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00:00...
00:30but he didn't answer.
00:31I texted him, but he didn't reply.
00:33Finally, I found the number of his childhood friend,
00:35Lila Moore,
00:36and called only for Ethan to pick up.
00:38Chloe Bennett, please stop calling and disturbing.
00:41Leila sprained her ankle
00:42and I have to take care of her today.
00:43Could you stop calling to bother her rest?
00:45We'll reschedule our license appointment.
00:48This is the seventh time we've rescheduled.
00:50So what?
00:51The court is right there.
00:52It's not going anywhere.
00:56My face was expressionless,
00:58but my heart felt like it was being torn apart.
01:00Are you sure you want to do this, dear?
01:04The clerk asked me sympathetically
01:06if I still wanted to proceed.
01:07I nodded gently.
01:11Yes, I do.
01:14I called my best friend Zoe Parker's brother
01:17and agreed to his request.
01:18After hanging up,
01:20I told the clerk to give me a moment.
01:24Just as I was still stunned,
01:25Zane arrived.
01:26As he rode a matte black Harley-Davidson motorcycle
01:29and stepped inside wearing his helmet,
01:31he immediately caught the attention of many people.
01:37I couldn't I was still a little bit too overseeing him,
01:51but he didn't.
01:52I treat him with herということ.
01:56I thought he just opened up my mind.
01:56After grieving this,
01:58will be there too much,
01:58but my bạn can punch the руки.
01:58he's still still in the way però.
01:58I'm still tratable on him,
02:00But he has none to do good is
02:00Some of all the help Его are ready to go.
02:03I don't really want to do this againistem
02:05Do you understand now?
02:07Are you willing to enter into a sham marriage with me
02:09just to deal with the family problems?
02:11I nodded faintly.
02:12Truth be told, it was not merely to evade family pressure to get married.
02:16The core reason for this marriage was to ease my grandfather's worries
02:19before he passed away.
02:20Grandpa Arthur's health had rapidly deteriorated half a year prior.
02:24He stayed in the general hospital every single day,
02:26and every time he saw me, he would keep asking when I planned to marry.
02:30When will you get married?
02:33I want to see you in a wedding dress
02:36and witness you walk down the aisle with my own eyes.
02:41That way, even if I'm gone,
02:44there will still be someone to love and cherish you.
02:48Yes, I'll get married as soon as possible.
02:53That was why I had been pressing Ethan to marry me starting half a year ago.
02:57We'd made intermittent trips to the courthouse seven times,
03:00yet every single attempt ended in failure for one reason or another.
03:04The last time, Lila got her period and suffered severe menstrual cramps,
03:08so he had to rush home to buy her hot cocoa.
03:11The time before that,
03:12Lila locked her car keys inside her vehicle
03:14and couldn't get back home,
03:16so he needed to deliver a spare set of keys.
03:18The occasion prior to that,
03:20Lila grew hungry and craved Quincy's lobster rolls,
03:23forcing him to rush over and queue up for the food.
03:25All seven cancellations were down to Lila,
03:28each time prompting Ethan to abandon me without a second thought.
03:31Ironically, I had given him seven separate chances.
03:35This time around, I was done compromising.
03:37Ethan, I gave you your chances, seven in total.
03:40All preliminary formalities went smoothly
03:44when Zane and I applied for our marriage license.
03:46Just as we prepared to take our official wedding photo,
03:49my phone pinged with an incoming message.
03:51It was from Ethan.
03:59Zane shot a glance my way and asked lazily,
04:01Do you want to continue?
04:03I drew a deep breath and replied with an impassive expression.
04:06Yes.
04:08Once all paperwork was finalized,
04:10I said to Zane,
04:11How are you tomorrow?
04:13I have something I'd like you to come with me on.
04:16Please contact me by phone if you need anything.
04:18Who knows, in just a couple of days,
04:20my grandfather might need your help too.
04:26My seven-year romance with Ethan,
04:28four years in college plus three years after graduation,
04:30had ultimately fallen apart.
04:32Meanwhile, I'd gotten married to my best friend's brother
04:35after only meeting him once.
04:37On the ride home,
04:39Ethan messaged me again alongside an attached photo.
04:42The dining table was laden with an abundance of delicious dishes.
04:45Sure enough, upon arriving home,
04:48the table was in a messy state
04:49with every last scrap of food completely eaten up.
04:53Standing nearby,
04:54Lila put on an innocent, pitiful look and spoke to me.
04:57Sorry, sister.
04:59It was all because I was too hungry
05:00and couldn't resist eating first.
05:03Even slow-witted as I was,
05:05I could tell she was deliberately provoking me.
05:08Blood rushed to my head in an instant.
05:10My hands clenched into tight fists
05:12with sharp fingernails digging deep into my palms.
05:15Lila and Ethan had been childhood sweethearts
05:17ever since they were little.
05:19That explained why Lila always occupied
05:21the top priority spot in Ethan's eyes.
05:23In the beginning,
05:24our relationship from meeting to falling in love
05:27had progressed seamlessly.
05:28We rarely argued.
05:30On the rare occasions we did,
05:32Ethan was always the first to back down and comfort me.
05:35He would take full responsibility instantly,
05:38even when the fault wasn't mine.
05:39My best friend Zoe had envied me repeatedly
05:42for landing a man who doted on me as much as Ethan did.
05:45But that envy came to an abrupt halt half a year ago.
05:48Ever since Lila entered the picture,
05:50his affectionate treatment toward me had shifted entirely.
05:53Chloe,
05:55why are you just coming back now?
05:57I remember I reminded you a long time ago.
06:00I was delayed by something on the way,
06:02so I'm back late.
06:03What could be so important that you missed me time?
06:08No problem.
06:10The company asked me to travel to New York on business
06:12and to pack my luggage upon return.
06:15I had no intention of telling him about my recent marriage.
06:18Now that I'd resolved to leave him,
06:20Ethan was nothing more than a stranger
06:22from that moment onward.
06:23But the second I pushed open the bedroom door,
06:25I was stunned by what met my eyes.
06:27The neatly made bed I'd tidied before leaving
06:30was all rumpled,
06:31and the closet had been ransacked in disarray.
06:33I could overlook all of that,
06:35but the handcrafted Cape Cod lighthouse ornament
06:37my grandfather gifted me,
06:39sitting on the nightstand,
06:40had snapped clean in half.
06:41Tiny shards scattered all across the floor.
06:44I could no longer hold back
06:45and called out Ethan's name sharply.
06:47Who has been in this bedroom?
06:49Who knocked over my things?
06:52It's just a handmade item.
06:54I'll ask someone to put it back together for you later.
06:56I froze for a split second.
06:59That indifferent tone sounded exactly as if
07:01I meant nothing to him at all.
07:03From that single sentence,
07:04I knew for certain Lila was the one
07:06who'd wrecked the ornament.
07:07Only she warranted such blind,
07:09unreserved protection from Ethan.
07:12Was broken by Lila, right?
07:14My calm single line was like tossing a lip match
07:16into Ethan's keg of gunpowder.
07:19Do you have evidence to prove
07:20that it was Lila who broke it?
07:22Maybe it just fell down on its own
07:23because it was not properly installed.
07:25Don't just open your mouth
07:26and falsely accuse others.
07:27Before you say it was Lila,
07:29you should at least present some evidence
07:30or I'll sue you for slander.
07:32I nearly bit through the soft flesh inside my mouth,
07:34the thick metallic tang of blood flooding my tongue.
07:37He really would go to any lengths to shield her.
07:40One casual remark from me
07:42and I was already facing a defamation charge.
07:44But Ethan hadn't always been this way half a year prior.
07:48I fell head over heels for him on a rainy night.
07:51I was involved in a car crash
07:52and he sprinted all the way to the accident site
07:54without so much as an umbrella.
07:56That refined, well-mannered man
07:58cast aside all restraint that night,
08:00shouting by the roadside
08:01and getting into a physical fight
08:03with the driver who'd hit my vehicle.
08:05What had happened to turn him into this person?
08:07I chose not to escalate the fight further.
08:10Just as Ethan claimed,
08:11I possessed zero evidence
08:13to prove Lila had broken the lighthouse.
08:15I crouched carefully on the floor
08:17to gather the broken fragments
08:18and collected the two separated halves
08:20of the lighthouse figurine.
08:22Brother Ethan,
08:23please don't quarrel with your sister.
08:25It wasn't my doing,
08:26but if you want to blame me,
08:28sister, go ahead.
08:29No one has ever liked me since I was a dild,
08:32so it's only natural that you don't like me either.
08:35I did it.
08:37So what?
08:39Rage surged through my head
08:40and I shoved Lila away.
08:42Yet before my hands made contact with her body,
08:45she tumbled onto the floor with effortless ease.
08:48Her gauze-wrapped injured foot
08:49smacked precisely against the nightstand.
08:51The next second,
08:53Lila burst into tearful sobs.
08:56Sister, I just want to help you.
09:01Before I could process what was happening,
09:03Ethan grabbed fistfuls of my long hair roughly.
09:06He glared at me with a ferocious expression
09:08and piercing eyes
09:09as if he wanted to kill me.
09:11Even if you don't like Lila,
09:12there's no need to hurt her like this.
09:14Besides, she's still ill right now.
09:16With my hair painfully pulled,
09:18I was forced to crane my neck upward
09:19to stare at them.
09:20I didn't touch her at all.
09:22I didn't touch her at all.
09:29You're still lying even now?
09:31Chloe, do you think I'm blind?
09:32I was right behind you
09:34and I saw it with my own eyes!
09:35First you framed Lila,
09:37and now you've pushed her down.
09:38How come I never knew before
09:39that you're such a heartless and cruel woman?
09:41You're simply vicious.
09:42My breath caught in my throat,
09:43leaving me unable to utter
09:45a single word of rebuttal.
09:46Nothing I said would convince Ethan at this point,
09:49regardless of my explanation.
09:51No excuses now, Chloe.
09:53You're truly a venomous woman.
09:55Ethan stared at me with evident disappointment.
09:58Contrarily, I felt immense relief.
10:00Any last shred of hope I'd clung to for him
10:02was finally gone for good.
10:06How dare you compete against me.
10:09Lila, lifted into Ethan's arms,
10:11shot me a triumphant glance,
10:12and mouthed a silent phrase I read clearly.
10:17I staggered to my feet,
10:18catching sight of my burning red cheek
10:20marked by the slap reflected in the dressing table mirror.
10:23The handprint remained sharply defined.
10:25It was plain to see how furious Ethan had been,
10:28and how much force he'd used to strike me.
10:30I let out a bitter laugh,
10:32and wiped away blood trickling slowly
10:34from the corner of my mouth.
10:35That single slap shattered
10:36every last fantasy I'd once held onto.
10:38I took advantage of his absence
10:41to gather all my clothing,
10:42and pack them into a suitcase.
10:44I took every belonging I could carry,
10:46and tossed all leftover junk
10:48straight into the trash bin.
10:50Before leaving,
10:51I contacted a real estate agent,
10:52and listed the apartment online for sale.
10:55This property belonged solely to me.
10:57My grandfather had purchased
10:58the South Boston apartment
11:00using his pension fund.
11:01I'd originally planned to use it
11:03as my marital home.
11:04Now there was no reason to keep it.
11:06Anything tainted and spoiled
11:08disgusted me.
11:10I planned to spend all my remaining time
11:13by my grandfather's side
11:14for his final days.
11:15On our way to the hospital,
11:17Zane and I pre-planned lines
11:19to fool my grandfather.
11:20I'd brought Ethan to visit Grandpa previously,
11:22so Grandpa knew Ethan
11:23was supposed to be my fiancé.
11:25To spare Grandpa unnecessary worry,
11:27I'd asked Zane to pretend to be Ethan
11:29and hide our real marital arrangement.
11:31I never anticipated he and Grandpa
11:33would hit it off so well.
11:35They chatted about life
11:36from Grandpa's younger years,
11:37all the way to modern
11:38artificial intelligence technology.
11:40Grandpa was visibly reluctant
11:42to see us leave
11:43when our visit wrapped up.
11:44He held my hand
11:46and patted the back of my palm gently.
11:48It's much more reliable than Ethan's.
11:53Grandpa, did you get it wrong?
11:55He is Ethan.
11:58Your grandpa here isn't senile yet.
12:01I still know whether it's a person or not.
12:05Grandpa doesn't know if he can hold on
12:08until the day of your wedding banquet.
12:13Grandpa, don't worry.
12:15We'm easing married
12:16and the wedding banquet is being prepared.
12:18You definitely make it.
12:24I knew it.
12:25It's not that kid Ethan,
12:27but Zane Parker, right?
12:28That's a great name.
12:31I shot Grandpa
12:32in an annoyed, playful glare
12:33before stepping out of the hospital ward.
12:36Zane waited for me in the corridor,
12:38appearing to have just gotten
12:39into an argument with someone.
12:41Stepping closer,
12:42I saw his opponents
12:42were none other than Ethan and Lila.
12:44What did my girlfriend do wrong?
12:46I apologize to you on her behalf.
12:48But as a grown man,
12:49how can you bully a woman like this?
12:51Have you no shame?
12:53If you've done something wrong,
12:55you should admit it.
12:55If everyone were like you,
12:57what we need the law for.
12:58Just because you're a woman,
12:59does that mean you can do wrong?
13:01Ethan and Lila were left speechless
13:03by his retort.
13:04Ethan spotted me
13:05the moment I stepped into view.
13:08A flicker of panic
13:09flashed across his eyes,
13:10yet he quickly suppressed it,
13:11putting on a casual front
13:12and hurrying over
13:13to grab my arm to speak first.
13:17Chloe, you came just in time.
13:19Just and I, Lisa
13:19accidentally spilled coffee out here
13:21and he'd you only claim
13:21that this suit was worth
13:22over a thousand.
13:23You think this is extortion?
13:24Don't you have a sister
13:25who's a lawyer?
13:26Let's sue him for extortion.
13:29Lila nodded matter-of-factly
13:31without an ounce of remorse.
13:32We will sue him for extortion
13:34and demand compensation
13:35for our mental damage.
13:37Zane looked at me
13:38with an amused grin
13:39and I couldn't help blushing.
13:42Your friend.
13:45I shook my head immediately.
13:47No.
13:49His clothes are worth
13:50over ten thousand
13:51and the lawyer you mentioned
13:53is his sister.
13:54With that,
13:55I strode out of the hospital,
13:56wanting zero further
13:57interaction with Ethan.
13:59Whatever negotiations
14:00followed between them
14:01were none of my concern.
14:04In the weeks afterward,
14:06Zane busied himself
14:07arranging our wedding reception.
14:10Meanwhile,
14:11Ethan texted daily
14:12asking when I'd return
14:13from my supposed business trip.
14:15I've picked a time
14:17and want to invite you
14:18to go get our marriage certificate.
14:22I'm busy on a business trip.
14:25It was too late.
14:26I no longer needed
14:27that commitment.
14:29The wedding day
14:30arrived quickly.
14:31I stood inside the church venue
14:33dressed in my wedding gown.
14:34A familiar voice
14:35sounded from behind me,
14:37tinged with surprise
14:37and unease.
14:40Chloe,
14:40aren't you on a business trip
14:42in New York?
14:43Why are you here
14:44wearing a wedding dress?
14:45Zane walked over to my side.
14:47I glanced at him indifferently.
14:49I had no doubt
14:50he'd long since figured out
14:51my messy history with Ethan.
14:53Isn't that the man
14:54we saw at the hospital
14:55the other day?
14:55Should we go and have a chat?
14:57If you want to watch a play today,
14:59it can be arranged now.
15:01Ethan sprinted up to me,
15:02pointing at me furiously
15:03and roaring.
15:04Chloe, I know it's you!
15:06Stop pretending
15:06you don't recognize me!
15:08What is this game
15:09you're playing?
15:10Leading me on as your boyfriend
15:11then marrying another man?
15:12Leading you on?
15:14Ethan, how dare you
15:15utter such shameless words?
15:17Since you always
15:17choose Lila over me,
15:19I'm granting your wish.
15:21You can stay by her side
15:22day and night from now on.
15:24The sight of Ethan
15:25dragged back memories
15:26of my ridiculous
15:27seven years spent loving him.
15:29Ethan tried to argue further,
15:31yet security guards
15:32summoned by Zane
15:32dragged him away forcibly.
15:34He screamed my name
15:35all the while,
15:36rambling nonsense
15:37about wanting to marry me.
15:38Zane clicked his tongue.
15:39I didn't expect you
15:40to leave him speechless.
15:41I shot him a cold glare.
15:42Don't mention him again.
15:44The last thing I wanted
15:45was for anyone to link
15:46my name with Ethan's
15:47ever again.
15:48With the disruption removed,
15:49our wedding ceremony resumed.
15:51Grandpa was too unwell
15:52to attend in person,
15:54but Zoe held up
15:55a high-definition laptop
15:56for a live video feed
15:57so Grandpa could watch
15:58every wedding moment.
16:00Unfortunately,
16:01Grandpa's health
16:01deteriorated rapidly
16:02as the ceremony went on.
16:04I left the church
16:05mid-wedding,
16:06still wearing my bridal gown
16:07after receiving an urgent
16:08hospital call
16:09informing me Grandpa
16:10was on his deathbed.
16:11He'd clung on to life
16:12solely to witness my wedding,
16:14and now,
16:15his final wish fulfilled.
16:16His breathing grew
16:17shallow and faint.
16:18I sprinted toward the hospital
16:20only to get blocked
16:21by Ethan downstairs.
16:22He grabbed my wrist
16:23with bloodshot arms.
16:24When you can, I do.
16:25Chloe, you cannot marry that man.
16:27He's obviously no good for you.
16:30Let go of me.
16:32I have an emergency
16:33to attend to.
16:33We'll discuss us later.
16:35Luckily,
16:36Zane arrived promptly
16:37to hold Ethan back for me.
16:38Zoe pressed the elevator button,
16:40and I rode up to the third floor.
16:42I arrived too late.
16:43Grandpa lay covered
16:44under a white sheet,
16:45having already passed away.
16:46The doctor shook his head at me.
16:48I'm sorry you missed
16:48your chance to say goodbye,
16:50but your grandfather
16:50departed extremely happily.
16:52It's rare for our medical staff
16:53to see patients pass away
16:54with a smile.
16:58I'd lost my last opportunity
17:00to see Grandpa alive.
17:01I reached out numbly
17:02to touch his cold hand.
17:03Zoe wrapped her arms around me
17:05and whispered comforting words.
17:06Don't grieve too hard, Chloe.
17:08You fulfilled his final wish,
17:10and the doctor confirmed
17:11he died happy.
17:12I wiped endless tears
17:13from my eyes
17:14and stroked Grandpa's face
17:15gently through the fabric
17:16of the sheet.
17:17Yes, Grandpa must be overjoyed.
17:20That's great.
17:21A light drizzle fell on the day
17:22of Grandpa's funeral.
17:24Zoe held an umbrella over me
17:26while Zane oversaw
17:27the burial of Grandpa's ashes.
17:30Don't be too sad.
17:31I nodded my head.
17:32Grandpa had departed
17:33without a single regret,
17:35even satisfied
17:35with the hastily chosen husband
17:37I'd found.
17:37I glanced upward at Zane,
17:39sprinkling the last mound of soil
17:40over the grave amid raindrops.
17:42Unable to deny
17:43my heartfelt gratitude,
17:44I owed everything
17:45to the brother and sister
17:46who'd stood beside me
17:47through my darkest hours.
17:49Zane,
17:49thank you for helping me
17:50fill Grandpa's last wish.
17:52We can file for divorce paperwork tomorrow.
17:55What's the rush?
17:56Your troubles are settled,
17:57but mine aren't.
17:59Leave our marriage as is for now.
18:00I'll reach out to you in a few days.
18:02He left immediately after speaking.
18:04I looked toward Zoe in confusion,
18:06noticing her evasive gaze.
18:08My dad's been pressuring Zane into marriage
18:10and he can't find anyone suitable.
18:12Chloe, help him out
18:13by staying married to fool our family.
18:16Something felt off about her explanation,
18:18yet I couldn't pinpoint the problem right away.
18:20Still, Zane had done so much for me.
18:22I couldn't turn my back on him
18:24after his kindness.
18:25Upon exiting the cemetery grounds,
18:27I found Ethan waiting by the gate.
18:30Chloe,
18:32since Grandpa Ware is buried,
18:33I should have paid respects to Grandpa.
18:34I had no desire to converse with him,
18:36yet out of respect for Grandpa,
18:38I declined politely.
18:39Thank you, Mr. Carter,
18:40but I'll pass.
18:41Given your relationship with my grandfather,
18:43there's no need for you
18:43to pay respects at the grave.
18:45I apologize to you.
18:48I didn't know anything
18:49about Grandpa's condition that day.
18:52I just loved you too deeply
18:53and wanted to win you back,
18:55so I stopped you in the hospital lobby.
18:57Chloe, forgive me.
18:59This time we will definitely get married
19:01and God will bless us.
19:03You see,
19:03I've accompanied you
19:04to visit your grandfather
19:05several times before
19:07and your grandfather really likes me
19:09when Grandpa is no longer around.
19:11I will be the one to protect you.
19:13I wondered when exactly
19:15he'd developed such shameless thick skin.
19:17Ethan had once carried quiet dignity
19:19and self-respect,
19:20never overly arrogant.
19:22Now his presence filled me with revulsion.
19:25Before I could reply,
19:26a black Bentley pulled up beside us.
19:28Zane climbed out
19:29and pulled me firmly into his embrace.
19:31My wife doesn't need you to protect
19:34and Grandpa doesn't like you.
19:36The one he likes is me.
19:37He acted exactly like a jealous man,
19:39eager to claim exclusive ownership of his partner.
19:42Ethan's features contorted with rage.
19:44His eyes glued to Zane's arm,
19:46wrapped around my waist.
19:47Chloe, these wealthy men
19:48only play around for fun.
19:50Don't let him trick you.
19:52He put on an overly affectionate expression.
19:54Chloe, my associate.
19:56I'm different.
19:57Seven years of up and downs together
19:59make you irreplaceable in my heart.
20:02No matter how you change,
20:03my love for you will never waver.
20:05His empty declarations
20:07churned my stomach with disgust.
20:09Recalling the day he'd brutally
20:10snatched fistfuls of my hair
20:12sent a phantom ache across my scalp.
20:14I sneered at him openly.
20:16Is loving me dragging my hair
20:18and striking me without hesitation?
20:20Is loving me slapping my face hard?
20:22Ethan, your version of love terrifies me.
20:25I want absolutely no part of it.
20:28I want absolutely no part of it.
20:28My cutting remark drained the color
20:30from Ethan's face.
20:31Memories of his cruel deeds
20:32flooded his mind.
20:33He stumbled backward two paces
20:35and nearly toppled onto the ground.
20:37I almost laughed aloud.
20:38Had he developed selective amnesia
20:40that required me to remind him
20:41of his own terrible actions?
20:43How else could he spout
20:44such shameless falsehoods?
20:46Final notice.
20:47I'm selling this apartment.
20:48Move out with Lila promptly
20:50or I'll call law enforcement
20:51to remove you.
20:52Ethan stared at me
20:53in stunned disbelief
20:55for a long moment.
20:56You're selling our home?
20:57I refuse to allow it.
20:58This was meant to be
20:59our marital property.
21:00Where will I live if you sell it?
21:01Your living arrangements
21:02are none of my concern.
21:03You're a complete stranger to me now.
21:05Vacate propolentarily
21:06before I involve police
21:07and create an ugly scene.
21:08I ignored his further protests
21:10and climbed into Zane's
21:11departing vehicle.
21:12Ethan chased the moving car
21:13screaming frantically.
21:15Chloe, we can still get married.
21:17You can't kick me out.
21:18Zane remained in a foul mood
21:20for the entire drive.
21:21Exhausted from days
21:22of emotional turmoil
21:24I leaned against the car seat
21:25and fell fast asleep.
21:27I woke up inside
21:28a small apartment.
21:29Unable to keep living in hotels
21:30while Ethan and Lila
21:32occupied my old home.
21:33Zoe had arranged for me
21:34to move into Zane's residence.
21:36All my luggage
21:37had already been transported here.
21:38Zoe sat on a nearby sofa
21:40typing furiously on her laptop
21:41with an angry expression
21:43unsure what messages
21:44she was firing off online.
21:46Zoe, what are you doing?
21:48Fright at my sudden question.
21:50She slammed the laptop
21:51shut quickly and answered.
21:52Nothing much
21:53just watching online shows
21:54and leaving casual comments.
21:56I eyed her suspiciously
21:57but chose not to press further.
21:59Strange incidents started
22:00clopping up over the next few days.
22:02Every time I stepped outside
22:04passers-by pointed fingers
22:06and whispered gossip about me.
22:10My supervisor called me
22:12into his office
22:12during work hours
22:13dropping subtle hints
22:14about the online controversy.
22:16After leaving his office
22:18I searched TikTok and Twitter
22:19to uncover the full truth
22:20someone had launched
22:21a vicious online smear campaign
22:23against me.
22:24I instantly recognised
22:25the account as Ethan's.
22:27Its profile picture featured
22:28a man in an expensive tailored suit
22:30with no face visible.
22:31Yet I'd bought that exact suit
22:33as Ethan's 30th birthday gift.
22:35I pieced together his motives easily.
22:37Unable to accept being evicted
22:38from the apartment
22:39Ethan painted himself
22:40as an innocent victim online.
22:42He spread lies
22:43claiming I was a gold digger
22:44who abandoned our seven year relationship
22:46for a rich husband's fortune
22:47stole our shared marital apartment
22:49and plotted to drive him homeless.
22:51Hoards of internet trolls
22:52swarmed social media
22:53to harass and cyber bully me
22:55shortly after.
22:56Strangers recognised me
22:57on my walk home
22:58and chatted maliciously.
22:59That's the woman right there
23:00dumped her seven year boyfriend
23:02without a second thought
23:03cold hearted to the core.
23:04Marrying into wealth
23:05is the ultimate win.
23:06Romance feeds the soul
23:07but not the wallet.
23:08I'd pick money too.
23:10Gold digger poster child.
23:11Women like her
23:12ruin social morality.
23:14Out of nowhere
23:15a black cashmere overcoat
23:16draped over my shoulders.
23:18Zayn's stern face
23:18radiated icy anger.
23:23Mind your own business.
23:25Slander is illegal.
23:26One more word
23:27and my lawyer will send
23:28a cease and desist letter.
23:29The onlookers scattered immediately
23:31and Zayn escorted me
23:32safely back to the apartment.
23:34I heard Zoe cursing
23:35and clacking away on her keyboard
23:36before even opening the front door.
23:38These trolls only dare
23:40to show off online.
23:41She closed the laptop
23:42and pretended innocence
23:43upon seeing me walk in.
23:45Don't pretend.
23:47I already know everything.
23:49What?
23:50You knew all along?
23:53It's all Ethan's doing.
23:55He's jealous you married my brother
23:56and wants to ruin you.
23:58I wasn't as fragile as she assumed
24:00yet her care warmed my heart.
24:02Though certain Ethan
24:03orchestrated the harassment
24:04I had no immediate solution
24:06to fix the online chaos.
24:07My single attempt
24:08to defend myself online
24:10triggered thousands
24:10more hateful comments
24:12leading my company
24:13to suspend my job
24:14for a week
24:14pending damage control.
24:15as I said
24:15I was afraid
24:15but I feel like
24:15in the backyard
24:15I feltилась
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