Chapter 3

I sneered bitterly to myself.

Over the past few years, I had pulled strings to get Janet the job she had now. I had even paid for the car she drove, which had cost well over ten thousand dollars. Even her monthly allowance had come straight from my paycheck, which Cedric secretly gave her.

Just as I was about to refuse, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

The caller ID displayed Cedric's name. I picked up, and his arrogant voice came through the line.

"Susan, you saw the video online, didn't you? How do you feel now? Scared, huh? If you are, write me a 30-thousand-word apology letter and post it online for everyone to see!"

Then, he added threateningly, "Unfreeze all my cards and buy Janet a car. Otherwise, this isn't over!"

Hearing the arrogance in his voice, strangely enough, my anger began to settle.

"Cedric, keep dreaming," I said coldly. "Find yourself a good lawyer. I'm going to file for divorce and make sure you walk away with nothing!"

Before he could respond, I hung up.

Janet's expression shifted the moment she heard my words.

"Susan, what's with that attitude? Are you really calling it quits?" she asked with a smirk. "Well, whatever. My brother is so handsome. There are plenty of women chasing after him. He doesn't need you anyway."

She looked at me with a teasing smile, clearly implying something more.

Instead of blowing up, I instantly put on a helpless, heartbroken expression and let out a heavy sigh.

"Janet, I've always treated you like my own sister. Of course I'd love to buy you a car for your wedding. But you saw what happened. All my money is in Cedric's hands. He even maxed out my card yesterday," I said softly, my voice trembling with fake sorrow.

"If he's willing to hand over the money to buy you a new car, I won't go through with the divorce. But unfortunately, he's spent all that money. I have no choice but to get divorced and cut my losses before it's too late."

Janet's forehead creased in anger the moment she heard that.

"All gone? Impossible!" she blurted out. "Just last month, I saw over 500 thousand dollars in his account with my own eyes. He promised me he'd set aside that money for my wedding and my new car!"

I kept my expression neutral and casually added more fuel to the fire.

"Is that so? How strange," I said softly, tilting my head in confusion.

"Yesterday, he told me he was broke. Besides, I checked the transaction records. He'd spent all the money on women's luxury goods—designer handbags, limited-edition fragrances, and the like. I assumed they were for you."

"Bullshit! He definitely bought those for that vixen!"

My heart sank, but I put on a look of disbelief.

"What vixen? Don't make things up. He isn't that kind of man."

"How is he not?" Janet shot back defiantly.

She was starting to get anxious. To prove she wasn't lying, she pulled out her phone and shoved a photo in my face.

"Look! I took this six months ago! He said he was on a business trip, but he was actually off doing an escape room with this woman."

Six months ago, I had been on a business trip abroad.

To secure a multi-million-dollar contract, I had worked myself to the bone, writhing on the floor from severe stomach cramps. And all that time, Cedric had been out there flirting with another woman!

Even that so-called gift card that had nearly starved Dad and driven him to the hospital had been a token of Cedric's love for his mistress!