Chapter 410



“Obviously, I won’t sink to your level,” Kallie retorted, her voice dripping with icy sarcasm as she looked down at Joanna. “What you did was disgraceful, and I refuse to become as shameless as you.”

Joanna bit her lower lip, her humiliation clear, but she stubbornly tried to defend herself. “The man I found for you is powerful. I was just trying to keep you away from my husband. You have a daughter to think about, and your life isn’t easy. Even if you marry someone else, he’ll probably resent you. I was doing you a favor. You should be grateful. Who else would want someone like you?”

Kallie didn’t waste time engaging with Joanna’s twisted reasoning. She now understood that arguing with someone like Joanna was futile. Joanna would never admit she was wrong.

Kallie knew the best way to get justice wasn’t through words but by taking away what Joanna valued most. The door behind Joanna creaked open, and Ethan stepped into the room. He had been standing there all along, his eyes red and his hands trembling with emotion.

Joanna felt a chill as she sensed his presence. Kallie gave a subtle nod, and the bodyguards released their hold on Joanna. Joanna turned around quickly, and the sight of Ethan standing there was like a crushing blow.

M๏гє ยק๔คՇєร ןภ ɢคlภ๏שєlร.ς๏๓ “When did you get here? How long have you been standing there?” Joanna’s voice shook, barely holding on to a sliver of hope.

In a desperate attempt to regain control, Joanna pleaded, “Whatever Kallie told you, don’t believe her! I’m your wife, the one you should trust. She’s just jealous and wants to ruin what we have. Can’t you see she’s trying to manipulate you? Her intentions are anything but pure!”

Ethan’s expression darkened as he slowly shook his head, the disappointment in his eyes unmistakable. “Kallie didn’t say a word. Everything I needed to know, I heard straight from your actions.”

Joanna’s face flushed with a mix of shame, fear, and desperation. Her eyes flickered with conflicting emotions, but ultimately, she swallowed her pride and crawled over to Ethan, clutching the fabric of his pants.

Joanna said emotionally, “I’ve been by your side for so long, Ethan. I’ve never lowered my head. I love you so much. What did I really do wrong? I’ll apologize to Kallie. I’ll make it up to her. From now on, I won’t give her any more trouble. Can’t we just move past this and pretend it never happened? For your sake, I’m willing to let it all go.”

But Ethan’s expression remained clouded with disappointment. He stepped back, avoiding Joanna’s grasp.

“The truth is, I stayed with you not just because of family pressure. Initially, I didn’t feel much for you, but I respected you. I saw how capable and intelligent you were.”

He paused, his expression darkening with the weight of his words. “When I agreed to marry you, I committed myself to building a future together. Yes, I once cared deeply for Kallie, but I accepted that our past was behind us, and there was no going back.”

Ethan’s voice softened as he revealed his intentions. “Before everything unraveled, I was planning to take you on a trip. I knew Kallie’s return had affected you deeply, and I thought some time away from Burmoos would help. I wanted to give you space, maybe even stay away until she left, to bring you some peace.”

Joanna’s eyes widened with a mix of disbelief and regret. “How can that be? I saw how restless you were after she came back. You couldn’t sleep, and you started going out alone at night. You even changed the password on your phone. What were you hiding from me?”

Ethan’s lips curved into a faint, disappointed smile, tinged with the sadness of unspoken truths. “I remember your birthday is a month after your mother’s.

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