her mouth, shocked by the wreckage. "Oh my God, what did Amanda get up to in Cloudville?"

Chase's eyes blazed with fury. The commotion attracted the attention of a neighbor, a man with a cigarette dangling from his lips and a distinct out-of-town accent. "Looking for that couple? They left last night with their luggage, talking about chasing freedom or some such nonsense. Who knows where they went?"

He gave Chase, sharply dressed in a suit, a scrutinizing look. "And who might you be?"

Chase grabbed the man's collar. "What's the woman's name?"

"Name? I'm not sure. Folks just called her Ms. Kennedy. Are you a friend of hers? Honestly, she was quite the wild one. She and her boyfriend were always loud; you could hear them three floors up."

"Bam!" Chase's fist connected with the man's face.

He'd heard the last name Kennedy and assumed it was me, completely ignoring my obsession with cleanliness. How could I have let a room become so messy? Once someone makes up their mind, their intellect seems to become purely ornamental.

Seething, Chase ordered his assistant, "I don't care how you do it, dig up the entire ground if you have to, but find Amanda."

I was squatting under an old tree in the yard, counting ants. "You can't find me now. My skin's been peeled, and my bones ground to dust. I wonder if my flesh was turned into sausages or jerky."

The assistant, missing my sarcasm, quickly replied, "Yes, sir."

Gripping the doorframe, Chase looked out at the peaceful courtyard, his eyes filled with pain. "Amanda, I treated you well. Why did you do this to me?"

"Chase, don't be upset, Amanda… she…" Nicole began.

"Don't defend her. She's a floozy at heart. It's my fault for being blind to her true nature."

I didn't bother arguing. I was curious to see his reaction when he learned the truth. He stormed off home with Nicole. Meanwhile, a video of someone resembling me dancing suggestively hit the trending list.

The gossip was easy to imagine, but I was already "dead." Who cared? The Kennedy family was furious about the Cloudville incident.

My mother slammed her hand on the table. "I always said that girl was trouble, and now she's embarrassed us this badly. How will others perceive the Kennedy family?"

My father added, "I was even thinking of secretly giving her the shares. Does Amanda deserve them? I think we should leave the shares to Nicole as her dowry."

"Chase, we're truly sorry for raising such a daughter. We understand if you want a divorce."

"Indeed, it's fortunate there are no children involved. This divorce would be…"

Chase looked up, his eyes still bloodshot, and stared at my mother. "I won't divorce her!"

My mother flinched at his terrifying demeanor.

Nicole, holding his arm, said, "Chase, Amanda has already betrayed you. Continuing like this will make you a laughingstock. Mom and Dad are just worried about you. A divorce is better for both you and Amanda."