Chapter 3

“The bones are too shattered. You might lose some basic functions in your hand. It’s such a pity.” The doctor looked regretful.

I forced a smile as I stared at my heavily bandaged hand.

For three whole days, Winona did not even call me, but I saw her sweet love with Jacob trending online.

The moment I lay down, I received a phone call from Nina Marsh, my godmother. “Shaun, Winona posted online that Nathan took bribes, and he got so worked up that he was hospitalized because of a stroke!”

I hurried to the hospital.

Nathan Marsh, my godfather, was still in the ICU, and Nina cried into my arms as she trembled.

While keeping my anger in check, I called Winona. “How could you do this to my godfather?! You wouldn’t be where you are today without him!”

I grew up in an orphanage, and I only got a family after getting to know my best friend, Apollo Marsh.

Before Apollo passed away from an accident, he had asked me to take good care of his parents, and his parents treated me like their own son.

When they learned that I was getting married, they gave me all their money. In order to support Winona, they also got a lot of investments to help her. They even threw their retirement savings into her company.

Back then, with teary eyes, she had sworn, “I’ll always be good to Shaun and treat you both well!”

This was her version of treating them well?

Winona answered coldly, “Jacob was kind enough to send Zephyr over to learn how to draw from Nathan, but they chased him out. Zephyr’s eyes were swollen from crying, and he nearly died. Nathan also shouted at Jacob for being my affair partner in the residential area. If I had reached the place any later, he would have jumped into the river with Zephyr!”

I was livid. “You’re the one who cheated, and you won’t let anyone talk about it?!”

I only realized after I finished shouting that she had hung up on me long ago.

With my still-bandaged hand, I started going everywhere in search of evidence. When I finally got some results, I got news from the hospital that my godparents had jumped off the hospital building.

However, the security footage showed that it was Jacob who did it.

I wanted to deck him, but Winona stopped me. “Calm down, Shaun.”

I grabbed her collar. “They’re gone! How can I possibly calm down?!”

Winona scowled. “Jacob didn’t do it on purpose. Who would have known that your godparents were so useless? Besides, if Nina hadn’t started running her mouth, he wouldn’t have lost control over himself.”

She was absolving him of his crime just by saying that he did not do it on purpose.

She always did that.

Without any remorse, Jacob said, “I’m sorry, but their words were just too harsh, and I got so angry. I couldn’t control myself, so… Why don’t you hit me? I won’t complain.”

Right when I wanted to kick him, Winona shoved me away and said to Jacob, “It’s no big deal. You still have Zephyr to take care of. Head back first.”

I grabbed Winona’s arm. “I’m going to make him pay!”

However, whenever I filed a police report with the security footage, I was rejected. In the end, while gritting my teeth, I posted their past online.

[I worked hard for my wife, only to find that her illegitimate son was already three years old. Her affair partner even killed my parents. Please help me.]

The video quickly caught the public’s attention, and many people comforted me. Some also insulted them.

[Don’t worry. Those who do bad things won’t live long. The kid also doesn’t seem like the type who will live a long life.]

[How shameless! She should just hide her face when she leaves the house.]

Some people even threw paint at the company’s entrance.

I felt much better, but in just two days, Winona sued the people who did this.

She also falsified evidence to continue accusing Nathan of receiving bribes and being an immoral person. She even publicly held a press conference with Jacob.

“I’m sorry, everyone. Jacob and I are in love. That’s when we got Zephyr. My husband drugged me and forced me to marry him. Then, he refused to let me divorce him. It’s not easy for Jacob to raise Zephyr, and I will have Shaun apologize publicly.”

Then, she posted the videos of her sweet moments with Jacob, along with evidence of me giving her the drug.

I felt my heart clench from pain and anger. She was the one who said that she wanted to experience what it felt like to be high and had me give her the stronger drug. She had even begged for it. “Come on, dear. Let’s just try it.”

She was even the one who asked to keep a video for memory’s sake!

In the end, she twisted the truth with it.

Public opinion turned against me.

They started pitying the star-crossed lovers who could not be together. They also started leaving insults under my video.

[They say that men don’t scheme? Here’s one!]

[You have hands and legs, but you still have to rely on a woman to survive? You’re a disgrace to all men.]

[How many people have you scammed? I heard that you already have some kind of STD. Miss Winter is the one who’s an honest, down-to-earth person.]

[If you like making noise so much, do it in my bed.]

They had even found that photo, and they started spitting in my face when I walked on the streets.

Winona then dragged me over to Jacob. “Apologize!”

I refused, and she stepped on my stomach. “If you don’t want Apollo’s name to be ruined, you will do it.”

I shut my eyes, and right before everyone’s eyes, I said to Jacob, “I’m sorry.”