A message notification popped up—a stranger had sent a video. Moments later, Sean transferred five million yuan without hesitation.
The other party responded: "Don’t worry, Mr. Hoffman. My brothers and I will never mention that you were the one who ordered us to violate your sister-in-law."
"Good. You handled it well. If you ever need anything, reach out to me."
Tears streamed down my face.
So this was the man I had loved for five years—the man who had personally thrown me into hell.
I forced myself to take deep breaths, steadying my shaking fingers before I dared to open the video.
On the screen, the entire horrifying ordeal played out—the nightmare of being violated by those monsters, recorded in excruciating detail.
Back then, I had endured the agony, biting my lips until they bled, believing I was saving Sean’s life.
Now, as I watched, the memories came flooding back, overwhelming me. Every sickening touch, every moment of humiliation, rushed over me like a violent storm, making my entire body tremble.
I couldn’t bear to see any more. I wiped my tears, quickly saved the chat records to my phone via email, and then erased all traces from the laptop.
Sean…
Since you love putting on a show so much, then this time, I’ll act for you.
I picked up my phone and sent a message to an underground agency abroad—one that specialized in faking deaths.
"Three days from now. The top floor of Hoffman Group. He dies on the spot."
—
The next morning, Sean walked into my hospital room with an extravagant breakfast, smiling as if nothing had happened.
But the moment he stepped closer, I caught the lingering scent of gardenias—a fragrance that didn’t belong to me.
The nausea hit instantly. My stomach churned, and I grabbed the bed frame, retching.
Sean rushed to my side, stroking my back with concern. Just as he was about to speak, the door burst open, and his assistant entered in a panic.
"Mr. Hoffman, it’s bad! Someone uploaded the video of your wife’s kidnapping online!"
Sean’s face turned ashen. Without another word, he followed his assistant out, muttering something about handling public relations.
I gave him a calm nod, but as soon as he left, I followed him straight to his office.
The moment I arrived, a call came through his desk phone.
"Mr. Hoffman, we can still remove the trending search in time. We guarantee to wipe the video from every platform."
Sean’s response made my blood run cold.
"No need. I arranged for the video to be posted. What I want you to do now is increase its visibility. Make sure everyone sees it."
There was silence on the other end—stunned hesitation. Then, a quick, obedient response.
Sean hung up, and before I could react, I heard a voice I knew all too well.
"Sean, let’s just forget about this. The baby and I don’t have to be heirs."
"If my sister ever finds out that you ordered this and spread it across the internet, she’ll hate you forever. I don’t want that."
Mandy’s voice was soft, filled with worry.
Sean wrapped his arms around her, his eyes full of tenderness.
"Mandy, I made a promise to Alden before he died—I would take care of you. The entire Hoffman Group is my gift to you and the baby."
"At tomorrow’s press conference, I’ll declare that Marie is no longer fit to be the Hoffman family’s young lady because of this scandal."
"And I’ll also announce that the baby will be registered under my name, ensuring that when he grows up, he can inherit the Hoffman Group without opposition."
Inside the office, Mandy’s eyes filled with emotion at his words.
Meanwhile, outside the door, I felt like I had been plunged into an ice-cold abyss.
My body trembled uncontrollably as I realized the extent of Sean’s cruelty.
Soon, the entire world would see those videos. My humiliation would be eternal.
I staggered back, my fingers accidentally knocking against a trash bin.
The noise startled them.
Sean whipped around and opened the door, his eyes flashing with a momentary panic before he quickly composed himself and strode toward me.
"Marie… what are you doing here?"
"Didn’t the doctor say you weren’t fully recovered? You should be resting in the hospital for a few more days."
