Chapter 2

The onlookers who didn't know the truth immediately started pointing fingers and whispering.

"He looks like a decent young man, but it turns out he's just another cheating scumbag."

"That's why they say you can't judge a book by its cover…"

I listened to them gossip about me while watching Courtney openly clinging to Travis without a shred of shame. Images of them from my previous life—deliberately diverting the rescue team away from me—flashed in my mind, and rage spread like wildfire in my chest.

I lunged forward and grabbed Travis by the collar. But before I could swing, Courtney grabbed my arm. I flung her off, harder than I meant to, and she stumbled backward, falling to the ground.

Travis started shouting again, "Nathan! You dare lay hands on a woman?"

Just then, someone in the crowd yelled, "The police are here!"

Before I could say anything, Travis rushed to the police and began to spout lies. "Officers! That's him! He's not only cheating on his wife, but he just hit her, too. Everyone here saw it! Quick, arrest him!"

The words had just left his mouth when a few busybodies chimed in as well.

"That's right! We all saw him hit his own wife!"

"Women these days really need to open their eyes wide when they're looking for a husband. They really can't just go by looks. Who knows whether they're marrying a man or a monster."

I shot Travis a cold look, knowing that he was doing this deliberately. He wanted to rattle me so I'd forget about the embezzlement.

But I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction.

Ignoring him completely, I turned my gaze to Courtney, who hadn't said a word.

"Are you going to come clean yourself, or should I do it for you? If you turn yourself in, it's a voluntary surrender. If I'm the one telling them, it'll be an official report."

Seeing that I was serious, a flicker of panic crossed Courtney's eyes. But she was used to acting superior in front of me, so she couldn't back down so easily.

Feigning calmness, she threatened, "Nathan, are you sure you want to take things so far? Aren't you afraid you'll be the one left with no way out in the end?"

I let out a cold scoff, not bothering with her anymore. Instead, I turned to the police and said, "Officers, I was the one who called. She's the Chief Financial Officer of Apex Technologies—and the one who embezzled company funds. As for the evidence, that should be easy enough to find."

"Nathan!" Courtney screamed in rage while Travis glared daggers at me.

He wanted to say something, but he didn't, afraid of implicating himself. After all, Courtney had embezzled the money for him.

In the end, all three of us were taken to the police station. It didn't take long for the police to gather evidence of Courtney's embezzlement, and she was detained on the spot. But no matter how they questioned her, she never mentioned Travis' name.

Seeing all this unfold, something bitter rose inside me. The thing I'd begged for my entire life—Travis got without even lifting a finger.

In my previous life, even after 50 years of marriage, I never received a shred of warmth from her. She couldn't care less when I was in the hospital, but if Travis so much as sneezed, she'd panic all day. If I touched her hand, she'd disinfect it with alcohol, but Travis could kiss her, hold her, even sleep with her without restraint.

The only time she acted affectionately toward me was when she needed something.

Thankfully, fate had given me another chance—a chance to choose again.

With that in mind, I looked at Courtney and said firmly, "I've already filed for divorce with the courts. I hope you'll cooperate."

Her eyes widened in fury as she snarled, "This is all your fault, Nathan! Don't even dream of walking away from me right now!"

I scoffed coldly. "Is that so? Alright then, let's see this through."

Ignoring her furious screams, I turned and walked out of the station without looking back.

News of Courtney's embezzlement spread quickly through our circle of friends.

Jacob Lipp, one of our friends, asked me cautiously, "Nathan, why did Courtney take that much money? Did something happen to you guys?"

I shook my head.