Until the morning of the third day, Vivian finally sent me a message, inviting me to attend Gabriel’s press conference.

Just as I reached the entrance of the venue, a security guard stepped forward and blocked my way.

“Sir, may I ask your last name?” he said.

I remained silent. He handed back my invitation and said coldly,

“Sorry, you’re not allowed in. Our boss gave strict orders: no one with the surname Cole is to be admitted—ever. Please leave immediately.”

The crowd waiting behind me started whispering, their eyes sharp with disdain.

“Isn’t that Richard’s husband? Still clinging to the title of Cole family heir? What nerve to show up here.”

“If Richard hadn’t honored his promise and married him, he’d have no place in Toronto at all. After all, the Cole family’s antidote killed the hotel owner’s parents!”

“The Cole family may be old and prestigious, but that’s no excuse. I heard Richard sold off his entire empire to back his research 99 times in five years—and failed each time. What a hopeless man wasting a good wife!”

Their words stung like venom, but before I could reply, Gabriel appeared, flanked by his entourage.

Immediately, the crowd parted respectfully, and the security guards hastened to open the doors for him.

“Mr. Ford is here! Please come in, the venue is all prepared. If there’s anything amiss, just say the word—we’ll fix it immediately.”

“We hope you’ll say a kind word to Richard, so we can secure future Chambers family events here.”

The security guard roughly pushed me aside.

“Get out of the way! Didn’t I tell you to leave? We don’t welcome anyone from the Cole family here. Don’t make me get rough.”

Gabriel’s humble facade vanished as he stepped forward, eyes flashing with pride.

“Stop this nonsense,” he said, voice calm but commanding. “This hotel’s attitude is embarrassing. I welcome whoever wants to attend my banquet.”

“Brother Ethan, here is my benefactor. Without him, I wouldn’t have even met Richard. Call your boss and tell him this is Gabriel’s guest—he’ll have to respect that.”

“But this time, Brother Ethan,” Gabriel continued with a sly grin, “if you want the formula for my new medicine, just ask. Don’t sneak around stealing it like last time.”

His words reignited the murmurs and whispers in the crowd, many of them dripping with contempt.

“Did you know why he hasn’t achieved anything despite the Chambers family backing? Because everything he has is copied! He took in President Ford before just to exploit his talents!”

“So shameless. I pity his parents—they must be spinning in their graves.”

Once, I would have fought back fiercely to protect Vivian’s reputation.

But now? I just wanted to disappear.

The crowd’s accusations rumbled louder, praising Gabriel as the nation’s paragon of gratitude and success.

I was completely isolated, surrounded by eyes filled with scorn.

I couldn’t stop the bitter sneer curling in my chest.

Gabriel—let’s see how long you’ll be laughing.

After what felt like an eternity, Vivian finally emerged.

She weaved through the crowd with effortless grace and casually took my arm.

“Why aren’t you going in? What are you standing around for?” she said lightly.

Gabriel immediately stepped forward when he saw her.

“Brother Ethan, let’s go in together. It’s my fault—I forgot the boss here hates the Cole family,” he said with a forced smile.

Vivian pulled me inside the banquet hall and began introducing me to the guests.

She stayed close to Gabriel, helping him network with influential figures.

Toronto had never liked me, and now, no one paid me the slightest attention.

Their laughter echoed through the room, light and easy, as Gabriel’s hands often found their way onto Vivian’s waist.

The bitterness gnawed at my heart, urging me to escape. But no sooner had I reached the backyard than I was surrounded by a crowd.

“You, son of murderers, we finally found you. Why are you still alive?”

It was the victims from before. How had they tracked me down so quickly? Before I could even react, fists and curses rained down mercilessly.

I lost track of time. Eventually, the leader spat on me and strode away. I staggered to my feet, only to find Gabriel looming over me, looking down with feigned concern.

“Brother Ethan, does it hurt?”

“I didn’t want to tell them you were here,” he said, “but they begged me on their knees. I couldn’t refuse. I promised to spare your life—after all, you’re still my benefactor.”

I looked up, disgusted by the fake sympathy plastered across his face. I shot back angrily,

“This is how you repay your benefactor? Don’t forget—if it weren’t for me, you’d have starved to death!”

He laughed coldly, waving off the crowd and stepping hard on my foot.

“Benefactor? Bah, that’s a joke. You never let me see a prescription, even after three years of hard labor. You treated me like free labor for the Cole family. Since you see me as less than human, I’ll show you what it feels like to be looked down upon.”

“You should know all my prescriptions came from Vivian. How does it feel to be betrayed by the closest person in your life?”

“Oh, and by the way, your ‘immortal’ parents said I have a bad heart and can’t be a real doctor. I just tweaked their antidote a little—and now their legacy is despised by everyone since their deaths!”

His words cut too deep. I couldn’t hold back any longer. I lunged and pinned him to the ground, desperate to vent the pain of five years.

But before I could strike, Vivian arrived with security guards and grabbed me firmly.

She helped Gabriel up gently, worry etched on her face as she checked his wounds. Then, her eyes flashed cold as she stared at me.

“Ethan, what right do you have to hit him?”

“He’s no longer an apprentice of the Cole family, yet you actually—”

Her words were cut off by Gabriel’s anguished cries.

“Vivian, it’s my fault. I saw someone making things difficult for Brother Ethan and came to help, but I didn’t expect he’d think those people were sent by me.”

“Forget it. This isn’t the first time he’s misunderstood me.”

But Gabriel’s words didn’t ease Vivian’s expression; her eyes grew colder.

“People are kind enough to help you, yet you repay them with pettiness. I’ve been too good to you—too good. You forget the Cole family’s long bankruptcy.”

“Throw him out. Don’t let him in until the press conference is over.”

She supported Gabriel and started to leave.

I glared at her retreating back, fury burning hotter.

“You’ve been ‘good’ to me? Vivian, explain why none of my patent applications have been approved these five years, while his company rises step by step!”

Vivian staggered but didn’t look back.

“If you can’t handle it, don’t make excuses. I sold countless assets to support you. Did I ever blame you? Ethan, go home—don’t make me regret marrying you.”

Regret? Vivian, you won’t regret it for long.

The security guards dragged me out the door like a dog, and I fell hard on the ground.

Ignoring the pain, I picked myself up, straightened my disheveled clothes, stared toward the door, and dialed my phone.

“It’s time. You can come now.”

Then, I packed my things and left the divorce agreement in plain sight in the living room.

Just as I uploaded all the evidence online while boarding, I pulled out my phone’s SIM card. On the other hand, Gabriel stood on stage, recounting his journey to wealth.

“Next, I will reveal the latest research breakthroughs of the Ford Group, which are—”

Suddenly, the door burst open. A group of serious-faced people entered.

Gabriel frowned, clearly annoyed.

“Who are you? Don’t you know where this is? Get out now, or don’t blame me for being rude!”

Unfazed, the leader signaled, and the person beside him stepped forward.

“This is a court summons. Our company is suing you for stealing Mr. Ethan’s patent. You are required to appear in court.”