The staff handled everything and handed Mathilde a receipt.

"Ms. Haagen, canceling your ID card and the forced divorce will take three days."

"Three days later, Mathilde Haagen will cease to exist, and your marriage with Mr. Edward Portier will also come to an end."

Mathilde took the receipt, feeling no sadness or grief, but rather a sense of relief.

Love could not be faked.

In the years with Edward, she had always been to detect through the details that the man didn't truly love her.

For example, he never remembered, she didn't like sour food.

She was afraid of the cold at night, so she didn't like to turn on the air conditioner in the summer.

She was afraid of the long, dark nights because she experienced some trauma in her childhood.

Edward didn't remember any of these.

She just kept deceiving herself, deceiving herself over and over again.

She only had the courage to leave when the truth was bloody in front of her.

After leaving the town hall, Mathilde made a phone call to someone he hadn't contacted in a long time. "Help me spread the word. In three days, I will be returning to the legal profession."

The man who answered the phone was Mathilde's former assistant. His voice betrayed his shock.

"Mathilde, you've finally returned! All the cases you fought back then have been incorporated into textbooks. Many people are waiting for your return."

"But you suddenly quit in order to live a good life with Edward, why are you suddenly coming back now?"

Mathilde smiled coldly and replied, "I was blind and heartless before, falling in love with a scumbag. Now I'm awake, and it's time to set things right."

Edward never knew that she had once been the most powerful rising star in the legal profession.

Even when the Portier Family was embroiled in that copyright scandal years ago, it was she who had worked tirelessly to resolve it.

But none of this was known to Edward.

After hanging up the phone, Mathilde didn't rush home, but called the police station.

"Hello, I'm filing a formal complaint against Edward Portier for soliciting prostitution at the CyberNights Club!"

He has done so much to hurt her, now it was time to get some interest back.

***

In the hospital.

Nolan sat in the doctor's office and discovered that all the footage from the surveillance cameras had been completely deleted.

Simon, head bowed, explained in a trembling voice.

"Mr. Lutgenburgh, it was indeed an accident, but the woman who got pregnant with your baby used a false identity, so we can't find out her identity either."

"Although the surveillance footage and all records have been deleted, rest assured, I'll keep following up until I find that woman."

These were the words Mathilde had taught him to say.

He needed to make Nolan realize his value so he wouldn't be fired.

Nolan sat on the opposite sofa, gently turning the watch on his wrist, exuding an aura of authority.

"I'll keep the account for you this time. I'll give you a week. If you can't find that woman within a week, you'll have to weigh the consequences yourself."

With that, Nolan got up to leave. As he passed the desk, a pregnancy test report fell to the floor.

He glanced down and found Mathilde's identity on the report.

The timing of pregnancy coincides with the time when he lost his sperm.

The man squinted his eyes and asked, "What's wrong with her?"

Simon's heart tightened, but he forced herself to remain calm.

"She's Ms. Portier, and she's pregnant. She came for a checkup today."

The atmosphere froze for a few seconds. Simon was terrified, afraid that Nolan would discover something amiss.

After a while, Nolan let out a hum and left the hospital with his men.

Seeing that the "living devil" was gone, Simon sent a message to Mathilde.

Mathilde was on her way home when she saw the doctor's message and breathed a sigh of relief.

But the next second, her car collided with a Rolls Royce with license plate number NL88 LUK.

Mathilde suddenly had her heart tightened.

Only Nolan in the entire country could afford such arrogant license plate numbers!

Could it be that he had discovered something in such a short time? And that's why he came to arrest her in person?

Before she could figure it out, Nolan had already gotten out of the car, walked to her car, and knocked on the window.

"Miss ...."

Her heart sank. It really was Nolan!

Seeing her not giving him a response, Nolan's knocking on the car window became a bit tighter.

"Miss, if you don't respond, I'll assume you've fainted, and I'll have someone pry open your car door."

By this time, her hands gripping the steering wheel were already sweating.

With the man's personality, he really was capable of prying open a car window.

It took her a long time to mentally prepare herself before slowly opening the window.

Nolan said, "Miss, it was my man who accidentally hit you with his car. I can take you to the hospital now, and I'll pay for everything."

Thank goodness, it seemed he only thought he had hit her.

The mention of going to the hospital made Mathilde inexplicably anxious. She forced a smile and said, "Thank you, but no need."

"I'm fine, I don't need to go to the hospital, thank you Mr. Lutgenburgh."

Before she finished her words, she stepped on the gas and quickly drove away from the scene.

Only exhaust fumes remained for Nolan at the scene.

Watching the woman flee in panic, he suddenly curled his lips.

He didn't tell her who he was, but judging from her expression, she seemed very afraid to see him, as if she had something to hide.

Soon, Mathilde returned to the Portier Family's manor, but she didn't sleep well the whole night.

Her dreams were filled with scenes of Nolan discovering the truth and coming to snatch the child.

It wasn't until dawn that she finally managed a few moments of sleep.

When she woke up, she was startled to see the person sitting opposite her bed.

The man's face was gloomy, and his broken hair in front of his forehead looked somewhat disheveled.

He questioned in a sinister tone, "Was it you who made the report call last night?"

She dared to admit. "Yes, it's me."

"Bang!"

The ashtray smashed against the wall, shattering glass shards and cutting Mathilde's arm.

But Edward showed no concern, only demanding. "Are you crazy?"

She remained calm, looking up at him and retorting.

"Edward, you're the one who's crazy! I'm your wife, yet you're kissing my sister passionately outside."

"As a wife, I'm just protecting my own rights."

A look of shock crossed his face. He hadn't expected Mathilde to know.

But the man showed no guilty for being caught in the act, instead, he arrogantly declared.

"It was just a misunderstanding. Instead of communicating with me immediately, you acted like a madwoman and reported me. Mathilde, you're so insensible!"

She looked up at him with a cold smile.

Was she supposed to be sensible by discovering his infidelity and then graciously saying it was fine?

She could not do it, nor could she do it.

Edward was about to press further when he received a sudden phone call and his expression changed abruptly.

"You didn't get pregnant this time?"

This was one of the deals she had made with the doctor.

Seeing her remain silent, Edward became even more certain.

A flash of anger crossed the man's face as he dragged Mathilde downstairs.

“Since you're not pregnant, we'll keep going. This ends when you are!”

Mathilde gasped and instinctively touched her lower abdomen.

A little life was already inside her, she could not go.

If she went, everything would be exposed.

Dragged into the first-floor living room, she grabbed a nearby vase, ready to hurl it at the man.

But before the vase could fall, Edward received another call—from Louisa.

The speakerphone was on, so Mathilde heard every word clearly.

"Edward, perhaps I shouldn't have come back to disturb your life and my sister's."

“This whole mess is my fault. It's understandable that she got angry and called the police. I'm a worthless woman — how could I shamelessly seduce my own brother-in-law?”

"Tell my sister to rest assured, I will find myself a place to settle down and never disturb your lives again."

Edward's face instantly panicked. "Louisa, what are you planning to do?"

Louisa replied, "I have contacted the largest auction house in London, and I will auction myself out. With so many people witnessing, Mathilde won't blame you anymore."

“Edward, I love you so much. I thought, as long as I could stay by your side, I'm willing to be your mistress.”

"But I didn't expect this to hurt Mathilde, so this time I'll put her mind at ease completely." With that, Louisa hung up the phone.

She was clearly feigning concern to gain pity, but the man believed her without question.

He glared angrily at Mathilde and forcefully pushed her away.

Mathilde was thrown to the ground, and to protect her belly, she had to use her injured arm to support herself on the ground, causing her to tremble with pain.

Before, in order to get her pregnant, he wouldn't even let her lift a single thing.

Now, his goal wasn't achieved, he couldn't even be bothered to pretend anymore?

Mathilde felt like something was gripping her heart, the pain making her break out in a cold sweat.

“She's acting, Edward! She's doing all this just for you!”

“Enough! Even now, you still slander her!”

"Mathilde, since you've driven Louisa to this point, you won't get away with it either!"

At first, Mathilde had no idea, but he forcibly took her to the auction house.

She felt a strong sense of unease and struggled to break free. "Edward, if you don't let me go, you're restricting my personal freedom! I can sue you!"

However, he ignored her and dragged her into the auction house.

The auction hall was bustling with people.

Louisa had changed into a red fishtail dress and sat on the auction floor.

Since it was the first in the auction history where someone was auctioning herself off, it had drawn a lot of people.

The moment Edward entered, Louisa's gaze was fixed on him.

Louisa stood up, with a look of resignation, and shouted. "Whoever offers the highest price today, I, Louisa Haagen, will spend the rest of my life with him."

Louisa was good-looking and also Edward's first love. For whatever reason, many were eager to try their luck.

Below the stage, the offer came from various parties.

One hundred fourty thousand dollars!

Seven hundred twenty thousand dollars!

Nine hundred fourty thousand dollars!

Every time these people make a price call, Edward tightened his grip on her wrist.

He stared at her with crimson eyes and said, "Are you satisfied now? Louisa is your sister, even if she's not blood-related, are you really going to drive her to such a desperate situation?"

The repeated questioning and framing, Mathilde had truly fed up.

No idea where the strength came from, but she broke free from the man's grasp, pointing at him and yelling. "Edward, who's forcing whom here!"

"You cheated on me, and even tried to use me to have your child, yet you still have the nerve to say I forced you?"

"You can't be so heartless, Edward!"

The man was stunned, not expecting Mathilde to know everything.

A flicker of guilt had just begun to rise in his heart, but shattered by the explicit photos on the big screen.

The audience erupted in commotion, and many men snapped photos with their phones.

On the big screen, Louisa and Edward were in various intimate positions, practically a live sex show.

Even a competitor jokingly remarked. "Mr. Portier, you're thirty this year, and you still have so many tricks up your sleeve. You have such good kidneys."

“That's not about good kidneys — it's good skill.”

On the stage, Louisa held back her tears and asked with the microphone, "Mathilde, we are sisters. Are you really going to ruin me like this?"

In an instant, all the lights on site gathered around her.

A barrage of insults followed one after another.

"Is Mathilde heartless? She even harmed her own sister."

"I heard, she forced Louisa away to be with Edward, but she never even leaves her a way out."

"No wonder Edward cheated on her. She's such a wicked woman, so scary."

Everyone at the scene was saying she was jealous and immature, as if they were convinced she was the one who did it.

Even Edward was convinced it was her.

"Mathilde, just because you knew I replaced your eggs, you had to take revenge like this?"

"You're fucking ruthless!"

Mathilde was at a loss for words. "Edward, you know who I am. If I did it, I'll own up to it. But if I didn't, don't try to pin this on me!”

“Besides, these are your private photos. If it weren't from the two of you, how could I possibly get them?"

“Edward, she staged the whole things herself!”

A flicker of hesitation crossed his face as he considered the weighed on Mathilde's words.

On stage, Louisa interrupted his thoughts once more.

"Mathilde, I know you're going to frame me again. It's fine. After all, I'm just the adopted daughter of the Haagens. I deserve it. I blame my own lowly life."

"Edward, go back and live a good life with Mathilde. Our fate ends here."

Louisa's bold and passionate nature further captivated the men, driving their offers to even more outrageous levels, some even soaring to over fourteen million dollars.

"Seventeen million dollars!"

"Eighteen million dollars!"

Seeing the price rising higher and higher, Edward had no time to pursue Mathilde's responsibility and immediately raised his paddle to bid.

"One hundred fourty million dollars!"

Once he announced his price, no more voices of bidding sounded in the venue.

All eyes were on the couple.

They laughed at Edward for spending a lot of money on another woman, and laughed at Mathilde for failing to keep her own husband's heart.

Edward disregarded everything and expressed his love in front of everyone.

"Louisa, I love you more than anything else. Even if it means losing everything, I won't give you up."

The two were far apart, yet they gazed at each other with deep affection, making Mathilde, the legal wife, appear like a mistress.

Mathilde felt as if she had been slapped on the face from afar.

Just when he thought he had control in his grasp, an auction house staff approached and reminded him.

"Mr. Portier, we have sorted out all the assets under your name and they are still less than one hundred fourty million dollars."

"Would you like to withdraw your bid, or offer something else as collateral?"

Mathilde's pale lips finally moved. "Edward, do you love her that much? That you're willing to hurt me again and again, even to the point of losing everything?"

The man stared at her, his resolute voice echoing in the venue. "Yes, I love her, so I won't withdraw the offer just now. I must take Louisa away today."

She had her face gloomy and sad. She couldn't tell if it was cold sweat from heartbreak or tears.

She, then, pursed her lips and sneered, "Edward, you're out of money. Just accept your fate."

Suddenly, his eyes gleamed with a cold light. "No, I still have something very valuable."

As soon as he finished his words, he pushed Mathilde out.

"My wife is the eldest daughter of the Haagens. She's valuable enough, isn't she? We'll use her as collateral if we don't get enough money from the auction."