Chapter 2 Public Harassment Call (1)

All Alva did was open her purse, extract her phone, punch in a number, and make a call. He was familiar with the number she dialed - the interactive hotline for Anthea's radio show listeners. He wondered what sort of devious prank this woman, who had used all her wits to seduce him, would come up with now. He waited with grim anticipation.

The call was swiftly connected to the broadcasting room. Alva smirked, deliberately stating: "I've been dealing with quite an annoying situation recently and thought I'd call your show to ask - what should one do if her fiance is stolen away?

Here's the story: I have a very close sister. She and her fiance were deeply in love, and they had been together for ten years without any major conflicts, which made me happy for her. They were even planning to marry, expecting a dreamy wedding and a happy life.

However, as you know, life is full of surprises. She suddenly faced a severe setback and had to postpone the wedding. Unexpectedly... unexpectedly, while she was absent, a third party intervened and ruined everything...! How should I talk to her when she comes back?"

From the beginning of the call, Anthea felt a sense of familiarity with the caller's voice but couldn't be sure. However, as the story unfolded, it became clear - it was someone she knew.

Alva Mary, who must have stumbled upon her radio show and deliberately called in to embarrass her. Her story was not a lie but a painful truth Anthea had long buried deep within herself.

Raymond, the man she called her husband, who had repeatedly filed for divorce, was originally her sister's fiance. Alva told the tale of Anthea's interference in her sister's love affair. Ironically, Anthea registered to marry her future brother-in-law, not her sister. Even she didn't dare to face her sister upon her return.

Anthea felt a sudden pain in her chest. It turned out that hearing others talk about this matter could still hurt her so deeply. The technician outside the studio was gesturing to her, urging her to answer the caller's question. On the other end of the line, Alva was silent, apparently waiting for her response.

Anthea took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. She had been a radio host for many years and had dealt with numerous tricky situations. However, being publicly ridiculed on her show was a first.

She muttered: 'Come on, Anthea, you can handle this. At least you can't let anything unusual happen on the live broadcast.'

Today, she had to get through this. Because her segment, Heart-to-Heart with Anthea, was reaching many listeners. If she couldn't handle this, then she might as well quit after today's episode.

Anthea picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and finally replied: "Dear listener, I understand how you might feel when encountering a situation that makes you unhappy. However, each party involved has its reasons. You might tend to side with your close sister as an outsider, but..."

Before Anthea could finish her sentence, Alva interjected: "Oh, Anthea, you don't understand my feelings. Some experiences have to be personally encountered to understand them truly.

This third party is shameless, meddling with others' emotions yet bearing the mask of morality. She always acts as if she's holding the moral high ground.

Tell me, she knew that was committed, yet she seized the first opportunity to wriggle her way in - if that's not a third party, what is? And using schemes to coerce the man to marry her... I have never seen such disgusting behavior.

Now that I recall, she's just like you, Anthea, whose job is to listen to confessions and advise others. Preaching principles and values with a character as worthless as a rag."

Unconsciously, Anthea's hand tightened around her teacup. Mocked by a bystander like this, anyone would seethe with anger.

She steeled herself and retaliated: "Right now, you're viewing the situation from a personal moral standpoint. In reality, the entire thing is only as you perceive it and think it is, but that may not necessarily be the truth.

You've hastily passed judgment and relentlessly insulted others without fully understanding the truth. That's not what a civilized and courteous person should do.

Furthermore, you're merely an outsider. Like how only the drinker knows the temperature of the water, the love triangle involving the three of them is not for you to judge.

Ultimately, you're just an outsider without any right to intrude upon their private affairs. You should reconsider the matter, think it through more thoroughly, and at least refrain from insulting others like this."

When Alva saw Anthea's assertive retort, she prepared to raise her voice in argument but barely uttered "You.." before she heard a chillingly dismissive grunt from the man beside her.

Only then did she remember she wasn't alone? There was another person there. Seeing Raymond's stormy demeanor, she quickly ended the call in fear. Raymond turned off the radio.

Women are arguing. How utterly vexing. Partly for that reason but also because he didn't want to hear Anthea's voice any longer. To rid himself of the baseless annoyance, he pulled Alva closer, again nipping at her supple neck and delicate collarbone. Alva hung up, leaving Anthea to sigh in silence. The unmistakable grunt of a man she had heard on the other end of the line was undeniably Raymond.

It would be laughable to admit, but as his wife, the sound most familiar to her from him was that very grunt, just as it had resonated in her ears moments ago. After uttering her final words, she rushed out of the studio and into the restroom.

Splashing her face with cold water, she shook her head, attempting to maintain her composure.

Yes, she had stood up against the mockery. If looking at today's events alone, she may have succeeded. But what about the reality of it all? It was more complicated.

Hadn't Alva voiced out the truths Anthea had been deceiving herself with for so long, running from and refusing to acknowledge? She was known as Raymond's wife and a wife wedded in a legitimate ceremony and accepted by his family.

But she was merely a stand-in.

She had agreed to marry her future brother-in-law to rescue her grandfather's business.