Chapter 5

I said coldly, “I did nothing wrong.”

Lucy’s sobs grew louder.

Arthur glared at me with an icy gaze.

“Since you refuse to see reason, all the monthly payments from our agreement are frozen, effective immediately. We’ll discuss reinstatement when you get on your knees and apologize to Lucy.”

I let out a self-mocking laugh. I had been foolish to try reasoning with a cheater.

I removed the ring that I had worn throughout my three lifetimes and hurled it violently at his face.

“Behind every great man is a great woman. You built your success upon me. Now, your downfall will start with how you’re treating me.

“You’ve chosen your mistress over me. I hope you can live with that choice.”

Having said that, I turned and left. I did not see Arthur’s livid and ashen expression.

Over the following days, the servants sensed the shift in power. They paid only lip service to my orders while undermining me.

I received mere leftovers and scraps as meals.

Online, a continuous stream of alleged “scandalous revelations” about me emerged.

[Infertile for Years, the ‘Desperate and Deranged’ Mrs. Carter Targets Rival’s Pregnancy.]

[Mrs. Carter Indulges in A Roster of Male Prostitutes for Nightly ‘Comfort.’]

[Barren Wife Drove Mr. Carter into Another’s Arms.]

Suddenly, I, who was the actual victim, became the public enemy.

While reading the trending topics, Arthur coldly said to me, “If you kneel and apologize to Lucy, I’ll have the trending news taken care of. I can even smooth things over for you at the family dinner tonight.”

At that moment, I received a text message.

It looked like my plan was finally entering its final stage.

That night, everything I had set up would bear fruit.

I looked at him and said, “You’re the one who leaked that story to the press. You set me up. You’re in the wrong here. You should be on your knees, apologizing to me.”

“You’re out of your mind!” Arthur scoffed in anger before storming out and slamming the door.

At the family dinner, I was seated at the far end of the long table. I was left with cold dishes and plain soup, ignored by everyone.

Lucy, however, was pulled by my mother-in-law to sit beside them.

“Lucy dear, your belly is pointy. It’s a sign that you’re having a baby boy.

“Arthur, you must take good care of Lucy. She’s the one who’s actually doing something for the Carter family.

“On the other hand, a certain troublemaker has been completely useless. Just the sight of her is disgusting.”

Everyone surrounded Lucy and offered her all sorts of flattery.

No one cared that she was the other woman. They all followed my mother-in-law’s lead and relentlessly humiliated me.

Lucy kept glancing in my direction. Her gaze was filled with smugness.

Just then, Arthur’s assistant rushed in. His face was pale with shock.

“Mr. Carter, we have a serious problem! Henzon Group just outbid us for the development rights to that key plot in the east district!

“And that’s not all! Several of the key suppliers of our shipping partnership and the tech park project just cut us off at the same time. They said Henzon Group made them a better offer. Our company’s core resources are all being poached. At this rate, our entire business could collapse!”

Arthur stood up in shock.

“How is that possible? Where would they get that kind of liquid capital?”

The assistant was breaking into a cold sweat.

He said in a trembling voice, “I looked into it. Two weeks ago, Henzon Group brought in a new majority shareholder with a massive cash injection. That shareholder was... your wife.”

A deathly silence fell upon the air.

Arthur looked at me with disbelief.

“Cadence, you did this?”

I met his gaze with a sweet smile.

“Yes. I did.”