After my third miscarriage, all for love, I caught my husband cheating in bed for the ninety-eighth time.

Each time, he wept and wrote a guarantee letter, pleading for forgiveness and vowing never to do it again.

Over time, my feelings gradually faded away, and I calmly waited for the agreement between him and me to finish.

However, when I discovered his ninety-ninth affair, it was suddenly revealed by the media, and the whole internet found out.

That evening, my sister’s naked photos were sold for only $0.38, and she was later raped and shamed by dozens of troublemakers while explicit pictures and videos spread everywhere.

In the end, my sister, unable to withstand the online backlash, jumped from a building and was left in a coma.

The overwhelming debt forced me to lower my head and turn to my husband for medical expenses, but at the office door, I overheard his brother say, “Brother Xavier, Irene Gordon’s sister merely said a few things about Millie Fowler, but you spread her naked photos and even arranged for her to be gang-raped. Isn’t that going too far?”

“If Irene discovers this, she’ll likely fight you to the death!”

......

“She won’t.” Xavier’s tone was completely certain. “Who told Irene to reveal my relationship with Millie and caused her to cry after being criticized. She deserved to be taught a lesson. Besides, she’s too clueless to know I was behind it.”

“Even if she finds out, she’s an orphan. Where could she go? She can’t survive without me. Once Millie settles down, I’ll casually smooth things over with Irene, and she’ll still obediently keep slaving away for me.”

His brother Hugo smiled. “Brother Xavier still knows what he’s doing. You’ve trained her like a dog, tell her to go east, and she wouldn’t dare go west.”

“I just heard Irene’s sister was driven to jump from a building and is now in a coma. That’s likely another massive cost.”

“They’re not even from the same parents. Irene won’t care whether that animal lives or dies.”

Xavier released a soft, mocking chuckle. “Even if she comes begging me for money, I’ll say the finances are having issues and let her handle it herself.”

“I was unwilling to go after Irene, but that creature dared to offend my baby, so I could only direct my anger at her.”

I froze on the spot.

The hand resting on the knob trembled faintly, unable to gather the nerve to press it.

My mind was empty at that moment. Faintly, I thought I heard Hugo say, “That pale-faced woman, can’t you bring yourself to touch her, or do you just not want to…”

A crackling noise hummed inside my head, rising until my brain ached in surging waves of pain.

Those words left my scalp nearly numb; my heart seemed to be seized by an invisible hand and then cruelly twisted.

The pain almost suffocated me.

Suddenly, a voice spoke up, “Director Gordon, did you come to see President Barrington?”

I noticed the conversation inside stopped suddenly, and I had no time to leave.

The next second, the door was pulled open.

Xavier’s eyes were dark, his face stiff as he looked me over. “What are you standing here for? Eavesdropping?”

I held down the panic in my chest, pressed my lips together, and forced myself to stay calm. “I originally came to give you a document, but when I reached the door, I found it was printed wrong. I’m going to reprint it now.”

After speaking, I turned to go, but my wrist was suddenly seized.

Xavier’s eyes narrowed slightly, full of suspicion as he probed, “You didn’t hear anything earlier, right?”

Noticing the guarded look and unfamiliarity in Xavier’s eyes, my heart pounded.

I quickly steadied myself and denied it. “No.”

Xavier still held my hand and wouldn’t let go. I took a deep breath, my voice rough. “If you don’t believe me, you can check the security footage. I had just reached the door and noticed the document count was wrong, so I paused for a moment…”

Perhaps seeing my determination and certainty, Xavier felt a bit of sympathy.

Only then did he finally let go of my hand, a fake smile on his face. “I really don’t know what to do with you. Be more careful next time.”

“If you still can’t manage things properly, go back to the bottom and start over, and give this position to someone more capable.”

I didn’t even have to guess who the “capable person” he meant was.

My chest felt tight, but I still lowered my head and replied, “Okay, I understand.”

I stood by Xavier and built it all from scratch. The company’s current scale was achieved with my assistance. Since he wanted me to surrender the position, I wanted to see how far Millie, the capable person, could take the company without me.

When I got back to my workstation, I immediately went into the pantry. After making sure no one was there, I took out my phone and called a number I had never called before.

The call went through nearly instantly.

The person on the other end sounded cautious and unsure. “Hello? Is this Irene?”

“Is Irene dealing with something upsetting?”

At the unfamiliar worry in his voice, my throat felt stuffed with wet cotton, making it hard to speak.

“Dad, I am willing to go home. I want to recognize my family… is that alright?”

Hearing this, my dad quickly spoke with joy, “Okay, okay, okay! Dad comes to pick you up now!”

I hurried to stop him. “Dad, I have not completely cut ties with Xavier yet. I hope you first help me with one thing: bring my sister back.”

“She has fallen into a coma and needs medical expenses for treatment. She… she was my only family when I was an orphan. I can’t be without her.”

My dad quickly agreed, “Okay, okay, okay! If my daughter wants it, Dad helps you.”

“My birthday banquet is in one week. Once you wrap up matters in Maryland, return to Delaware City. I will announce your return at that time.”

The moment I ended the call, Xavier’s questioning voice sounded behind me.

“Who are you speaking with on the phone?”

My heart missed a beat. I looked back at him and played it down. “No one, just an ordinary sales call.”

After hearing this, Xavier was ready to continue asking when a knock came from behind. Millie leaned in with half her head showing, her large, lively big eyes looking around.

Her tone was gentle and pure. “Ah, President Barrington, did I interrupt you?”

Xavier answered gently, “No, you come at the right time.”

He walked over and led Millie inside. Right in front of me, he said, “Didn’t you have an abortion two days ago? I give you one week off. Go home and rest. Leave the upcoming work to Millie.”

I opened my mouth, but finally said nothing and simply nodded in silence.

Before, I had miscarried twice for him, and he never cared about my physical health. Now, just to clear the path for Millie, he could actually go this far.

He had actually promoted a newly graduated college student to design director!

My chest throbbed with a dull pain. I forcibly held back the bitter emotion.

Either way, I was about to leave. The company’s future no longer concerned me.

Once Xavier finished his instructions, he walked out with Millie.

I calmed my emotions and printed a resignation notice and a divorce agreement.

It stated that I would leave the marriage with nothing. I wanted nothing.

Even the twenty-three years of feelings I had for Xavier.

I didn’t want it anymore.

Clutching the documents, I walked to Xavier’s office. As I opened the door, I vaguely heard someone say, “Shadow, go! Bite the bad person to death!”

Almost immediately, a dog lunged out and bit my leg harshly.

Enduring the pain, I kicked the dog away. Only then did I recognize it as a small Pomeranian. It hit the ground and whimpered in pain.

“Shadow, Shadow, are you okay?”

Millie hurried forward and scooped up the Pomeranian, accusation written in her eyes. “Miss Gordon, how can you have no compassion? Didn’t your parents teach you to love animals?”

“Or is it that you don’t even have the most basic human compassion?”

Enduring the throbbing pain in my calf, I stared coldly at the dog. “If an animal isn’t properly leashed, it deserves to be taught a lesson.”

Millie became so mad that she aimed a finger at me.

I brushed it away and said coldly, “You may have been born to a mother, but clearly not raised by one. Has no one ever told you that pointing at people is impolite?”

“President Barrington, Director Gordon is really going too far, bullying others. Come stand up for me!” Unable to argue back, Millie immediately called for help.

Xavier, who had been working, walked to her side and backed her up. “Irene, apologize.”

Although I already understood Xavier could bend many rules for Millie, my chest still burned with pain.

I stubbornly replied, “I did nothing wrong. I will not say sorry.”

Noticing that I stayed stubborn and showed no regret, Xavier directly said, “Millie, slap her.”

Before I could respond, Millie struck my cheek.

My anger immediately rose. I lifted my hand to hit back, but Xavier stopped it in midair.

He coldly scolded, “How long are you going to keep causing trouble?”

Seeing the provocation in Millie’s eyes, my chest tightened with pain. In a rough voice, I asked, “Am I the one causing trouble? Wasn’t it her urging the animal to bite me?”

Xavier’s eyes turned cold. “It is only a dog bite. It will not kill you.”

“How can you be so fake?”

After arguing back at me, Xavier turned toward Millie, his eyes showing concern for the Pomeranian. “Let us take it to the hospital first.”

I stood there, stunned.

I thought back to when I was pregnant the first time. Back then, I was carrying a six-month belly when I caught him being unfaithful for the first time.

Overcome by anger, I disturbed the fetus, and blood poured out everywhere. Xavier looked at me with disgust. When he passed by, he left behind one sentence. “Really unlucky.”

Back then, I pleaded with him to bring me to the hospital, but he replied, “It is just some bleeding. It will not kill you.”

In the end, the baby did not survive, and I became extremely weak afterward.

And now, because of Millie, Xavier was actually willing to take her to the hospital himself.

I laughed self-mockingly in my heart.

In a hoarse voice, I said, “There is a document here. Please sign it.”

Xavier accepted the document and was just about to examine it when Millie called out nervously, “President Barrington, Shadow seems like it is dying…”

Xavier had no time to review it. He signed it casually and left with Millie and the dog.

As he passed me, his shoulder struck me hard. My leg throbbed faintly, almost making me lose my balance.

I handed my resignation to HR. When a colleague saw it, they seemed unable to accept it. “Director Gordon, everyone recognizes your skills. Perhaps President Barrington is just temporarily mistaken. How about giving it a bit more time?”

I shook my head and answered decisively, “Not waiting. I find my family.”

From the moment I first caught Xavier being unfaithful to now, three full years had gone by.

Every half month, Xavier would tell me to “wait a little longer.” He was just fooling around with those women to handle the boss.

But this time, I plainly realized that Millie held no ordinary position in his heart.

So, I didn’t want to keep waiting anymore.

I met Xavier at the orphanage. Back then, I was seven years old and already the leader among the children there.

And he had just lost both parents, had his parents’ pension taken by bullying relatives, and was dumped at the orphanage gate like an unwanted burden.

My first encounter with him was the night one week after Xavier entered the orphanage. He was so hungry that his stomach growled nonstop, and he was unable to fall asleep.

And I happened to like hoarding snacks, so the righteous me gave all of mine to him.

From that moment on, he trailed after me. I spoke up for him in all things and took him into account in everything.

Until adulthood, I was the one following behind him. He took care of me in every detail and stayed by my side.

Back then, we once huddled together under an overpass tunnel, making fires to survive. Later, when things improved a little, he took out a loan to start a business.

The first time he owed five hundred thousand, I encouraged him not to lose heart.

So he worked hard with a strong focus to start a business again. In only two years, he grew the company larger and more powerful, pushing into the national top hundred.

It was also during that period that I met my relatives at a banquet. Only then did I learn that I had been separated when I was young, but I did not want to leave Xavier, so I simply refused to recognize my family.

Xavier was very insecure, so I never told him that my relatives had already located and contacted me.

My original purpose was to stop him from thinking too much.

I did not expect he would actually want to use this to control my weakness!

When I stepped out of the company, I suddenly got an urgent call from the hospital. The doctor informed me, “Your younger sister’s current situation is not very good. She needs emergency surgery. As for the cost…”

I gripped the resignation paper and quickly said, “Use the best. I will hurry over to pay right away.”

When I hurried to the hospital without pause and saw the bill for two hundred thousand, my mind went empty for a second.

Ever since I found out Xavier cheated, he had not given me even a single dollar. The later abortion and all kinds of costs were all paid by me.

Looking at the balance on the card with only 1.28 dollars left, my heart shook again and again.

The paycheck had not arrived yet.

The hospital was urging immediately.

After hesitating over and over, I still took out my phone and called Xavier.

Hoping that for the sake of so many years of feelings, he would give me my salary early.

The call went through.

The first time, no one picked up.

The second time, it was cut off right away.

.…

Only on the twelfth attempt did the call go through, the other party sounding annoyed. “If you have something to say, say it fast.”

I drew in a deep breath. My voice came out faint and strained. “Can you… loan me some money? Or pay my salary early and lend me the remainder?”

Xavier paused briefly, then asked, “How much?”

I lowered my gaze to the amount on the bill, shut my eyes in despair, and said, “Two hundred thousand.”

A faint chuckle came from Xavier, then his nearly heartless voice followed. “I can loan you the money, but you must admit you were wrong and apologize.”

Before I could respond, Millie’s angry voice rang out from the other end. “You must kneel and bow to Shadow to apologize!”

They wanted me to admit my mistake and apologize to a dog, the very dog that had hurt me first.

Xavier and Millie were plainly trampling my pride underfoot.

And Xavier fully knew that I had always been a very proud person.

My chest filled with bitter hurt. In a strained voice, I said, “Xavier, I am borrowing this money, not asking you to hand it to me.”

“And my salary is money I worked for.”

Xavier remained indifferent. “Then I give you twenty thousand extra. You kneel and apologize.”

“Once you come and apologize, I give you the money.”

Right after he spoke, the line went dead.

My unfinished words were fully trapped in my throat.

A deep sense of helplessness washed over me.

Amid the turmoil and darkness, I dialed my father again.

The other side answered immediately.

My throat tightened. “Dad, can you lend me two hundred thousand? My younger sister…”

Before I could finish, one million was transferred into my account.

Immediately afterward, my father spoke with affection. “If you are willing to spend dad’s money, dad feels very comforted. If it is still not enough, come ask Dad again.”

I didn’t have time to say much. After a hurried thank-you, I quickly went to settle the fees and topped up another one hundred thousand for lodging.

After handling everything, I looked at my younger sister’s pale face and whispered an apology. “Sorry, Rosie…”

If not for me, Xavier would not have gone after her.

Rosie was the little sister I met in the orphanage. She had always been the closest to me growing up. Even after adulthood, she continued to follow me. To me, she was truly family.

Once, Xavier and Rosie were both the people I cared about most.

Now, Xavier had turned into the chief cause behind Rosie's being forced to death.

Just when I was about to take a brief rest, the ward door was abruptly opened.

“Come with me to apologize.”