Mia Kane turned a deaf ear to the world outside, not even stepping out of her door.

She had already told Owen Sinclair and Shayla Quinn not to defend her online. The truth would eventually come out.

Worried about dragging her studio staff into it, she gave them time off. Besides, any losses the studio incurred would be billed to Vivian Lynch; she would make Vivian pay for it all.

The online uproar was massive. Chase Lockwood saw it and felt an impulse to help, but he was afraid Vivian would cause a scene if she found out.

He had no other choice now. He could only stand firm in his decision to be with Vivian.

He decided to wait and see how things developed, expecting Adrian Preston to make a move.

Sometimes, seeing the comments online, he felt a sense of satisfaction.

’Mia Kane despised being the other woman more than anything, but isn’t that what she’s become now?’

’She rejected me so harshly back then. I thought she was some paragon of virtue, so bothered by Vivian’s existence that she furiously called me a scumbag.’

’But in the end, she’s also become someone with no principles, someone who destroys another person’s family.’

’Mia deserved what was happening to her. She brought it all on herself.’

Chase was conflicted. Part of him wanted the situation to escalate, yet another part feared it would spiral out of control.

His feelings for Mia were too complex. He could no longer tell if it was love or just a man’s possessiveness and wounded pride. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

’In any case, I’ve already decided to cut ties. We’ll have nothing to do with each other from now on.’

"President Lockwood, someone from a small real estate company in Rhodanis called Apex Engineering is downstairs."

"What kind of riffraff thinks they can just see me? I’m not seeing them!"

Chase was used to small companies coming to him, begging for funding.

He was annoyed that his secretary didn’t have the sense to just send them away instead of bothering to report it to him.

The secretary lingered, seemingly hesitant to speak.

"Well? What is it?"

"The man... he’s here to see Mrs. Lockwood. He said she owes him a favor and promised to repay it within a year. He’s run into some trouble, so he came here specifically to find her."

"He couldn’t get in touch with her, so he came to the company headquarters."

"What kind of favor could Vivian possibly owe him? Was he scammed?"

"Sir, Apex Engineering is the company where Rosalyn Shield’s father works. Her father had a work-related injury, and the company paid a large sum in compensation, which improved her family’s situation."

Chase’s expression immediately darkened.

"Have him come see me."

He had a faint feeling that this was not a simple matter.

Soon, the owner of Apex Engineering came up.

He was very stiff and nervous in Chase’s presence. Chase was about ten years younger, yet he was young, successful, and carried the commanding aura of someone in power, which intimidated him.

"President Lockwood, I’m here to see Mrs. Lockwood."

"She’s been recuperating lately and isn’t seeing visitors. You can talk to me instead."

"Mrs. Lockwood had me give the Shield Family a large compensation payment. It wasn’t enough to ruin me, but it did take a toll. She promised she’d reward me and support me in the future. Right now, my company is facing a cash flow problem. I was wondering if President Lockwood could help me resolve this crisis."

As he finished speaking, the secretary leaned in and whispered in Chase’s ear, "President Preston is the one who caused Apex Engineering’s financial crisis."

Chase narrowed his eyes, his fists clenching silently.

"Did Mrs. Lockwood say what this money was for?"

"She didn’t say. She just told me to compensate them according to the law and add a little extra. It helped me earn a good reputation. After that, workers were eager to join my construction teams, and the local government even promoted my company. It was definitely beneficial. But... but that was all just for show. It’s useless now that I’m in a real crisis. I was originally planning to just wait for Mrs. Lockwood to contact me, but I’m in a bind now, so I have no choice but to come and bother you."

"Take him downstairs. Give him however much he needs."

Chase ground his teeth. If not for the guest’s presence, he likely would have exploded on the spot.

The secretary sensed the impending storm and quickly led the man away. After taking care of the matter, he hurried back.

The floor was a mess.

Everything throwable from the desk had been thrown.

Chase wasn’t an especially short-tempered person; his disposition was actually quite good. But this time, he was utterly enraged.

The secretary understood. This man’s appearance was tantamount to telling Chase Lockwood that Rosalyn Shield was Vivian Lynch’s pawn and that the two had a transactional relationship.

Vivian was not innocent in that miscarriage.

Chase had been defending Vivian all this time, only to be brutally slapped in the face by the truth.

He silently began to clean up the mess on the floor.

"What is Adrian Preston trying to do? Send this man to me to reveal the truth, thinking I’ll abandon Vivian just like that?"

"He’s dreaming. Even if I know there’s something dirty about this, I will still protect Vivian!"

His eyes were wide with fury. It was unclear if he was saying this for his secretary’s benefit or for his own.

He had burned all his bridges.

For Vivian, he had abandoned Mia, turned against Adrian, and created a rift with his uncle’s family.

His lover.

His friend.

His family.

He had given them all up just to be with Vivian. Even knowing she wasn’t flawless, that he had been blind, he could only swallow his teeth and blood and suffer in silence.

It wasn’t that Vivian couldn’t afford to lose. It was he—he couldn’t afford to lose anymore.

"Then, what should we do about Mrs. Lockwood?"

Chase clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth, "Do nothing. We’ll act as if this man never came, as if nothing ever happened."

He couldn’t go after Vivian for her wrongdoings. Mia and Adrian were watching him from the shadows. Not only would he not pursue the matter, but he would also act exceptionally loving toward Vivian, just to make them watch in jealousy!

That evening, he drove to Vivian’s place after work, but when he reached her front door, he hesitated to go inside.

His hand hovered in mid-air. All he had to do was press his fingerprint, and the door would open.

But he couldn’t summon the courage.

Finally, he turned limply, got back in his car, and drove away.

Adrian learned that Chase had done nothing, secretly sending the man back as if he had never appeared at all. He wasn’t surprised by this course of action.

If one straw doesn’t break the camel’s back, then add another. Sooner or later, he won’t be able to bear any more weight.

Adrian told Mia about what had happened.

Her reaction was just as calm.

"I already guessed this would happen. Chase won’t give up on Vivian."

"Mia, do you want revenge?"

"Hm?"

Mia had been reading a book. Hearing this, she immediately looked up at him, puzzled.

For some reason, her heart began to race, and a look of anticipation filled her eyes.

She knew Adrian wouldn’t say such a thing casually. If he was asking, he must have a plan.

"I know you hate them. You want to make Chase see Vivian’s ugly true colors, to shatter his spirit, and to leave Vivian with nothing."

"Yes... I do hate them."

Mia looked straight into her own heart.

’How could I not hate them?’

’Three years of my devotion were completely wasted. Vivian must have gloated in secret countless times while I was lost in my own fantasy, blind to their sordid affair.’

’If Vivian hadn’t flaunted it in my face, I might have only hated Chase. He was with me, yet he was unfaithful, unable to control himself around another woman. He deserved to die a thousand deaths.’

’But no, Vivian had to parade her prize, flaunt her victory, and kick me while I was down, trying to make my life even more miserable.’

’So, I have to be the one smiling while I watch them cry—and the more miserably they cry, the better.’