Chapter 1
“I swear on everything, it wasn't me!” Daniel shouted.
The party, which had been filled with laughter and cheerful conversations just moments ago, suddenly fell into complete silence as an audio recording echoed throughout the hall.
Every eye turned toward Daniel. The guests looked at him with disgust and contempt. Some whispered among themselves, loud enough to make sure he heard every word.
Meanwhile, Daniel stood frozen, his face drained of all color. His heart pounded uncontrollably, as though it were about to leap out of his chest.
The recording played a voice that sounded exactly like his, uttering cruel words and revealing a sinister plan. According to the recording, Daniel had only approached Valerie so he could become part of the Morales Family and seize Ricardo Morales's fortune.
The voice also claimed that once he had gained their wealth and power, he would mercilessly get rid of Valerie and her entire family. He would throw them aside and trample on their dignity.
“I swear, I never said that!” Daniel cried in panic. His pleading eyes met Valerie's, desperately searching for even the slightest sign that she would believe him. “I never said anything like that, sweetheart. Please... believe me.”
But Valerie's gaze was as sharp as a knife. The eyes that had once been filled with love now held nothing but hatred.
“But that's your voice, Daniel!” she snapped. “I trusted you with all my heart, and this is how you repay me? I never imagined you could be this cruel! I loved you sincerely.”
Whispers quickly spread throughout the ballroom as the guests continued gossiping about Daniel.
“This poor man really doesn't know his place,” someone in the crowd sneered. “He's lucky Valerie was even willing to date him.”
“Exactly! I heard he's just a food delivery courier. Instead of appreciating Valerie's kindness, he took advantage of it!”
“He really is a delivery courier,” another guest mocked. “He works for a fast-food restaurant. I ordered food once, and he was the one who delivered it. Valerie was far too kind. She had no idea this poor man was only using her family's reputation.”
Daniel's ears burned with humiliation. His entire body trembled violently as both hands clenched into fists.
“I'M NOT LIKE THAT! STOP SPREADING LIES!” he roared.
Instead of silencing the accusations, however, his outburst only added fuel to the fire.
A middle-aged man suddenly stepped forward and slapped Daniel hard across the face.
The force sent him stumbling backward, his cheek throbbing with pain.
Gathering what little courage he had left, Daniel looked at Ricardo Morales—his girlfriend's father.
The man's gaze was cold enough to kill.
“Get out of here!” Ricardo roared, his eyes blazing with fury. “I was kind enough to invite you to the Morales Family's important banquet, and this is how you repay me? You planned to get rid of me? You bastard, Daniel! I will never approve of your relationship with my daughter. Leave—and never show your face to me again!”
Daniel opened his mouth, desperately trying to explain.
“Uncle, I—”
Before he could finish, Valerie's voice cut him off.
“I don't want him either, Father!” Valerie declared, standing tall. “I DON'T LOVE HIM ANYMORE! I HATE THIS DISGUSTING BASTARD!”
Daniel fell silent.
Her words hurt far more than the slap.
The woman he had loved with all his heart—the one he believed would always stand by his side—was now looking at him with nothing but hatred and refusing to believe a single word he said.
“Get out, Daniel!” Valerie shouted again. “I never want to see your disgusting face again!”
Daniel lowered his head.
His eyes fell to the floor, which suddenly felt colder than ever before.
He had nothing left to say.
Without another word, he turned around and walked away.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Daniel suddenly flinched when someone grabbed him from behind just after he had taken a few steps outside the banquet hall.
A large, powerful hand clamped onto his shoulder while another tightly covered his mouth. He struggled desperately, but the man's strength was overwhelming.
Within seconds, he was dragged into a deserted emergency stairwell.
Once they arrived, the grip loosened, causing Daniel to stagger forward.
“W-Who are you?” Daniel spun around.
The moment he saw the man's face, his eyes widened in shock.
The man curled his lips into a faint smile.
“Me?” he replied casually. “I'm your former would-be father-in-law.”
Daniel froze.
His breath caught in his throat.
“U-Uncle?” he muttered in disbelief.
Ricardo Morales stood before him with the smile of a predator that had just cornered its prey.
“So,” Ricardo said, “how did you enjoy the little show I prepared for you, Daniel?”
“The... show?” Daniel frowned as confusion overtook him. “Everything that happened in there... that was your—”
“Yes,” Ricardo interrupted. “I did all of it.”
He folded his arms across his chest and looked Daniel up and down with undisguised arrogance.
Hearing the confession, Daniel ground his teeth together.
His face turned red with uncontrollable anger, and his fists tightened at his sides.
How could the father of the woman he loved be so heartless?
Had he invited him here just to humiliate him?
But why?
What had he done wrong?
Unable to contain himself any longer, Daniel grabbed Ricardo by the collar.
“Why did you do this, Uncle? What did I ever do to you?”
Ricardo violently slapped Daniel's hand away.
“Because you're poor, and you don't know your place,” he hissed through clenched teeth, a mocking smirk returning to his lips.
Daniel's fists tightened again, ready to throw a punch.
“You want to hit me?” Ricardo sneered. “Your life will become even more miserable if you dare.”
Slowly, Daniel lowered his fists.
He didn't want to ruin his life.
He was nothing more than a poor man. There was no way he could win against someone as powerful as Ricardo Morales.
“Listen carefully,” Ricardo said in a low voice. “Never dream of becoming part of the Morales Family. You're nothing but a lowly nobody, and the Morales Family will never accept someone like you. Don't you ever go near my daughter again—not even to explain yourself. If you dare approach her, I'll make sure your life is completely destroyed.”
After delivering those words, Ricardo turned around and walked away arrogantly, leaving Daniel alone in the silent stairwell.
The sound of his footsteps echoed through the empty staircase before gradually fading away.
Daniel remained rooted to the spot.
His jaw tightened as he struggled to suppress the rage burning inside him.
His breathing became ragged.
His fists clenched so tightly that the veins on the backs of his hands bulged.
His eyes remained fixed on Ricardo's back until the man disappeared behind the stairwell door.
***
The faint morning light slipped through the narrow gap in the curtains of Daniel's tiny rented room.
He sat on the edge of his bed, holding his throbbing head.
He had gotten completely drunk the night before.
The stuffy air inside the cramped room only made him feel even weaker.
Even so, Daniel knew he couldn't waste his time feeling sorry for himself.
Giving up had never existed in his dictionary.
If he did nothing but sit around and mourn his fate, he might as well be giving up on life altogether.
Gathering the last of his strength, he got to his feet and prepared for work.
After putting on his worn work uniform, Daniel took a deep breath.
He reached for the doorknob and pulled the door open.
Several uniformed officers were already standing outside.
Their faces were stern and expressionless.
One of them stepped forward and fixed Daniel with a cold stare.
“You are under arrest on suspicion of murder.”
“W-What?”
To be continued...
