Chapter 3

Susan was like a flower growing in the ruins—frail yet resilient. It was easy for Daniel to feel protective of her.

John was against their love at the very beginning.

Despite Daniel's strong protests, John still sent Susan abroad.

Daniel completely lost contact with her.

From that moment on, he became silent and grew quickly, until he gradually took over the Rothmans' family business.

When he proposed to me, I asked, "What if Susan comes back?"

He gazed at me with deep affection and unwavering focus.

"She was nothing more than an insignificant chapter in my past. You're the only Mrs. Rothman."

His kiss lingered in my memories, but everything had changed in the blink of an eye.

I rarely cried in front of others since I was young.

Watching me shed tears in public was probably more painful for my father than if someone had killed him.

He lashed out at John in front of everyone. Then, my parents led me back to our home.

I did not forget to take the contract with the BL Group along.

Daniel never looked for me. The news about him and Susan reached me through my best friend, Lauren Johnson.

Susan had cancer, so she did not have long to live.

She refused to stay in the hospital and insisted on living in the house Daniel and I had shared as husband and wife.

It was an outrageous demand, yet Daniel did not refuse.

Lauren was furious. "Ceres! Are you seriously not reacting at all? How can you not be angry?"

I paused my work, placed a hand over my heart, and closed my eyes to feel.

I was a little sad, but not much.

Lauren was still angry about it, so I chuckled and tapped her forehead.

"The first payment from the BL Group is coming up. I need to keep an eye on that. Money is way more important than a man, my dear friend."

Lauren spat at me.

"Oh, shut up, Ceres! You're not even someone who lacks money. The Fosters and Rothmans could shake the entire business world with a single move!"

She looked like she was about to pass out from rage. After thinking for a moment, I decided to give her some reassurance.

"Don't worry. This isn't over. Susan will look for me soon."

As expected, when I did not react to her provocation, Susan could not sit still any longer.

She came after me.

We sat in a cafe below the Foster Corporation building.

I studied her carefully before smiling. "Ms. Jones, you look quite well. It seems Daniel has been taking great care of you."

Susan stretched out her hand in front of me.

"Mrs. Rothman, does this look familiar? This is the Rothmans' heirloom bracelet. If I remember correctly, Daniel gave it to you when he proposed.

"You kept it in a cabinet like some priceless treasure. How hilarious. He gave it to me after I glanced at it twice.

"Daniel married you merely because of your family. You're worthless beyond that. I have everything you don't, except for that title."

I found it amusing to see Susan smug.

"Congratulations, Ms. Jones, on making your dream come true, but let me remind you of one small detail that you might have overlooked. John sent you abroad, and you couldn't reach Daniel for years, no matter how hard you tried.

"Now, tell me, who do you think leaked the news of our wedding to you right before it happened, and why did Daniel suddenly pick up your call?"

Susan froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at me.