Chapter 4

Inside were Julian's company secrets, including equity documents, that he had never allowed me to access.

Six months ago, I had given up and left, but I had only harmed myself.

This time, I would put myself in a position of power.

I wanted.

To make Julian beg me on his knees.

The next day, Julian took me to a banquet.

Chloe was there too, even proudly proclaiming herself Mrs. Hayes.

She boasted in the crowd about how favored she was.

And how much her husband loved her.

I sat quietly in a corner, sipping tea, only for them to approach me and taunt me.

"Well, well, isn't this the Dr. Lin who tried to seduce my husband the other day?"

"You're really persistent. Any trash can show up at this banquet, huh?"

"Clara Lin, now that you've lost your job, have you resorted to seducing men to support yourself?"

I scoffed, grabbing a wine glass from the table and splashing it onto her face.

"I've handled countless mistresses for Julian, and I've never seen one as shameless as you."

Chloe shrieked.

The surrounding crowd was stunned by the sudden turn of events.

"What's going on? Chloe, aren't you Julian's wife? Why is she saying you're his mistress?"

Chloe's face was a mask of humiliation, her eyes fixed on me.

"Clara Lin, you bitch! Wasn't my husband's lesson last time enough for you?!"

I gave a cold smile.

"If you truly believed you had no relation to my husband, why would you proactively provoke me?"

"Did you perhaps see my name saved in Julian's phone?"

"Or... did you hear him call my name in his sleep?"

With each word I spoke,

Chloe's face grew paler and paler.

"You're lying!"

But whether I was lying or not was already self-evident.

"Chloe!"

Julian arrived, his first reaction to shield her.

Chloe, her face stained with tears, threw herself into his arms.

"Darling, tell everyone, who is your real wife?"

"This woman just threw wine on me!"

"And she... she said she's your wife, is that true?"

I looked up, silently staring at Julian.

He glanced at me, frowned, then his gaze softened instantly.

I remembered how, in those five years, some of his 99 mistresses also thought they could replace me.

They would humiliate me in front of others, believing they would earn Julian's favoritism.

But without exception, all they got was Julian's wrath.

"Dare to bully Clara? You must have a death wish."

Within two hours, all those mistresses were banished from the city by Julian, never to be seen again.

However, at this moment, Julian withdrew his gaze from me.

"I have no connection to Clara Lin. She's always tried to seduce me, but unfortunately,"

"I am devoted to my wife."

Snickers erupted from the crowd.

"I've never seen such a shameless woman! Trying to pretend she's someone's wife, only to show up in front of the real one."

"I thought she was Mr. Hayes's mistress, but turns out she doesn't even have that title. He didn't even want her, how dare she come here to cause a scene?"

"Honestly, women these days, they'll do anything to climb into a man's bed, they have no shame..."

I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood, watching Julian lift Chloe into his arms.

"She ruined your dress. I'll take you to get a new one, how about that latest couture gown?"

Chloe's eyes widened with surprise.

"But that's worth millions..."

"You're worth it."

Julian strode away, carrying her.

"Julian, after five years of marriage, are you really going to humiliate me like this?"

Julian stopped in his tracks.

"Clara Lin, you shouldn't bully my wife in front of so many people."

He signaled his bodyguards to throw me out.

But Chloe stopped him.

"Wait."

"Darling, she spread rumors at the banquet and made me lose face in front of everyone. How can this just end easily?"

Julian looked at her patiently.

"Tell me, sweetie, what do you want to do to calm down?"

Chloe waved her hand, and someone handed her a whip as thick as a finger.

"Just have someone give her thirty lashes, and we'll call it even."

Julian gently stroked her hair and looked at his bodyguards.

"Didn't you hear what my wife said?"

Julian didn't spare me another glance.

Bodyguards rushed over, pinned my arms, and forced me to my knees. I tried to struggle.

I tried to speak, but the whip landed heavily on me.

I was whipped until my flesh was torn and bleeding, my blood staining my clothes like crimson blossoms blooming on fresh snow.

Even the other guests watching gasped.

"That's too harsh, isn't it?"

The voices around me became muffled, and a sharp pain shot through my abdomen.

I clutched Julian's jacket.

"Julian, save our baby!"

I was pregnant.

Julian's body stiffened, and his steps faltered.

But he didn't turn back.

"Ms. Lin, please show some self-respect. My wife is right here in my arms."

"If she misunderstands something and gets upset with me, you won't be able to bear the consequences."