When He Finally Believed Me

A long time ago, I was still the Wells family's heiress.

I had a family that doted on me, and a husband I had grown up with, someone who used to love me like I was his whole world.

Then Julia Knowles showed up, and everything fell apart.

I never had anything against her.

But at a family dinner, she suddenly slapped herself hard across the face, then threw herself on the ground before me. She made my parents and the crowd think I was bullying her, that I thought I was above everyone.

She would go crying to Edward, saying I made things difficult for her at work.

On my wedding anniversary with Hanson, she ran out in front of everyone, clothes in disarray, and collapsed to her knees, begging me not to release some private video of hers.

She kept saying she was sorry, that she would stay out of our lives. She said that all she wanted was for me to let her go.

That same day, Edward took her to the hospital to diagnose her injuries. They said she had tearing injuries.

But I had never sent anyone to hurt her.

Hanson slapped me right then and there. "No matter how much you dislike her, you can't go this far."

Tess ran over, her tiny arms wrapping around his leg. "Don't hurt Mommy! Julia's bad! I don't want her to live in our house!"

Hanson shook her off in anger. Tess lost her balance and fell, but he didn't even look at her.

"Watch your mouth!"

I couldn't stand being accused of something I didn't do, and I definitely couldn't stand Tess getting dragged into it. I grabbed Julia, demanding she tell the truth.

But she just dropped to her knees again, trembling, crying that she wouldn't dare do it again.

After that, the way they looked at me and Tess changed. There was always suspicion in their eyes.

Julia kept playing the victim, feeding off their guilt.

To them, we became the cruel, unreasonable ones.

The last time, she used a blind spot to make it look like I pushed her off a second-floor terrace.

She broke her leg.

That was the final straw. They were completely done with me after that.

My parents looked at me with utter disappointment, as if they didn't recognize me anymore. Edward said he didn't have a sister like me.

I never went back to the Wells residence after that.

Hanson started staying away more and more, avoiding any closeness between us.

One day, someone drugged me.

When I woke up, I was naked in a bed with several men.

The door burst open. My parents rushed in, their worry twisting into shock and fury. Edward stood there, shaking as he stared at me.

I looked up, dazed, and met Hanson's bloodshot, furious eyes.

Beside him, Julia held Tess's hand and spoke softly, "Tess, your mom told you to wait outside, right?"

"Mommy told me to wait by the door. She said she was going to play a game in the room with those men…" Tess answered honestly, too young to understand what she was saying.

It hit me like a thunderclap.

I looked at Julia, noticing the slight curve of her lips and the challenge in her eyes. I knew then this was all her doing.

I lunged at her, ready to tear her apart, but before I could, Hanson struck me across the face, knocking me to the ground.

I stared up at him, disbelief crashing over me.

He still didn't believe me.

We had grown up together, yet none of that mattered more than Julia's tears.

I still remembered when she first came around. Hanson barely gave her the time of day. He stood firmly on my side.

All his attention, all his care, was mine alone.

I thought even if I lost my parents and Edward, he would still be there for me.

But the moment Julia came running to him in torn clothes, crying, and he bent down to help her…

I knew his heart had already started to shift.

Now, there was nothing left in his eyes, just a cold distance.

"Julia said before that Tess doesn't look like me. I chose to believe you," he said flatly. "Now, I think it's time for a DNA test."

Julia's lips curled, just enough to hide it, but her eyes gave her away.

The results came back fast.

"Not biologically related."

The second I saw it, I knew the test had been tampered with.

I tried to explain, but Hanson didn't even listen. He dragged me straight to the courthouse and filed for divorce. He didn't acknowledge Tess, either.

Word spread fast.

Soon, everyone heard that I was in a hotel room with a group of men, and then I was abandoned.

My family cared a lot about their reputation. The company even took a hit because of it.

My parents said I had brought shame to the family.

In the end, Edward sent both Tess and me away to a strict reform school.

They believed Julia. Said we needed to learn how to behave.

From that day on, life became like hell for Tess and me.