A Love That Fades

Seeing that Zachary was about to toss the recorder into the trash, Ian immediately stepped forward.

“Wait. I want to hear what’s on that tape.” What the Carter family said had actually given him a reminder.

Selena had deliberately placed the recorder inside a gift box and left it somewhere obvious.

There had to be a reason.

“What’s there to listen to? It’s probably just some curses against us. So unlucky. We should just throw it away,” Vanessa said hastily.

She seemed uncharacteristically flustered.

She abruptly got up and reached for the tape, her panic completely unlike the calm and composed demeanor she usually maintained.

“Stop.” Ian wasn’t about to let her have her way.

He immediately stepped forward to block her.

As the two of them struggled over the recorder, Ian —- managed to press the play button first.

A burst of static crackled, followed by an arrogant voice.

“Selena, get on your knees and beg me. I can make Dad forgive you.” On the tape, Vanessa’s tone wasn’t timid in the slightest.

It was filled with nothing but pure arrogance and malice.

“It truly wonder, why are you even still alive? You’re living like a stray dog. Do you actually find that fun? Hahaha! ”

“Once you’re dead, I’ll send your dad to join you, so you can have a nice little family reunion. ”

“And when that happens, everything in this house will be mine. ”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of your little brother and that boyfriend of yours. ”

“You know, the two of them trust me so much, they believe whatever I say. Especially your dad, that old fool. All I have to do is sweet-talk him a little, and he pampers me like royalty. Honestly, he’s the easiest one to fool in your family.

“He even knew your brother didn’t like me and went out of his way to help me deceive him. He made him think I —- was the one who donated blood to save his life.

Hahaha, I can’t! It’s too funny! How can someone be so stupid? “Alright, your brother’s calling me. I’ll come play with you after my banquet. This time, I’ll make sure you can’t even live in the attic anymore. You’ll have to crawl into the basement like a sewer rat. Haha!” The recording ended abruptly.

The living room fell into complete silence.

Ryan’s entire body went cold, trembling violently as he stared at Vanessa in utter disbelief.

Zachary’s face, on the other hand, turned deep red.

He had never imagined that, after all he had done for Vanessa, including abandoning his own biological daughter for her, spoiling her, even going so far as to legally adopt her, she had been plotting all along to kill him and steal everything from the Carter family.

Even Ian himself hadn’t expected the recorder to contain such horrifying words.

If not for this tape, no matter how much Selena tried to explain, none of them would have ever believed that those —- words had come from Vanessa’s mouth.

Selena had suffered so much.

Realizing this, Ian’s eyes turned red.

He covered his mouth, fighting the urge to retch as tears began to fall uncontrollably.

“Zachary, I-I can explain. It’s not what it sounds like! That recording is fake. Selena must have forged it to frame me!” Vanessa desperately tried to defend herself.

But the cold sweat on her forehead and the panic in her eyes had already betrayed her true emotions.

“You lying snake! You still dare to deny it?” Zachary finally lost it.

Like a volcano erupting, he charged forward, pinned her to the ground, and rained punches down on her face.