Jacob Lambert shifted in his seat, gaze skittering anywhere but my face. "Ms. Matthews, why don't you go home and rest for a few days? Let things cool down."

I stared at him. "So you're buying into this garbage too?"

He leaned closer, voice dropping to a hiss. His eyes kept flicking to the livestream camera like it might bite him. "It's escalated too far—this is a PR nightmare! You have to consider the school's reputation!"

*The school's reputation.* So I should just roll over and accept baseless accusations to protect the institution's image.

"Jacob." Ice crept into my voice. "If you punish me today because you're bowing to pressure, tomorrow I will sue this institution for defamation. Think very carefully before you speak."

His complexion shifted from pale to a sickly shade of gray.

Georgia Donaldson scrambled up from the floor, wiping theatrical tears from her cheeks. She dug a crumpled piece of paper from her bag with trembling hands.

"Ms. Matthews, I knew you wouldn't admit it easily." Her voice pitched higher, playing to the camera. "That's why I went for an amniocentesis paternity test last week!"

She thrust the paper toward the lens.

"The results show a 99.99% DNA match between the baby in my belly and Mr. Sawyer!"

Silence crashed over the office like a wave.

The livestream comments froze for a heartbeat—then detonated.

*She got what she deserved! Let's see how this witch argues her way out of this one!*

*It's right there in black and white. You can't fake science!*

*She really won't cry until she sees the coffin. A teacher? Shameless!*

Jacob's expression crumbled, panic bleeding through the professional mask.

Alex Donaldson's smirk stretched wider, practically vibrating with triumph. "Ironclad evidence! You're done, Matthews! What else do you have to say? Hurry up and pay for the emotional damage! Five million—and I won't take a cent less!"

Georgia tugged at her brother's sleeve, voice quavering. "Bro, stop. Ms. Matthews has been kind to me..."

He shoved her hand away. "Kind? She used her power to force you into silence! Today, your brother is getting justice for you!"

The students crowding the doorway began to chant.

"Fire Ms. Matthews immediately! Police investigation now! Lock up the adulterous couple!"

The roar swelled, deafening. Something cold and wet struck my shoulder—leftover milk tea, splashing sticky sweetness into my hair and down my blouse.

I ignored it.

My eyes stayed fixed on the test report. A laugh bubbled up from somewhere deep in my chest.

"This report is a forgery." My voice cut through the noise like a blade. "Furthermore, a paternity test requires DNA samples from both parties. Where exactly did you acquire Dominic Sawyer's DNA?"

The color drained from Georgia's face.

"I... I got it from a cup he used..."

"Dominic has a dedicated water tumbler at his company." I kept my tone smooth, almost conversational. "It's washed and sterilized immediately after every use. You claim you retrieved DNA—what day was it? Which cup?"

Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.

Nothing came out.

Alex shouldered forward. "Who cares how she got it! The report is real! If you don't believe it, we'll do another test right now!"

"Agreed." The word landed like a verdict. "We'll do it right now. I'll have Dominic come here and provide a sample on the spot."

Panic flickered through Georgia's eyes. "Isn't... isn't Mr. Sawyer unreachable?"

I smiled. "Who told you that?"

"I've been calling and texting him for days, but he never replies..." Her voice shrank to a whisper. "I went to his company, and his secretary said he was on a business trip..."

"He was on a business trip." I checked my watch. "But he should be back by now."

Alex's expression shifted, something predatory gleaming in his eyes. "Perfect! Let him confront my sister face-to-face! I want to see what that rapist has to say for himself!"

The livestream chat surged back to life.

*Waiting for the scumbag to show his face!*

*He won't come. He's definitely halfway to the border by now.*

*Is Anna Matthews just stalling for time?*

Jacob rushed to salvage the situation, hands raised in a placating gesture. "Ms. Matthews, if your husband can come, that would be best! Clearing this up face-to-face is good for everyone!"

I pulled out my phone and dialed.

"Anna?" Dominic's voice flowed through the receiver, deep and steady. "I just finished a full-body maintenance cycle and was about to contact you. Is something wrong?"

---

"Come to my office at the school." I kept my voice clipped, efficient. "Bring your full set of identification documents. And the product manual."

"Manual?" A beat of silence. "Has a malfunction occurred?"

My gaze slid to Georgia.

"Someone claims to be pregnant with your child. Aren't you coming to take a look?"

I never made a scene about Lucas Dickerson's infidelity.

On our wedding night, when I walked in on that unbearable scene, my heart didn't break—it was sawed apart by a dull blade, the pain radiating in dense, rhythmic waves.

Yet I remained silent. I still brought him warm water to soak his feet. The next morning, I prepared breakfast as I always did.

From that day on, I applied to work at the Dickerson Group. Guilt made him agree.

Over the next three years, the women around him rotated like a revolving door. They understood the rules of survival for a rich man's mistress and never crossed the line.

Until now.

Lucas had actually brought a woman home.

Evelyn Gilbert, his childhood sweetheart, jabbed a finger in my face, her tone dripping with arrogance. "Daniela Bates, I told you—even if Lucas marries you, the only one in his heart is me. I *will* replace you and become Mrs. Dickerson!"

Displeasure coiled in my gut.

You can cheat on me. But you cannot touch my money.

——

After a grueling day at the Dickerson Group, all I wanted was a hot shower and a good night's sleep. But the moment I pushed open the door to the master suite's bathroom, the unmistakable sounds of passion slammed into me like a physical blow.

In the bathtub, Lucas held Evelyn tightly, kissing her with an intensity that suggested the rest of the world had ceased to exist. His eyes were squeezed shut, completely lost in their private universe.

Evelyn, however, snapped her eyes open.

Her gaze was pure provocation. Her lips curled into a smug, victorious smile as she stared straight at me.

This was the first time Lucas had brought an outsider home. The game had changed.

"Lucas, Daniela is back!"

Evelyn feigned terror, shrinking deeper into his embrace, her voice trembling with a fabricated sob. "I'm scared. My chest hurts..."

"Daniela! Are you a ghost?"

Lucas whipped his head around, his voice sharp with impatience. "Why didn't you make a sound? Apologize to Evelyn immediately! You scared her!"

"I'm sorry."

I lowered my head obediently, slowly backing out of the bathroom. "I won't disturb you. Starting tonight, I'll sleep in the study."

I had a rule: I never touched anything that had been soiled.

After Lucas cheated the first time, I never let him near me again. Now that the master bedroom had been tainted by Evelyn, it was dead to me as well.

I showered in the guest room and retreated to the study to work.

Currently, the weight of the Dickerson Group rested entirely on my shoulders. Even after leaving the office, idleness was a luxury I couldn't afford.

The study door swung open without warning. Evelyn, wrapped only in a bath towel, sauntered in and perched herself directly on my desk.

Dark love bites marred her exposed thighs—evidence of Lucas's well-known *bad habits*.

"Daniela, I told you long ago. Even if Lucas married you, he loves *me*." She looked down at me with naked ambition. "We grew up together. When your family went bankrupt, the Dickersons only let you marry in out of pity. Now that I'm back, you should return the title of Mrs. Dickerson to its rightful owner!"

"Sure. No problem."

I smiled and nodded. "As long as Lucas makes the decision, I agree to everything."

"You think he can't bear to let you go?" Evelyn's voice sharpened, clearly dissatisfied with my lack of resistance. "I know everything—you've been married three years, and he hasn't touched you once!"

"That's not what I meant."

I maintained my gentle facade. "I mean that divorce isn't up to me. You have to ask him. If he agrees, I'll fully cooperate."

Heavy footsteps approached from the hallway.

"Daniela, I know I was wrong! Please, don't hit me anymore!"

Evelyn's hand flew up and viciously slapped her own face several times. Then she threw herself off the desk, collapsing onto the floor and bursting into loud, theatrical sobs.

I glanced at the wet mark her towel had left on my documents.

Bile rose in my throat. I felt nothing but disgust.

"Evelyn?"

Lucas rushed in. Seeing Evelyn crumpled on the floor, weeping hysterically, his eyes reddened with instant heartache. Rage clouded his judgment.

"Daniela Bates, you have some nerve!"

He pointed a trembling finger at me and roared, "Kneel down and apologize to Evelyn! Now!"

I stood immediately.

Walked over to Evelyn.

And without a moment's hesitation, dropped to my knees. My voice was eerily calm. "Evelyn, I was wrong. Please forgive me, okay?"

Evelyn's sobbing cut off abruptly. She froze, tears still streaming down her face, her eyes wide with shock.

Even Lucas stood stunned, a flicker of guilt flashing through his gaze before he could mask it.

"Husband, can I get up now?"

I looked up, my expression soft and submissive. "The project Dad assigned has just started. He's old, and I don't want him to worry."

"Huh?" Lucas blinked, snapping back to reality. His voice dropped. "Get up. Hurry and go work."

The fire in his eyes extinguished instantly.

Evelyn wanted to escalate the situation, but I had already knelt and apologized. I had robbed her of her momentum. She had no choice but to swallow her frustration.

Lucas carried her out of the room. I sat back in my office chair and returned to my unfinished work as if nothing had happened.

Not long after, Lucas returned.

"Why did you hit her?"

I glanced at him but didn't argue. I simply stood up and lowered my head like a child caught stealing candy.

"Do you know how heartbroken she was?"

"If she's still not satisfied, I can go apologize again." My absolute obedience left Lucas with nowhere to vent his anger.

"Did you *really* hit her?" Skepticism crept into his tone.

"I didn't..."

I paused, then corrected myself. "I hit her. It's all my fault."

"Who are you trying to fool?"

Lucas strode to the computer and pulled up the study's surveillance feed. On the screen, Evelyn's provocation, my silence, and her self-inflicted violence played out in crystal clarity.

"You were obviously wronged—why didn't you say anything?"

His voice carried a slight tremor.

A bitter smile crossed my lips. "I don't want to trouble you."

When my family first went bankrupt, I was bullied constantly. Back then, Lucas would stand in front of me, frowning as he asked the same question: *Obviously you were wronged—why didn't you say it?*

But things were different now.

Back then, he pitied me. Truly wanted to protect me.

Now? He betrayed our marriage first and only offered scraps of guilt afterward.

"Evelyn loves me very much. You know that."

Lucas sighed, helplessness seeping into his tone. "I can't let her down, so don't take her behavior to heart."

"Don't worry, I won't." I nodded lightly.

He walked to the door, then stopped. Turned back to me. "Old Li on the board of directors has a family emergency and plans to withdraw his shares. I'll provide the capital—you buy the shares under your name."

I sat back in my chair, my fingers drumming a rhythmic beat on the tabletop. With my left hand, I picked up my phone and sent a quick WeChat message: *Put the Li deal on hold.*

After sending it, I deleted the chat history and threw myself back into work.

Evelyn didn't come to trouble me again that night, but her voice echoed through the thousand-square-meter villa. With that kind of vocal projection, it was a pity she wasn't an opera singer.

Early the next morning, after preparing breakfast, I left for the Group ahead of them. Lucas and Evelyn sat at the dining table, feeding each other and sharing intimate kisses between bites.

"Lucas, I just got back to the country and I'm bored. Can I work at the Dickerson Group?"