Chapter 3

During the three days after I left my old home, while I was trying to crack the phone, the company I had established after my release from prison fell into crisis. Investors pulled out one after another.

A video of me hitting Ronald started spreading like wildfire throughout the industry. The headline screamed, "Felix Suffers Violent Mental Breakdown, Assaults Innocent Bystander!"

Then the paid internet trolls struck next. They spread rumors that I'd gone to prison back then for stealing and selling company secrets.

No one but Jessica could have orchestrated such a ruthless takedown. However, I wasn't in a rush to deal with the mess. I simply kept my eyes on the phone on the desk.

Just moments ago, it had been unlocked and restored. I scrolled through it idly until I hit the chats from three years ago.

My blood ran cold in an instant. A text from Ronald read, "Jess, I messed up! I never should've gambled! I sold the project dirt cheap… I'm going to end up in prison! Please, save me!"

Jessica had replied, "Have you lost your mind? How am I supposed to save you?"

Ronald had said, "Doesn't Felix love you more than anything? Just put on an act and get him to take the fall for me."

Two hours later, Jessica had replied, "Okay. I'll handle it. Go into hiding for now."

I stared at the screen, unblinking. Three years ago, Jessica had cried her heart out, exclaiming, "Felix, we've been betrayed from within… If someone doesn't take the fall, everything my father built will be destroyed! Can you please help me? I promise I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you!"

Since I couldn't bear to see her suffer, I didn't hesitate to be cuffed in her place. But it turned out to be just a setup to protect Ronald.

All the love she'd shown me over the past five years had been nothing but an act to keep her scapegoat under control.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door before it was opened. Jessica walked in carrying a thermal container.

Ignoring the desolation that had settled over my company after its downfall, she deftly ladled out a bowl of hot soup.

"Felix, does your stomach still hurt? I got this recipe from a health specialist. It's supposed to be gentle on the stomach, and I spent four hours making it myself."

I watched her coldly, prompting a sigh from her. "You developed health problems in prison. I can't bear to watch you get pushed around out here.

"You've seen how harsh reality can be recently. You can't do much without me. Sell your company to me and come home quietly. I won't blame you for the millions you've lost."

She continued in a gentle voice, "Of course, on the condition that you attend the banquet tonight. That video online has gotten out of hand. Ronald has suffered a lot because of it.

"You need to sincerely apologize to him in front of the media. Then, we can pretend none of this ever happened. I've already punished him and made him reflect on his mistakes, so don't hold a grudge against a younger man, okay?"

Suppressing the murderous rage inside me, I smiled. "Okay. Tonight, I will make sure to apologize in front of everyone."

…

At Javire's finest banquet hall, Jessica stood there in a couture red dress, looking rather pleased with herself.

One of her friends teased, "Felix really made a scene this time. Is he actually going to back down tonight?"

Jessica smirked, answering, "He can't live without me. All this drama is just his way of getting my attention."

She spoke with obvious delight in her tone. "Legal has already drafted a transfer agreement for ten percent of the company's shares, and I've bought that SUV he's wanted for ages.

"Once he has given his sincere apologies, I'll reward him with those. Then, with a little sweet-talking, he'll come home to me on his own."

I opened the door and stepped inside. Jessica's eyes lit up when she saw me. She looked completely certain of victory. "Felix, I'm so glad you came to your senses. Go ahead and offer him a drink to show your sincerity. After that, I have a surprise for you."

Looking at her smug face, I gave a smile. "I have a surprise for you guys, too."

I strode over to the control console and connected the device. The giant screen lit up, but what was projected wasn't the chat history I saw this morning. It was a fabricated video.

In the video, I was on a call. "I've sent you the core data. Has the money been sent? Yeah, pin the blame on Ronald. Jessica, that self-important woman, will never find anything out."

The entire hall fell silent. Behind Jessica, Ronald wore a smug grin. That was when I realized that he had dropped the phone on purpose!

He'd planted malware in it so that the moment I projected anything, it would play that fabricated video instead! The crowd was already in an uproar. "So he really was the traitor who sold company secrets! He even tried to shift the blame! Get him!"

Many of the executives present had suffered massive losses because of the data leak. Fueled by fresh rage and past resentments, the crowd completely lost control.

A coal tycoon stormed over and kicked me without warning. "You're the reason I went bankrupt!"

Caught off guard, I was sent flying into a wall. Blood instantly gushed from my back.

Immediately after, countless punches and kicks rained down on me. "Beat this ingrate to death! Kill him!"

Protecting my head with my hands, I curled up on the floor in agony. Blood ran from my forehead into my eyes, painting my vision red.

Upon seeing how bloody I was getting, Jessica screamed, "Stop! Security! Get them away from him!"

Just as she took one step forward, Ronald started crying out in pain. "Jess… my heart hurts…"

Jessica glanced at Ronald, then turned to look at me, who was close to being beaten to death, and she stopped in her tracks. "Ronald, what's wrong? Does it hurt a lot? Someone, call an ambulance!"

Witnessing their tender moment was enough for whatever lingering feelings I had left to die out completely.

"Kill this scumbag!"

A burly man raised an iron pipe, getting ready to swing it at my head.

When Jessica noticed him, she pushed Ronald away, yelling, "No!"

At the very last second before impact, a deafening bang echoed through the hall. Someone had kicked the doors to the banquet hall open.

"Get the hell away from him!"

A woman with an intimidating presence, flanked by a dozen black-clad bodyguards, rushed over to shield me.

Jessica, who was halfway over, froze in place.

As she watched the woman wipe the blood from my face with trembling hands, her eyes filled with jealousy and panic.