Chapter 5

“Oh my god, *this* is what a sponsor should be like!”

“Exactly! A truly caring sponsor treats the person they’re helping like their own child! How could anyone grab them and question them like that?”

“I’m literally crying. The superstar is not only generous but kind! He and CEO Adams deserve to grow old together!”

“What’s wrong with that creep Logan? Stealing the superstar’s woman isn’t enough, now he’s even trying to claim the superstar’s charity work? How can someone be so despicable?!”

Cameras flashed wildly at us. I stared, disbelieving, at Hailey Brooks, who was hiding behind Dominic Hayes. I couldn’t believe it.

“Hailey…”

Hailey Brooks’ eyes darted away, avoiding my gaze.

She blinked, and tears welled up, clinging to her lashes.

“Sir, I really don’t know you. Please, don’t do this to me…”

“Logan Reed!”

Dominic Hayes pulled Hailey even closer, watching me warily.

“I won’t let you hurt her!”

A strand of his hair fell across his brow, but his gaze was surprisingly resolute, a blend of casual elegance and stern authority.

“Wuwuwu, the superstar is so amazing, it’s all that bastard’s fault!”

“I can’t take it anymore! I’m going to teach that bastard a lesson!”

“Hey everyone, don’t just focus on this bastard. I think I’ve seen his car in the superstar’s posts. He’s probably trying to scam the superstar about that too!”

“Go! Smash his crappy car!”

“No!”

My heart clenched.

But someone had already turned and run towards my car, grabbing a stick and smashing it against the windshield.

Inside, Leo let out a heartbreaking scream.

“Damn it! The bastard’s son is a little bastard too! What are you crying about?! Cry again and I’ll drag you out and beat you!”

“Leo!”

I yelled, trying to go to him, but a foot in a leather shoe tripped me, sending me sprawling to the ground.

Dominic Hayes stood with his arms crossed, looking down at me with a cold smirk.

Immediately, someone rushed forward, dragged me up, and punched me in the face.

“The superstar gave you a chance to leave, but you wouldn’t, you just had to get a beating, didn’t you?”

“You dead bastard, I’m gonna kill you today!”

My mouth filled with the taste of blood. I bit down hard on someone’s hand, making him scream in pain and yank his hand away.

I gritted my teeth, pulling the wedding ring off my finger and throwing it at the man’s face.

“I am Chloe Adams’ husband! You’ll pay for this!”

Someone caught the ring. The moment they saw it, their expression changed.

“The 'Starry Oath'? The insanely expensive, one-of-a-kind ring CEO Adams bought at auction years ago? How is *he* wearing it?”

“Wait a minute… didn’t CEO Adams say she was going to use it as *her* wedding ring?”

I spat out a mouthful of blood and looked at them coldly.

“Let me go, and I won’t press charges.”

“Ha! This shoddy knock-off? He actually expects us to believe that?”

An almost identical ‘Starry Oath’ was thrown at me.

Dominic Hayes pulled a ring from his bag and looked at me with disdain.

“Mr. Reed, I didn’t realize you would imitate me to this extent. Even a fake 'Starry Oath' is worth a fortune.”

My breath hitched. “Impossible… She gave that to me herself after buying it. Where did you get that imitation?”

“Bang!”

A punch landed on my face, and Dominic Hayes frowned tightly.

“I can’t stand you anymore! I’ve given you chances again and again, and you’re still trying to worm your way into my life and with my wife!”

One of his guys pulled out a stack of documents and tossed them straight at my head.

“Take a good look! See who the real home-wrecker is!”

The marriage certificate lay open before my eyes.

What I had thought was a Photoshopped image was now undeniably real.

The woman in the photo smiled so happily, nestled tightly against Dominic Hayes.

Chloe Adams…

My fingers trembled as I picked up the scattered photos one by one.

Photos charting their entire lives: from childhood to college, from awkward teens to confident adults…

They ran hand-in-hand to school, Dominic taking a huge bite out of Chloe’s ice cream, then cuddling close at an evening carnival, their faces lit up with pure joy…

They… had known each other for a long time…

They had married… five years ago…

My three years of marriage, instantly turned into a cruel joke.

He tossed my car keys onto my face. Dominic Hayes’ voice was flat.

“I think it’s time for you to leave. Go figure things out on your own.”

“Leo?”

A familiar voice rang out.

“What are you doing? Everyone, stop!”

It was Chloe Adams’ voice.