The next day, Winston brought me to the company.

No one mentioned what had happened yesterday. Not him, not his parents, not even Kiara. It was as if the entire house had entered a strange, collective silence.

I frowned. “Why did you bring me here? I already signed the share transfer. The company is yours now—I’m done with it.”

Winston smiled and crouched down in front of my wheelchair, speaking at eye level.

“I know you did it with good intentions. I overreacted yesterday. But since we’re married, I’ve decided to believe in you. My mother said she’ll contact a doctor to take a look at your condition. Maybe the hospital misdiagnosed you.”

“Today, I just wanted to show you the company—to let you see how I’m handling it.”

I nodded, forcing a faint smile.

He had a meeting to attend, so he let me wander the company on my own. I hadn’t been here in over a month. Despite everything, a strange sense of nostalgia clung to me.

But I knew—soon, this place would change completely.

As I passed by the pantry, I overheard hushed voices.

“Did you hear? President Reynolds gave all her shares to Mr. Flemming because she can’t have kids. Apparently, she was really promiscuous before marriage and had multiple abortions. Now she’s infertile and handed the company over as compensation. Otherwise, she would have been dumped ages ago.”

“No way! She always looked so proper. Ugh, disgusting. Doesn’t she know how dangerous that is?”

“I also heard her mother died the same way—had an affair, got caught by her husband, and killed herself.”

I froze in place.

My whole body began to tremble uncontrollably.

They... were talking about my mother.

The truth was, when I was ten, my father had been the one who cheated. My mother had fallen into depression, and eventually jumped to her death.

One month after she died, that woman moved in with her five-year-old daughter—Kiara.

And now, these people were spreading filthy rumors about both of us.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I shoved the door open with burning eyes, and stared directly at the three employees.

Their expressions were priceless—shock, guilt, and panicked. They avoided my eyes and scrambled toward the exit.

“Stop right there!” I shouted. “Who told you all that nonsense?”

“I—I’m sorry, President Reynolds. We didn’t mean to. I can’t remember who said it... I swear.”

“M-me neither... I forgot too.”

My grip on the wheelchair handles tightened as rage surged through me.

“If you don’t say who it was, don’t bother showing up tomorrow. I’ll have HR issue termination letters and blacklist you across the industry. People who spread malicious rumors don’t belong in this business.”

The three employees finally cracked, their voices panicked and rushed.

“Please, don’t, President Reynolds—it was our fault. We swear it won’t happen again. It was Ms. Kiara... she’s the one who told us. She said the company is hers now, and that you wouldn’t be coming back.”

Their voices trailed off, heads hung low and trembling with fear.

In the end, I let them off with a warning—but only on the condition that they resign voluntarily.

I returned to my office alone and stared at a photo of my mother and me, tears silently streaking down my face.

After an hour passed, Winston still didn't return.

I asked the driver to take me home. But when we got to the underground parking lot, I noticed Winston’s car lights were still on.

In a dimly lit corner, I saw him—slipping a ring onto Kiara’s finger, holding her hand with unmistakable tenderness.

I froze in place, the slanderous words I’d just overheard replaying in my mind like a broken record.

Did Winston already know about those rumors?

“Baby,” he whispered, “this is a critical time. You showing up at the office out of nowhere made it hard for me to explain things to your sister.”

Kiara pouted, then buried her face in his chest like a spoiled child.

“What’s there to explain? I know she hates me and my mom. Ever since I graduated, she’s done everything to keep me out of the company. But look at us now—she’s a cripple, and I’m your personal secretary. I still made it in.”

“She tried so hard to guard against me, and still failed. Just like her mother—small-minded and bitter.”

Before she could say more, Winston silenced her with a kiss, clearly angered by her reckless words.

But she only giggled and clung to him. “Oh, stop. Bianca already handed you the company. Everyone there answers to you now. What’s there to be afraid of?”

“Just a little more patience,” he murmured. “We already have a fake divorce certificate. Soon, I’ll find a respectable excuse to make it official. I won’t let you or your mom be wronged.”

Every word sent icy needles through my veins. My limbs trembled. My heart felt like it was being shredded from the inside out.

Tears streamed silently down my cheeks as I crouched in the shadows.

I had told him once—how my mother died, how my father blamed me, favored Kiara, and crushed me under his prejudice.

And Winston had held my hand, looked into my eyes, and promised, “I understand. I hate people who destroy families more than anything.”

But now I see—he had been lying all along.

From beginning to end... he had only ever loved her.

And all along, he was just waiting for the right moment to justify betraying me.

After a while of flirting, Winston reluctantly returned to the company—worried I might notice something.

But Kiara didn’t leave immediately. She stood in the shadows, right in the direction where I was hiding, a smug smile curling on her lips.

She dangled the car keys in her hand and strutted toward me, the sharp click of her heels growing louder until she finally stopped right in front of me.

“Well, well. I thought it was you. I should’ve known—you’ve always had a thing for eavesdropping, haven’t you, sister?”

I trembled with rage, my eyes burning red. If it weren’t for the post-miscarriage complications that left my legs spasming, I would’ve stood up and slapped her right across the face.

“You really are shameless, Kiara. Just like your homewrecker mother! Your mom stole my dad, and now you're stealing my husband? You even have the nerve to covet my company? Have you no shame at all?!”

She laughed, covering her mouth as if I’d just told her a joke.

“Bianca, you really need to understand something. Before he even knew you, Winston only had eyes for me. And my mother? She was your father’s first love. You and your mom were just placeholders. If you want someone to blame, blame yourselves for being boring—no charm, no spark. Can’t even keep your men.”

“Now that you’ve given up all your shares, whether I work here or not is entirely up to Winston.”

“You—don’t get cocky, Kiara. One day, I’ll drive you and your mother out of my house,” I intoned coldly.

She giggled again, mocking me without restraint.

“Oh no, I’m terrified. Really, Sis? Look at you now. A half-paralyzed, childless housewife. Even if you overheard Winston talking about leaving you, what can you do? Nothing.”

She leaned down, eyes gleaming with malice. “If you beg me a little—maybe bark like a dog or something—I might convince him not to kick you out just yet.”

My fingernails dug into my palm so hard they nearly drew blood. My lips pressed into a trembling, white line. My head throbbed from the wave of fury.

I tried to leave, forcing my wheelchair to turn around, but she blocked my path.

Worse—she placed one stiletto-clad foot right on my wheelchair pedal.

“Why so eager to go? Oh, and don’t forget—Dad’s birthday is tomorrow. You better show up. Don’t embarrass the family in front of the relatives.”

And with that, she drove off—in the car I bought for Winston.

Later that night, Winston called. I simply told him I was tired and had gone home early. He didn’t push for more.

On the drive back, I made another call to Denver, asking him to help me investigate the auction records for a piece of land in the outskirts from last year.

—

The next morning, Winston was already waiting in the living room.

Today was my father’s birthday.

We’d been distant ever since my mother’s death—he had always blamed me, even though I was just a child. I rarely visited, unless there was a serious reason.

I didn’t prepare any gift.

When I arrived downstairs dressed and ready, Kiara held out a wrapped box to me.

“Sis, I know you and Dad have your differences. I picked out a gift for you to give him. He’ll love it.”

I glanced at the porcelain tea set inside but didn’t take it. My voice was cold. “Thanks, but no. You can give it to him yourself.”

Winston’s expression darkened. He snatched the gift box from her and scolded me.

“She’s trying to help. As your sister, she’s doing more than you are. Showing up without a gift is already rude—and now you’re being cold too? Can’t you act a little more mature?”

Without waiting for my response, he took Kiara by the arm and walked out.

I no longer needed the wheelchair, though I still had to rely on a cane to walk.

By the time I got downstairs, Kiara had already claimed the front passenger seat—her usual move. I ignored her provocative glances. I was used to this.

When we arrived at the old family estate, most of the relatives and guests were already there.

Winston, the perfect gentleman, supported my arm as we walked inside. Kiara, holding two gifts, pranced ahead like a princess.

She practically skipped to my father’s side, smiling sweetly.

“Dad! These are from me and Sis. We hope you like them!”

A flicker of surprise crossed my father’s face when he heard that one of the gifts was from me.

In front of everyone, he began to unwrap the presents.

He opened the painting Kiara had bid for at an auction and immediately lit up with joy, complimenting her over and over.

Then he turned to the tea set—the one I had supposedly gifted—and barely spared it a glance. Though he pretended to like it, he quickly set it aside.

“I told you, Kiara is such a thoughtful child,” my uncle chimed in. “She went out of her way to buy that painting just for your birthday. That’s real filial piety.”

The other relatives nodded in agreement, throwing in comments like:

“Bianca is starting to mature too, thank goodness. Sure, her mother passed young and no one taught her, but even so, she should know better. Honestly, she’s always been guarded with us—won’t even let us near her company. What’s she so afraid of?”

I smiled faintly but said nothing.

Let them talk.

Let them all believe what they want.

Because very soon, the truth was going to tear their fantasy apart—piece by piece.

My uncle had long held a grudge against me over the company shares—especially after I flatly refused to let his son join the company.

Now, this birthday gathering had handed him the perfect excuse to criticize me in public.

Moments later, Romina—Kiara’s mother—descended the staircase in a peach dress, playing the part of the peacemaker.

“You’ve misunderstood Bianca,” she said gently. “That tea set was something her father has wanted for years. Bianca remembered and chose today to surprise him. It was a thoughtful gift.”

The mood around the room lightened slightly. But all I felt was disgust—burning, bitter hatred.

“I don’t need you to speak for me,” I snapped. “You—the homewrecker who destroyed my family—what right do you have to speak on my behalf?”

I forced myself upright and shoved the tea set off the table.

The crash of ceramic shattering against the floor echoed through the room, each shard a testament to my fury.

My father’s face darkened. He slapped me across the face and growled in a low, furious voice, “You ungrateful brat! She’s your mother now. Apologize to her!”

“That's too much, Bianca.” Winston grabbed my arm, scowling in confusion. “This gift was Kiara’s idea. She just wanted to ease things between you and your father. She’s always thinking of you, and yet you trample all over her kindness.”

Everyone in the room was staring at me—disappointment, disdain, and disgust flickering in their eyes.

Romina lowered her head and dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, pretending to cry. Meanwhile, Kiara—furious—picked up the broken pieces of the tea set and flung them at my feet.

“Enough, Bianca! My mother and I have tolerated you for years. I’ve always treated you like a sister, always put your feelings first. And this is how you repay our kindness? Your mother’s suicide was due to her own depression—what does that have to do with us? Stop acting like the victim!”

Trembling with rage, I slapped Kiara hard across the face. Her sheer audacity left me speechless.

“You want to air this out in public? Fine, let’s do it.”

I turned to the stunned crowd. “Let me tell you how Romina destroyed my mother. She seduced a married man, tore apart our family. My mother didn’t just fall into depression—she was pushed, day after day, until she jumped off that balcony.”

“And our father—where was he? A month after my mother’s death, he moved this woman and her five-year-old daughter into our home! Five years old. You really think their affair was just a coincidence?”

The moment I said it, Winston rushed to Kiara’s side, wrapping her in his arms like a hero defending his damsel.

“Bianca, today is your father's birthday. Why must you go this far? What happened was years ago—can’t you let it go? Kiara had nothing to do with any of it!”

I stared at him, eyes burning from unshed tears. Then I laughed.

A laugh full of bitterness, mockery, pain, and despair.

“Let it go?” I echoed. “You’re asking me to let it go when you weren’t the one who lost everything. Of course it’s easy for you to say.”

“I want everyone to see clearly: the mother was a shameless homewrecker, and her daughter is just as despicable.”

“Enough!” Winston shouted, and the next thing I knew, his palm crashed across my face again.

My ears rang. The slap left a sting so sharp it felt like fire.

Blood welled in my mouth.

“You’ve gone too far,” I said hoarsely, my voice breaking with disappointment. “You’ve all gone too far.”

My cane slipped from my hand and hit the floor with a dull, final thud—echoing my heartbreak.

My father’s face was twisted in fury. There was no sympathy in his eyes—only hatred and regret.

“Get out!” he barked. “Get out of this house and never come back! I regret ever having a daughter like you. You’re not even a tenth of what your sister is. If your mother had taken you with her that night and jumped, maybe I wouldn’t be stuck with you now!”

Tears blurred my vision, and I laughed while crying—half in madness, half in sorrow.

I didn’t pick up the cane. I simply walked out of the house—step by painful step.

Winston and Kiara chased after me, each grabbing an arm to "help" me.

But I knew better.

One of them felt guilty for hitting me.

The other just wanted to see me humiliated.

I shook them off, only to lose my balance and fall to the ground.

Winston instinctively reached for me, trying to pull me up.

I shoved him away hard.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Bianca, can you not be so dramatic? You just had to ruin a perfectly good birthday, didn’t you? Seriously—how much is enough for you?”