Chapter 2

"Why?"

I started the car and asked back leisurely.

"I just happened to have a contract to discuss. Is there something you're afraid of me knowing?"

Victor seemed not to have expected me to ask this.

His breathing suddenly stopped, and after a few seconds of silence, his tone suddenly softened, carrying his usual coaxing tone.

"Serena, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"How could I be hiding anything from you? The office was just too messy. If you were coming, I'd have someone clean it up first."

"Besides, how could I betray you? You can investigate all you want."

Hearing this, I was somewhat puzzled.

Lily hadn't actually told him about me confronting her.

I flipped through the evidence while listening to his excuses.

Three gigabytes of materials, every day related to Victor.

Last Valentine's Day, he claimed he was on a business trip abroad and couldn't call, but he was actually watching the Northern Lights in the Arctic with Lily.

When my father was critically ill and I called him over thirty times, he didn't answer a single one-he was celebrating Lily's birthday.

"I believe you. But what about that watch?"

Seeing me bring it up first, Victor actually seemed relieved.

His voice drew closer to the receiver, deliberately creating intimacy.

"The watch was because I suddenly fainted at the company, and Lily happened to pass by and helped me to the hospital."

He paused, then continued.

"She watched over me all night, so I gave her a watch as a thank-you gift. I forgot to tell you at the time."

Forgot? His memory must be really bad.

Not only did he forget to tell me this, he also forgot that they went to the hotel's penthouse suite that night.

And stayed for three whole days.

Laughing coldly inside,

"She's quite considerate. Even the black shirt you were wearing when you fainted-the next day she washed it clean and returned it, even ironed it properly."

Victor clearly paused on the other end, his breathing missing a beat, then he laughed it off.

"Exactly, the girl is very attentive."

"Look at you, always being so paranoid. You're the only one in my heart."

His voice drew close to the receiver, deliberately creating intimacy.

"After I finish this busy period, I'll take you to the Maldives to make up for our vacation, okay? Just the two of us."

The tenderness that used to make me soften-now I just felt disgusted.

"Sounds good."

I watched the neon lights flash past the window, my tone as calm as discussing the weather.

"But you handle your business first. Don't let anything delay you."

"Nothing could delay spending time with you."

Victor's voice carried eager pleasing, but I only felt colder inside.

Not because Victor betrayed me and cheated, but because I couldn't believe they'd been performing under my nose for so long.

My grip on the steering wheel tightened. I forced down the urge to confront Victor immediately.

I wanted him to personally admit his relationship with Lily, then watch this pair of cheating scum fall from grace.

After a few perfunctory responses, I hung up.

Just then, Lily's social media account updated again.

In the image, she wore a wedding dress with an intricate design covered in diamonds, her eyes and brows full of joy.

"Another mistress came to make trouble today, wanting to take my place. Victor compensated me-he's finally going to marry me!"

"I just mentioned wanting a castle wedding, and he bought me an entire castle."

She smiled into the camera, which casually panned over property deeds.

"And these vineyards-he wants me to manage them!"

"How could a little fool like me handle that? Luckily, Victor agreed to come and back me up, so those people won't look down on me for being young!"

Watching the video and seeing my own French name printed on those deeds, a cold rage rose inside me.

Those vineyards were Alex's coming-of-age gift to me.

And Victor was using them to charm his mistress.

Fine. They want to establish authority?

Then let's see them try it in front of the real owner.