Chapter 1 A Web of Deceit Unraveled

It was midnight, and the raindrops were pounding the window.

Inside a house, a man said coldly, “sign the divorce papers! As compensation, I will give you 100 million dollars in alimony.”

“Did I do something wrong again, Bruce?” asked Joanna Haynes timidly. She had always been a humble servant in front of him.

“Roxy’s back, and she doesn’t want to see you! It’s time for our marriage to end. So you have to go!” Bruce Everett said, crossing his long legs and leaning back on the couch. He was as handsome as a classical Greek sculpture, but the look on his face was as cool as ever.

Joanna’s pale lips quivered as if she had fallen into the icy water. She asked with shock, “You’re divorcing me because she’s back? Is our marriage nothing but a joke to you?”

“You were not the one I wanted to marry in the first place, and you drove Roxy away two years ago with your dirty tricks. Now that she’s back, I won’t make the same mistake. Hurry up and sign the papers! 100 million dollars for two years of your pathetic life. You should consider it a bargain.” Bruce had always been good at hurting her with words.

“I… What will happen if I don’t sign them?” Joanna asked bitterly.

“Suit yourself. I have ways of making you disappear. Legally or not, no one will notice.”

As heir to the richest family in the Greyport city, Bruce had always been capable of doing whatever he liked. Who would dare to stand up to him anyway?

Two years ago, Joanna’s family decided to get connected with the Everetts by marriage.

However, at the engagement banquet of Bruce and Roxanne, Joanna’s step–sister, the man was drugged. Later in the lounge, Bruce mistook Joanna for Roxanne, and they slept with each other.

The next day, the scandal of the Haynes group’s eldest daughter hooking up with her brother–in–law was all over the newspaper.

Roxanne Haynes‘ mental state broke, and she was sent to a nursing home abroad for treatment.

Everyone took Joanna as the most shameless homewrecker, pointing fingers at her for sleeping with her brother–in–law.

Bruce hated her even more and decided that Joanna was the one who drugged him and climbed onto his bed.

Yet, the Everett family and the Haynes family shared a friendship for generations. Moreover, this marriage was meant to deepen the connection.

Hence, the elders of both families, Raymond Haynes and Margaret Everett, insisted on Bruce and Joanna getting married.

The past two years of marriage had been a living hell for Joanna.

Her tolerance and affection did not make it any better. In return, she got more humiliation and torture. Joanna was exhausted, both mentally and physically.

So what if Bruce wanted a divorce? She’d had enough anyway!

“Fine, I’ll sign them, but I have a request.”

“Spit it out then!” Bruce believed that Joanna was thinking about more money!

After all, that was what she, a scheming woman, could only care about.

“I want you to sleep with me as a real lover does for once. For the past two years, every time you’ve been with me, you’ve called out Roxanne’s name. Yeah, you’ve made me feel like I’m the worst woman in the world, and I’ve had enough! I’m your wife, and I want you to call out my name while sleeping with me for the last time. I am Joanna, not Roxanne!” For the first time, Joanna was screaming hysterically and trembling with anger.

Each time in the past two years, Bruce would deliberately call out the wrong name! He had sex with her simply to punish and humiliate her. There was no love in it at all!

“Oh, stop the nonsense. There’s someone waiting for me downstairs…”

Joanna snorted with self–mocking laughter.

Then it probably was Roxanne who was waiting for him downstairs!

“She can wait a little longer. She’s been waiting for two years, and I think she can be patient enough for another few minutes. Do what I said or not. Suit yourself. I don’t mind the media writing stories about me again!”

Bruce hated being threatened the most. His thin lips curled into a sneer. A few seconds later, he replied, “Fine, I’ll do it. But don’t you regret it, Joanna!”

Bruce jerked to stand up, seized her by the blouse, and pulled her over violently.

And then…

Her stockings were ripped apart…

The man did not even give her a warning before hurting her!

“AH!” Joanna cried, shutting her eyes in pain!

Bruce was as ruthless as ever, almost cruel.

He never cared if it hurt her or not. Or maybe watching her suffer simply pleased him!

Good! Very good!

She would remember this, remembering the man’s cruelty to her for the rest of her life.

“Joann. Oh, Joann. Are you happy now?”

He finally called her name as he was on top of her.

Though it was quite a humiliation, she could finally get rid of the depression that haunted her for two whole years.

Joanna felt tears streaming down her cheeks as she said in a heartbroken tone, “Bruce Everett! I won’t love you anymore!”

Bruce had heard what she said but chose to ignore it. He caught her jaw contemptuously, looked down at her face, and sneered!

She was… beautiful!

This woman had such a pretty and innocent face, but her mind was filled with filth and schemes.

That was why her so–called love for him would only make him sick.

“Sign the divorce papers, take the money, and leave Greyport forever!”

Having said that, Bruce left without looking back, leaving her lying on the floor in a mess.

Two months later…

In a hospital.

“Congratulations, Ms. Haynes, you are pregnant with more than one. But I suggest you give up one or two of the fetuses, or there will be too many at risk!”

Giving up?

No, she would not take away the right to live from any of her children!

It was her baby and hers alone! One way or another, she was gonna give birth to them and raise them right…”