Chapter 4

However, I'd refused to go along with it.

Later, after Ivan was injured, Carla was consumed with remorse. She should have ended their twisted relationship then and there, but Ivan couldn't accept it.

He threatened to end his life, and that was when Carla finally deigned to marry me. She endured five years of marriage, all just to get her revenge on me.

Love truly was a powerful thing. It had somehow enabled Carla to play the devoted wife to a man she despised for five whole years.

I couldn't be bothered to read any further, so I put down the phone and headed to the restroom.

Then I heard an argument from the hallway.

"There's only one act of revenge left! So what if Trevor's starting to get suspicious? Are you going to do it or not?"

After a moment's hesitation, Carla refused. "No, I've already put him through so much. If I destroy the one thing keeping him going, I'm afraid he might do something drastic."

Ivan's voice dropped into a furious growl. "Then what about me? Aren't you afraid I'll do something drastic after he's reduced me to this pathetic state? Besides, Trevor is our enemy, so why are you so worried about him? Don't tell me you've actually fallen in love with him?"

Carla fell silent for a moment before firmly shaking her head. "No way. I could never fall in love with Trevor. You're the only one I've ever loved."

"Then prove it to me! Carla, once you've carried out this final act of revenge, you won't owe me anything anymore or force yourself to stay with him!"

Hearing that, Carla gritted her teeth and nodded. "Fine, I'll do it! But this will be the last time."

Even though I'd long since given up hope, their words still cut deep.

Through the narrow gap in the half-open door, I watched Carla take out a backup phone and type out a message.

A moment later, my own phone vibrated in my pocket.

Carla had posted a fabricated exposé, complete with forged evidence.

"Trevor won all his previous championships by doping. Now that drug testing has gotten stricter, and he can no longer get away with it, he's finally lost a match."

The post sent shockwaves through the community.

Since Carla was both my wife and manager, her allegations were quickly reposted by countless industry insiders and major influencers. Before long, everyone in the industry had heard about it.

My sponsors immediately sent over breach-of-contract notices, while my screen was flooded with vile abuse, with people cursing me and even dragging my family into it.

So, this was her final act of revenge—to destroy my entire boxing career and leave me with absolutely no way back.

I turned to leave but accidentally kicked the trash can beside me, sending it crashing to the floor.

"Who's there?"

Carla angrily flung open the stairwell door.

The moment she saw me, she panicked. Even her hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

"When did you get here? Did you hear anything?"

I couldn't understand why she was still putting on an act when she'd already carried out all her revenge.

But I would be leaving soon anyway, and I didn't want to complicate matters.

"Hear what? I just got here."

Carla visibly relaxed.

Realizing I'd noticed Ivan, Carla quickly came up with an excuse. "Ivan has long since let go of the grudges between you two. When he heard you were sick, he even came all this way to visit you."

Neither Ivan nor I said a word, and the air seemed to freeze around us.

Meanwhile, my phone kept ringing incessantly in my pocket.

I answered, and an urgent voice came through the other end.

"What the heck is going on? Did you really take performance-enhancing drugs? You'd better not lie to me! Carla was the one who exposed you, after all. Why would she accuse you of something like that for no reason?"

Oh, she absolutely would.

I said nothing and calmly hung up.

The call had been on speaker, so both Carla and Ivan had heard every word.

Carla pretended to be bewildered before pulling out her phone to check. Then, with exaggerated surprise, she explained, "I didn't do this! Someone must have hacked my account. I'll go find out what's going on right now."

Clutching her phone, she fled in a panic.

Only after Carla had left did Ivan speak up, his voice dripping with provocation.

"You overheard everything just now, didn't you? Carla did all of this for me. Not only that, she was never sick in the first place. She had both your kidneys removed just to get revenge on you."