Chapter 5

I watched them tear each other apart, feeling nothing but coldness inside.

I slowly stood up and walked to the center of the living room. "Getting kicked out with nothing is only the beginning."

I looked at Justin and Vivian, both of them ashen. "Faking a hospital report to harm a pregnant woman and her baby is a crime. We'll see each other in court."

Vivian screamed, "You wouldn't dare. If you sue us, I'll spill everything to the media. I'll make sure the whole world knows about the Johnson family's scandal."

That was her threat and final trump card.

Richard's expression soured instantly.

But I smiled and walked up to Vivian, looking down at her. "Vivian, did you think I wouldn't come prepared? Dr. Lynn gave you the fake report, right?

"He pocketed 150 thousand dollars from Justin. I've got all the transfer records. I already talked to him on the phone before I came here."

I pulled out my phone and tapped on an audio file. "He told me everything: how you and Justin bribed him and how you plotted all of this in detail."

When I hit play, the whole living room went dead silent.

A middle-aged man's panicked voice clearly rang out from my phone. "Mrs. Johnson, no, Ms. Sterling. Please, let me explain.

"Justin forced me to do this. He promised me a huge payout if I went along with it and said he'd get my son a job at Johnson Group.

"He told me he didn't love you anymore, and he wanted you and the baby gone. He dictated every word in that report to me."

The recording was short, but it was packed with explosive info.

It not only proved the report was fake but also exposed all of Justin's twisted intentions, leaving nothing hidden.

"He wanted you and the baby gone." That was so heartless.

When the recording ended, Justin and Vivian were ghostly pale. It was as if all their strength had been sucked out. They collapsed to the floor, shaking like leaves.

Richard's face went from livid to dark with rage. He looked at Justin, his eyes filled with disappointment and disgust. This time, he had no excuses left.

Margaret's reaction was the most intense. She rushed over and kicked Justin in the chest. "You bastard. How did I end up with a son so cruel?"

Still fuming, she grabbed the ashtray from the coffee table, ready to smash it over Justin's head.

Richard moved fast, grabbing her arm to stop her. "Enough. Isn't this humiliating enough?"

"Humiliating?" Margaret shook off his hand, her eyes bloodshot. "Justin is about to kill someone, and all you care about is saving face?"

All pretense between them was gone. They started shouting at each other in front of everyone.

I coolly watched the whole scene unfold, nothing stirring inside.

I walked over to Vivian, crouched down, and looked at her tear-streaked face. "Vivian, what did you say earlier? Are you going to spill everything to the media?"

She shook her head frantically, terrified. "N-No, Nina, it's my fault. I was talking nonsense."

"Too late." I stood up. My voice wasn't loud but was heavy with authority. "I hate being threatened. Do you think you could pull this off without anyone finding out?"

I looked at Vivian and spoke slowly. "Three years ago, you got fired from your last job for embezzling company funds. Justin bailed you out, right?"

Vivian's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Back in college, a married professor 'helped' you a lot and secured your spot in graduate school. When his wife made a scene on campus, Justin paid her to make it all go away, right?"

Vivian's lips turned pale, her body shaking uncontrollably. These were the secrets she'd buried deepest.

"And your gambling-addicted younger brother—"

"No. Stop." Vivian finally broke down, screaming as she cut me off. "Nina, what do you want?"

"What do I want?" I smiled, but there was no warmth in my eyes. "It's simple. First, I want a divorce. I'll walk away with not a single dollar."