Chapter 2: Chapter 2
The assistant handed me the key.
Ethan turned over, and I quickly locked my phone and shoved it back under his pillow.
He opened his eyes, still drowsy.
“It’s nothing… I just miss my parents.”
I had already forwarded all of last night’s chat logs to myself, and now I copied this new evidence onto a flash drive.
I didn’t sleep a wink that night.
It wasn’t a photo of us, not a picture of Alex, but a solo portrait of Victoria.
Ethan used to work at a top architectural firm, a position built entirely on my company’s resources and connections.
I pushed the door open, and the first thing I saw was the photo frame on his desk.
Trade secrets, client lists, partner information—altogether worth tens of millions of dollars.
As he buried himself in my arms, I had to fight the desperate urge to shove him away.
Later, he opened his own private studio and never let me have anything to do with it.
“Babe? Why are you still awake?”
Then, his tone shifted. “Every time you’re stressed from work, you start to overthink things. It’s been so hard watching you carry the company all by yourself these past few years. Why don’t you sell off some of your shares? I can’t bear to see you so exhausted.”
Every passionate kiss, every sweet nothing he whispered, every intimate night we spent together—it was all part of an elaborate deception he planned for Victoria.
When my first startup failed, he sold his luxury watch and designer suits to support me, saying he loved me for me, not for my money. It turns out it was all just a ploy to earn my trust.
“Oh! Of course. Right this way. Here’s the key to Mr. Walsh’s office.”
“Honey, I’m so sorry.” His voice cracked with emotion. “It’s all my fault for not taking better care of your parents. I’ve been feeling so guilty. If I had just insisted they get their annual check-ups, maybe we would have caught the heart problem sooner, and the accident could have been avoided. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
The next day, after confirming Ethan was out, I headed straight for his office.
How much must he love that woman to be so ruthless?
I put my old tech skills to use and hacked into his computer. It was filled with records of funds transferred from my company.
Sweet nothings rolled off his tongue so easily, without a single crack in his facade.
“Nothing,” I said, forcing my emotions down. “Do you like the villa I bought today? I also made an appointment with an interior design firm to have your studio redesigned.”
Ethan sighed and pulled me into his arms. “Your parents passed away two years ago. Aren’t you over it yet?”
“Why are you crying? What’s wrong?”
He helped me handle all the complex social and business affairs, freeing me from any worries. It turns out he was slowly stripping me of my power all along.
I’ve been the world’s biggest fool.
His performance was flawless.
Looking back on those sweet memories, they were all tainted with poison now.
Tears streamed down his face as he spoke, and he buried his face in my shoulder.
When I had an emotional breakdown on the island, he comforted me so gently. It turns out he was just trying to win me over.
Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, and my body trembled violently.
He even murdered my parents.
Even the stock dilution plan had been orchestrated by Victoria herself.
Now I understood. That place must be hiding countless secrets.
I’ve been sleeping next to a murderer and never had a clue.
I had raised their illegitimate son for six years and lost my parents to their schemes. There was no way I could let this go.
“Didn’t Ethan tell you? I’m having the studio renovated. I’m just here to check on things before the crew arrives this afternoon.”
She was wearing a form-fitting red dress, her gaze seductive, a victorious smile playing on her lips.
With all of this, my victory in court was all but guaranteed.
Ethan seemed to sense that something was wrong. “Babe, what’s with you today? You feel a little… off.”
His assistant met me at the door.
Seeing the tear stains on my face, he was instantly wide awake, his face a mask of concern.
In the past, I would have been completely swept away by his words. Now, it just made me sick.
