At the very moment Catherine’s 9,999th divination revealed Leandro’s betrayal, the Novara Technology proudly unveiled their latest achievement—a bionic robot worth billions.

Standing at her villa’s doorstep, she dialed her brother’s number.

“Brother, I’ve made up my mind—I’m getting a divorce.”

There was silence on the other end for three seconds before Cohen’s relieved voice came through. “My silly little sister, you’ve finally come to your senses. What’s so special about Leandro anyway? He’s just wasting your incredible talent as a gifted diviner.”

Tears welled in Catherine’s eyes, but she smiled bitterly. “Yeah... I was too naive.”

“Come to California. When the whole family emigrated, you were the only one who stayed behind for Leandro. Mom and Dad have missed you so much.”

His words pierced her heart deeper than she expected. She fought back tears, biting her lip hard to keep from breaking down.

“Okay. I’ll come as soon as I finish the paperwork.”

After hanging up, Catherine wiped away the moisture from her eyes, her mind a whirlwind of tangled thoughts.

Her brother and Leandro were business rivals, and they had always been at odds. Until one day at an auction, Leandro fell in love with her at first sight and pursued her relentlessly.

He loved her so deeply that he was willing to give up land and shares just to marry her. When they were in a car accident, he shielded her with his body, fracturing two ribs to keep her safe.

His love was wild and passionate, and Catherine willingly surrendered to it.

That’s why, when her family emigrated, she stubbornly refused to leave Leandro behind.

But it never crossed her mind that the man who loved her so deeply would keep his feelings hidden—and even go so far as to involve their son in the deception.

—

“Listen, Nina, this is the birthday gift I prepared for you.”

Leandro’s gentle, doting voice floated from inside the villa, breaking Catherine’s memories.

She looked through the crack of the door and her pupils shrank sharply.

The layout inside was an exact replica of the Kennedy residence—down to the servants and butlers.

Suddenly, the bionic robots inside received a command and bowed respectfully to Nina.

“Good day, Madam!”

That single word, “Madam,” pierced Catherine’s heart like a sharp dagger, squeezing the breath out of her.

Her eyes reddened as she instinctively placed a trembling hand over her pounding heart.

It turned out that a lifetime of vows was only worth five fleeting years.

Inside the villa, Nina excitedly kissed Leandro’s cheek.

“Thank you, Leandro. You specially created this bionic robot to fulfill my wish. Honestly, as long as I can be with you and Nash, I’m satisfied.”

Nina’s shy gesture only made Nash frown.

He stormed between them, his little face scrunched in frustration.

“Aunt Nina! Dad’s gift is great, but I made my doll with my own hands—my fingers even bled!”

Catherine watched the little boy’s face, so much like Leandro’s, pout as he shyly offered his injured finger, his voice childish and full of affection.

Nina bent down and blew gently on the tiny puncture, and Nash's face lit up again.

“Aunt Nina, you’re so nice! Unlike my mom, who’s always messing with copper coins and bamboo sticks—things that make the kids at kindergarten laugh at me. I hate her so much. She’s not fit to be my mom! I wish you were my mom instead.”

Even though she had braced herself, Catherine’s heart still twisted painfully.

All these years, she had used her divination skills to predict Leandro’s company fortunes—yet she never saw how much Nash despised her.

Suppressing the bitterness in her chest, Catherine took out her phone and dialed a number she knew by heart.

“Leandro, where are you? I miss you so much. Can you come back and be with me?”

Her grip tightened involuntarily as she watched Leandro holding both Nina and Nash's hands, cutting the cake, while softly lying to her.

“Sweetheart, the company has some urgent matters and I can’t leave now. I’ll come back to you later.”

Without waiting for her reply, he ended the call.

Inside the villa, the three of them laughed and smeared cake on each other’s faces, their joy echoing through the house.

Meanwhile, Catherine stood frozen, eyes red, filled with disappointment.

Leandro was still lying to her.

She once told him that if one day he stopped loving her, he should be honest and tell her—she’d never trouble him again. But if he chose to deceive her, she vowed she would vanish forever.

Now, her words had come true. In ten days, she will move to California for good—and disappear from their lives completely.

After Leandro left with Nash, Nina curled her lips into a sly smile and gave commands to the bionic robots.

“Go bring the peeping intruder at the door inside.”

“Yes, Madam!”

In the villa’s grand hall, Catherine was held firmly by the servants. Their long nails dug into her skin, sending sharp stings through her shoulders.

She gritted her teeth against the burning pain and raised her eyes to Nina.

“Did you send me that anonymous letter this morning?”

Even though she phrased it as a question, her voice was full of certainty.

At ten that morning, her phone received an anonymous message. It was a short clip.

In the video, Leandro was naked, moving slightly, his low, muffled groans mixed with the moans and gasps of a woman.

Beneath the photos were the address: Ever Crest Villa.

With bloodshot eyes, Catherine stared unblinkingly at the man in the picture, refusing to believe it, even overusing her divination powers to no avail.

After 9,999 divinations, all showed the same result. She finally accepted the bitter truth—Leandro had betrayed her.

“Indeed, Catherine, you saw it for yourself today. Leandro and Nash both like me very much. Nash even wants me to be his mother. If you’re smart, Catherine, you’d better step aside. After all, what man doesn’t love a young, beautiful body?”

Hah! Like?

“You mean ‘like’ as in playing the role of a fox spirit to seduce a married man? Then yes, I admit—I can’t compete with you.”

Catherine’s words enraged Nina. Her lips twitched, and her expression darkened instantly.

She raised her hand high—but just as it was about to fall, she paused, a teasing glint flashing in her eyes.

“Jason, give her a slap. Don’t stop until I say so.”

“Yes, Madam.”

The butler obeyed, raising his palm and slapping Catherine’s face hard.

Held down tightly, unable to break free, she endured every sting.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Her face quickly reddened and swelled, fresh blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.

“You dare insult Madam? I’ll slap you to death.”

The fiery pain made Catherine’s eyes water. She looked up at the butler, who had always treated her like a daughter, and a sharp ache hit her heart.

Even though she knew this was just a bionic robot, it still hurt.

After countless slaps and when her vision began to blur, Nina finally showed mercy.

With a cruel smile, she slowly began unbuttoning her clothes in front of Catherine.

Her skin, marked with faint red bruises, was exposed to the air, revealing a raw, seductive allure.

She grabbed Catherine’s chin hard, pushing her face close.

“Even if you’re going to be a fox spirit, you should at least have the skills. What do you think, Catherine?”

“Leandro loves this body of mine—he can’t get enough, making me do it multiple times in all sorts of positions. He never gets tired of trying.”

The suggestive marks—from her neck to her chest, down to the inner thighs—were burned into Catherine’s eyes, stabbing at her heart.

A dull ache settled in her chest as she helplessly watched Nina erase all the surveillance footage inside the villa, then order the servants to throw her out at the front door.

Her phone slipped from her pocket, shattering on the ground.

“See yourself out, Catherine.”

The heavy door slammed shut in front of her.

Despite the sharp pain in her cheek, Catherine got up slowly from the ground.

With her phone broken, she had no choice but to walk back on her own.

The journey took a full five hours. The tender soles of her feet were blistered, raw, and itching.

Suddenly, a heavy rainstorm poured down. Raindrops pelted her body, cold seeping into every pore, making her shiver uncontrollably.

When she finally returned to Kennedy residence, her entire body was drenched and exhausted. Her foggy mind slipped into unconsciousness.

“Sweetheart!”

“Mom!”

When Catherine regained consciousness again, all she saw was a wash of white.

She opened her eyes and found Leandro standing by her bedside. Dark circles hung under his eyes, and a light stubble had grown on his chin—he looked like he hadn’t slept all night.

Seeing her awake, his eyes were filled with pain and worry. He gently pulled her into his arms, his voice tinged with anxiety and fear.

“Sweetheart, didn’t I tell you to stay home and wait for me? Where did you go off to? And you come back all hurt like this. Tell me—did someone bully you? I swear, I’ll make that person pay.”

Their son stood nearby, pulling at her hand with a pout.

“Yeah, Mom, why did you run off like that? You made Dad and me so worried.”

Catherine met their anxious, and caring gazes. Bitterness welled up inside her. She pressed her lips together and spoke softly.

“Yesterday, you two...”

Suddenly, her words were cut off by a sharp ringtone breaking the silence.

Leandro’s expression tightened as he glanced at the caller ID. Hastily, he hung up.

But the caller was persistent, immediately dialing again.

Nash noticed the incoming call and his eyes lit up. He anxiously shook Leandro’s hand.

“Dad, the phone.”

Reluctantly, Leandro answered.

“What’s going on? Why call at this hour?”

But instead of English, he spoke in Italian.

The sudden switch caught Catherine off guard. She instinctively looked at Leandro, only to see him exchange a knowing glance with their son.

The three then smoothly conversed in Italian.

“Leandro, can you come keep me company tonight? The thunder is so loud—I’m really scared of being alone.”

The trembling voice of a woman echoed softly through the receiver.

Leandro glanced at Catherine, realizing she didn’t understand Italian. His tense expression softened.

Recalling how Catherine had suddenly collapsed the day before, his heart tightened and he declined Nina’s request.

“I can’t make it tonight. Catherine is sick, I have to stay with her.”

Silence hung heavily in the room, the other side spoke, but Catherine couldn't hear it clearly.

Leandro’s gaze was fixed on the phone screen. His expression suddenly darkened, and his voice turned raspy.

“Be good and wait for me at the villa. No matter what, you have to hold on.”

After hanging up, Nash furrowed his brows and quickly said in Italian, “Dad, I want to go too! Aunt Nina is scared of the thunder, and I can protect her!”

Leandro agreed, feeling the slight tremble beside him. He carefully tucked the blanket around Catherine again and raised the air conditioning temperature.

“Sweetheart, are you cold? Do you feel better now?”

The familiar scent of perfume drifted to her, but it couldn’t soothe her aching heart.

Catherine raised her eyes to meet the man’s gentle, tender gaze. Her voice trembled unconsciously.

“What were you just talking about?”

Leandro smiled faintly and affectionately stroked her hair.

“Nash’s Italian teacher was updating me on his progress. He even praised how smart our son is.”

“Yeah, Mom, the call was from my Italian teacher. She’s really nice.”

Looking at their warm, familiar faces, Catherine felt a chill running through her body.

They didn’t know she had already learned Italian a long time ago.

She understood every word of their conversation. But they still chose to lie to her.

Her heart twisted painfully, overwhelmed by helplessness and exhaustion.

“I... I want to rest now.”

With that, she turned over and curled under the covers, showing them only her back.

“Sweetheart, rest well.”

After planting a gentle kiss on her hair, Leandro took Nash and left the room.

But Catherine lay awake in bed, tears soaking into the pillowcase, dampening one corner.