Chapter 2

I silently stroked my lower abdomen, then shook my head.

Since there was no wedding left for me, there was no longer any need for this wedding-night surprise.

The procedure was over quickly. What drained away wasn't just my flesh and blood, but also every drop of my love for Ewan.

"Once you get back, take great care. Otherwise..."

The doctor's instructions were cut short as Lilith pushed the door open and barged in.

"Mr. Holland said you get terrible period cramps, so I stopped by the pharmacy and picked up some pain relievers for you!"

My eyes fell on the box in her hand. Judging by the dust and faded packaging, God only knew how long it had expired.

Ewan followed right behind her. Glancing nonchalantly at my medical chart, he offered an offhand explanation.

"Don't misunderstand. A young woman's face is important. I just didn't want her wedding to be ruined by a mark."

Lilith turned her head right on cue, urging the doctor to check on her cheek, where the red mark from my slap had already faded.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

Ewan cared about keeping her wedding perfect, yet he had used my deepest trauma to casually destroy mine.

Lilith suddenly yanked the medical chart out of the doctor's hands.

"Severe trauma down there!" she gasped dramatically. "So, it wasn't cramps after all. No wonder you bled so much, Alicia! You didn't hire someone to stage another rape scene, did you? Was pulling a stunt on your wedding day part of your grand plan?"

"Don't talk nonsense," Ewan chided her, frowning at me, as if waiting for an explanation.

I dug my nails into my palms, saying nothing.

In the end, he was no different from the others. He was convinced that I had deliberately staged that assault five years ago, all because, as a woman in her thirties, I couldn't handle the loneliness.

"Ewan, can't you look at it yourself?" I said coldly.

"The report is right there," he said dismissively. "Lilith wouldn't tell a lie that could be disproven so easily."

My vision blurred with tears. So, in his mind, I was nothing more than a pathological liar.

I snatched the report back and hurled it right into his face. "Look at it yourself!"

Lilith panicked, reaching out to grab it. Ewan simply caught the paper and ripped it to shreds.

"Even if I read it, I would only think you're cheap! Save some dignity for yourself!"

With that, he took Lilith by the hand and walked out, leaving behind a doctor who had tried to speak several times, now sitting across from me in heavy silence.

"That man was the father, wasn't he?" the doctor finally said. "I can tell he still has feelings for you. Why didn't you explain?"

I gave a bitter smile. "You can't reason with someone who's determined not to believe you. If he's already made up his mind, what can I do?"

...

Five years ago, a business rival learned about my assault and slandered me, claiming that every deal I closed was earned by spreading my legs.

The very next day, Ewan had snuck into their office and beaten the man to a pulp. When I was cleaning his wounds, his face was bruised and swollen, yet he had smiled like a fool.

"I don't understand business, but I believe in you."

Back then, he had used brute force to crush the scandal and shield me from the vileness. I had thought he was so foolish, yet so wonderful.

Now he blindly trusted Lilith and casually hurled insults at me. The irony was beyond words.

My phone rang. Taking a deep breath, I forced back my tears and answered the call.

My secretary's anxious voice came through the receiver. "Ms. Waller, the high-definition video of you is spreading rapidly across the internet!

"Our products are facing a full boycott, and business partners are canceling contracts. Please come back to the office immediately!"

Still caught up in my memories, I blurted out, "What about the Holland Group?"

"They..." The secretary's voice was drowned out by the chaotic shouting of angry shareholders, and the call abruptly ended.

Thanking the doctor, I ignored the tearing agony of my recent miscarriage, got into my car, and drove straight to the office.

Holland Group was our biggest business partner. If they pulled out, our cash flow could collapse overnight.

Arriving at the office, I grabbed my secretary by the arm.

"How did the Holland Group react?"