He Chose Lies, I Chose Leaving

Amara Willis stepped forward and kicked me as I lay on the asphalt road. "Stop playing dead! If you don't apologize and compensate me with a million dollars today, I won't let go of you easily."

I raised my head and glared at the necklace around her neck.

Amara noticed my gaze and laughed smugly. She touched the sapphire necklace and said arrogantly, "You bumpkin. The necklace symbolizes Mrs. Blakely. My husband gave it to me a few days ago. We're getting engaged soon. You, a mere hillbilly, should consider it a blessing to even lay eyes on it. You'll probably never have the chance to see it again in your lifetime."

I glanced at Amara. Myles Blakely, my husband's father, had given me the necklace around Amara's neck personally.

She was even wearing my diamond ring and the haute couture dress Nixon Blakely gifted me on our first anniversary.

I couldn't believe that Nixon had a mistress behind my back after I was away for only ten months from home.

And the mistress was bullying the daughter of the Blakely family.

If it weren't for worrying about Vivian Blakely's health, I wouldn't have bothered arguing with Amara there.

"If you stare at me like that, I'll make you regret it."

The sudden traffic accident happened on the main road, so a massive traffic jam quickly formed.

The drivers behind us began to complain.

"Apologize as soon as possible! What are you dawdling for? You bumped into her car. Isn't it normal for you to apologize?"

"A luxury car with a prestigious plate got hit. These two young women are going to be cleaned out if they have to compensate."

"..."

Listening to the insults from the surrounding drivers, Amara became even more smug.

"You bumpkin, bow down and apologize to my car." She lifted her chin and looked down like a queen at ants. "And the little wretch inside the car must bow down too."

A bodyguard rushed over, pulled open the back door, and dragged Vivian to the ground. Her high fever made her tremble all over, and she instinctively crawled towards me.

I lunged forward, but the bodyguard pinned me against the car. My nails dug into my palm.

"Stop it!" I glared fiercely. "She's Nixon's sister!"

"Oh, she's Nixon's sister? Are you daydreaming of money? If she's Nixon's sister, then who are you?"

"I'm his wife."

Amara laughed so hard she nearly doubled over. "You're Nixon's wife? Then who am I?"

She slapped me across the face and left a mark on my face instantly.

"I suggest you let us go quickly, or you won't be able to handle the consequences!" I said.

Upon hearing this, Amara laughed even louder.

Amara sneered, "Oh, I'm really scared now. How about giving you a chance to prove that you're Mrs. Blakely and that little wretch is the daughter of the Blakely family."

I suppressed my anger and dialed Nixon's number.

I heard from my phone loud music blared, accompanied by a woman's coquettish voice, "Hey, Nixon, honey, ease up on the drinks."

"Who is that?" Nixon sounded drunk.

"It's Sophia..."

"Is it a scam call? You even mimic pretty well." He sneered, "How dare you target the Blakely family?"

My throat tightened. I was about to say more, but he hung up abruptly.

Amara kicked away my fallen phone and crushed the screen with her high heel. "Go on. Why don't you keep pretending?"

Suddenly, I remembered the emergency signal inside the watch Myles had given me.

I discreetly pressed it thrice with my thumb, and the watch flashed red. The signal would definitely reach Myles.

"Then you will apologize to us," I thought.

"Pin her down!" Amara smirked as two men in black suits clamped onto my shoulders with a vice-like grip.

I struggled and turned my head to see Vivian being forced to bow her head onto the hood of Amara's sports car.

Vivian's face was flushed, as she had a fever. Her forehead bumped into the hood with a dull thud. Those around us were too scared of Amara's identity to intervene.

"Get on your knees and apologize!" Amara's sharp stilettos crushed down on my foot.

I stared at the necklace swinging around her neck, the "Shimmer of Stars and Moon," a Blakely family heirloom meant for the matriarch. Now it was caught in Amara's cleavage. I felt it was so ironic.

Suddenly, Vivian let out a scream of pain.

I violently shrugged off the restraints. And my watch strap was broken in my struggle. Some shards of glass pierced my palm. "Stop it. Let her go! She's Nixon's..."

Vivian was the only daughter of the Blakely family. If anything were to happen to her, it would be a disaster.

"You beasts!" I grabbed the thermos from the car and hurled it. The metal canister hit the guard's forehead, and warm blood splattered onto Amara's face.

Amara was disgusted by the smear on her face, and her eyes turned icy. "How dare you resist? Took their clothes off! Let everyone see the cheap clothes these two impostors were wearing!"

I clutched my dress tightly and stood protectively in front of Vivian.

I was the Clark family's heir, and the members of the Blakely family usually treated me with the utmost respect. I had never suffered such humiliation.

I was terrified and shielded my chest as the fabric was torn open while Vivian was crying.

Someone pulled at my belt, and someone pinned my arms. I smelled my own hair burning. Amara was singeing my hair with a lighter.

"Help! Help!" I screamed until my throat bled, but it only let Amara mock louder.

"Stop!" I bit my tongue and tried to stay calm. "I am the daughter of the Clark family..."

"What?" Amara suddenly yanked my hair back, and I heard my neck crack. "The Clark family? Do you even know the name of the Clark family's daughter? It's Sophia Clark, and she's negotiating a multi-billion-dollar business deal right now abroad. Have you read too many novels?" Amara sneered as she pulled my hair harder. "Did you listen to too many stories about Cinderella? Do you want me to teach you what a real lady should do?"

I felt a chill run down my spine.

Ten months ago, Nixon begged me to use the Clark family's resources to save the Blakely Corporation. A month ago, he told me over the phone how much he missed me and how much he wanted to see me.

Recently, I had worked tirelessly to look for Vivian and just wanted to return home as soon as possible.

I never imagined Nixon's mistress would publicly strip me and accuse me of impersonating the daughter of the Clark family.

"Crack!" A sharp pain shot through my left arm as it fractured. Some bone shards pierced through, and blood streamed down instantly.

Amara smeared the blood on my face and crouched down to grip my chin. "Do you know you are wrong now?"

When Amara's slender heels crushed my arm, I realized just how severe my injuries were.

"Ah-" A cry of pain lodged in my throat and turned into whimpers.

"You miserable scammer, you're lucky that you met with me today. Otherwise, you'd be in serious trouble!" Amara might not want to talk to me any longer. She disdainfully wiped her shoes and turned away to touch the barely noticeable mark on her sports car. Then she finally smiled with satisfaction.

"Amara, are you alright?" The familiar voice was suddenly heard, but my heart sank.

Everyone made way for the newcomer.

We hadn't seen each other for only ten months, but Nixon looked so unfamiliar.

"Nixon, my dear!" Amara threw herself into his arms and cried pitifully. "This crazy woman crashed the car you gave me and even scratched my face..."

I slowly raised my head.

Nixon stood in front of his luxury car. His tailored suit fit his tall frame perfectly. His eyes, behind gold-rimmed glasses, swept over me as if I were trash.

"Apologize to her," he said to me coldly.

My blood froze. "You... don't know me?"

Just a month ago, we had video chatted. Now he couldn't even recognize my voice?

"Why do I know you?" Nixon sneered, adjusting his glasses with slender fingers. He said stubbornly, "Get down on your knees and apologize to Amara!"

I bit my tongue until it bled. "Nixon, open your eyes and take a good look. I am Sophia Clark, your wife."

Nixon trembled, and his pupils constricted behind the lenses.

But within seconds, he regained his indifference. "Why are you back? You didn't even tell me earlier?"

"You..."

"Nixon!" Amara suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed the corner of his lips. "She must have heard about our engagement and came back deliberately to embarrass us."

Nixon did not push her away.

I was heartbroken.

Seeing Nixon staring at me, Amara shook his arm, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Nixon, she looks so terrifying right now. I'm really scared of her..."

"I'm here." Nixon gently tucked Amara's loose hair behind her ear, and he was so tender. "I only love you in this world. Only you are worthy of the Shimmer of Stars and Moon. Sophia, since you are back, we can complete the divorce.

I was Nixon's wife, but I looked at him and his mistress confess their love publicly. It was so woeful.

I stared at the faint mark on his ring finger. He had removed the ring I gave to him when we got married.

But it wasn't the time to dwell on that. Vivian's safety was the most important.

I took a deep breath and said, "Nixon, we can talk about our issues later, but right now..."

I wasn't able to finish before Amara interrupted. "Bastard!" Amara suddenly pointed at Vivian, who was curled up by the car. "Nixon, I just wanted them to apologize to me, but Sophia deliberately twisted the truth to protect that girl. I think their relationship is not simple. Could she be Sophia's..."

She feigned reluctance to continue, but her hesitant demeanor only fueled Nixon's suspicion.

"Smack!" Nixon slapped me abruptly. My head turned to the side, and blood could be seen at the corner of my mouth.

But I heard Nixon's icy voice. "Ms. Clark, you haven't even divorced yet, and you're already bringing an illegitimate daughter here? Now I understand why you were so eager to help Myles find his daughter. It was probably for your illegitimate daughter."

Rage surged within me. "Nixon, are you blind? Do you even know who Vivian is?"

He frowned and asked, "Who is she?"

"She's your sister!" I roared. "Ten months ago, Myles begged me to use my family's connections to look for the precious daughter of the Blakely family, who was missing. Now that Vivian is back, you let this spiteful woman..."

Amara's face changed abruptly, but she quickly regained her coyness. "Nixon, look, she's insulting me again..."

Nixon cut her off and looked down at me. "Sophia, if you apologize now, I might consider not pursuing charges of defaming Amara."

He obviously didn't believe my words.

"Did I defame her?" I wiped away the blood from my face. "Should I call Myles now? Oh, right..."

Myles would arrive soon.

I watched Nixon's jawline tense up and chuckled softly, but tears streamed down uncontrollably.