Chapter 3
I went upstairs, stepped into my bedroom, and locked myself in.
Slumping down against the door, I slid to the floor and finally broke down in tears.
Matthew and I grew up together, and when we came of age, we got married.
Six years ago, Matthew was on a business trip overseas when riots broke out. He would not have made it if Lily's mother hadn't saved him.
Before she passed away, she asked him to look after Lily.
I was so grateful to her that I never objected when Matthew brought Lily into our home.
But from the day she arrived, nothing was ever the same.
For six years, Lily has been completely fixated on Matthew.
Apart from all the pranks she played on me, she hated seeing Matthew and me together. She made it her mission to drive a wedge between us.
Time and again, she would barge in at the worst possible moment and drag Matthew away.
She found a way to ruin every single special occasion we tried to celebrate.
Matthew always said, "Lily just lost her mom. She's sensitive right now. Just be patient with her."
Of course, I wasn't about to hold it against a kid.
But after six years, it finally hit me.
All my patience and understanding just let Lily get away with everything, and Matthew kept taking her side, no matter what.
I was exhausted. I'd had enough.
My phone buzzed. A message from my assistant Emily popped up.
Emily: [Ms. Bennett, legal says most platforms have removed the audio, but there's no stopping it from spreading in private chats. Reporters are reaching out, asking if things are over between you and Mr. Quinn, and who the man in the recording is.]
Emily didn't finish, clearly trying to spare my feelings.
I wiped my tears and typed back: [Give no comment to anyone. Post a notice on the company site saying the audio was deliberately fabricated and that we've already notified the police.]
Emily replied: [Got it. Oh, and Quinn Holdings just put out a similar statement.]
The bitter irony of it all almost made me laugh.
Matthew really didn't waste any time.
He moved quickly to protect his company, his reputation, and his beloved Lily. Incidentally, he even shielded me in the process.
But honestly, what was the point?
No official statement could wipe away the rumors and filth spreading online.
People had already made up their minds that I was just a shameless woman.
My phone buzzed again. This time it was Matthew: [Charlotte, open the door. Don't be mad, please.]
I didn't reply.
Matthew kept texting me, one message after another.
[I know you're angry, but you can't keep pushing me like this. Lily's still just a kid. Her mom...]
Not bothering to read the rest, I just shut my phone off.
*****
An hour later, I finally opened the door.
Matthew was standing outside, holding a document in his hand.
"Charlotte," he said, his voice tired. "Let's talk."
My eyes went to the folder in his grip, and suddenly, everything clicked.
My heart sank, heavy and cold.
"About what?" I asked.
Matthew held out the papers. It was divorce papers.
"You hit her, and now she's really shaken up. She's not in a good place emotionally. She said if I don't leave you, she'll end it all," he said.
He couldn't meet my eyes. "She tried to hurt herself. I barely managed to stop her. Her mom asked me to look after her before she passed. I can't break that promise.
"Let's just go through with a fake divorce for now. Maybe it'll help calm her down."
I took the papers, my fingers icy cold.
Without even glancing at the contents, I flipped straight to the last page and signed my name, Charlotte Bennett.
Matthew looked genuinely surprised at how decisively I signed my name.
He moved closer, trying to hug me, but I gently pushed him away, expressionless.
"Charlotte, this isn't real. It's just to settle Lily down. It won't be long. For now, just move to the western villa. You can come home as soon as she's stable again. I'll come see you tonight," Matthew said.
"Okay," I replied. "I'll go now."
Seeing how blank my expression was, Matthew pulled me into a hug. "Charlotte, I know this is hard on you. I swear I'll make it right. I promise."
Over and over, for six years, he kept saying he'd make it up to me. But I was done with it now.