Dale's face turned a deep shade of red. While he looked like he might leap across the room and strangle Poppy, Layla immediately stood with tears in her eyes, shaking her head like a guilty child.
"W-what… what are you saying, Poppy? How could you accuse me of something like that?" Her voice trembled.
"How dare you try to frame us, Poppy?!" Dale barked, standing to his feet.
Poppy didn't answer. She would've been disappointed if they didn't deny it.
Instead, she slowly pulled her phone from her coat pocket and lifted it for everyone to see. She tapped the screen, and the recording began to play.
"I… I'm sorry, Dale. It's all my fault. If I hadn't been so greedy, if I hadn't begged you to marry me first and pushed you to forge that marriage certificate for my sister, we wouldn't be in this mess—"
Hearing the familiar voice, both Layla and Dale's face paled instantly. They couldn't believe that Poppy had recorded everything.
"It's not your fault, Layla. Don't you see? It's Poppy's fault. You're the only one I want, and I'd do it all over again if I had to."
The room fell silent again as Poppy shoved her phone down her pocket.
"I'm pretty sure that the recording is clear enough. Can you see I'm telling the truth, Father?"
While Rowland's eyes twitched, Lauren's frown deepened.
"So what?"
Everyone turned to Evelyn who hadn't uttered a word since Poppy got here.
The old woman's cold expression as she adjusted her shawl made Poppy frown.
"I don't see a problem. Whatever they did, they did to protect the family. They were under pressure. It's done. Now, the only thing left is for you to divorce that unknown man—whoever he is—and marry Dale legally this time."
Both Layla and Dale smiled slowly.
Poppy blinked. Once. Twice. Her ears were ringing. She looked at her grandmother like she was hearing a stranger speak. "What...?"
"Your grandmother is right, Poppy," Lauren said with a small smile. "Dale has been patient with you all these years. We'll find this mystery husband of yours, tear up whatever that joke of a marriage is, and then… you'll marry Dale as his second wife."
Poppy's mouth opened, but no sound came out. Her fingers trembled at her sides.
"A… second wife?" she breathed, barely able to form the words. After everything… they wanted her to bow her head and settle as Dale's second wife?
"Your mother owed the Roosevelts everything," Rowland said firmly, stepping beside Lauren. "She would've done anything for them. You cannot back out of this."
"Since Dale is already married to your sister," he continued, "You should become his second wife. This way, the shares your mother left you will stay in the family, and you will fulfill your duty to him, just like she would have done if you hadn't killed her."
Poppy's fists clenched tighter. "You want me to marry the man who betrayed me… as his second wife, just to give him my mother's shares?!"
"Why are you making a fuss like it's not the right thing to do?" Evelyn's cold voice rang in Poppy's ears. "Don't tell me you plan on cutting him off the shares for a little mistake after everything his mother did for your late mother?"
Poppy took a shaky step back. Her eyes widened slightly as realization slammed into her.
They were all involved...
She should've known from the start. They knew of Dale's unfaithfulness with Layla, but they'd humiliated her in front of everyone instead and treated her like a fool. And now, they want to make her Dale's second wife, so they could get her mother's shares...
Her eyes burned. "I won't do it."
Everyone froze.
"I won't get married to Dale. You can all burn in hell!" She turned away and started walking out.
Rowland's anger flared. "Stop right there, you imbecile!" He yelled.
But Poppy simply continued walking until she was out of the room.
....
The cold air slapped Poppy across the face the moment she stepped out of the mansion. She tried to steady herself, but her body wouldn't stop shaking.
She was angry. She could even feel her blood boiling, but why were her eyes stinging?
Was it because Dale had once been her whole world? The only person who'd stood by her side when everyone else turned their backs? The only light she had after her mother died in that brutal car crash when she was just ten?
Her family never forgave her for surviving. They blamed her for her mother's death, disregarding that she was part of the accident and barely survived by a miracle.
And it only got worse after her father discovered that her mother had transferred all her asset, share, and cent out of the Sinclair's name and into private trusts under Poppy's name when she found out he was sleeping with his secretary—Lauren.
Since then, Poppy had been blackmailed by every member of her family. Except for Dale.
He'd been the one person who held her hand through every storm and every tear.
So when they told her Dale was her betrothed, Poppy had felt like the luckiest girl alive.
She didn't even hesitate when they said she'd have to transfer everything her mother left her into his name after marriage. It felt right. Safe.
Her fists clenched at her sides.
She had been a fool. A pathetic, trusting fool, who was easily swayed by a few kind words and his fake loyalty.
She had also taken her family's insults and swallowed years of pain and humiliation, all because Dale had whispered, "Don't cause trouble, Poppy. Just endure a little longer."
But not anymore.
Now, she would fight. With everything she owned. She would protect what her mother died trying to leave her. And as for whoever they tricked her into marrying… she'd find him, get a divorce, and live for herself, just like her mother would've wanted.
A sudden buzz in her pocket snapped her back to reality.
Poppy blinked, pulled out her phone, and for the first time that day, she smiled faintly when she saw the caller ID.
She answered. "How did you know I was outside?"
"Just… instincts," Chloe, Poppy's best friend's voice came through the line. "And from the sound of your voice, I take it the snake pit didn't go well?"
Poppy exhaled sharply. "They asked me to marry Dale. As his second wife."
"WHAT?! After everything that bastard did?! Did you tell them? Did you show them the recording you sent me?"
"I did." Poppy's voice was almost a whisper now. "They knew, Chloe. All of them. I was the only fool left in the dark."
The tears that gathered in her eyes threatened to spill, but she held them back.
There was a pause on the other end. Then, "I am so sorry, Poppy," Chloe said softly. "I swear to God… I'm not going to let them get away with this!"
Poppy smiled. "I know. And that's why I love you."
Chloe hesitated. "I don't know if it's the right time to say this..."
"What is it?"
"The recording you sent… it helped. I finally managed to trace the man they registered you as married to. It wasn't easy, but… I got his address."
For the first time that day, Poppy felt a little hope. "You're a freaking angel, Chloe. Send it to me. Right now!"
But Chloe didn't sound nearly as excited. "Wait, you're not thinking of going there alone, are you?" Her tone turned serious. "What if he's dangerous? What if he's a serial killer? Or a mafia boss? Or worse—both?"
Poppy rolled her eyes. "I've told you to stop reading too much novels, Chloe."
"I'm not being dramatic, Poppy, and you know it! This man had 'deceased' listed on official records. Who does that? Who fakes their death on paper when they are still very much alive? That's not normal!"
Poppy was quiet for a moment. "That's creepy," she admitted. "But still—"
"No 'but still!'" Chloe snapped. "Come over. Let's come up with a plan. We'll hire backup if we need to. Please don't do this alone."
She took a moment to think. "I just need his signature on the divorce papers, Chloe. That's all. Once he signs them, we're both free. I'm not trying to get close or dig deep—I just want out."
"Poppy—"
"I have to do this today, Chloe. I'll be fine, I promise."
Chloe sighed, defeated. "Text me the moment you get there. I mean it."
"I will," Poppy said, ending the call.
She stared down at the address Chloe texted her, before entering her car.