Less than a minute after the call ended, 800,000 dollar was deposited. Watching my mother being smoothly wheeled into the operating room, I leaned against the wall and let out a long sigh of relief for the first time.

My phone vibrated at that moment; it was an unknown number.

As soon as I answered, a young boy’s panicked voice came from the other end, “Is this Spencer’s sister? Come to the South District bar quickly! Something’s happened to him. Someone has accused him of harassment and molestation.”

My vision blurred and I almost dropped my phone. “Who is he harassing? Spencer couldn’t possibly...”

“It’s true! Spencer said that woman’s name is Quincy...”

I couldn’t hear the rest; my ears were ringing. I hung up and rushed into the elevator. I called Griffin over a dozen times along the way, but no one answered.

But when I arrived at the bar, I witnessed a heartbreaking scene. Griffin was gently comforting Quincy, his arm around her shoulder. Quincy leaned against him, her eyes red and swollen, looking utterly terrified.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and a fleeting, almost defiant smile flashed in her eyes as she met my gaze.

“Suzy!” Spencer’s eyes instantly turned red when he saw me. “I didn’t do it, I really didn’t touch her, she framed me...” Before he could finish, Griffin’s bodyguard covered his mouth.

“Suzy, you really have surprised me.” Griffin’s voice followed, filled with undisguised anger and disgust.

“Just because I didn’t pay you immediately after your mother’s surgery, you instructed your own brother to use such despicable means to retaliate against her? How could you be so vicious!”

Instructed? Me, vicious? My blood rushed to my head. Looking at the man I’d shared a bed with for five years, he felt utterly estranged.

“Griffin, I didn’t ask Spencer to do anything. My mother just went into the operating room, I...”

“Enough!” he shouted sharply, not wanting to listen at all.

“A waiter witnessed it firsthand, the evidence is conclusive. I called you here only to inform you that the lawyer is preparing the materials. Spencer must pay the price for his actions!”

My heart felt like it had been stabbed by a dull knife. Looking at his resolute gesture in protecting Quincy, I suddenly felt that the past five years had been a ridiculous joke.

At this moment, Quincy, who had been sobbing quietly, suddenly tugged at Griffin’s sleeve.

“Griffin, please don’t be like this,” she choked, her voice filled with reluctance. “Spencer is, after all, your brother in law. I don’t want you two to hurt your relationship because of me. But, I’m really scared…”

She looked at me timidly, tears falling again, “If Suzy and Spencer are willing to kneel down and apologize to me in front of everyone, admitting their mistakes, I can forgive them and not pursue the matter.”

These words further solidified the accusation that Spencer had harassed her and that I had instigated him. A murmur rippled through the crowd, countless gazes piercing like needles.

Griffin looked at Quincy, his eyes softening instantly, filled with heartache, but when he turned back to me, his expression returned to its icy coldness.

“Did you hear that? Quincy is kind and willing to let you off the hook.” He stared at me, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Hurry up and do as she said!”

“I did nothing wrong, what’s there to apologize for!” Spencer roared, his eyes bloodshot. “You blind man, Griffin, this woman framed me. Suzy, don’t listen to them!”

“Shut up!” Griffin glared at Spencer, then fixed his gaze on me. “Suzy, do you want your brother to bear the charge of indecent assault, ruining his future, or do you want to apologize? The choice is yours.”

A moment of silence followed. Griffin looked at me quietly, his face expressionless. I knew what he was waiting for. He was waiting for me to bow my head, waiting for me to admit defeat, waiting for me to personally shatter the last vestiges of my dignity.

"Griffin," I heard my own voice, terribly dry, "is it... that if I apologize, you promise you won't pursue Spencer anymore?"

Griffin nodded. Spencer was about to rush forward when Griffin's men grabbed him, their eyes bloodshot as they shook their heads at me.

I released my grip, my knees buckled and I slammed heavily to the ground. A moment of silence followed, then a murmur of discussion erupted.

"My god, Mrs. Beckham really knelt before that woman?"

"Huh? I heard Mr. Beckham has always had his first love in his heart, looks like it's true..."

"No wonder, the main character kneeling before the mistress."

Quincy seemed uneasy amidst the murmurs; she gently tugged at Griffin's sleeve.

"Griffin, it's alright, everyone's watching, I... I forgive them, please let her get up."

Griffin's expression softened slightly, his gaze returning to me, but still carrying a lingering coldness.

"Quincy is soft-hearted, let's just let this go, but don't let it happen again and don't have any more inappropriate thoughts." His words were pointed, a clear warning.

I didn't answer, but simply stood up, my legs numb. Spencer immediately helped me up, his hands trembling slightly as he gripped me. We didn't look at the two people again and walked out of the bar amidst a chorus of pity and mockery.

On the way, Spencer's eyes were red, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "Suzy, why did you..."

"Mom's in the hospital having surgery," I interrupted him. "Just a few more days and this will never happen again."

He froze, looking at my face, swallowing the rest of his words and wiped his eyes heavily.

When we arrived at the hospital, my mother was just being wheeled out of the operating room. The doctor said it went smoothly and she just needed to be observed. I had just breathed a sigh of relief, leaning against the wall to catch my breath, when I heard a familiar voice from the other end of the corridor.

Griffin and Quincy had also come to the hospital. Griffin saw me first, his brows immediately furrowing and he walked over in a few steps.

"The surgery?" he asked.

"I paid for it."

"Where did the money come from?" he pressed, his tone dripping with undisguised suspicion and disdain. "Eight hundred thousand, who gave it to you?"

"It's none of your business."

"None of my business?" Griffin took a step forward. "Suzy, I don't care how you got the money, but if I find out you've had any improper thoughts or damaged the Beckham Family's reputation, I won't let you off the hook."

I looked up at him, suddenly feeling utterly hopeless, "Griffin, do you think that without you I should die, or that I should steal and rob?"

He frowned.

"The money is clean; I borrowed it. As for who I borrowed it from, you don't deserve to know. Also, I don't want to wear the title of Mrs. Beckham for another day. I'll give you the divorce papers as soon as possible."

"You want a divorce?" Griffin's voice suddenly rose, drawing the attention of a nurse nearby.

He lowered his voice, but his words were sharp and menacing. "Suzy, do you think divorce is something you can just decide to do? I don't agree. You'll never be able to shake off the title of Mrs. Beckham for the rest of your life."

"I've said it many times, Quincy and I are just friends. If you keep causing trouble, don't blame me for being impolite."

Quincy then approached, speaking softly, "Griffin, don't be like this… Suzy is probably just too sad."

She turned to me and smiled. "By the way, Suzy, tomorrow is my birthday. I'm having a small party in Landing Hotel. Tomorrow is also your and Griffin's wedding anniversary. Come along, just to give me face."

Looking at her innocent face, my stomach churned. "I'm busy."

"You must come," Griffin commanded coldly, brooking no refusal. "With things going on like this tonight, people are bound to have second thoughts about Quincy. If anyone asks tomorrow, you can clear things up for her."

I looked at him and to ensure a smooth departure, I finally suppressed all my emotions and forced out a single word, "Okay."

At seven o'clock that evening, I appeared precisely on time in the banquet hall on the top floor of the Landing Hotel.

Quincy was surrounded by a crowd in the center of the hall, her pink dress making her look stunning. Griffin stood beside her, speaking to her with a gentle expression I had never seen before.

My appearance caused the laughter and chatter at the door to pause for a moment. Whispering gossip, like mosquitoes, began to swarm around me.

"She actually came..."

"I wouldn't have the face to come. My husband is throwing a birthday party for his mistress and today happens to be my wedding anniversary..."

Griffin saw me, his smile faded slightly, his brows furrowed a little and he led Quincy towards me. “Now that you’re here, behave yourself.” His voice carried an unquestionable command.

“If anyone asks about last night’s bar incident, you know what to say.”

I remained silent, my gaze fixed on the spot where he held Quincy’s wrist. His knuckles were distinct; he had once held my hand like that. Quincy leaned against him obediently, her eyes crinkling as she looked at me, her voice soft and tender.

“Suzy, it’s so good you came. Come play some games with us, everyone’s waiting.”

Empty bottles and cards sat on the table. Everyone around me stared, their eyes filled with the excitement of watching a spectacle.

“Yes, Mrs. Beckham, let’s play together,” a short-haired woman said with a smile. “Quincy lost earlier and when asked about her first kiss, she readily admitted it was with Mr. Beckham.”

A murmur of knowing laughter rippled through the crowd. Griffin didn’t deny it, simply taking a sip of his drink.

Quincy blushed slightly and said coquettishly, "Stop fooling around, whose turn is it?"

The bottle spun on the table, finally landing squarely on me.

"Wow, Mrs. Beckham!" The short-haired woman excitedly pulled out a card. "Let me see, please choose Truth or Dare?"

Everyone looked at me.

I looked at the card, then at Quincy's expectant eyes and said calmly, "Truth."

The short-haired woman immediately cleared her throat, her voice rising, "I heard Mrs. Beckham has a seriously ill mother in bed and a younger brother who almost got arrested for harassing women. And you yourself seem to have trouble keeping your husband's heart. In comparison, Quincy is young, beautiful, successful and perfectly matched with Mr. Beckham."

She leaned forward, asking each word clearly, "Faced with this situation, doesn't Mrs. Beckham feel like a pathetic woman desperately holding onto your position?”

The words fell silent; even the background music seemed to stop. Everyone held their breath, looking at me, then furtively at Griffin and Quincy.

Quincy covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide, looking both shocked and... "Hey, how could you ask such a question? That's too much..." she said innocently.

"It's just a game," the short-haired woman chuckled. "Besides, everyone's actually quite curious..."

"Curious about what?" I interrupted her, my voice surprisingly calm. "Curious about why I haven't left yet, is that it?"

Griffin frowned. "Suzy, stop it."

I ignored him, stood up and looked coldly at Quincy. "You think so too, don't you?"

Quincy's expression changed slightly. She opened her mouth, seemingly trying to put on her usual innocent act. But I didn't give her a chance to speak.

"So last night you deliberately dragged my brother into the private room, accidentally spilled wine on yourself and then framed him for harassment? While my mother was undergoing surgery, you deliberately left, worsening her condition? Knowing that my mother urgently needed money for surgery, you still insisted that Griffin use it to buy you a birthday present?"

The words fell silent and all eyes turned to Quincy.