Chapter 3

Right in front of me, Alexander cupped Victoria's face and murmured softly, "Victoria, Ethan is back now. By all rights, I should give you back to him."

He paused, his eyes filled with fake torment. "But I can't. Victoria, I finally realize... the only person I've ever loved is you."

Those words struck Victoria right in her weak spot.

For years, Alexander had been the first love she kept hidden in her heart, the one she could never let go of.

Her eyes instantly welled with tears.

"Alexander, I love you too. Only you."

She touched his cheek. "Don't worry. I'll clear away every obstacle for us. We'll be together forever."

She confessed her undying love, treating me like I didn't even exist.

They leaned in closer, seconds away from kissing.

Disgusted, I slammed the storage room door shut, cutting them off.

But in the middle of the night, I was woken up by muffled moans and heavy panting echoing down the hall.

I didn't need to look to know they were passionately expressing their deep love.

It was sickening.

I threw on my jacket and walked out of the house.

The moon was full and bright, reminding me of the night Victoria and I first made things official.

That night, she had happily thrown her arms around my neck and sworn under the moonlight that she would only ever choose me.

But over the years, everything had changed.

I wandered until I found myself standing outside a dessert shop.

It was late, but the lights inside were still on.

I stared at the sign for a moment and was just about to leave when someone called out from behind me.

"Ethan! Is that really you?"

My childhood friend, Marcus Anunoby, excitedly clapped me on the shoulder and dragged me inside.

After listening to everything I had been through that day, Marcus fell silent for a long time.

"Those two are absolute scum."

He slammed his mug down on the table, his eyes blazing with anger.

"If Victoria hadn't forged the ledgers and framed you, you never would have spent three years in prison! And now she has the nerve to treat you like this?"

He paused, his tone turning dead serious.

"Look, I've got a project right now, and I can front you some emergency cash. Do you want to take it on yourself, or partner up with me for now?"

I looked down, took a sip of hot tea, and shook my head.

"Thanks, Marcus. But I've already decided to take my company back from Victoria. I can't take on this project right now."

Marcus frowned.

"If you want to take back your company, I won't stop you. But don't try to shoulder this all on your own. I can give you the project and the money. Whatever you need, just ask."

I met his eyes, my voice unwavering.

"Don't worry. I'm going to take it back, piece by piece."

Before we parted ways, he handed me a bank card and texted me the contact info for a top-tier lawyer.

"Use this for now. If you need backup, just say the word."

I took the card and gave my oldest friend a firm embrace.

On the walk back to the house, I logged into an online legal service platform, drafted the divorce petition, and stopped by a 24-hour print shop to get the papers.

By the time I returned to the house, the sun was already coming up.

The moment I stepped through the door, a ceramic vase smashed furiously at my feet.

Victoria's shrill voice immediately followed.

"Ethan! You're a convicted felon fresh out of prison! What the hell are you doing running around in the middle of the night? Are you trying to get seen and humiliate me?"

Chapter 3

Right in front of me, Alexander cupped Victoria's face and murmured softly, "Victoria, Ethan is back now. By all rights, I should give you back to him."

He paused, his eyes filled with fake torment. "But I can't. Victoria, I finally realize... the only person I've ever loved is you."

Those words struck Victoria right in her weak spot.

For years, Alexander had been the first love she kept hidden in her heart, the one she could never let go of.

Her eyes instantly welled with tears.

"Alexander, I love you too. Only you."

She touched his cheek. "Don't worry. I'll clear away every obstacle for us. We'll be together forever."

She confessed her undying love, treating me like I didn't even exist.

They leaned in closer, seconds away from kissing.

Disgusted, I slammed the storage room door shut, cutting them off.

But in the middle of the night, I was woken up by muffled moans and heavy panting echoing down the hall.

I didn't need to look to know they were passionately expressing their deep love.

It was sickening.

I threw on my jacket and walked out of the house.

The moon was full and bright, reminding me of the night Victoria and I first made things official.

That night, she had happily thrown her arms around my neck and sworn under the moonlight that she would only ever choose me.

But over the years, everything had changed.

I wandered until I found myself standing outside a dessert shop.

It was late, but the lights inside were still on.

I stared at the sign for a moment and was just about to leave when someone called out from behind me.

"Ethan! Is that really you?"

My childhood friend, Marcus Anunoby, excitedly clapped me on the shoulder and dragged me inside.

After listening to everything I had been through that day, Marcus fell silent for a long time.

"Those two are absolute scum."

He slammed his mug down on the table, his eyes blazing with anger.

"If Victoria hadn't forged the ledgers and framed you, you never would have spent three years in prison! And now she has the nerve to treat you like this?"

He paused, his tone turning dead serious.

"Look, I've got a project right now, and I can front you some emergency cash. Do you want to take it on yourself, or partner up with me for now?"

I looked down, took a sip of hot tea, and shook my head.

"Thanks, Marcus. But I've already decided to take my company back from Victoria. I can't take on this project right now."

Marcus frowned.

"If you want to take back your company, I won't stop you. But don't try to shoulder this all on your own. I can give you the project and the money. Whatever you need, just ask."

I met his eyes, my voice unwavering.

"Don't worry. I'm going to take it back, piece by piece."

Before we parted ways, he handed me a bank card and texted me the contact info for a top-tier lawyer.

"Use this for now. If you need backup, just say the word."

I took the card and gave my oldest friend a firm embrace.

On the walk back to the house, I logged into an online legal service platform, drafted the divorce petition, and stopped by a 24-hour print shop to get the papers.

By the time I returned to the house, the sun was already coming up.

The moment I stepped through the door, a ceramic vase smashed furiously at my feet.

Victoria's shrill voice immediately followed.

"Ethan! You're a convicted felon fresh out of prison! What the hell are you doing running around in the middle of the night? Are you trying to get seen and humiliate me?"