Chapter 7
Melissa and Clay had been together for three years, and I had no clue.
Turns out, the unfamiliar perfume, the sudden business trips, and the increasingly thoughtless gifts–all of it were signs that he’d fallen out of love with me.
I was just too blind to see it. I kept making excuses for him, never realizing that feelings could change so easily. He was no longer the Clay I used to know.
When we first met, I was scared my wealthy background would scare him off, so I pretended to come from an ordinary family.
Over time, I grew to love the simple life we shared–struggling together and then watching his career gradually take off.
Back then, he was so attentive, no matter how busy or tired he was. He’d always find ways to surprise me, even with
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something as small as an unknown brand of hand cream. I’d cherish it for days.
Later, I overheard rumors hinting that he was the illegitimate son of a powerful family. But instead of caring, I gave him my
whole heart.
I even rejected my parents‘ plan for an arranged marriage and cut ties with them just to be with him.
From that moment on, I saw Clay as my only family.
I would’ve done anything for him. I even risked my life to get him the experimental drug. When Clifton approached me, I didn’t hesitate for a second.
I never imagined that the so–called “60- year–old CEO of the D. Corporation would turn out to be a young, handsome man–one who also happened to be my arranged marriage partner.
Meanwhile, the devoted Clay I thought I knew had already been with another
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woman for three years.
When the wedding guests learned the truth, they turned on him.
“This guy’s a modern–day Zeus! Damn, cheater!”
“She gave up everything for him–even her dignity–and he repays her by lying and cheating?”
“And he even beat her like this?
Unforgivable!”
Clay collapsed to the ground, pale as a ghost. His legs gave out beneath him.
His mother, still trying to save face, snapped, “Stop talking nonsense! My son isn’t like that!”
But Clifton just smirked coldly, his eyes sharp as ice. “Take him away and teach. him a lesson. As for the wedding venue-
tear it down.”
Without waiting for anyone’s reaction, he swept me up in his arms, holding me
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tightly. His eyes reddened with guilt.
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” he muttered.
I leaned against him, feeling an overwhelming sense of safety. My tears, which I held back for so long, finally spilled over like broken pearls.
Behind us, Gemima shrieked in horror. “No, stop! My son didn’t do anything wrong! You can’t just punish him! And don‘ t destroy the wedding–I spent so much money on that! I can’t afford this…”
She scrambled to stop Clifton’s men and save the decorations, panicking like a headless chicken.
Just moments ago, she and her son had been so violent, and now they were nothing more than clowns.
Clay, desperate, broke free from Clifton‘ s men and fell to his knees in front of me.
“Lorraine, please save me! Uncle
Clifton‘ s cruel–he‘ 11 kill me! I don’t
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want to die! You said you’d love me forever, right? You promised you’d never leave me!”
I laughed at how ridiculous he sounded. “You made your choices, and now you face the consequences. Regretting it now? Too late. You‘ ve been with Melissa for years–what right do you have to ask me to stay loyal to you? The day you betrayed me, Clay? Everything between us was over!”
Clay started sobbing like a baby. “L- Lorraine…”
Clifton‘ s expression darkened. “Lorraine is your aunt now. Call her like that again, and I’ll make you regret it.
“L–Lo… Aunt Lorraine…” he stammered, trembling. “Please… please don‘ t leave.
me…”
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