Chapter 3

That night, I received a new friend request with the note "Charlotte."

I accepted it.

She immediately sent a message: "Got the million. Thanks for being so generous, sis~ Try not to be so bitchy next time, okay?"

Then another: "Still awake this late? Waiting for someone? Don't bother. Victor's with me. He says you're boring."

I didn't reply. I just took screenshots and saved them.

The next day, I went directly to the upscale club Victor frequented. I needed to retrieve a spare access card I'd left at his place.

When I reached the door of his usual private room, just as my hand touched the door handle, I heard laughter from inside.

"Victor, you're something else. Lynn's been with you for seven years, and you just swipe a million of her money without blinking to spoil your new girl?" A slick male voice laughed.

Victor's lazy voice came through: "Her money is my money. Women, you know—when they throw tantrums, you just let them cool off. When she realizes she can't live without me, she'll naturally come back."

"So what's your situation now? Keeping the main wife at home while playing around outside? Who are you actually marrying in two months?" another person asked.

"Whoever's more obedient, I'll marry." Victor's tone carried a condescending amusement. "If Lynn knows what's good for her and comes back behaving herself, the position is still hers. Charlotte's young and fun—I'll keep her around for entertainment for now."

Someone egged him on: "Impressive! But Lynn's trust fund is a fat piece of meat. Don't screw it up."

"I won't." Victor sounded supremely confident. "With that brain of hers, all the money she earns will eventually be mine anyway. She's just being stubborn right now."

My blood nearly froze. Nausea rose in my throat.

I didn't push open the door. I turned and walked to the quiet end of the corridor and called him.

"Victor," my voice was cold as ice, "I'm telling you one last time. Return my million dollars by the end of today. Otherwise, I'll not only file a lawsuit, but I'll also leak to the financial media and all your clients that you've been misappropriating trust funds to support your mistress. I mean what I say."

The other end went silent instantly, then his voice came through, lowered and furious: "Lynn! You wouldn't dare!"

"Watch me." I hung up.

That evening, my mother called, her voice full of concern: "Victor came to the house this afternoon and said some things... What's really going on with you two? Seven years together isn't easy. You're about to get married—don't let small things ruin it..."

"Mom," I calmly interrupted her, "there's no misunderstanding. He took a million dollars of my money to buy jewelry for his mistress. He and I are completely finished. I've already agreed to Adrian's proposal. He'll be back soon."

Just after I'd calmed my mother down, Adrian called. His voice carried a hint of barely perceptible urgency: "Lynn, I've expedited the transition here. I can be back as early as next week. Are you... are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Hearing his voice steadied me a bit. "I'll wait for you to come back."