Chapter 2

Daniel still looked just the way Gemma had remembered him. He still wore that pleasant look, but the smugness had become more obvious. Gemma blinked, her lashes barely fluttering as she stared at his fingers resting on her shoulder. Before she could push him away, a voice suddenly called out from across the street. "Gemma, you're here!" The moment Monica's voice rang out, the hand resting on Gemma's shoulder quietly slipped away. Gemma didn't respond. The tension in the air was almost suffocating. With teary eyes, Monica stepped forward and gently reached for her hand. "Gemma, everything that happened before was on me. I genuinely want to apologize." Seeing Monica in tears, Daniel finally spoke up, too. "Monica has been planning this all morning to celebrate your release. She picked the restaurant, set everything up, and has been running around all day. She hasn't even eaten yet. She genuinely wants to make things right with you." They each took turns speaking, as if blaming Gemma for being completely unreasonable. No one cared that she had been framed, forced to carry the label of a murderer, or how she survived those three years in prison. Just as Gemma was about to speak, Daniel grabbed her arm and pulled her into the restaurant. They hadn't even made it through the door when voices from inside reached Gemma's ears. People were talking about her. "If it weren't out of respect for Daniel and Monica, I wouldn't be here. Who celebrates a murder? What are we even celebrating—that she killed someone?" "Exactly! I warned Daniel before that she's from a low-class family. Who knows what kind of upbringing she had? With a background like that, how could she be decent?" "Speaking of which, I heard she killed her father because he tried to rape her. He had already molested her when she was a kid. And when she got older, he tried to take it further, but he didn't succeed." "Are you serious? Given her background, I'm amazed that Daniel actually went for her. She's nothing compared to Monica. Back then, he and Monica were doing great. If it weren't for his parents, they would probably have a baby already." Hearing those words, Daniel's expression shifted instantly. He instinctively pulled Gemma into a tight embrace, pressing his hand firmly over her ear. It was a reflex and an instinctive gesture that had been etched deeply into Daniel's memory. But Gemma didn't tremble like before. Instead, she gently pushed him away with her thin and bony hands. Daniel stared at Gemma, completely taken aback. But Gemma knew exactly what he was thinking. What Vincent did to her as a child had always been a hidden scar buried deep in Gemma's heart. Every time the memories came back to haunt her, it was always Daniel who stayed by her side, comforting her in the only way he knew how to. He had been like armor, carefully guarding her deeply wounded heart. And he even promised he would protect her, that he wouldn't let anyone harm her again. But it wasn't until that day in court that she realized—what she thought was protection had only hurt her over and over again, breaking her down with no chance to rest. She had already endured all the judgment and disgust the world had to throw at her. Gemma no longer needed the so-called protection tossed her way by the very man who started it all. Daniel's heart sank. A feeling he couldn't quite name settled in his chest. It was suffocating and unbearable. In that moment, all his frustration shifted to the people inside the room. The next second, he lifted his foot and kicked the door open. The chatter inside came to an immediate halt. With a dark expression, he looked at the group that had been openly talking trash about Gemma. He said, "Gemma is my wife. Eveyrything she's been through wasn't something she chose. If you've got a problem with her, take it up with me. I'm not forcing anyone to stay, but don't be two-faced." The people seated exchanged uneasy glances and immediately fell silent. When Monica saw the look on Daniel's face, jealousy flashed in her eyes. But in the next second, she put on a pitiful expression, picked up a glass of wine, and walked over to Gemma. She downed her own glass in one gulp, then held the remaining glass out to Gemma as she said, "This is all my fault. I just wanted everyone to have a good time. Gemma, I am here to offer you a formal apology. Would you be willing to forgive me?"