Before I could say a word, Mandy stepped out of the office.
The gold pendant engraved with the name "Mandy" still hung around her neck.
"Sister, long time no see."
Mandy—the daughter my stepmother brought with her after my mother passed away.
She had never once called me sister growing up.
This was the first time I had ever seen her act so obediently.
Sensing my thoughts, Sean quickly spoke, his tone laced with urgency, afraid I might misunderstand.
"Marie, don’t overthink this. After Alden’s passing, Mandy has been feeling restless and needed some fresh air."
"I happened to run into her, so I invited her to the company for a cup of coffee."
"I was just about to send her back."
If this had happened in the past, I would have lost my temper and started a fight with Sean.
But now, I swallowed my pain, forcing a smile.
"It doesn’t matter. We’re all family. You should take care of her. Don’t worry—I won’t be upset."
At my words, Sean visibly relaxed, letting out a quiet breath of relief.
I turned to leave, but before I could step away, a group of employees coming downstairs for a meeting caught sight of me.
They whispered among themselves, their words slicing through me like a blade.
"Isn’t that Mr. Hoffman’s wife? Did you see the video? She was raped by more than a dozen men for an entire day and night. No wonder the baby didn’t make it."
"I saw it too. But what I don’t get is—if they wanted money, the Hoffman Group could have given them as much as they wanted."
"If you ask me, maybe she was just looking for excitement and got tangled up with the wrong crowd."
"That sounds about right. What a shame though. Mr. Hoffman’s own wife, reduced to a scandal like this, and now she’s here handling damage control."
Their murmurs echoed in my ears, sharp and merciless, making my body go weak.
I felt myself sway, about to collapse.
But before I could hit the ground, Sean caught me, pulling me into his arms. His voice was laced with fury.
"All of you, listen up—fire every single person who dared to gossip just now!"
"From this moment on, if I hear anyone spreading rumors about my wife, you’ll all be packing your things and leaving!"
Sean rarely loses his temper.
The last time I had seen him this anger was during my pregnancy—when my morning sickness had been so severe that I could barely eat.
He had nearly torn apart the hospital in frustration and even went on a hunger strike with me for three days until he almost passed out.
Back then, I had been deeply moved by his devotion.
But now, watching his veins bulge in anger, I felt nothing.
Because to make room for Mandy and her son,
He orchestrated the destruction of my dignity, had me violated, stripped me of my ability to bear children,
and ensured I would forever be the target of public scorn.
So, who was he putting on this performance for now?
Swallowing the bile rising in my throat, I whispered,
"Sean, I’m feeling tired. Take me back to the hospital."
Sean hesitated for a moment before nodding. His eyes were red as he lifted me into his arms.
But as soon as we stepped out of the company doors, a swarm of reporters descended upon us.
Microphones were shoved in my face.
"Mrs. Hoffman, the video of your assault has been circulating online. Do you have anything to say?"
"Mrs. Hoffman, we heard that due to trauma, your baby died in the womb. As a mother, do you think this was avoidable?"
"Mrs. Hoffman, will this incident affect your marriage with Mr. Hoffman? And now that you can no longer conceive, how do you plan to face the future?"
Flashes went off in every direction, the blinding lights making me tremble violently.
Seeing this, Sean immediately removed his suit jacket, wrapping it around me and shielding me from the cameras.
Then, with a firm expression, he turned to the reporters and answered—
