"Strip her!"

The dark-faced man and his goons leered at me and grabbed at my clothes.

Someone even started livestreaming, announcing to the world that they were about to show everyone what happened to homewreckers.

Just as my clothes were about to be torn off, a Maybach pulled up at the gate.

A cool, aloof voice cut through the chaos, tinged with mild annoyance.

"Didn't I tell you not to make a scene?"

Rob Balmer stood with one hand on the car door, barely even frowning — and yet the whole crowd immediately went silent.

Lily cozied up to him like a little bird, tugging at his sleeve.

"Rob, this woman is absolutely disgusting. She was out here ruining your reputation in front of all these people. I only did it for you!"

Rob's expression softened. He reached out and patted her head indulgently.

"You and your temper. You just know I'll always clean up after you, don't you?"

His indulgent tone hit me like a sledgehammer.

Once upon a time, I was the one known in our circle for being willful and spoiled. Back then, Rob was the one who protected me just like this, covering for me at every turn.

He'd even announced it in front of everyone once, "If anyone gives you trouble, hit them right back. Let's see who dares to lay a hand on you."

Everyone in the city knew — you could cross the iron-fisted Rob Balmer and survive, but cross Sherry Knight and you were finished.

I never thought that the tenderness and doting that once belonged to me alone would now be lavished on another woman so freely.

My heart turned to ash. The last shred of attachment I had for Rob finally died.

Rob glanced at me and frowned slightly.

"This is the crazy woman you were talking about?"

By now, my face was so swollen and beaten that I was barely recognizable, my clothes torn and filthy. He didn't recognize me at all.

Seeing Rob linger on me for an extra second, Lily quickly grabbed his attention back.

"This tramp right here! I was about to livestream it — let everyone see what happens to homewreckers."

Rob looked away indifferently and nodded.

"Let someone else handle it. No need to dirty your hands."

Lily beamed with triumph and clung to him.

"This bitch had some nerve too — she actually claimed to be your wife!"

Rob's whole demeanor went cold.

"Sherry is my wife. Anyone who besmirches her name is asking for it."

Seeing Rob's genuine anger, a flash of resentment twisted across Lily's face. She quickly changed the subject.

"I was just kidding. Come on, let's go home — didn't you say you'd cook for me?"

She shot a look at her goons, who immediately lunged at me again.

I fought with everything I had, my throat raw as I screamed for help.

Rob wrapped his arm around Lily's waist and walked past me without so much as a glance.

I touched my slightly swollen belly and let the tears fall — tears of regret.

'I'm sorry, little one. Your mother chose such a cold, heartless man to be your father. Maybe it's a blessing that you'll never have to come into this world...'

The sound of my skirt tearing ripped through the air — and at that exact moment, a long convoy of cars pulled up at the gate with an imposing flourish.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"Who is that? Even more impressive than the Balmer entourage!"

"That Rolls-Royce — that color is the only one in the country! And that license plate — money alone can't buy that!"

Rob stopped in his tracks.

As he watched the person step out of the car, his face changed. He dropped Lily's hand and strode forward.

"Why have you come—"

Slap!

A sharp, clear handprint bloomed across Rob's face. The crowd fell dead silent.