Chapter 4

I spent some money on a metal cot and moved into my shop.

Bianca came by several times to talk me into going home, but I threw her out every time.

I reported the missing jewelry to the police, but without enough evidence, they couldn't open a case at all.

I was so anxious that I could barely function, and sores formed in my mouth.

While I was sending Mason another message, I saw his latest social media post.

[Admitted through a direct admit slot. Stay mad!]

The attached photos showed an acceptance letter from Alpaca University's graduate program and a patent certificate for a new nanomaterial. Mason's name was on it.

That nanomaterial had always been Bianca's research project. She had spent six years funding the research herself, and she had finally made some progress not long ago.

Yet on the patent certificate, she had willingly put Mason's name.

All so this young man, who had failed to gain entry three years in a row could get admitted through a direct admit slot.

I thought I would never shed another tear for Bianca again. And yet, the tears still rolled down my cheeks, one after another, beyond my control.

This was Bianca, the woman who had always been upright and refused to cheat the system.

During senior year, my mom became seriously ill. I was running myself ragged taking care of her, so I often asked for leave and skipped class. That caused my grades to become a complete mess.

To graduate smoothly, I begged Bianca to write my paper for me. She refused without the slightest hesitation, saying, "Alan, that would be unfair to the other students. I can't do it."

I never expected that eight years later, she would break her principles so easily for Mason.

She could ignore every rule for him.

I couldn't swallow it, so I went straight to the school.

After two months without seeing him, Mason had changed completely.

That skinny boy had been raised into someone bright and full of spirit. He was wearing a well-tailored custom suit that must have cost Bianca at least half a month's salary.

Meanwhile, I was so broke I could barely afford food.

I gritted my teeth. No longer caring about dignity, I raised the megaphone I was holding.

"Mason Rivers failed to get into the university three times in a row. How could he possibly have developed a new nanomaterial with that kind of research? Bianca White did the research and then wrote the academic paper for him! This behavior seriously undermines the fairness of the admissions system. I demand that the university investigate this thoroughly and punish them both accordingly!"

Quite a few students stopped to watch, and more and more scrutinizing gaze fell on them.

Bianca looked at me with a complicated expression. She took a deep breath, then slowly took out the marriage certificate from her pocket.

The edges of the certificate were neat and clean. Anyone could see how carefully its owner had protected it.

"Mason is my legal husband. The nanomaterial is the result of joint research between me and my husband. May I ask what the problem is with putting his name on it?"

The entire crowd erupted at once.

"Professor Bianca and Mason are actually husband and wife!"

"An older wife and a younger husband? She spoils him so much! A female dom and male sub together are so sweet, I'm dying!"

"The joint research result only has his name on it. Professor Bianca loves him so much! So even an ice queen can melt for one person!"

Bianca held Mason's hand tightly and gave him a firm look in front of everyone, telling him not to be afraid.

Mason gradually calmed down. He raised his chin and walked up to me, then spoke neither arrogantly nor meekly.

"Mr. Alan, my relationship with my wife is very good. It isn't something you can destroy so easily. Even if you want to be the other man in this relationship, you still have to see whether my wife agrees."

The students all looked at me with disgust. Just like that, I became the outsider who was trying to destroy a married couple out of jealousy.

"No! That isn't true!"

I hurriedly opened my phone gallery and found the first photo Bianca and I had taken together eight years ago. It was on the field right in front of us. She was leaning against my shoulder, sound asleep.

I pretended to read, but in truth, I was secretly looking at her from the corner of my eye, unable to stop forming a tender smile.

Back then, we were only twenty-two while Mason was still in elementary school.

Once I showed the photo, everyone would naturally know who was the real secret lover!

Right before I could show it, my phone suddenly rang. My aunt Jessie's voice came over from the other side with sobs.

"Alan! Someone showed your grandmother Bianca's marriage certificate with someone else! They said you've been someone's secret lover all along! Your grandma was so furious that she had a brain hemorrhage and passed away..."

My mind went blank and my face became pale.

It was Mason! It had to be him!

My eyes went red with rage as I lunged at him, wishing I could strangle him to death on the spot and make him pay for killing my grandmother.

Before I could even grab the corner of Mason's clothes, Bianca kicked me away in panic, and that kick landed right on my chest.

She knew it. She knew full well that I had a hereditary heart condition.

A tearing pain struck my heart. I looked deeply at Bianca one last time before closing my eyes in despair.

Before I passed out, the only thing I remembered was someone shouting beside my ear.

"He's coughing up blood!"