Though Steven had worked for Zachary for years, his mysterious role as private chef kept him out of James's social circle. He greeted Sarah and Scarlett warmly before brushing past the others. "It's getting cold out here. Let me give you ladies a ride home."Scarlett brightened immediately. Any chance to spite James and Charlotte was worth taking. "That's so sweet of you!" she gushed.Sarah couldn't help but smile, knowing that easy-going Steven wouldn't have offered without Zachary's instructions.As she followed Scarlett into the car, her gaze lingered on the shadowy building, remembering Zachary's request."Professor Wells tells me you're quite accomplished in psychology," he had said. "I have a patient I'd like you to help with."She'd refused immediately. Maybe if she hadn't married James, she would have become a successful therapist. But now, treating patients felt beyond her reach."I'm sorry, but I can't help. You should find someone more qualified."In the sunset light,
The house was part of James's divorce settlement, with the paperwork still in process. Even if he wanted to play the dutiful son by housing his in-laws, he should have asked for her consent first.Besides, this was the only home they'd shared before marriage.But it all came down to one simple truth: James had never seen her as a person worth considering.Not a person. Just a... pet.As the group excitedly discussed wedding plans, Mrs. Chancer spotted Sarah and her face darkened.The others turned to look.“Geez,” Lucy sneered. "What's she doing here?"Charlotte stepped forward smoothly, masking her discomfort. "What a surprise, Sarah. What brings you here?""Not a surprise at all," Sarah replied coolly, taking in their hostile faces. "I'm moving in."Mrs. Chancer stared at her like she'd lost her mind. "Have you gone crazy? James divorced you! This is Chancer property - you have no right to be here."“How shameless,” Lucy spat. "Still hanging around after the divorce."Thei
"Mum,” Charlotte quickly intervened, "Sarah was James's wife after all. We shouldn't treat her like this. We have spare rooms - she could stay if needed."The security guards looked at Sarah's modest outfit with barely concealed disdain. Just another gold-digger, they probably thought, clinging to a wealthy family."No need," Sarah said firmly, ignoring their looks.As she wheeled her suitcase away, the sky opened up without warning. Perfect timing, Sarah thought wryly, glancing at her phone's dying battery. Just her luck.With nothing but trees around and no shelter in sight, she was quickly soaked to the bone, standing helpless in the downpour.A Porsche Cayenne pulled up quietly beside her. Zachary stepped out, black umbrella in hand, every bit the knight in shining armor. "We meet again, Miss Sanders."In a moment like this - caught in the rain, rescued by a handsome man with an umbrella - most women's hearts would skip a beat.Sarah's did, but only briefly. "Since it's such
Zachary was quiet for a long moment. When Sarah thought he wouldn't answer, he finally said softly, “A friend."Something in his tone made her change the subject quickly. "If you don't mind, could you tell me more about your sister's condition?""She has severe reactions to blood. Episodes of memory loss. Panic attacks around unfamiliar men - severe enough to cause physical symptoms. In certain situations, she completely breaks down."His professional demeanor returned as he spoke, creating distance.Sarah considered this carefully. Classic signs of severe trauma. Whatever happened must have left deep psychological scars.Before she could respond, Mrs. Maggie returned with clothes. "The shower's ready, dear. These should fit - they're Mia's."Sarah thanked her, but after showering and changing, she realized she'd caught more than just rain. Her face was flushed, her eyes glassy with fever.Zachary noticed immediately, touching her forehead with a frown. "You're burning up."Thr
James's face tightened with irritation. "I'm in a meet-""Another meeting, right?" Sarah cut him off, her voice turning cold. "Mr. Chancer, I can’t be waiting for you forever. If we're getting divorced, stop dragging it out while planning your wedding. Playing the devoted groom while keeping me hanging - it's getting pathetic."Sarah was done with Charlotte's little power plays, done with this pointless connection to James.She'd always been decisive - when she loved, she gave everything, and when it was over, she walked away clean.She wasn't deluded enough to think James's hesitation meant he cared. She simply ranked last in everything that mattered to him.James gripped his phone, jaw clenched. Thinking of the man who'd driven her home, anger flared. "Drop the act, Sarah. You're only in such a rush because you've found someone else."Sarah almost laughed at his absurdity."Think what you want," she said coolly. "It's none of your business anymore. Besides, no one moved on fas
"Man, you've got some nerve," Scarlett finished with disgust.Sarah, amused by her friend's outburst, couldn't help but smile.James frowned. "My mother threw you out? You were sick?"Playing concerned now?Sarah glanced at the courthouse doors, finding the whole thing ironically funny."Yes," she said flatly. "So, Mr. Chancer, if you care at all, handle the paperwork quickly. Let's avoid any more... misunderstandings."She pulled Scarlett away before James could respond.As soon as she left, James called Charlotte about yesterday's events."I wanted to let her stay," Charlotte said, sounding apologetic. "But your mother... well, you know how she feels about Sarah. She called the security before I could do anything else."James felt oddly uncomfortable. "Charlotte, that house was meant to be hers."Meanwhile, Sarah opened her phone to find a flood of messages from Steven,"We could do $3,000?""Even $2,500 works!!!""Hello???""You there?""Price is totally negotiable!!!"S
His reaction startled them. One friend hesitantly explained, "After Charlotte left, you were in a dark place. The board was losing faith. Then these major accounts suddenly appeared. My father told me Sarah secured them using her status as your wife. She never mentioned it, knowing you wouldn't approve."She had no business background, no degree. She'd used the family name he resented. She must have known he'd reject the deals if he knew, so she'd kept quiet.For three years.James sat in the shadows of the private lounge, remembering her face today. His chest tightened unexpectedly.That evening, he returned home to find Charlotte and his mother on the living room sofa, looking like the perfect family."James!" his mother brightened. "Join us. Charlotte and I were planning the wedding. She had this lovely idea about holding an outdoor garden wedding, but I thought we could do a grand church ceremony as well...""Mom, could Charlotte and I have a moment?""Of course, darling. Ta
"Mom, James just pities her," Charlotte soothed. "No career, no degree. He wanted a clean break, so he threw some property her way to leave quietly."Her mother's perfectly penciled eyebrows drew together. "I don't like it. Are you absolutely certain James isn't harboring feelings for her?"Charlotte laughed, all sugar and honey. "Mom, please. James never even slept with Sarah. He spent three years waiting for me.""Well, that's something. Let me handle this house situation."After hanging up, Mrs. Garnett speed-dialed Mrs. Chancer.The news left Mrs. Chancer reeling. Her son had given that woman prime real estate? Sarah hadn't even produced an heir - what claim did she have to Chancer property?Her calls to Sarah went straight to voicemail - blocked.Unable to reach Sarah and hesitant to confront James - fearing it might jeopardize the engagement - she let the situation simmer.Meanwhile, Sarah nestled into her new apartment, buried in psychology journals, refreshing her exper
Henry's parents looked panicked. "Don't make things up!""You threatened to tell everyone what Henry did to me if I didn't agree to marry him. How else could I have refused?" Amy shouted in rage.Sarah finally understood why Amy had said Henry wasn't fit to be a teacher. But even knowing her story, it didn't justify hurting others.What mattered more to Sarah now was whether Amy would reveal Vivian's involvement.The situation had become a complete spectacle, especially compared to Amy's aggressive behavior days ago.The most shocking twist was how the original victim had become the villain, while the supposed villain was now revealed as the true victim.Sarah remained silent, unsure what to say as she watched people trying to get past Henry to grab Amy, while he desperately held them back.Behind him, Amy swayed unsteadily, clutching her child, suddenly inspiring sympathy in those watching. People seemed to have forgotten her recent actions.Henry's mother slapped him twice, b
Henry's father grew impatient. "What are you waiting for? Pull him away!"Several relatives tried to remove Henry and take Amy away, but Henry, usually so gentle, suddenly exploded with strength, pushing two men down and returning to Amy's side.Sarah noticed Henry's eyes were red, as if he was about to cry.Amy glared at him with hatred, screaming hysterically. "Get out, Henry! Get out of my life forever! Just go!"She screamed as if with her last breath, her rage so intense that even Sarah felt her desperation."I'm sorry, Amy." Henry slowly turned, giving her one last look - the way someone looks at their love for the final time.Sarah watched this strange scene. Henry should be the angry one, so why was he the one feeling guilty?What had happened between them?As she pondered this, several people in the crowd erupted again."I'm the one who wronged Amy! I'm the one who hurt her!" Henry burst into tears."Amy never had an affair! She never betrayed me. I'm the one who vio
None of the watching students dared intervene. They just stood there, most filming with their phones.Professor Letito had been absent during the earlier incidents, but now he stood face to face with Amy.The scene was deeply ironic. Just days ago, Amy had been the aggressive one, playing the victim while painting Henry as the villain.Now the tables had turned, yet Henry looked at Amy with a mix of sympathy and guilt.Something about that look struck Sarah as odd. This situation seemed more complicated than it appeared.The woman's eyes were filled with despair and resignation, nothing like her previous aggressive behavior.Gone was her hunger for money - she seemed to have accepted her fate.Henry's mother continued, "Henry, she wronged you and the whole family. We won't let someone like her get away with this. Your father and I saw the interview - she took your house, our life savings were in there. We're getting everything back, plus compensation!"The woman remained silent
"Stay away from me. I never want to see your face again!"BANG!The door slammed shut, the sound echoing through Amy's broken heart.Just yesterday they'd been loving and everything had been perfect. How had it all fallen apart in a single night?Thirty minutes later, Dan emerged with his bags. He gave Amy and the child one cold glance before walking away."Dan! How can you be so cruel?" Amy sobbed.She watched him disappear into the distance, never once looking back, not even at his own child.Wiping her tears, she hugged her crying son. She had to stay strong for him.But where could they go now? The world suddenly felt very big and very empty.As they were about to leave, several middle-aged men appeared and escorted them away.Back at Adams University, the reporters had vanished as if the whole scandal had been just a bad dream. Sarah's reputation was restored, the forum threads were cleared, and Professor Letito was back teaching.Sarah walked into school with Mia, who
Amy never imagined her vision of love could shatter so violently. She wondered if the Dan she'd loved had never shown his true nature before, making this moment of brutal honesty almost impossible to bear."Dan, how can you say such things? I was with you even before I married Henry. After that incident... I barely recovered, and now you're saying you don't know whose child this is? Why else would I divorce Henry if not to be with you?" Amy's eyes filled with tears.Only those we love most know exactly where to stick the knife to cause the most pain. She couldn't accept Dan speaking to her this way.Dan continued packing, barely paying attention. "You divorced Henry because three years ago he...""Shut up!" Amy screamed. She couldn't believe Dan would be so callous about such a sensitive matter."Face it, Amy. You did all this to get revenge on Henry for what he did. I was just a tool." Dan sneered.Amy clutched her child, choking back tears. "Say what you want about me, but how
Sarah was still thinking about what Scarlett had said earlier. "What's this about Zachary?" she asked quietly.Scarlett looked uncomfortable. "Steven gave me the video and sent me to help you. I made up that part about Mr. Reynolds.”"Made it up? That was bold." Sarah drew in a sharp breath.Scarlett shrugged it off. "Why do you think Steven got this video? Zachary ordered it. Pretty expensive too - cost a million.”Sarah felt confused by all this, but any mention of Zachary made her reluctant to ask more."Sasa, you should have let me come earlier. A good slap is exactly what someone like her needs!" Scarlett fumed.Mia finally noticed something was wrong. "Sarah, what happened? Did that woman cause more trouble?"Scarlett jumped in eagerly. "Mia, you should have seen how cool I was! I gave her a solid slap..."She retold the story with extra flair, leaving Mia wide-eyed."What?! You had all this excitement without me?" Mia pouted."I didn't know Scarlett was coming." Sara
Faced with this question, Amy hushed him. "Those kinds of powerful people aren't for us to speculate about. In this world, if you want to make money, do more and ask less."Seemingly worried she'd sounded too distant, she quickly added, "Never mind about what those big shots think - how would people like us know? Let's just do our job. Look, this is a hundred thousand! Do you know how much we can buy with this?"Dan ignored her question and pressed on, "But what's that lady's ultimate goal?"This time Amy didn't hold back. "I don't really know all the details. I just know she wants me to insist Sarah's a homewrecker, and she said she'd help with everything else."The video continued with Amy and Dan discussing other private matters, but nothing could match the impact of what had just been revealed.Scarlett turned off her phone screen. "Did everyone record that?"The reporters exchanged glances, looking at Amy with obvious contempt.Amy collapsed to the ground in disbelief. How
Soon, some reporters turned their attention to Sarah.Just then, a luxury car pulled up at the school gates. A woman with big wavy hair and sunglasses stepped out.Sarah was startled. "Scarlett, why are you here?"Scarlett walked straight through the crowd to stand beside Sarah. She stared directly at Amy and sneered, "If I hadn't come, I would've missed seeing the most shameless woman in the world."Amy snapped as if triggered. "Who are you calling shameless? Sarah's the one who steals married men. She's the shameless homewrecker!""Twisting the truth - I'm impressed by your nerve. You have the gall to call yourself an honest, ordinary person? Do you fit that description at all? Oh wait, I suppose you are quite 'ordinary' looking - and not young either."Scarlett flipped her hair dramatically. The reporters chuckled at her comment, while Amy glared at the newcomer furiously. "Who are you? Why are you butting in? I get it - you're Sarah's friend. You must be just as bad as her."
"Never mind if they believe it or not. If we play our parts well, everyone will believe us. The world always sympathizes with the underdog and resents the wealthy. Once we do this, even without proof, her reputation will be ruined," Amy said coldly.The recording fell silent for a moment, with only the rustling of clothes. Some reporters instantly understood what was happening during that gap, though thankfully the recording had been edited to skip over it.Then the man spoke again. "Honey, what about Henry Letito?"Amy replied impatiently, "Who cares about him? He's just a pathetic coward. After I get the money, I'll squeeze more out of him, then leave East Coast for good..."Suddenly, a child's sharp cry came through, and the man blurted out, “My son..."As the recording played, Amy stood frozen in shock. When she heard the child's cry, she snapped back to reality. Before the man in the recording continued, she lunged at Sarah, trying to grab the phone.But Sarah easily stepped