A Castle Built on Lies

Eric clutched his cheek in disbelief and cried out, "Grandpa, why did you hit me? Avery was the one who messed up. Why are you taking her side?"

Heartbreak was evident in Barbara's eyes when she saw Eric getting slapped. She couldn't help but complain, saying, "Richard, can't you talk things through? Why would you hit Eric?"

Richard scoffed and pointed at me, my cheek still marked with a bright red handprint. "Talk things through? Then why didn't you talk to Avery? You slapped her, didn't you?"

After being scolded in front of everyone, Barbara immediately looked upset. After all, she was someone who always cared deeply about keeping up appearances.

She shot back without thinking. "That's because Avery's just too irresponsible! She's been married into this family for seven years and still hasn't gotten pregnant.

"I told her to go through with IVF, but all she cares about is having fun! She's forgotten her responsibility as Eric's wife!" The more Barbara spoke, the more sure of herself she became.

All the while, Richard stayed calm, quietly listening as she accused me.

When Barbara was done, Richard looked at Eric and flatly asked, "Eric, tell me. Is everything Barbara said true?"

Eric's eyes darted around. His voice wavered with guilt, and he couldn't meet my gaze. "Grandpa, why are you bringing this up? Isn't this something everyone already knows?"

Richard let out a sharp laugh and struck Eric with his cane.

Eric cried out in pain, and Barbara panicked. "Richard, how can you be so unfair? This is all Avery's fault. How could you hit Eric?" she shouted.

Richard then pulled out his phone and hit play on a recording.

Then, Eric's sharp and cold voice filled the room.

"Every time we're done, I give her a glass of milk. After all these years of birth control, it'd be a miracle if she got pregnant."

Barbara's eyes widened in shock, and the room erupted with chatters of gossip.

"He gave his wife birth control? Did Eric actually do something as low as that?"

"He knows Avery went through IVF so many times for a baby. Yet, he just stood by and watched her suffer?"

Monica glared at me, then turned to Eric with a resentful gaze. "Didn't you swear to me that you never touched her?"

Eric panicked and rushed to defend himself. "My family forced me! I have no feelings for her, and I feel sick every time I have to touch her. Monica, you're the one I've always loved!"

I smirked slightly as I listened to his usual insults, but they stirred no emotion within me anymore.

Just then, something flickered in Barbara's eyes.

Still, she couldn't bring herself to blame Eric.

"Eric's still young and immature. Now that we've cleared up the misunderstanding, can't we just let it go?"

Richard scoffed and pulled me forward. He then rolled up my sleeves to show the dense cluster of bruised needle marks. "Take a look at this. She's suffered so much for the past seven years, and you think this can slide?"

But Eric still refused to back down. "So what? She forced Monica to leave and insisted on marrying me. She got what she deserved!"

Upon hearing that, a flicker of guilt flashed in Monica's eyes as she tugged on Eric's sleeve. "Eric, let bygones be bygones. I'm not someone who holds grudges."

She glanced at me with pursed lips, a reluctant look in her eyes. "Avery, I forgive you. You don't have to worry about it."

Richard icily stared at Monica, mockery flashing in his eyes. "You forgive her? Do you think you have the right to say that?"

Eric couldn't help but defend Monica. "Grandpa, scold me all you want, but why are you dragging Monica into this? She's gentle and naive. Don't bully her just because of what Avery told you."

Richard looked at him in disappointment and sighed deeply. "How did our family end up with someone as stupid as you? You can't even see the true nature of the people around you!

"Do you even know why she went abroad back then?"