For three years, my wife, Victoria, was a fixture in the headlines. This time, the story was: “Z-LIST ACTOR’S SHAMELESS THEATER FLING WITH MARRIED HEIRESS. HE KNEW.” A reporter ambushed her. "Doesn't your husband get angry?" She answered with regal disdain. "He's just the man who married into my money. He’s hardly fit to be seen." Later, she would kneel in the snow, begging me to come back. "Leo, forgive me! Don't you love me?" I threw her own words back at her. "I'm just a kept man who isn't fit to be seen. How could I ever be worthy?" 1 【Riverton Cinema, 10 PM tonight.】 It was a rare weekend off, but one text from Evan, and I was clocking in for my other job. Evan had been coasting on Victoria’s money in the entertainment industry for three years. With mediocre talent and even worse luck, he was firmly cemented as a Z-list actor. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Victoria, as part of my marital duties, had forced me to be his assistant. And he, in turn, paid my salary. He was notorious for calling me at all hours. Last New Year's Eve, on one of the few nights Victoria was actually home, Evan called to demand I bring him cold medicine. Snow was falling in a dizzying white curtain as I delivered both the pills and myself to his doorstep. I was happy. And a little desolate. At the cinema, a cluster of young students were whispering excitedly. "I think I just saw Evan!" "My source says he booked a whole VIP theater for his married rich-lady girlfriend." "The whole theater? Can you imagine? I bet it gets wild in there." … I felt the corner of my mouth twitch. These kids were bold. They might actually try to sneak in and walk right into the middle of Victoria and Evan's… tender moment. In Victoria's eyes, Evan was a pure, innocent angel with a handsome face and a great body. She wouldn't mind him getting photographed or dragged through the mud online; she’d just blame me for not doing my job properly. And a furious Evan would dock my pay. So, I slipped past the students and had a word with the theater staff. Leveraging Victoria's name, I had a few extra security guards posted at the entrance. Once I was sure the fortress was secure, I went inside. The screen was playing a newly released blockbuster, a film Victoria had poured money into just to get Evan a bit part as some eye candy. Yes, eye candy. For all his masculine posturing, the best a pretty boy like him could do with a sugar mama was be a living ornament. In the fifth row, the prime viewing spot, Victoria was tipping Evan's chin up, giving him a feather-light kiss. I had to admit, Victoria was stunning. Even next to a fresh-faced actor like Evan, her powerful aura was undeniable. I casually snapped a photo. It was, in a way, a beautiful picture. A notification popped up on my phone. It was Evan. 【Are you here yet?】 It seemed he was getting anxious to officially marry into the family fortune. I didn't reply, continuing my surveillance. Annoyed that his attention was on his phone, Victoria grabbed his chin and pulled him into a more heated kiss. I rolled my eyes. Some things you just can’t unsee. Did he really think that forcing me to watch a live stream of him seducing my wife would make me so heartbroken I'd demand a divorce? The truth was, Victoria was the one who had forced me into this marriage, grinding my dignity into the dust. She wasn't done torturing me yet. She wouldn't let me go that easily. Suddenly, the whole charade felt pointless. I replied to Evan: 【Mr. Hayes, my apologies, I’m taking a sick day. Lucy will be there shortly.】 Lucy was Evan’s other assistant, a young girl who looked up to me. Message sent. I turned off my phone, refusing to listen to his inevitable tantrum. Leaving the theater, I walked along the riverbank, hoisting myself up onto the railing to feel the wind on my face. I used to love Victoria. She was a strong, brilliant, formidable woman. For her, it was love at first sight, and she pursued me with a fiery passion that defied convention. Weighed down by my own baggage, I rejected her time and again, but she was relentless. What finally broke through my defenses was the day I came to work with a raging fever, and she forced water and medicine past my lips with her own hands. It’s a shame her devotion had such a short shelf life. But maybe that was for the best. 2 The next morning, my phone’s ringing jolted me awake. It was Lucy. “Leo! It’s all over the internet! There’s a video of Evan with Victoria… they’re saying he’s a homewrecker! The story is blowing up, and I don’t know how to get it off the trending list… But he totally deserves it! God, Leo, you’re incredible. I don’t know how you work for him and stay so calm watching him pull all this crap.” Lucy, bless her righteous young heart, was vehemently cursing out her own boss. I was touched. “Don’t worry, Lucy. I’ll handle it.” After hanging up, I clicked the link she’d sent me. The video was two minutes long, starting with the light kiss I’d witnessed and escalating from there. In the final shot, Victoria’s hand was resting on Evan's lower back. The implication was obvious. The comments section was brutal. 【The only thing they didn’t do was take their clothes off. And he still pretends to be so innocent, saying his mom won’t let him show his abs. LMAO.】 【CANCEL HIM!】 【Get Evan Hayes out of showbiz!】 … The article also included the picture of me sitting on the riverbank railing, under a salacious headline: "Z-LIST ACTOR'S SHAMELESS THEATER FLING WITH MARRIED HEIRESS. A KNOWING HOMWRECKER, PUSHING THE HUSBAND TO THE BRINK." Someone had been following me? That was… unsettling. I scrolled through the comments. The top ones were a mix of people trashing Evan and Victoria, and others doing deep dives into Victoria’s family background and Evan’s less-than-honorable climb up the ladder. Me, the "husband on the brink," was barely mentioned. This leak felt like it was about more than just Evan. Was it one of Victoria’s business rivals? After a moment's hesitation, I forwarded the article and my suspicions to Victoria. She didn't reply. She probably didn't care. I wasn’t in a hurry either. I started drafting a crisis PR statement for Evan. As I was working, a text from Evan himself came through, dripping with provocation: 【Leo, I checked the cinema’s security footage. I saw you there. Jealous watching Victoria all over me? Ha. I thought you were clueless, but it turns out you’re just a coward who can take it. She doesn't love you. Do yourself a favor, take off the horns, and divorce her!】 My patience, already thin, snapped. I forwarded him the link to the viral article. 【Evan, from where I was sitting, I couldn't have possibly shot a video that clear.】 3 After a quick shower, I video-called Lucy. We worked until noon before things were finally under control. Throughout the morning, Evan called me repeatedly. I could perfectly picture his pathetic, frantic face. I used the excuse of being busy to ignore his tirades. He didn't need my comfort. After double-checking the statement we’d issued, I went back to the original viral post, studying it again. Finally, I decided to contact the blogger who broke the story to ask about the video's source. My private message went unanswered, like a stone dropped into the sea. Whatever. Time for a break. I was coming down with a cold. I quickly boiled some dumplings, ate them, and collapsed into bed to catch up on sleep. I’m a light sleeper. The roar of Victoria’s sports car pulling up to the house woke me. By the time she stormed upstairs and burst through my bedroom door, I was already dressed. “Leo, do you really think that by destroying Evan, I won’t just find another Evan? A new pretty face to replace him?” she snarled. When she was chasing me, she’d fret over the slightest frown on my face, showering me with concern and gifts. And now? Now she looked like she wanted me dead. “I’m not that naive,” I said, my hand in my pocket, secretly turning on my voice recorder. “And I know you. You might like Evan, but you’d never throw away the career you fought so hard for just for him. You’ve been investing in him for years; you expect a return. In this movie, his role is small but charming. It could have been his big break. This scandal affects his marketability, maybe even your company’s stock. That’s why you’re so angry, isn’t it?” Every time she wanted to provoke me, she either shamed me for being the man who married into her money or threw cash at Evan to spite me. She probably didn’t realize that neither of those things could hurt me anymore. All I wanted was a peaceful divorce. Victoria looked slightly taken aback, but she doubled down. “Glad you know your place!” I pressed on with my negotiation. “I couldn’t find the truth you wanted me to find all those years ago. But I’ve been your husband for three years. You’ve had lovers, you’ve ruined my career, and you’ve forced me to be Evan’s glorified gofer. You’ve seen it—my life is a miserable, chaotic mess, and I’m barely making any money. Your anger should be satisfied by now, right? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I want to make a deal. If you agree, I will do everything in my power to clean up Evan’s image and help you salvage yours.” Victoria’s voice was ice. “Your terms.” “I want a divorce. Don’t worry, I won’t take any of your assets, we’ll stick to the prenup. Evan has to pay me my outstanding salary, and you will give me a substantial sum for my silence.” She sneered. “You’re dreaming!” Just then, her phone began vibrating violently. Victoria shot me a glare and went out to the balcony to take the call. When she returned, her face was a mask of grudging acceptance. “Fine. I agree.” I clicked the button to save the recording. “Pay the deposit first. Then I’m at your disposal.” To her credit, Victoria was generous. A hundred thousand dollars appeared in my account almost instantly. “Get changed,” she commanded. “Put on a decent suit. You’re coming with me to the office.” “Fine,” I said, playing my part. I took a quick shower and put on my most expensive suit. Victoria’s face was a mask of impatience. “You’re not young and cute like Evan. What’s taking you so long to change a damn shirt?” I grit my teeth and said nothing. Her eyes then fell on the jacket I had just taken off. “Did you go to the river on purpose?” Had she found the recorder? 4 I forced myself to remain calm. "The media is a beast. Why would I risk making things worse? You can check my phone. Evan's scandal has nothing to do with me." At my words, Victoria snatched my phone from the nightstand, unlocked it with a practiced flick of her thumb, and began to search it. My password was her birthday. A small performance to maintain the illusion of the devoted, dependent husband. The day we divorce, if I don't change it, I'm a dog. After two minutes, she tossed the phone back at me. "You'd better not be playing games with me," she warned. "You know I wouldn't dare," I said placatingly. "You'd better be right," she hissed, her anger simmering again. "If you don't fix this, I won't even bother to collect your corpse." …I swear she has some kind of rage disorder. Honestly, why can't she just chill out? "Don't worry," I said. "I'll make sure to die far, far away." Besides, when you're dead, you're dead. I couldn't care less what happens after. I made an excuse to tidy the room, using the opportunity to pocket the voice recorder. "Stop fussing," Victoria snapped, slapping my arm. "I want to see your plan." "Right." I sent her the draft Lucy and I had worked on all morning. Seeing her displeased expression, I explained, "Right now, all we can do is suppress the story. Do you have any public events coming up?" "The Zhao family's charity gala. In three days." I nodded. "Should I go with you? I can play my part, follow your lead completely." "Fine." Victoria closed the document, her eyes scanning me from head to toe. "Let's go," she said, her tone imperious. "Okay." In the car, I tried contacting the blogger again. Still nothing. Just as we pulled up to her office building, I received an anonymous text. 【Are you sure you want to help Victoria? She's been unfaithful.】 I instinctively called the number. No answer. Just as I was about to text back, I heard Victoria's voice, uncharacteristically gentle. "What are you so busy with?" I looked up to see her standing by the luxury car, clearly waiting for me to open her door. The performance had begun. I hurried to open it for her. She gave me a radiant smile. "Thank you, darling." I played the dutiful husband at her company event, and then she came home with me, watching me work like a hawk. I had no chance to export the audio from the recorder or even think about who sent the anonymous text. Late that night, a call from Evan finally lured her away. Only then did I reply to the number: 【I have to help her.】 The reply was instantaneous: 【I want to see you.】 My guard went up immediately. 【Who are you?】 Could this be the person who had somehow bypassed my security measures and filmed Victoria and Evan in the theater? The person insisted: 【I want to see you.】 5 Lucy had been complaining to me just an hour before that killing the story was proving incredibly difficult. Now I knew why. This person was likely behind it. Still, what was there to fear? I was a grown man. The money was what mattered. So, I asked the mysterious figure: 【Meet now?】 Again, an instant reply: 【The viral post has been deleted.】 I immediately checked my bookmarked link. It was dead. This person was for real. I quickly asked for a meeting place. Half an hour later, I arrived at the designated private room in a high-end club. A young man at the door handed me a blindfold. I put it on without protest. Once I was led inside the room, my eyes quickly adjusted to the blackness behind the blindfold. "Who are you?" I asked into the darkness. "Can you tell?" It was a woman's voice, melodious and soft. I had assumed it was a man playing games, but my mystery helper was a woman. I have a good memory for voices, and I was certain I'd never heard hers before. "I don't know you," I replied. She guided me to a seat. "Then we'll get acquainted later." "Why are you helping me?" I asked. She didn't answer, instead busying herself with making tea. I was baffled but didn't want to anger her, so I just sat there, numbly compliant. She must have put something in the air, or the tea. I actually fell asleep. When I woke with a start, my first instinct was to tear off the blindfold, but a warm, smooth hand pressed gently on mine. "Don't." She was still here. "Sorry, I fell asleep." "It's fine." I sat up straight. "You won't interfere with me clearing Evan's name anymore, will you?" "I'll help you." "And Victoria's company?" After a long silence, she said, "I'll help with that, too." When the young man helped me remove the blindfold, I realized it was already dawn. I walked to a nearby breakfast spot and ordered crab-filled soup dumplings and a bowl of sweet soy milk. As I ate, I checked the online situation. She worked fast. Searching for Evan's name no longer brought up any negative keywords. I specifically checked his social media pages; all the hateful comments were gone. Fed and watered, I drove home. Victoria was sitting in the living room, her face taut with anger. The moment she saw me, she sneered, "Leo, which little tramp were you out seeing all night?" The hypocrisy. Did she forget that she was the one who ran off to see Evan in the middle of the night, giving me the window to do my own thing? But she was the client now. I couldn't provoke her. "I was busy dealing with the online mess," I explained. "Check for yourself if you don't believe me. Only a few die-hards are still yelling about Evan, and new trending topics are popping up. Their attention will shift." This only made her angrier. She snatched a manila envelope from the coffee table and hurled it at me. "Leo, why don't you explain this!"
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "393320", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel