Chapter 3

When Nalani's and Felix's expressions hardened, he dropped another bombshell. "Felix Smith, you seduced a married woman into a tawdry, immoral affair, making her play both your older sister and your baby mama. Tell us, was it thrilling?"

Those two statements blew up the entire room like a bomb.

The reporters erupted in an uproar and hurriedly asked, "W-What does that mean?"

Realizing that things were going south, Nalani let out a shriek and immediately stepped in front of Felix to shield him. "Don't listen to his nonsense! He's slandering us to ruin Felix's reputation! I'm going to sue them!"

Right after saying that, she stormed up to me and glared at me resentfully. "Hugo Chandler, if you're a real man, you should speak for yourself! Why are you hiding behind your younger brother and letting him make a scene? So what if we're legally married?

"That's just a cold, loveless arranged marriage! Why can't I pursue my one true love while I'm young? Even if you're the richest man in Brimstone, you still can't buy my love!"

As soon as her words fell, she actually had the nerve to flutter her eyelashes at me repeatedly. It was obvious that she wanted me to play along for old times' sake.

Yet, she was just an adopted daughter of the Smith family. Where on earth did she get the confidence to demand whatever she wanted from me?

Did she really think that after grinding my dignity into the dirt, I would still step forward to defend her? I wasn't that cheap.

"Nalani Smith, you had an affair with your brother while stringing me along, spending my money, eating my health supplements, and staying in my family's convalescent home—only to give birth to Felix's son… You committed adultery, yet you still had the nerve to stand here and proclaim your love in public. Don't you find yourself utterly disgusting?"

Nalani was rendered speechless. Tears welled up in her eyes because she felt hurt.

Felix immediately jumped out to defend her. "It was wrong of us to keep you in the dark, but who's to blame for your inability to have children? My sister felt bad for you and wanted to bear a few more children for you so she could help you inherit a bigger share of your family fortune down the road. What did she do wrong?

"Besides, you should be thanking your lucky stars to have my son call you 'Dad.' In fact, you should be grateful and thank me!"

I was so furious that I almost laughed. With a twist of his tongue, he not only turned the tables and accused me of being impotent, but he even had the nerve to set his sights on my family's fortune.

The love and indulgence I had shown Nalani had now become the foundation for her to slander me and indulge in her wild fantasies. Rage churned violently in my chest.

Henry had always had a short fuse, and he immediately fired back. "Did your family move into a cesspool? Nothing but crap comes out of your mouth, and the stench is unbearable!"

That heated exchange sparked yet another uproar. Refusing to waste another breath on scum, I hurled the divorce agreement at Nalani and decisively left with Henry.

It had struck me as odd how attached Felix was to Nalani. No matter where she went, he always tracked her down. The one time I casually brought it up, her face instantly fell. "What? It's fine for you and your brother to be tight, but we can't be close? Don't be so petty, Hugo!"

I had felt uncomfortable at the time, but I hadn't pressed the issue. Like me, she was a headstrong person who disliked being bossed around. Looking back on it now, I had truly been a fool back then… I was played right in the palm of her hand.

…

When the news broke that day, it was completely flooded with headlines that read, "The Smith Siblings' Forbidden Love—The Smiths' Adopted Daughter Has a Child with Her Own Brother."

The rumors became increasingly vile, and the Smiths were thoroughly humiliated. I didn't pay them any mind until someone knocked on the door to my office, and Nalani strutted in with a box in her arms.

I scowled. "Can I help you?"

After casting me a wounded look, she put on an air of remorse. "I was wrong, Hugo. I'm here to apologize—"