Right before New Year’s, the sports car I had waited six months for was finally delivered. However, my wife Vanessa snatched the keys from my hand.

“Ryan likes sports cars. Let him take yours for a quick spin.”

I refused. I knew her godbrother, Ryan, did not even have a driver’s license.

Still, she secretly gave him the keys anyway. When I saw my car again, the car hood was covered in blood.

Vanessa was holding Ryan. Her face was full of distress, and her words left me stunned.

“Honey, please take the blame for Ryan. No one will make things hard for you with your background.”

I immediately refused, but Vanessa then pulled out her phone.

“I already turned you in. Just go along with it. You’ll be fine.”

I could not believe my eyes when I saw the police call history.

"Go along with it?! Vanessa! Do you even realize he did something illegal?! I could go to prison!"

I was stunned, questioning my wife in disbelief. She did not expect me to blow up like this. Tears instantly streamed down her face as she choked out, "B-but if you don't take the blame for Ryan, what will happen to him?! Honey, please! They won't make things hard for you!"

"Please, Lucas! I'll be ruined if I go in!"

Ryan knelt on the ground. His face was pale white, and he bowed a few times as he begged me.

I was so furious I could barely speak. I pointed at the two of them.

"You two just borrowed my car without permission, and now I'm supposed to take the fall?! I will never agree to this! The fingerprints and cameras will prove it wasn't me!"

Vanessa stayed silent for a moment, biting her lip before she spoke. "All the fingerprints in the car have been wiped clean. When Ryan drove your car, he was wearing your jacket and a mask. He dressed like that because he was afraid the butler would recognize him taking the car out."

"So you just drove off with my car like it was nothing, and now you want me to take the blame?! Should I be grateful that you guys didn't completely total the car? Are you guys dreaming?!"

I was so angry I actually laughed. They made it seem like it was just about taking my sports car for a spin, but now, it all seemed planned. Every detail and every escape route had already been prepared.

"Lucas! Is that how you should talk to me?! I'm just trying to discuss this with you! What's with that attitude?!"

Vanessa's anger flared too. I took a deep breath, ready to curse her, but Ryan interrupted.

"Stop arguing! Lucas, Vanessa, I know I've caused too much trouble already. I'll turn myself in now. Please don't fight because of me."

As our fight spiraled out of control, Ryan stayed silent for a long time, then rose to his feet. His face was full of guilt as he headed for the door.

"Ryan! Where are you going?! If Lucas takes the blame, nothing will happen! His family can pull some strings and get him out easily! But if you go to prison, who's going to help you?! What if you spend your whole life behind bars? Your life will be ruined!"

Vanessa exploded, rushing forward to grab his hand. She glanced at me meaningfully as she spoke.

"If he won't take the blame this time, then I guess our marriage doesn't mean much to him. We might as well sign the papers and get divorced!"

"Vanessa, you're threatening me with divorce?!"

I stared at her in disbelief as my heart sank. Then, I caught the look of triumph in Ryan's eyes, and I snapped.

"What the hell is that look supposed to mean?!"

I lost control. I grabbed Ryan by the collar and punched him. He did not expect the sudden attack and cried out, clutching his face.

"Lucas! Stop hitting me!"

"Don't move! Nobody moves! Police!"

As I slammed Ryan to the ground, Vanessa screamed. She tried to stop me a few times but froze at my glare. At that moment, the police arrived and restrained me.

"Mr. Zane, you are currently suspected of a hit-and-run. Please come with us to the station for the investigation."

They pinned me to the ground as I struggled desperately.

"It wasn't me! I didn't drive the car! Ryan stole it!"

"Whether or not you drove the car will be determined after further investigation by our department! You must come with us now!"

No matter what I said, they would not listen. From the evidence so far, everything pointed to me as the prime suspect.

Vanessa and Ryan suddenly turned into righteous accusers. My own wife pointed at me as her voice grew certain.

"Officer, it was him! He hit someone and ran!"

"That's right! I saw it myself! He hit me earlier because I had no money. He was trying to force me to take the blame! Officer, you have to stand up for me!"

Ryan kept backing her up, twisting the story and blaming everything on me.

In the end, I was dragged away, still struggling, while Ryan called out behind me with feigned concern.

"Lucas! Behave yourself in there! I'll take good care of Vanessa for you! We'll be waiting for you to come back!"

I turned back. My eyes were filled with violent fury, and my chest heaved with rage.

I would make them pay!

"Mr. Zane, please repeat yourself. Where were you when the accident happened?"

I sat in the interrogation room, my hands cuffed together. I rubbed my temples hard when I heard that.

"I already told you! I was in the basement of my villa watching a movie! I never drove that car!

"But there's no surveillance camera in the basement. Who can prove you weren't driving it?"

Sitting through the police questioning, I let out a deep sigh, overwhelmed with regret. If I had known this would happen, I never would have let Vanessa bring that so-called godbrother into our lives.

Vanessa and I met in college. Back then, she was a naive girl from the mountains who could not even afford her tuition. I could not bear to see her struggling, so I helped her. That was when everything began. She was the one who pursued me first.

At first, my parents did not approve of us being together, let alone getting married. They thought our social statuses were too different and our family backgrounds were too unequal. They even suspected Vanessa might have some ulterior motive for getting close to me.

I overcame every obstacle, and in the end, we made it work.

My parents finally had no choice but to let me be.

After seven years of dating and five years of marriage, I thought our life was perfect, but everything shifted the day Vanessa brought Ryan into our lives as her godbrother two years ago.

That day, she told me there were still many students who could not afford college. She wanted to sponsor one.

I thought she simply wanted to pass on the kindness I had once shown her. Therefore, I agreed.

I should have realized something was wrong the moment Ryan first came to our house. He was handsome, sharp-featured, and confident.

I trusted Vanessa too much.

Ryan used his identity as a poor student to worm his way into our lives. By the time I realized something was off, it was already too late.

However, Vanessa had always been careful. I had my suspicions, but there was never any concrete evidence of an affair. I loved her so deeply that I could not bring myself to act on my suspicions each time.

Deep down, I still believed she would not betray me.

However, love could change in the blink of an eye.

I never expected Vanessa to ask me to take the fall for Ryan, so openly favoring and protecting him. I let out a long, bitter sigh at the thought of this.

"Mr. Zane? Please describe the incident again."

I came back to my senses and told the story once more.

I had already repeated it countless times. The police kept rearranging the order of events, asking again and again. It was their way of doing things. Even though I was exhausted and humiliated, I cooperated.

However, the truth meant nothing without evidence. Left with no choice, I called my father.

I had not called him in years since moving out after my marriage. He clearly already knew what happened. The moment he answered, he started yelling at me.

"Oh, now you remember you have a father?! Where was that brain of yours before?! Didn't I tell you Vanessa wasn't right for you?! You should've married someone from a family like ours! Look at yourself now! I have to clean up your mess!"

"Yes, you're right, Dad. I was wrong."

I kept apologizing quietly. After venting his anger, my dad took a deep breath and spoke plainly and directly regarding my current situation at the police station.

"The lawyer I hired is on the way."

Not long after I hung up, I was released.

"Mr. Zane, you may go home for now. But do not leave the city."

The officer who escorted me out was wearing a look of contempt and helplessness, clearly displeased at dealing with a spoiled rich kid like me. It was not just the lawyer. My father must have pulled some strings, or I would have been stuck at the station for the next few days.

He was harsh, but he would never abandon me.

Under the officers' watchful eyes, I gathered my belongings and walked out of the station.

The moment I stepped outside, a rotten egg slammed into my face. The stench hit me instantly, accompanied by a string of angry shouts.

"You dare to show your face out here?! Have you no shame?! Do you think being rich makes you untouchable?!"

"Look, there he is! Lucas! The heir of Zane Corporation!"

I slowly wiped the egg off my face, frowning and forcing down the urge to vomit. I took in the furious crowd surrounding me.

"How dare you show your face out here! How did you even get out? Who pulled strings for you?!"

"Rich kids' lives are just different. Who else would show up at the police station wearing a watch worth ninety thousand dollars?!"

"Give us an explanation! Why aren't you being detained?!"

The crowd pressed closer, demanding answers. They tore into me. My hair, my clothes, and my appearance were all the proof they needed to label me a villain.

I was stunned by the barrage of shouts and insults. After a moment, I remembered something. I pulled out my phone, which the police officers had confiscated earlier, and opened social media. Sure enough, the story had gone viral, topping the local trending charts.

[Rich Heir Hits Ordinary Citizen and Flees the Scene!]

Shock and anger boiled inside me. I did not even have time to deny it before the crowd moved in closer. Meanwhile, the officials stood by, acting as though they had not seen a thing. Everyone assumed I was just another spoiled rich kid who thought I could hit someone and get away with it.

In a sluggish economy, it seemed everyone harbored the same resentment toward the wealthy.

"I didn't hit anyone! Stop throwing things at me! Don't come closer! It wasn't me! Do you have any proof it was me?!"

I yelled at the crowd, trying to defend myself, but then a car pulled up behind me. A familiar voice called out, "Mr. Lucas! Get in quickly!"

I turned and met the gaze of my butler, and a surge of relief hit me. Of course, my father had sent someone.

Once I got inside the car, I finally felt safe. I pulled out my phone to check the news properly. My eyes went wide with rage.

"Yes, I apologize for occupying public resources, but my husband's actions were completely inappropriate. I sincerely apologize."

Vanessa appeared on the video. Her eyes were red as she sobbed and 'confessed' on my behalf. This made everyone believe I was the one who hit someone.

"The authorities will provide an official explanation. Please remain calm. We will handle this matter responsibly."

In the video, Vanessa's voice cracked as she made her promises, looking pitiful and wronged. She looked completely different from the expression she wore when she pointed fingers at me.

I watched her act coldly, then turned to the butler in the passenger seat.

"Mr. Lewis, don't go to my parents' place. Take me home."

"But sir, your parents…"

Mr. Lewis hesitated for a moment. He seemed reluctant, but ultimately complied.

"Wait for me at the door."

I knew they were both at the villa, so I did not let Mr. Lewis follow me upstairs.

Mr. Lewis seemed like he wanted to say something, but knowing who he was, he just sighed and stepped aside.

As I approached, I heard Vanessa laughing in the living room.

"So, when do you think he'll be back?"

"I don't know, Vanessa. But it should be soon, right? Didn't you say the Zane family's influence in this city is absolute?" Ryan answered. Vanessa laughed even longer.

"Better not…"

"Better not what?!"

I stepped forward, cutting them off. I sneered at how close they were sitting on the couch.

Vanessa and Ryan froze in shock. Their faces stiffened, then they quickly faked surprise and tried to separate themselves.

"Lucas! You're back! Things were settled so fast?!"

"Thanks to the Zane family's influence!"

I was boiling with rage watching them act, and without a second thought, I slapped Vanessa across the face, shouting angrily, "Who do you think you're kidding?! Vanessa, are you hoping I rot in prison for the rest of my life?!"

"Lucas! Why are you hitting her?!"

Ryan immediately tried to rush forward. After slapping Vanessa down, I threw a punch at him as well.

"Get out! Who do you think you are, crawling around in my house?! Get the hell out of here!"