On the day of the court hearing, my fiancée, Jessica Thorne, urged me to drop my not-guilty plea and sign a confession. "I know you're innocent, Liam, but Ryan is so frail. I can't let him go to prison." She gripped my hand, sobbing. "Liam, this is all for your own good." I decisively signed my name on the plea deal. In my past life, I’d stubbornly refused to take the fall for Ryan Hill. Not only did I end up in jail, but an enraged Jessica had also arranged for me to be tortured with cold, hard instruments until I lost the ability to have children. Reborn into this life, I chose to go along with her wishes. The next day, news of me allegedly stealing trade secrets flooded the internet. Ryan even testified as an eyewitness in court: "Yes, that's him! I saw him sneak into V-Corp with my own eyes!" However, during the afternoon session, the plaintiff, Vivian Sterling, suddenly withdrew her lawsuit. To everyone's astonishment, she pulled out a diamond ring, knelt on one knee, and asked: "Liam Foster, will you marry me in this life?" 1 The moment I signed the plea deal, a flicker of cunning crossed Jessica's eyes. Noticing my gaze, she immediately put on a heartbroken expression. "Liam, I'll definitely hire the best lawyers for you." "Once you're in prison, I'll pull some strings to get you paroled as soon as possible." I fought back a sneer, my tone indifferent. "No need." She instantly feigned anxiety. "Liam! I know you're devastated right now, but you can't just give up!" "If you throw in the towel, your parents..." She continued to babble, feigning "concern." If not for my past life's experiences, I might have actually believed her. In my previous life, after I refused to take the blame, she dropped her facade. Not only did she fabricate evidence to send me to prison, but she also bribed inmates to use those cruel instruments, brutally stripping me of my right to be a father. I was filled with hatred—she was clearly the one who instructed Ryan to steal V-Corp's secrets, so why was innocent me the one to suffer such a terrible fate? "Liam?" Jessica's voice pulled me back to reality. "Why do you look so pale?" I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "It's nothing." I managed a weak smile. "Just a bit terrified at the thought of prison." Jessica tried to take my hand, but I subtly avoided her touch. She paused for a moment but the elation of securing the plea deal quickly overwhelmed her. She carefully placed the document into her briefcase. "The hearing is in three days. I'll submit this agreement in court." She promised solemnly, "I'll keep this a secret for the next few days." I nodded coldly. After signing, I was granted bail. Stepping out of the courthouse, Jessica, as considerate as ever, opened the car door for me, her palm hovering protectively over my head—a gesture repeated thousands of times over the past three years. But I knew, with chilling certainty, that everything had already been turned upside down. She was still playing the role of a devoted partner, her gaze on me soft as water. "Liam, I'll take you home." Home? I scoffed inwardly. That villa, once filled with memories, probably had no place for me anymore. Sure enough, the moment I pushed open the villa's main door, a strong wave of men's cologne hit me. All the furnishings were unrecognizable; my beloved minimalist style had been replaced by lavish decorations. The wedding photo that once hung prominently in the living room was now piled in the storage room like trash, covered in cobwebs. Seeing me stare at the wedding photo, Jessica's face flashed with embarrassment, quickly replaced by a look of deep affection. "Liam, this was all Ryan's idea..." "He's bedridden now, his mood is very unstable..." 2 I indifferently shifted my gaze and walked straight to the bedroom. Pushing the door open, I was met with such a pungent perfume smell that I wrinkled my nose— The bed was a mess of brightly colored lingerie that wasn't mine, and the nightstand displayed an intimate photo of Ryan and Jessica. "You've been sleeping together in my bed?" I turned, glaring at her coldly. Jessica hastily tried to explain: "It was just temporary! As soon as Ryan recovers, I'll make him move out immediately..." "No need." I cut her off. "I'm just here to pick up some old things today." I quickly opened the wardrobe, only to find it full of Ryan's designer suits. My clothes had been haphazardly stuffed into a suitcase, abandoned in a corner. "Liam, don't be like this..." Jessica tried to grab my wrist. "I know your heart is breaking..." I shook off her hand, about to grab the suitcase and leave, when my phone suddenly buzzed with explosive trending news: 【SHOCKING SCANDAL! FOSTER HEIR CONFESSES, ADMITS TO STEALING V-CORP'S CORE SECRETS!】 The comment section erupted: "OMG! The golden boy of the Foster family turned out to be a corporate spy?" "I thought he was taking the fall for Ryan Hill, but it turns out he was the real culprit!" "That scumbag deserves to rot in prison!" My pupils contracted. I whipped my head up to glare at Jessica. I had clearly signed the plea deal as she asked, yet she couldn't even be bothered to keep up appearances. Jessica glanced at my phone, a flustered look on her face. "This... Liam, let me explain..." "I... I really did intend to keep it a secret for you, but you know, Ryan is sick, and he's also a suspect in this. To protect him from being implicated, so..." Utter disappointment led to a strange calm. "It doesn't matter." I masked the emotion in my eyes and put away my phone. "The hearing is in three days anyway." Jessica visibly relaxed, taking my hand with false sincerity. "Liam, I'm glad you understand. Don't worry, after you go to prison, I'll take good care of your parents." I fought back a wave of nausea and pulled my hand away, choosing another room to stay in. Late at night, when all was quiet, I dialed a number I hadn't called in ages. When the call connected, I took a deep breath. "Ms. Sterling, this is Liam Foster. There are some things I'd like to discuss with you in person." 3 The next morning, I woke up early and got ready. But just as I was about to leave, I ran into Jessica in the hallway. Seeing me dressed and ready to go out, she frowned. "Where are you going so early?" "Out to run some errands." I looked down, tying my shoes, avoiding her gaze. Jessica suddenly reached out and pressed her hand on the doorknob, her voice hardening. "This is a critical time. You'd better not be wandering around." "You're out on bail. What if someone recognizes you..." I didn't want to argue with her and spoke coldly. "Move." Jessica's expression instantly darkened. She grabbed my wrist, her grip so tight it hurt. "Liam Foster, you better recognize your situation!" I struggled hard, but she dragged me upstairs. Her sharp nails dug into my flesh like iron pincers. "It seems I've been too lenient with you..." She abruptly let go of me, clapped her hands, and two men in black suits immediately appeared beside her. "Tie him up and lock him in the basement. Don't let him out before the trial!" Jessica ordered, and the two men immediately bound me. I thrashed violently but to no avail, forced to glare at Jessica and raise my voice. "Jessica Thorne, are you trying to imprison me?!" The woman's eyes were dark. "Liam, don't blame me. You forced my hand." The basement was cold and damp, the only light source a dim, yellowing bulb. Jessica stood at the doorway, her expression unreadable in the backlight. Her tone was icy. "You'll stay here until the trial." As her words fell, her men pushed me inside. I stumbled, crashing into the wall, a sharp pain shooting through my shoulder. "Ugh—" I let out a muffled groan from the pain, looking up at her with resentment. The woman's gaze flickered for a moment, and she ordered them to untie my ropes. She took out a diamond-studded watch from her pocket. "Liam..." Her voice held a hint of guilt. "I had this watch custom-made for you. Consider it compensation." She held the watch out to me, the diamonds glinting harshly in the dim light. I looked at her coldly, not reaching out. "What, afraid I'll run away, so you're trying to appease me with this?" Jessica's expression stiffened, then she sighed. "I just want you to know, I still have feelings for you." I let out a derisive laugh. "Jessica Thorne, your 'feelings' involve making me take the fall for your lover, then locking me in a basement?" The woman's expression froze. Before she could speak, Ryan's voice suddenly came from the stairs. He hurried down, snatching the box. "What a beautiful watch!" "Jessica, is this for me?" Jessica was clearly taken aback. "Ryan, this is for..." "I don't care, I want this one!" Ryan fastened the watch onto his wrist, speaking with dissatisfaction. "He's going to jail soon anyway. It's a waste for him to wear such a nice watch." Jessica looked at me, then at Ryan, and finally relented with a doting expression. "Alright, if you like it, take it." Ryan, having gotten his way, still wasn't satisfied. He frowned. "But if you give his gift to me, what about him? How about..." He paused, a smirk playing on his lips, then casually pulled off the old watch on his other wrist and held it out to me. "How about you take this watch as your gift?" Jessica feigned ignorance of his malicious behavior and said to me, "Liam, see how much Ryan thinks of you? I believe you two will get along well in the future." I stared at the cheap watch glinting dully in the light and gave a sarcastic smile. Jessica continued: "By the way, Liam, considering Ryan's poor health, and you..." She paused. "The doctor said it's very difficult for you to have children. I've decided to cancel our engagement and marry Ryan." Despite being mentally prepared, those words still stabbed into my heart like a knife. "But don't worry, I'm not that heartless." "After you get out of prison, I'll arrange a place for you to live and a job. After all, we were once..." I cut her off with a cold laugh. "Jessica Thorne, do you really think I'll believe your bullshit?" Ryan put his arm around Jessica's waist, looking at me with contempt. "Don't be ungrateful." "Jessica is pitying you. Who else would want a man like you who can't have children?" I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug deep into my palms. The pain kept me lucid, reminding me not to act rashly. It wasn't time to strike back yet. 4 Late at night, the basement door suddenly opened. I frowned and looked up to see Ryan walk in. Ryan entered the basement, looking down at me with a triumphant smirk. "Tsk tsk, I really envy infertile men like you. You can live anywhere." "Unlike me, I can only sleep on high-end velvet." I looked at him coldly. "Get out." But he smiled even more brightly, his eyes holding a hint of sinister cruelty. "Did you know? The reason you could never get Jessica pregnant wasn't because of your body." My heart sank. "What do you mean?" "Jessica has been adding birth control pills to your food. The dosage was enough to make you permanently infertile." He leaned closer to my ear, whispering, "She planned it all along. Once you lost your fertility, she could justifiably ditch you, take your money, and marry me." So that was it. No wonder we never had children! Anger erupted like a volcano. I shot up and slapped him hard across the face. "You despicable pair!" Ryan staggered a few steps from my blow but then suddenly laughed strangely. He backed up a few steps, then threw himself heavily to the ground, letting out a piercing scream. "Ah—! What are you doing?!" The basement door was violently kicked open, and Jessica rushed in with several men in black. "Ryan!" She hurriedly helped Ryan up, and her face contorted in fury when she saw his swollen cheek. "Liam Foster! What did you do to him?!" Ryan threw himself into Jessica's arms, crying pitifully. "Jessica, he... he tried to kill me!" I retorted sharply, "You're lying! You fell on your own!" Jessica didn't listen to my explanation at all, her eyes fixed on me with a sinister glare. "Men, tie him up!" The men in black immediately advanced, roughly pressing me against the wall and binding my hands with ropes. "Jessica Thorne! You monster!" I struggled desperately. "You've been drugging me all along, making me infertile, haven't you?!" Her face changed slightly, but she quickly regained her cold composure. "So what if I did? A man like you doesn't deserve to get me pregnant!" She turned and took a leather whip from the wall. "Since you dared to hurt Ryan, you'll pay the price." She sneered, raising the whip and bringing it down hard. "Ah—!" The excruciating pain made me scream. The first lash left a bloody welt on my back. "This one is for Ryan!" "Crack!" The second lash followed immediately. The whip fell like rain. I soon lost consciousness from the pain, only to be jolted awake with cold water and tortured further. After a full ninety-nine lashes, I was covered in blood,on the floor, barely breathing. Jessica threw down the blood-stained whip. "Drag him to the courthouse. He must confess today!" I was roughly dragged out of the basement and shoved into a car. My wounds grated against the rough seats, the pain nearly making me pass out. By the time we reached the courthouse, it was already light out. Thanks to Jessica's "financial clout," the case was being heard ahead of schedule. The moment I was dragged into the courtroom, Jessica's lawyer eagerly stood up. "Your Honor, my client voluntarily pleads guilty. Please proceed with sentencing." Just as the judge was about to announce the verdict, the courtroom doors suddenly burst open. Everyone turned to see Vivian Sterling walking in with her lawyer and a medical team. She wore a designer suit, every movement exuding the authority of a leader, yet her eyes, when they met mine, were filled with unbearable pain. "As the plaintiff in this case, I request to withdraw the lawsuit." "At the same time, I request immediate medical attention for my fiancé, Mr. Foster!"
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "392574", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel