My husband, whom I've been in a long-distance marriage with for three years, video-called to report in as usual: "Good morning, honey." Instantly, I froze. It was currently 11:30 PM. Looking closer at the background of his video, it was clearly illuminated by the morning sun, around seven or eight o'clock. Clinging to a sliver of hope, I tentatively asked, "Are you at home, or on a business trip?" He answered smoothly, "At home, of course. I have classes tomorrow. Plus, without my wife's permission, I wouldn't dare run around." I didn't say much more, just absentmindedly agreeing with him. After hanging up, I immediately called his university and asked for his itinerary. It was a list for a university-sponsored faculty trip. The destination was Country A. And under Liam's "accompanying family member" column, the name was Chloe. His female student. Furthermore, for every faculty trip over the past three years, it was the exact same arrangement: one room, one bed. The blood rushed to my head. I immediately bought a plane ticket to Country A. ... After getting off the plane, I went straight to Liam's hotel. The girl waiting for the elevator with me had a student ID from his university hanging around her neck. It read Chloe, the exact same "idiot student" my husband often mentioned giving him endless headaches. I forced down the tremor in my voice: "Monroe University? What a coincidence, my husband is a professor there." Chloe stepped into the elevator and smiled, striking up a conversation: "Are you here accompanying a family member on the trip too?" "My Professor Hayes brings me here every year. You know how men are, they claim it's for academic exchange, but really..." Saying this, the girl acted shy. I dragged my stiff legs into the elevator behind her, my heart plummeting in pain. Liam and I had been long-distance ever since we got married. Even seeing each other was a luxury. Many times, feeling bad about how busy he was, I flew to his city, suggesting we finally take the honeymoon we never had. He would always hug me, his eyes full of guilt, and hastily leave me with one sentence: "There will be opportunities in the future, once I finish this busy period." I believed him. But that "wait" turned into three years. Little did I know, he had the opportunity to take his "spouse" on international trips every year. Unable to hold back my tears, I turned my head away and continued to probe: "Do you know... that he's married?" Chloe nodded casually. "So what if he's married? I'm not destroying their family. It's just a mutual exchange of needs." "He helps me get a guaranteed spot in grad school by bending the rules. And he constantly complains to me about how vulgar his long-distance wife is. That's why he hid the fact that he had several opportunities to transfer to her city." "You can see how annoying that old woman is. I'm different. I'm young." The girl's words oozed with a sense of superiority. My reflection in the elevator doors looked incredibly haggard. For three years of marriage, I bore the burden of everything big and small at home entirely on my own. When my father-in-law passed away, my bedridden, paralyzed mother-in-law required my constant, undivided care. When she had a medical emergency in the middle of the night, I dragged my exhausted body—after a full day of work—to take her to the hospital. When I couldn't handle it anymore, I would call Liam in tears, asking him to talk to the dean about transferring to the branch campus. But he would always massage his temples, looking troubled: "I know it's hard for you, but job transfers are arranged by the university. There's nothing I can do." It turned out it wasn't that he couldn't do anything; it was that he didn't want to. Chloe's phone ringtone suddenly broke the silence. "Hubby, I brought back so much stuff, come to the elevator to get me~" From the other end came a male voice I was incredibly familiar with: "Okay, okay, just wait there for me." The next second, the elevator reached the thirteenth floor. With a ding, the doors slowly opened. Seeing Chloe and me standing in the elevator together. The usually calm and composed Professor Hayes lost his smile instantly. But within two seconds, Liam quickly masked his panic, stepping forward to grab my arm first. "Honey, what are you doing here so suddenly?" "My company sent me on a last-minute business trip, I didn't have time to tell you." I smiled bitterly, "Is that so? Is she on a business trip too?" "She..." Chloe, standing to the side, turned pale. But the next second, a look of provocation appeared in her eyes: "You didn't even know Professor Hayes was on a business trip. You should really pay more attention to him in the future. I won't bother you with my matters." As soon as she finished speaking, unable to bear it any longer, I raised my hand to slap her. But as Chloe instinctively raised her arm to block it, I noticed the ring on her finger. It looked completely out of place with her young, designer clothes. Once, after returning from Liam's city, I realized my wedding ring was gone after getting off the plane. I regretted it endlessly. I called the airline over a dozen times but couldn't find it. Liam stayed up all night video chatting with me: "It's just a ring. Your health is the most important thing. I'll just buy you another one." At the time, feeling bad that he was working overtime, I refused. I never expected to see it again a year later, on Chloe's finger. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I lost the strength to follow through with the slap. "Chloe, go back to the room!" Liam yelled angrily, and the girl, flushed with humiliation, went into the room. He roughly dragged me into a car heading for the airport. After a long silence, he suddenly became agitated: "Evelyn, are you doubting me?" "I told you Chloe is just my student. I brought her on this academic exchange to broaden her horizons. When did you start checking up on me?" Endless grievances surged in my heart. My heart felt like it was being violently torn apart: "Broadening horizons by exchanging academics all the way into bed!" Liam's face darkened instantly: "I told you she's just my student!" "You said you'd understand my work. Why are you being so unreasonable now?" I opened my mouth to retort, but his phone suddenly chimed. He answered it immediately. "Professor Hayes, you must apologize to Mrs. Hayes for me. I misspoke earlier." "Because I'm your emergency contact at the university, the business trip info wasn't synced to Mrs. Hayes. I shouldn't have said that earlier, wuuuwuuu..." Liam quickly offered gentle comfort: "How is it your fault? You're in the same city as me, it's safer to leave your number. She's just making a mountain out of a molehill." So living apart is my fault now? I gritted my teeth in anger: "I don't need your apology." As soon as I spoke, a woman's scream came from the phone, followed by it hanging up. "Chloe? What's wrong?" Liam slammed on the brakes. My forehead smashed hard against the dashboard, blurring my vision. "Get out! I need to go see what happened to her." Under his disgusted gaze, I was kicked out of the car. The car sped away, leaving me standing there in a daze. In the suburbs of a foreign country, I walked for a full hour without seeing another soul. It was midnight by the time I fumbled my way to the airport. Right before boarding, I immediately called my lawyer friend: "Liam cheated on me. Draft a divorce agreement for me." "And look into how his female student, Chloe, actually got her guaranteed grad school spot." Quickly, my friend found all the information about Chloe. Clicking on her social media, the first time she posted about "Mr. Hayes" was in August three years ago. But that was exactly when my mother passed away. I couldn't eat or sleep; I withered away like a ghost. Liam frequently took red-eye flights to come see me, made me late-night snacks, and cried with me: "Mom in heaven definitely wants you to be okay. You have me with you..." But it was precisely during that time that he and Chloe hooked up. My friend sent over the evidence: "Her grad school application materials are basically all forged. The system shows she failed several classes." He paused: "But these videos might break your heart, maybe you shouldn't watch them..." Before I had time to process it, a notification popped up on my phone: 【Shocking! Jealous wife of university professor hires hitman to assault beautiful student abroad!】 The comment section was filled with curses: 【Heartless! How can a woman be so vicious to another woman? She doesn't deserve to be a professor's wife!】 【Chloe is about to get her guaranteed grad school spot. She must be jealous of her academic success, that's why she did it.】 【Come out and apologize! Or we'll all report you to the police!】 ... I was just trying to figure out what was going on when Liam burst through the door furiously, followed by a tearful Chloe. "Evelyn, do you know how vile your actions are?!" "You tried to hit her that day. When you didn't, I thought you'd found your conscience. I didn't expect you to have a backup plan!" Chloe, covered in scars, knelt pitifully in front of me: "Mrs. Hayes, I don't know what I did wrong. You can hit me or scold me, but please don't ruin my future..." I gritted my teeth and said word by word: "I didn't do it." After saying that, I made a move to leave. Chloe unexpectedly crashed into me. Immediately after, photos of her completely naked scattered all over the floor. "Ah! These are the photos from when I was attacked! Why does Mrs. Hayes have them?" "Mrs. Hayes, you're so cruel!" Looking up, I met Liam's icy, indifferent gaze. "And you still say you didn't?" "Aren't these photos ironclad proof? What else do you have to say for yourself!" With that, a slap thrown with full force smashed hard against my face. The taste of blood instantly filled my mouth, and my vision went black. The man who once swore he trusted me unconditionally was gone. Just then, a group of people rushed in holding phones and cameras. The girls leading them were clearly Chloe's close friends. They shoved their phones in my face: "What grudge do you have against Chloe? Why would you harm her like this!" "Is it just because she's prettier than you, so you got paranoid and thought she stole your husband? You're so old, stop acting like you're the star of a romance novel!" "If you don't apologize to Chloe today, we won't let this go!" I clenched my fists in anger. "I didn't do any of this. But as for what you and your 'sisters' did, you should ask her." Chloe trembled, leaning against Liam's chest, secretly showing a victor's smile. The next second, before I could react, they swarmed me and started tearing at my clothes. "Everyone turn on your live streams! Make her strip naked and apologize to Chloe!" "Let go of me!" I struggled desperately. In the blink of an eye, I was almost half-naked on the live stream, every hair on my body standing on end. Suddenly someone yelled in surprise: "There are already three hundred thousand viewers right after starting the stream! Mrs. Hayes, you're going to be famous!" Piercing mockery and ridicule echoed around me. Trembling all over, I looked at Liam: "Liam, I said I didn't do it! How can you just let them treat me like this!" The man averted his eyes, but his words were cruel enough: "You brought this on yourself!" "Chloe is about to officially secure her grad school spot. Her commendation ceremony is right after this. How is she supposed to face anyone?" I suddenly started laughing maniacally: "Secure her grad school spot? Do you dare admit exactly how she secured it?" Liam froze, immediately clearing his throat. "Chloe studies very hard, of course you wouldn't know." The next second, fists and slaps rained down on me, and they spat at me. "All you know is how to frame people! Chloe's grades are excellent!" "She frequently stays up late to discuss academics with the professor. Pulling all-nighters is normal for her. What does an old woman like you know?" "Hurry up and apologize!" I gritted my teeth tightly, ultimately not making a single sound. As time ticked by, Chloe was the first to get anxious: "Professor Hayes, let's just forget it. Mrs. Hayes isn't going to apologize." "We should go catch our flight, otherwise we'll miss the commendation ceremony." Liam nodded. The last bit of pity he gave me before leaving was draping his jacket over my shoulders. "They were a bit out of line. I'll apologize to you later." Watching his hurried departure, my eyes were bloodshot. Liam, I don't want an apology. I want your reputation destroyed. I changed clothes, put on a baseball cap, and bought the earliest high-speed rail ticket. When I rushed to the commendation ceremony, Chloe was just smugly preparing to go on stage. On stage, Liam, wearing the suit I saved up to buy for him, elegantly and amiably read the announcement regarding Chloe's guaranteed grad school spot. His gaze occasionally fell on Chloe's youthful, vibrant face, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turning up. I found a corner and sat down. Whispers drifted into my ears: "Professor Hayes's wife went too far. How could she spread such rumors about a hardworking student like Chloe?" "Professor Hayes has always been upright. He hates unethical deals the most. But... he does treat Chloe somewhat specially." "Don't talk nonsense, that's just mentorship. After all, Chloe is a top student." ... I sat to the side, seriously listening to the speech of the "upright" Professor Hayes they spoke of: "Chloe's journey here hasn't been easy. She's put in a lot of effort and endured a lot of hardship..." Chloe walked onto the stage with her head held high, preparing to receive her medal. Deafening applause erupted from the audience. "Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Professor Hayes. For all four years of college, Professor Hayes has guided me. Although I've faced some hardships, I'm very happy..." "I can testify to that." I suddenly stood up from my seat in the audience, interrupting her. "Student Chloe indeed endured a lot of... hardship." Immediately after, in full view of everyone, the large screen behind them flashed on. The venue instantly erupted in an uproar. Seeing the content playing on the screen, all color drained from the faces of the two on stage. The video was pixelated, but the audio was exceptionally clear. Inside a hotel room, Chloe whined pitifully: "I failed several classes this semester. I haven't eaten all day because I'm so worried about the grad school spot..." Followed by Liam's confident response: "I'll handle the grad school spot. How can you not eat? I'll take you down to the restaurant to eat." The woman hugged him ambiguously from behind, asking deliberately: "Between me and that woman, who do you love more? If you don't give me an answer, I'm not going to eat..." Liam smiled indulgently, pulling the woman into his arms. "You, of course. Otherwise, I would have transferred to her city years ago. The reason I kept it quiet is because I want to stay here with you." The video stopped abruptly. Liam, enraged from humiliation, yanked out the plug, completely losing control: "Where is the staff?! What is all this garbage!" He practically charged off the stage, grabbing my arm, stammering: "Evelyn, listen to me, things are absolutely not what you think..." I violently shook off his hand, my eyes filled with nothing but disgust: "I have the unpixelated version here too. Do you want to share it with everyone?" Liam was completely choked up. A commotion broke out in the venue. Especially among those who firmly believed in Liam and Chloe's innocence, their expressions were uglier than the last. "So Chloe and Professor Hayes are... in that kind of relationship?" "She used to tell us roommates she wasn't coming back at night. Turns out she was looking for Professor Hayes..." "And the grad school spot—" Chloe couldn't bear to listen anymore and lunged forward like a madwoman. "My grad school spot was earned through my own ability! It's not what you think! You're not allowed to talk nonsense!" At this moment, the dean's face had turned as black as charcoal, trembling with anger in the audience. "We will investigate this matter thoroughly! We absolutely will not tolerate this kind of behavior!" "Dean, please listen to my explanation..." Liam chased after him, but it was futile. Just then, a plainly dressed girl stood up in the audience, crying pitifully: "Professor Hayes, I never dared to ask before, but why are all my other grades A's, and only one is a B? I could have gotten that guaranteed spot too..." The man stood frozen in place, opening his mouth several times but saying nothing. Seeing the girl crying so pitifully—she was probably the legendary student whose spot was stolen—I went over to comfort her: "Don't worry, the dean will investigate this thoroughly. He'll definitely get you justice." I turned to look at Liam, confronting our tragic marriage for the first time. "Is this the normal mentor-student relationship you spoke of? You are truly disappointing." "Whether as a husband or a professor, I never thought you could be so despicable." Liam instantly panicked. The usually proud and composed man lowered his stance. "Honey, it was a mistake I made in a moment of confusion. Let's go home, and I'll explain everything properly. Let's go back first..." Saying this, he reached out to grab me. I quickly dodged, not wanting him to touch me ever again. "I've had enough of this long-distance marriage. Liam, let's get a divorce." After saying that, I handed him the divorce agreement my friend had delivered. "Now, sign it."
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "394539", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel