Chapter 10
“Tsk, the powerful CEO, all proper on the outside, but callous within, even his wife is…”
“Wait? He’s married? What happened to his wife?”
“Keeping quiet for safety. Keywords: STOLEN BRIDE.”
Ethan didn’t care–the more you try to suppress such talk, the wilder it gets.
But it bothered me greatly.
Ethan was working late again that day.
In three days, we’d be returning to France.
While packing our luggage, I suddenly heard commotion outside.
“Yes, my wife and I have been childhood sweethearts for over twenty years. How could that relationship just disappear?”
“Look at this photo.”
“Yes, that’s the one of Ethan Reed at the airport that was deleted everywhere the next day.”
“Look at my wife–does she look conscious?”
“Ethan Reed pretended to be a young girl three years ago to deceive my wife! He has special preferences–he’s a
PERVERT!”
My ears began to ring.
Blood rushed to my head.
Sure enough, it was Ryan.
He’d brought a group of live streamers to the gates of Ethan’s and my home.
“Reed Enterprises is lawless. Please be my witnesses! Today I must see my wife!”
I grabbed the printed documents I’d prepared and rushed downstairs.
Completely forgetting only I remained in the house.
Completely forgetting how after the accident, extensive interviews had caused secondary trauma.
Chapter 10
Facing cameras, I couldn’t speak a word.
But It’s amazing how strong one person can be when trying to protect something precious.
I walked straight to the main gate and opened it.
“Sophie…” Ryan’s face lit with surprise.
Before he could say the next word, I stepped forward and slapped him.
“Ryan Brown! Check yourself out! Who gave you the confidence to think I wouldn’t leave you?!”
Another slap.
“And who gave you the audacity to defame others and spread rumors?!”
A third slap.
I threw the printed chat logs at him.
“Take a good look! Stop sullying the phrase ‘childhood sweethearts‘!”
Finally, I tossed a recorder into his arms.
It played that phone call from the night I left:
“What redemption? Bullshit!”
“I was so sick of her for those years! If my mom hadn’t forced me, I wouldn’t have bothered with her!”
“Marriage? You guys-”
Ryan’s face turned ashen.
He quickly pressed pause.
But the trouble he stirred up wasn’t so easily paused.
The livestream was cut off, all clips thoroughly deleted.
What circulated instead were the chat screenshots Lily had sent me over that year between her and Ryan.
Online opinion about the pair was scathing.
Soon, the previously elusive Lily was thoroughly exposed.”
Someone even discovered she lived in the luxury condo Ryan bought her, wearing designer clothes he purchased.
Pretending to be wealthy to flirt with other rich men’s sons.
Ethan, typically a strictly business–minded person who never deliberately targeted the Brown family,
Cut off all cooperation between Reed Enterprises and the Browns after this incident.
A few days later, Ryan’s mother called me.
“We failed to control Ryan properly. I’m sorry, Sophie. For old times‘ sake, could you-”
“Mrs. Brown,” I interrupted her. “You’re right that your family cared for me for many years.”
“But during those years, I always followed your instructions, gradually handing over my parents‘ business to the Browns.”
‘I never owed you anything.”
Ethan and I followed our original plan–ready to return to France.
It was raining lightly the day we left.
Going through security, there was suddenly a commotion.
Ryan had somehow appeared again.
Covered in mud and rain–looking completely disheveled.
‘Sophie, Sophie!”
He grabbed my suitcase.
The floor was slippery–he fell right in front of me.
‘Sophie, please don’t go. Please…”
Ethan’s face showed pure disgust.
But he only checked his watch, giving a signal to his people nearby.
Those who had pulled out phones to take photos were quickly cleared away.
