Chapter 4

After some thought, Seraphine quickly followed Jim into the restaurant. She saw him head to a private room upstairs, and she saw Clifford open the door for him.

Jim was Andrea's archenemy, and Andrea's health had deteriorated after being poisoned. The culprit had never been found. Later, Andrea had gotten various other symptoms after being hospitalized, ultimately dying of a heart attack after being provoked by Clarissa's messages.

Seraphine kept her footsteps light as she approached the private room. It was past the peak hour for meals, so not many of the private rooms were occupied. The one beside Clifford's was empty, so she headed inside. She'd eaten at that restaurant before and knew that the soundproofing for the private rooms was shoddy.

After heading inside the room, she shut the door softly and pressed her ear to the wall to eavesdrop on the conversation next door.

"Mr. Johansen, the human experiments are going well. Once your new product hits the market, we can follow up with a second one soon. Johansen Group will become one of the biggest names in the industry," Jim said. He sounded confident and excited.

Clifford laughed. "It's precisely because I admired your talent that I chose to work with you, Professor Horne. I know your human experiments have been going smoothly. Once my new product is launched, yours will come soon. Let's get ready to make billions of dollars together!"

"Thank you, Mr. Johansen. You have to make sure Professor Lodge is dealt with, though. Human experimentation is illegal, and that old bat has always had her guard up against me. You'll be dead meat if she finds out."

Seraphine was stunned upon hearing Jim's words. Clifford was working together with him on illegal experiments!

"She's nothing to worry about. She and Seraphine only have each other, so they can't cause much trouble. Besides, I've already dumped Seraphine. Feel free to do whatever you need to," Clifford said.

Hearing his familiar voice made Seraphine's heart clench in shock and fury. She hadn't slept well, and her vision now swam with darkness. She couldn't help thinking Clifford was being so foolish. With his current status and net worth, why would he stoop as low as getting involved in illegal human experimentation?

"I'm glad you're aware of the stakes, Mr. Johansen. Let me congratulate you in advance on the success of your new product launch," Jim said.

Inside the private room next door, Clifford raised an eyebrow, looking confident and proud. He said, "I don't want anyone to disrupt the product launch. Seraphine is Professor Lodge's daughter, so I hope you can get someone to take her out somewhere on that day."

Jim smiled knowingly.

…

Seraphine had no idea how she had left the restaurant. All she knew was that Clifford's new product couldn't hit the market successfully, not without the final piece of the technology that required her and Andrea to work together to complete. Yet Andrea was no longer alive.

Clifford knew nothing about Seraphine's life. They'd been together for five years, but it was only now that she realized how half-heartedly he'd always treated her. She'd been blinded by love, and she'd lived in a fantasy all this while, comforting herself under the illusion of his feelings for her.

She pulled out her phone and checked the date. Clifford's new product launch was in five days, and she knew it wouldn't work out.

…

Early the following day, Seraphine called Clifford, wanting to discuss the divorce.

The phone rang a few times before Clarissa answered, sounding bleary when she fired, "Why are you calling so early in the morning, you pathetic woman? Are you that desperate to be with Clifford? He's still asleep—he went wild with me too many times last night."

Her words were like a slap to Seraphine's face. It seemed they only thought of her genuine care and devotion as groveling.

"I'm not interested in a scumbag like Clifford, Clarissa. I just want to talk to him about finalizing the divorce. You'll be known as the other woman for as long as we remain married," Seraphine said.

Clarissa laughed mockingly. "You still don't get it, do you? You've been the other woman this whole time!"