###Chapter 2
I rushed to the top floor of the hotel, into the high-end club. Through the crack in the door, I saw Oliver and his group of friends laughing and chatting.
One of them whistled. “Damn, going this far? But with that lady from the capital still around, even if Vespera gives birth, the child won’t have any status.”
The man in the middle held the girl on his lap, letting out a laugh full of control.
“When Vespera gives birth, I’ll hand the baby over to Leah to raise. Then I’ll just say it was adopted from the orphanage. Anyway, she likes children; she’ll definitely treat Vespera’s baby as her own.”
One of his friends chucked and added, “That’s why you’re the smartest. Turning an illegitimate child into the legal heir, why didn’t I think of that?”
Oliver sneered. “I told her I had oligospermia, but in truth, I’ve been slipping contraceptives into her milk every day. She even dragged me to infertility clinics. This woman is so stupid, I almost find her cute.”
The room erupted in laughter so loud it nearly lifted the roof, leaving my body trembling uncontrollably.
They went on, “Back then, the way you used that black bear to pull off a bitter trick just to marry Leah, I still admire it to this day. Lucky for you, the gamble paid off. From that moment, Leah fell head over heels. As for those so-called four young ladies of the capital, didn’t they all fall under your spell after just a few sweet words?”
My head went blank with a deafening boom. The blood-stained vow of that sixteen-year-old boy still echoed in my ears, yet now it only made my hair stand on end.
Leaning against the wall was the only way I could keep my trembling body upright.
The man swirled his wine glass, a cold laugh spilling as he unraveled the truth.
Another asked, “I heard the Lozano Family hasn’t been doing well these past two years. Since you like Vespera so much, Oliver, why not just cast that woman aside?”
Oliver snorted. “Do you want my dad to beat me to death? That old thing would never allow me to divorce Leah.”
So all his so-called kindness toward me had been nothing but a lie.
To him, my ten years had been nothing more than a game of lies and cruel amusement.
I clutched my chest, pain stabbing as though pierced by a thousand arrows, my heart bleeding dry. Just as I turned to leave, my father’s call came through.
“Leah, how’s the new job? Life at the grassroots level is hard. Your mother and I hate to see you suffer. But being reunited with Oliver is also a blessing. You two should think about having a child…”
At his gentle words, my tears finally broke loose, spilling in jagged sobs I could no longer hold back.
“Dad, Oliver and I will never have anything. He’s been lying to me from the very start.”
A heavy crash echoed from the other end of the line.
“Don’t worry, I’ll stand up for you! This marriage must end!”
I nodded through tears. “I want to send him to prison, too.”
Without hesitation, I dialed Zachary. “Help me investigate Oliver over these past few years…”
Just as I finished giving instructions, a cold voice suddenly rose behind me. “Leah, what are you doing here?”
Oliver’s eyes widened in shock before his brows quickly drew together, Vespera hidden behind him.
I fixed my gaze on him. “Oliver, have you… never cared for me from the very beginning?”
The despair in my eyes made him falter, but only for a moment. Soon after, he sneered.
“Since you’ve heard everything, there’s no point pretending anymore. Yes, I never loved you.”
My voice cracked with fury. “If you never loved me, then why lie to me? Why marry me at all?!”
“Because the company was in crisis and needed an alliance with the Lozano Family.” His tone turned cold as ice. “Leah, do you still imagine yourself the untouchable heiress of the capital? Not divorcing you is already the greatest dignity I could grant you. People ought to know when to be content.”
His voice was cold. “The day after tomorrow is our wedding anniversary. Show up obediently at the banquet.”
He then drew Vespera into his arms and left.
I stood there, staring at his back. For ten years, that was the sight he gave me most often, a fading figure walking away. Once, I never thought of it as wrong. I even felt guilty toward him. But now, remembering it, it all seemed laughable.
From his shoulder, Vespera glanced back at me, her lips lifting in a proud, mocking smile.
