Chapter 3

"Leaf, what... what are you saying..."

Jay was completely stunned.

After a long while, the voice squeezed out from his throat kept trembling.

It sounded much better than his video calls.

I laughed softly, hiding the coldness in my eyes: "You're so envious, so I'm giving her to you."

"We've been good brothers. When have I not given you what you wanted?"

When Jay first joined the company, he said he'd been scammed online and couldn't afford to eat.

I felt sorry for him and bought him meals, even vouched for him to get his salary in advance.

Later, when he wanted to buy a laptop and new phone, he used the excuse of self-improvement but was troubled by lack of money. I gave him those too.

I treated him like a good brother, but he backstabbed me and gave me a cuckold's horns.

What bullshit child!

Bethany and I had never had sex at all.

Only once, two months ago when we got drunk, we woke up lying in the same bed.

Bethany looked very shy at the time, but I didn't think much of it.

After all, a man knows in his heart whether something happened or not.

Plus, when drunk, it simply doesn't work.

But I never expected that not only did they scheme for my company and give me a cuckold's horns.

They also wanted me to acknowledge this bastard whose father is uncertain!

Simply too much!

A modern version of The Farmer and the Snake!

Jay was already guilty.

With me deliberately pointing this out, he was so scared he didn't dare say a word.

Bethany was obviously panicked too. Cold sweat streamed down her forehead as she laughed awkwardly: "Honey, don't joke around. I only love you."

I curled my lips and smiled gently: "Look at you two getting so nervous. You didn't really do something behind my back, did you?"

Bethany immediately got anxious: "Leaf, how can you suspect me! I love you so much! Besides, I'm carrying your child!"

Look at that.

Tell a lie so many times, even the liar believes it.

She must love my double bride price and company more!

After enjoying their guilty, panicked expressions enough, I smiled: "Just kidding, teasing you two."

The two suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

They even secretly exchanged a smug glance.

Probably proud of their superb acting skills.

They didn't see the uniform contempt and disdain from everyone around them.

Then Bethany shyly covered her lower abdomen.

Acting all affectionate, she wanted me to publicly kneel and propose.

Under her hopeful expression.

I didn't hesitate to say:

"No!"

Bethany's expression instantly cracked.

A trace of anger surfaced on her face.

But just as she was about to question me.

The surrounding colleagues cut her off.

"Bethany, this is wrong of you. If you want Leaf to marry you, you have to let him prepare, right?"

"Exactly, exactly. This kind of forced palace behavior is so ugly, it really hurts your years of relationship!"

The female colleagues formed a bride's family army and roasted Bethany until she was utterly destroyed.

"Bethany, are you really pregnant? But why does your belly look so big?"

"You didn't do something less than human and want Leaf to be the fool taking the fall, did you!"

They mocked Bethany until her face turned blue and white.

Really satisfying.

I had long anticipated that Bethany would try to make me the backup plan.

She had always been bossy with me. Every holiday she'd hint around, making me give her expensive gifts. Not giving them meant I didn't love her.

She also chatted ambiguously with other men in private. Don't ask—they were just "good buddies." But she never—she'd self-righteously say those were all excuses, and she had as many scheming thoughts as she had petty schemes.

During our dating period, I thought it was just little woman behavior and didn't think much of it. But now that I'm clear-headed...

Ha.

Get out!

To cooperate with the performance, I "sighed miserably" and leaned on my male colleague's shoulder.

I had to lean—my mouth was about to split to my temples.

And Bethany seemed to really believe it.

She humbly tried to please me.

She even found excuses for herself: "Honey, I just wanted to give our baby a home so badly that I didn't consider your feelings."

Only then did I emerge from my "sadness": "Then I'll forgive you for now."

"But you wanted a five-carat pigeon egg engagement ring before. That depends on your future performance."

Ha, who can't make empty promises!

Bethany's face twisted for an instant.

But under the watchful eyes of other colleagues, she stiffly nodded.

Behind her, Jay's mouth was about to twist in anger.

When leaving, I noticed a flash of resentment on Bethany's face.

Because today she failed to trick me into being a fool.

But Bethany didn't know.

Everyone already knew about her little schemes.

Even if she had been fully prepared today.

She would have been picked on by colleagues for stepping into the company with her left foot first—an unlucky omen.

Want me to propose?

In her dreams!

At this moment, my closest male colleague quietly tugged at my sleeve and told me with a laugh that everyone was amused.

"Watching this idiot think she's in control when she's actually being played like a clown."

"I wonder if she'll die of shame when the truth is revealed!"

I gently smiled: "The good show is yet to come."