After Seeing the Danmaku, I Destroyed the Cheater and the Vixen

1: 1

I went along to help my best friend catch her cheating man, and ended up locked in a bathroom by the very other man, left there to be tortured.

Now I lay on the floor, barely breathing, and the baby I'd carried for just over three months had become a pool of blood beneath me.

I struggled to dial my best friend Gail Perry, and suddenly a line of danmaku scrolled across my vision:

Don't call. She set this whole thing up!

Gail Perry has been sleeping with your husband for eight years. She finally got pregnant with a son, and a fortune-teller told them Nathan Henson's first-born son would be the Henson family heir.

Nathan and I had been together for ten years, and he'd betrayed me for eight of them.

I was drowning in grief. I wanted to call the police, and the danmaku scrolled again:

Don't! Nathan and Gail are in this together. He's already paid people off. The second this blows up, you'll be buried under fabricated scandals and walk away with nothing.

Then what am I supposed to do?

Call Nathan's good buddy. He's a lawyer, and he's in love with you. He'll help you for sure.

Blake Gilbert...

That quiet, reserved man who followed Nathan around like his shadow.

He'd help me?

A knock came at the door, and then Gail's voice.

"Madison Swanson, are you in there? Open the door!"

My grip tightened on the phone as the danmaku flooded the screen:

This is bad. Gail brought Nathan to catch you in the act!

Call Blake now. He's the only one who can save you!

I fumbled and pressed Blake's number.

The line connected, and his voice came through.

"Madison? Is that you, my brother's wife?"

Choking back tears, I kept my voice low and told him everything, start to finish.

"Gail and Nathan are right outside the door. What do I do?"

Blake was silent for a few seconds.

"Clean up the scene right now, then open the door and confront her."

"Insist that Gail deliberately had someone beat you until you miscarried. And tell her you've already called the police and they've taken the man away."

"I can't get back in time. I'll have my colleague find the man first. You gather as much evidence of Nathan's affair as you can. In two days I'll be back, and I'll make sure Nathan walks away with nothing."

Blake's voice cut off.

I dragged myself up off the floor, turned on the shower with shaking hands, and scrubbed frantically at myself and the blood on the tiles.

The knocking outside grew urgent.

"Madison, open the door!"

"If you don't open it, I'm coming in!"

I shut off the water, shoved the bathroom door open, and walked barefoot to the door, water mixed with blood dripping onto the floor behind me.

I yanked the door open and met Gail's seemingly frantic eyes.

She stared at me, froze for a moment, and tears slid down from the corners of her eyes.

"Madison, what happened to you? Why are you covered in blood?"

"I only stepped away to the restroom, and when I turned around you were gone. I looked everywhere, and only after asking the staff did I find out you'd gone into this room with some man."

"Do you two know each other? What did you do in here?"

Don't fall into her trap. She wants you to admit to an affair with your own mouth.

I didn't answer. I slapped her across the face.

She stared at me, stunned, then in the next second threw herself into Nathan's arms.

"Nathan, I really don't know what happened. I only called you because I was afraid Madison was in danger."

"If I'd known Madison was sneaking around with another man behind your back... I never would have..."

"Drop the act!" I cut her off, seething.

"That man already confessed that you ordered him to drag me into this room and beat me until I lost the baby."

"The police have already taken him away, and I will not let this go."

The color drained from Gail's face, and her eyes went to Nathan.

Nathan, who hadn't said a word this whole time, stepped forward and took my hand.

His gaze was tender, his voice carrying its usual doting warmth.

"Madison, the baby's gone, but we can have another. Don't blow this out of proportion."

2: 2

Have another once this one's gone?

The year Nathan and I first married, I was pregnant once.

But our careers had only just started, and we wanted to put work first, so I let that baby go.

After that, I never conceived naturally again.

This child was one I fought for, going to every specialist I could find, taking hundreds of injections into my belly just to hold on to him.

I'd finally made it to three months, and I never imagined the friend I trusted most would kill him like this.

And the husband I'd loved and stood by for ten years turned out to be her accomplice.

I wrenched my hand out of Nathan's grip and screamed at him for the first time in my life.

That was a child I nearly gave half my life to keep!

Gail killed my baby, and she's going to pay for it with her own!

Nathan stared at me, stunned, and something plainly like disgust flickered in his eyes.

He was about to speak when Gail suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me.

She wept, tears streaming down her face, both hands clutching desperately at the hem of my dress.

Madison, how can you accuse me like this?

You're the one who said you wanted to meet that man, and asked me to cover for you.

Now something's gone wrong, and you want to pin all the blame on me?

She turned to look at Nathan.

Nathan, I'm the one who wronged you. I knew Madison had betrayed you, and I still stood by her side without hesitation.

But I truly never thought Madison would go this far...

Gail and I had known each other for fifteen years, longer than I'd known Nathan.

Apart from my parents, she was closer to me than family, closer even than Nathan.

So when she called me sobbing, begging me to come catch her boyfriend cheating, I rushed over without a second thought.

I never dreamed I was walking into a trap she'd laid so carefully.

She hadn't just killed my child, she wanted to destroy my good name too.

Another slap landed across her face.

Do you have the nerve to stand behind these lies you're spreading about me?

She let herself slump onto the floor and stared up at me, taunting.

The next second she was clutching her stomach in pain. Nathan, my stomach hurts so much, our baby...

Nathan's face changed. He scooped Gail up at once, his eyes fixed on me, dark and hard.

You couldn't protect your own child, so you're taking it out on Gail?

If anything happens to the baby in Gail's belly, I will not let you off!

Watching Nathan's frantic back as he hurried off, tears spilled out before I could stop them.

The Nathan I used to know would drive back through the night from the next city because I'd cut my finger, just to take me to the hospital.

Would sit by my bed all night because I had a fever.

Would carry me to and from class for a whole month because I'd sprained my ankle.

And now I stood before him covered in wounds, and he looked right through me.

Gail was admitted to the hospital.

To get evidence, I had no choice but to go and "visit."

I stood outside her room and set my phone to record.

Just as I was about to knock, Gail and Nathan's voices came from inside:

Nathan, Madison must have miscarried because she was assaulted, but I can't reach that man anymore.

I should have arranged a few more people to leave proof. Then Madison couldn't have turned it back on us.

What if that man really did get taken in by the police...

Don't worry, I'll handle all of that. Right now the most important thing is taking care of the baby you're carrying.

With Madison's child gone, the Henson heir can only be the baby in your belly.

It's just that this time we couldn't make her walk away with nothing, so I can't hand you the position of Mrs. Henson right away.

Gail spoke in a sweet, coaxing voice,

Grandfather Henson's birthday banquet is in two days. If she gets caught cheating at the banquet...

The birthday banquet?

I sent the recording to Blake.

At the banquet in two days, I'm going to ruin Nathan completely.

3: 3

After I left the hospital, I went back to the house I shared with Nathan.

That night, I had just stepped out of the shower when Nathan wrapped his arms around me from behind.

Just like always, he rested his chin on my shoulder, his voice soft and doting.

Sweetheart, today was my fault. I didn't protect you and the baby, and I spoke to you far too harshly.

But it all happened so suddenly. Gail was only worried about you. You can't accuse her of something just because you were upset.

I turned my head and looked at Nathan's face, as calm as ever, and my heart felt as if a ton of wet cement had been poured into it, pressing down until I couldn't breathe.

His acting really was good. He wanted nothing more than to throw me out the door that instant, and yet he could still play at loving me this much.

I pulled free of his arms and turned, my eyes falling on the gift bag he'd set down by his feet.

Feeling my gaze, he bent down, picked up the bag, and drew out the gown inside like he was showing off a treasure.

Grandfather's birthday banquet is the day after tomorrow. I picked out your favorite brand just for you.

The color's the pink you love, too. Try it on?

The brand and the color were both Gail's favorites. Even the size was Gail's size.

I let out a cold laugh and stepped back. When did the two of you start?

Nathan froze, then immediately gripped my hand, all tenderness.

Gail and I were just an accident. Three months ago I got drunk, and I didn't mean for it to...

He tightened his hold on my hand, his eyes fixed on me, uneasy.

Madison, you're the only one I love. We've been married ten years and I've never once done anything to wrong you.

I'm begging you, just forgive me this one time. Please?

I flung his hand off in disgust. So you admit you cheated?

I did not!

Nathan cut me off sharply, then in the next second suddenly changed the subject.

Madison, don't you love children?

When we did the IVF, the doctor already said that if we couldn't save this pregnancy, you'd never be able to be a mother again.

You and Gail are best friends. Once she has the baby, I'll have her hand the child over for you to raise.

With a child to lean on, there's no way Gail could ever threaten your place as Mrs. Henson.

If I hadn't known this was the trap he and Gail had laid for me for the banquet, I probably really would have given in, because I loved him.

But now, all I wanted was to see him ruined.

I tightened my grip on the phone that was still recording, and nodded.

All right. After Grandfather's birthday banquet, the three of us will sit down and talk.

Nathan's face lit up, and out of habit he pressed a light kiss to my forehead.

Good. Tomorrow I'll come pick you up for the banquet myself. Get some rest. I'll sleep in the guest room tonight.

Once the bedroom door was shut, I scrubbed at the spot where Nathan had kissed me with the back of my hand, over and over, and the tears fell without my being able to stop them.

With shaking hands, I sent all of the recordings to Blake.

A message came back almost at once:

I already have all the proof that Gail hired a man to hurt you.

At the banquet tomorrow, neither Nathan nor Gail is getting away.

4: 4

On the day of the banquet, Gail called me.

"Madison, my dress zipper's stuck. Could you come to the dressing room and help me with it?"

Such a clumsy excuse. And last time, I'd fallen for it so easily.

But this time, I was the one setting the trap.

I tightened my grip on the phone that was recording. "I'll be right there."

The moment she saw me, Gail hooked her arm through mine, warm and affectionate, as if nothing had happened two days ago.

She stared at herself in the vanity mirror and scolded herself in that soft, coy voice.

"It's all my fault for putting on weight with the pregnancy. Now I've dragged you all the way here just to zip me up."

I lowered my eyes with contempt, my gaze landing on the slight swell of her belly.

"Why Nathan?"

Gail raised her eyes and looked at me in the mirror, the smile draining from her face bit by bit.

"Nathan has always loved me. He only married you for your family connections and your ability."

"And now that Nathan already has everything, of course he wants to be with the woman he loves."

She stroked her stomach carefully.

"The child in my belly is the only heir the Henson family has now."

"After tonight, once it's set in stone that you cheated and betrayed Nathan, you can walk away with nothing and get out of the Henson family for good!"

My hand at my side tightened without my meaning it to, and my voice shook badly.

"So to drive me out of the Henson family, you framed my honor and killed my child?"

"Gail, we've been friends for over a decade. You knew that baby didn't come easy. Why would you..."

Gail shot to her feet and glared at me, vicious.

"So what? If you don't get out, I'll never get to be Mrs. Henson!"

Then her lips curled up. "Besides, Nathan knows everything I've done."

"He despises you as much as I do. Madison, tonight you can look forward to being ruined."

She strode out of the dressing room, smug, and locked the door behind her.

A moment later, the lock outside turned.

A man with a sleazy face opened the door and walked in.

He looked me up and down, baring his yellow teeth. "Not bad, sweet thing. You play along nicely in a bit, and I promise I won't hurt you."

I stared at him with disgust, gripping my phone, asking what I already knew. "Who sent you?"

He stepped closer and let out a mocking laugh. "Your husband, of course."

"I really don't get it. A wife this pretty, and he actually pays me to put horns on his own head. That mistress of his isn't even as good-looking as you..."

I stared at him, stunned. It really was Nathan.

"But your husband did say I'm only supposed to make it look real. He told me not to actually touch you."

He wanted to ruin my honor while still keeping his devoted-husband image.

Nathan really did want to have it both ways.

I stepped back, snatched up the vase behind me, and brought it down hard on the man's head.

He dropped where he stood.

I slipped out through the staff corridor and lost myself among the guests in the banquet hall.

Feeling a hot gaze at my side, I turned and met Blake Gilbert, in a white suit, refined and sharp.

He arched a brow at me, then let his eyes shift to the big screen at the front of the hall.

The next second, the screen went black, and the conversation between Nathan and Gail came pouring out.

"Nathan, Madison must have... lost the baby. But I suddenly can't reach that man anymore."

"I should have arranged for a few more people to leave proof. Then Madison couldn't have turned it back on us."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of all of it. The most important thing now is to keep the baby in your belly healthy."

"With Madison's child gone, the only heir the Henson family can have is ours. It's just a shame we couldn't send her off with nothing this time..."

The stream of comments on the screen suddenly scrolled.

Go up there, slap him, make him walk away with nothing!

I clenched my fist and walked toward Nathan, who stood frozen in place, and slapped him across the face.

"Nathan, walk away with nothing."