Chapter 23 The moment the statement was released, it sent shockwaves across the entire internet. Just days ago, Morinne Ayla had been the envy of countless women-everyone dreamed of being in her shoes. No one expected this. The groom had vanished on their wedding day... and now, the engagement was officially broken off. "Yikes. She didn't even make it through a full day as Mrs. Lowell. What a trainwreck." "Didn't surprise me. I always thought there was something off about her. Can't believe Alexander Lowell ever thought she was wife material." "She used her future Mrs. Lowell status to walk all over people. Everyone knew, just no one dared say it out loud." The comments went on and on. A bodyguard held a phone up for Morinne to see from inside the dark confinement room. He made sure she read every last word of that announcement-and the flood of brutal comments below it. So this was what it felt like when the world turned its back on you. Morinne stared at the screen in disbelief, lips trembling. Her mind blanked as she processed the headline. "No... this can't be real... I'm Mrs. Lowell. I am OFFICIALLY his wife!" she screeched. "How could they say this about me?! I'll make Alexander Lowell kill all of you! I'll make all of you pay-!" She lunged forward, manic with fury, knocking the phone out of the guard's hand with her festering, wounded fingers. The guards didn't even try to stop her. They simply let her run away from the dim dark cell. Morinne stumbled out of the warehouse barefoot and bloodied, her clothes in tatters, body reeking of rot and neglect. Her wounds were half-healed and infected, along with an unbearable stench, and she looked like a corpse risen from six feet under. But for a moment, she regained clarity. She needed help. She needed justice. So she ran-limped, really-straight toward the nearest police station. But the second she arrived and presented her name, the officers' expressions changed. "You're Morinne Ayla?" one of them asked, stepping forward. "You're under arrest for aggravated assault. You'll need to come with us." Click. The handcuffs snapped shut before she could run. "No-no! Officers! You have to listen to me!" she screamed. "I want to file a report! Alexander Lowell locked me up-he had me beaten and tortured! Look at me! Look at these wounds-this is the evidence!" She yanked up her sleeves and hiked up her pants legs, exposing bruises and faded marks. But the truth was... most of her injuries had already begun to heal. At worst, they were now considered minor. There wasn't enough left to press serious charges. And Alexander? He had evidence-more than enough. She, on the other hand, had nothing. Chapter 23 88.45% The officers didn't even respond. They simply hauled her away. Meanwhile, Alexander stood outside the Tracey residence, waiting. Waiting for Cynthia to come home. He stood there for hours, unmoving. And just as the sun began to set, he finally heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. "Careful, Cindy," Nathan said as he stepped out, quickly circling to open the passenger side and help her down. His every move was cautious, nervous, almost clumsy in his fumbling. It made Cynthia laugh softly. "I'm not made of glass," she teased gently. "I'm just pregnant, Nate. You don't have to be this jumpy." Still, despite her words, she held tightly to his hand, walking at an exaggeratedly slow pace. They both couldn't help but laugh at themselves. But not far away, Alexander froze. The gift in his hand fell to the ground. "Pregnant?" he whispered, stunned. "She's... pregnant?" Tears welled up in his eyes almost instantly, the image before him swimming as his vision blurred. Cynthia and Nathan looked toward the gateways. Nathan's expression shifted immediately. He instinctively pulled Cynthia behind him, shielding her from view. Alexander Lowell was standing at their gate. 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