Chapter 9
I forced down the corners of my lips, resisting the urge to smirk.
“How dare you treat my daughter like that!” my dad roared.
My parents‘ presence kicked the roiling atmosphere into an even higher gear.
“I know that man! He’s Mr. Smith, an uber–wealthy icon in the financial world!”
“That woman next to him is Lydia Cane, the famous violinist!”
“And that ridiculously handsome young man is Shane Johnson/”
“Whoa, Jonas‘ ex is a huge deal!”
I savored the look of disbelief in Jonas‘ eyes. I knew why he was surprised.
I never told him about my wealthy background or my famous parents. I did not want to cause him any pressure or hurt his self–esteem. All he knew was that my parents were still alive.
he was wrong.
He thought I was a nobody he could bully as he liked, but he was
The hall fell silent. Since no one else was speaking, it was finally my turn.
I tossed out the evidence. My collection included our marriage certificate, our wedding photos, our divorce papers, the pregnancy test, and a voice recording of the time he asked me to take the fall for
them.
The evidence was irrefutable. I watched Jonas take a call and then close his eyes in despair, falling silent.
His backers had given up on him.
Celine wept openly, acting innocent. “I didn’t know! Jonas said he was single! I’m a victim too.”
She was still trying to put up a final struggle, but the people here were not fools. Faced with countless accusations, all she could do was fall silent and take the jeers lying down.
Later, I heard that she went back and aborted the baby. Even if I did not go out of my way to get back at her after that, her life was more or less ruined.
The whole world knew she once had an affair baby, and everyone in showbiz knew she was a homewrecker.
As for Jonas, he started doing everything he could to find me and beg me to remarry him. Each time, I simply ignored him.
Eventually, I decided to further my studies abroad and start my life anew.
I no longer loved him, nor did I hate him. Before I left the country, I sent Jonas a box. It contained the matching rings he had given me when he first confessed.
I still remembered the bright and innocent light in that young man’s eyes from way back then. He had said, “I’ll never cheat on you, Jeanine. I’d rather kill myself than betray you.”
1/2
I had laughed at the time. Who would say such a thing while confessing?
The rings represented his eternal vow to me. His words were simple but sincere.
Since then, the rings had rusted. Just like him and his love, they were no longer clean and beautiful.
After leaving the country, I no longer cared about what happened to him. However, my friends could not help but share the gossip.
“That asshole Jonas and that bitch Celine got what they deserved! Do you know how miserable they are now, Jeanine?
“Jonas got kicked out of showbiz, and he can’t find you to bother you anymore, so he started a business instead. In the end, he wound up heavily in debt.
“I don’t know what they were thinking, but after everything that happened, the two of them still decided to get married! But soon after the wedding, Celine cucked Jonas to sleep with a rich old man. She even filmed a porno with the guy, and a few days ago, the old man’s wife beat her half to death.
“Jonas isn’t doing any better. I heard he has cancer, and he only has a few years left to live!”
I smiled, looking into the distance. The warm sunlight and gentle breeze felt great.
Everything was just right. I had no worries in the world, and I was much happier than before. My life was mine to live, and I answered to no one but me.
