21
或:10%直
Harrison Wells stood exactly where I remembered him from countless society events – holding court at the bar, surrounded by sycophants laughing too loudly at his jokes. His eyes widened slightly as I approached, champagne flute in hand.
“Victoria.” He recovered quickly, pasting on a practiced smile. “You’re looking… resilient.”
“Harrison.” I returned his smile with equal insincerity. “Still laundering money through the
children’s hospital foundation? Or have you found a new charity to exploit?”
The color drained from his face as his entourage quickly dispersed, leaving us alone at the bar. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No?” I sipped my water, letting him squirm. “That’s funny, because I distinctly remember seeing some interesting numbers while helping Nathaniel with the books. The kind of numbers that would fascinate the IRS.”
“You’re playing a dangerous game.” His voice dropped low. “Nathaniel-”
“Nathaniel is finished.” I met his gaze steadily. “The question is, are you going down with
him?”
Before he could respond, a commotion near the entrance drew everyone’s attention. My heart stopped as Jessica – Nathaniel’s mistress – swept into the ballroom. She’d traded her usual revealing outfits for an elegant black gown, but her smile was pure venom as she spotted
- me.
“Victoria!” She air–kissed my cheeks, her nails digging into my arms. “I’m so glad you’re here. Have you seen the latest news?”
She held up her phone, showing a breaking news alert that made my blood run cold. “VICTORIA LANE’S DARK SECRET: Mother’s Death Linked to Missing Hospital Funds.”
The room started spinning. Through the roaring in my ears, I heard Jessica’s mock–sympathetic voice. “Such a shame. All that money you stole, and your poor mother died. anyway. But then, that was the plan all along, wasn’t it?”
“What are you talking about?” My voice sounded distant, strange.
“Oh, you don’t know?” Her smile widened. “Nathaniel found your mother’s real medical records. The experimental treatment you claimed to need the money for? It was never going to work. Her doctors told you that. But you took the money anyway, didn’t you?”
I felt the room’s eyes on us, heard the whispers growing louder. My carefully constructed plan was unraveling.
“That’s not true.” But even as I said it, memories surfaced the doctor’s grave face, words. like “terminal” and “palliative care” that I’d refused to accept. Had I stolen that money knowing, deep down, that it was hopeless?
“The truth hurts, doesn’t it?” Jessica pressed. “Just like it hurt when you
“That’s enough.” Leo materialized beside me, his presence commanding enough to make
解密:10%自
Marry My Ex–husband’s Rivol
“The truth hurts, doesn’t it?” Jessica pressed. “Just like it hurt when you-”
“That’s enough.” Leo materialized beside me, his presence commanding enough to make Jessica step back. “Miss Chen, I believe your invitation to this event was rescinded.”
“Actually,” she smiled, “I’m here as Nathaniel’s representative. He sends his regards, Victoria. And a message check your phone.”
My clutch vibrated. With trembling fingers, I pulled out my phone to find a video message from Nathaniel. The thumbnail showed my mother’s hospital room.
“Don’t,” Leo warned, but I was already pressing play.
The video showed me arguing with my mother’s doctor, demanding he try the experimental treatment. Then, devastating words from my own mouth: “I don’t care if it might kill her faster. At least we’ll have tried something!”
The phone slipped from my numb fingers. Leo caught it before it hit the floor, but the damage was done. All around us, phones were buzzing as the video went viral.
“You edited that,” I whispered. “Took it out of context.”
“Did he?” Jessica’s voice dripped false sympathy. “Or did you convince yourself that stealing company funds was justified, even after the doctors told you it was hopeless? Even after your mother begged you to let her go peacefully?”
The room was closing in. Faces turned away as I looked around, the whispers now loud
enough to hear clearly. Words like “monster” and “killed her own mother” cut through the air like
knives.
“Victoria.” Leo’s arm around my waist was the only thing keeping me upright. “We’re
leaving.”
“Running away again?” Jessica called after us. “Don’t worry, there’s more where that came from. Nathaniel’s been very thorough in documenting your… creative approach to family
loyalty.”
We made it to the hotel’s side entrance before my legs gave out. Leo caught me, gathering
me into his arms as sobs tore from my throat.
“She’s lying,” I choked out. “The video was edited. I never… I wouldn’t…”
“I know, cara. I know.” His voice was fierce as he held me. “We’ll prove it.”
Sofia appeared, her face grim. “Boss, we’ve got another problem. The DA’s office just issued a warrant for Victoria’s arrest. They’re claiming new evidence suggests she deliberately
hastened her mother’s death for the insurance money.”
The world tilted sideways. Through my tears, I saw the truth of what Nathaniel had done. He hadn’t just destroyed my reputation – he’d twisted my desperate attempt to save my mother into something monstrous.
And the worst part? I couldn’t remember clearly anymore. Had I pushed too hard for that treatment? Had I ignored the doctors‘ warnings in my determination to save her?
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Fri, 21 Feb
My Ex husband’s Royal
