Chapter 3

He knew perfectly well that Xu Qi’s ex-husband had beaten me and how afraid I was of that man. How could I have tipped him off?

But Xu Qi said one thing, and he believed her.

My brother tossed me a phone and said coldly, “Read what’s written here. We’re going to record a video and post it online to clear this up.”

A prepared apology was open in the notes.

Words like “homewrecker,” “Fu Sinian’s ex-girlfriend,” and “jealous of Xu Qi” made my heart ache.

The vicious attempt to manipulate public opinion was obviously the work of Fu Sinian’s PR team.

I said coldly, “I didn’t do it. I won’t read this.”

My father angrily stood up and unlocked my phone.

“You won’t read it? Fine. I’ll send this clarification straight to your company group chat!”

My mother added hatefully, “That’s right! Forward it to the family chat too, so all our relatives and friends can see what kind of person you are!”

I couldn’t stop them in time.

That so-called clarification was sent to all sorts of group chats.

In an instant, text messages poured in, full of insults.

[So she’s a homewrecker. She always acted so high and mighty.]

[I can’t believe you’re this kind of person. Don’t let her work on the next project!]

…

The last message came from my boss.

[Jian Xin, the company cannot accept an employee with a serious ethical issue. Management is suspending you pending an investigation. Your transfer to the western region has been canceled!]

Fu Sinian stood across from me, gentle in tone but cruel in meaning.

“The clarification has been sent. Xiao Qi’s ex-husband will see it. If you apologize to Xiao Qi now, we’ll forgive you.”

I watched the insults scroll across my phone and suddenly laughed.

I snatched it back, opened the verification message the police had sent that morning, and held it up to them.

“You’re all so devoted to protecting Xu Qi. Have you ever considered that she might simply be using you?”

“Look carefully. The police investigated. Xu Qi has never been married. The so-called ex-husband was a lie she made up!”

The screen clearly showed the police’s Civil Affairs Bureau database search.

[Xu Qi, 25, never married]

5

The words “Public Security System” were clearly marked in the upper-right corner of the image.

Everyone in the room fell silent.

Fu Sinian let go of Xu Qi’s hand and snatched my phone, his face full of disbelief.

“That can’t be…”

“We’ve all met Xiao Qi’s ex-husband. The times he came to her door and hurt her were real. How could she never have been married?”

The evidence was right in front of them, but my brother and parents still defended Xu Qi.

“Who knows if you faked it?”

“What decent person would hire someone to pretend to be an ex, then let him deliberately hurt her?”

“Xiao Qi would never do something like that. Jian Xin, stop spreading rumors!”

I looked at them doing everything they could to protect Xu Qi and no longer felt any pain.

All that remained was the numbness that comes after your heart has gone dead.

Xu Qi cowered behind Fu Sinian. Guilt had already spread across her face, and she didn’t dare say a word.

I looked at her. “Are you going to confess, or should I call the police and have them come here?”

Everyone turned to Xu Qi.

Fu Sinian looked at her with concern. “Xiao Qi, you didn’t make this up, did you? That picture can’t be real.”

My father nodded repeatedly. “You’re our adopted daughter now. You’d never lie to us!”

My brother anxiously pressed her for an answer.

Xu Qi’s lips moved. It took a long time before she managed to force out a few words.

“He isn’t my ex-husband. He’s… he’s my ex-boyfriend.”

“But he really did harass me. I’m not lying about that!”

The concern in Fu Sinian’s eyes vanished, replaced by disappointment.

Even my brother, who had always defended Xu Qi, had nothing to say.

After a long silence, my mother continued to defend her hoarsely.

“Xiao Qi only got the relationship wrong. That man came to her door and harassed her again and again. We all saw it with our own eyes.”

I curled my lip. “Is that so?”

“I already called the police and told them Xu Qi is here. That man she claims is her ex-husband has been arrested too. Why don’t we wait for the officers and let them ask both of them what their relationship really is?”

At the words “called the police,” tears streamed down Xu Qi’s face.

She looked at me pleadingly.

“I lied. He isn’t my ex-boyfriend either. He’s… my brother. No, my stepfather!”

“How long are you going to keep lying?”