Chapter 7

I later heard Vanessa went to our village with her swollen belly to find the Roscentes.

She'd grown accustomed to reckless spending during her time with Ryan and couldn't break the habit.

At first, the Roscentes tolerated her because of the baby she carried.

But then rumors spread through the village—about the disgusting things Ryan and Vanessa had done, whispers that she was nothing but a slut, that the child might not even be Ryan's.

Ryan's mother was furious, blaming Vanessa for her son's imprisonment. Life in the village must have been hell for her.

And with that belly, she couldn't easily escape.

Years later, when the village was set for demolition, I returned for a visit.

From a distance, I saw a woman being dragged by her hair, beaten to the ground, her clothes torn and barely covering her body.

It wasn’t until I got closer that I recognized her—Vanessa.

She looked nothing like the seductive woman she once was. I barely knew it was her.

Only when I saw Ryan’s mother delivering the blows did the pieces click.

Vanessa noticed me then. Hatred burned in her eyes, her teeth clenched, her gaze venomous.

The last I heard of them was on a crime documentary.

They’d gone back to their scams.

This time, they were facing over a decade behind bars.

As for me? I went back to being a masseur.