Chapter 1 The Affair Exposed
"It hurts, please be gentle... I can't take it."
"You can't handle it? I think you need more!"
"Stop, stop, I really can't take it... my dear brother-in-law."
"If you mention I am your brother-in-law again, I'll punish you."
"But... you... you are my brother-in-law... It's so deep, you're amazing."
The door to the master bedroom at the end of the hallway was slightly ajar, and the sounds coming from inside slithered into Lily Martin's ears like venomous snakes.
Lily Martin's blood froze instantly, and the glass she was holding slipped from her fingers, shattering on the carpet. The water spread quickly, resembling a decaying flower.
She burst through the door, and the scene before her made her stomach churn. The silk sheets she had carefully chosen were in disarray, and Eric Allen's bare back was facing her. In his arms was Haven Martin, wearing the silk nightgown that was meant for Lily, with suggestive red marks on her collarbone.
Haven Martin shrank back into Eric Allen's arms, her eyes reddening instantly, tears streaming down like broken pearls. "Lily, it's not what you think. I... I was just helping Eric find a document..."
Eric calmly pulled the blanket over Haven and turned around, his face regaining its usual composure, with a hint of barely noticeable annoyance. "Since you've seen it, I won't hide it from you. Haven and I are truly in love. Being with you was only because you were beneficial to my career."
Lily wanted to laugh, but her throat felt like it had been scraped with sandpaper, unable to make a sound.
Eight years. She had stood by him, helping him rise from being a scorned illegitimate child to the CEO of Horizon Innovations Group. She had handed over the company from her mother's family to Eric, helping him grow it into a powerhouse.
And now?
Eric had achieved success and was kicking her aside.
She had thought she was his one true love, but in reality, she was just a stepping stone!
Lily looked at Haven hiding behind Eric, her half-exposed face showing a secretive smugness. She suddenly remembered the pearl brooch her mother had left her, which had gone missing a few days ago and was later found in Haven's jewelry box. Haven had laughed it off, saying Lily must have misplaced it.
Downstairs, she heard the sound of the maid Jada opening the door, followed by two sets of footsteps approaching.
She remembered.
Her father, Zane Martin, and stepmother, Celeste Phillips, were coming to her new home today. They had planned to have a family dinner before the wedding.
Lily, grasping at her last hope, rushed out to seek justice from Zane.
"Dad!"
Zane saw her pale face and the mess on the floor, understanding immediately. His brows furrowed, but not with the anger Lily had hoped for. Celeste stepped forward, holding Lily's arm, the strong scent of her perfume making Lily dizzy. "Lily, calm down. Haven is still young, and Eric was just momentarily confused..."
"Momentarily confused?"
Lily shook off her hand, looking at Zane in disbelief. "Dad, they were in my wedding room..."
Zane interrupted her, "Enough! The Martin family and the Allen family cannot lose face in Harmony City! Tomorrow's wedding will proceed as planned, but..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over Haven hiding behind Eric, "but the bride will be Haven. As her older sister, can't you be generous and let them be happy?"
Let them be happy?
Lily felt like she had heard the biggest joke in the world. She looked at the three people who were supposed to be the closest to her, their faces showing no guilt, as if she were the one at fault. Celeste handed her a cup of warm water, her tone gentle as always. "Lily, drink some water and calm down. If this gets out, it won't be good for anyone. Just this once, for the sake of the Martin family."
As the cup reached her lips, Lily smelled a faint scent of almonds. She jerked her head away, the cup crashing to the floor, the sound sharp and piercing.
"What are you trying to do?"
Zane's eyes turned cold, stepping forward to grab her wrist. Celeste, now holding a syringe, pressed the cold needle into her skin, and Lily felt the world spinning.
Zane's voice drifted to her ears, "Don't blame me for being ruthless. It's you who doesn't understand."
When she woke up again, her throat felt like it was stuffed with burning cotton, unable to make a sound, no matter how hard she tried. Her body was weak, unable even to reach the window, let alone pry open the iron bars.
The sky outside was dark, and she was locked in her room, her phone and communication devices gone. She heard Haven and Celeste talking through the door.
"Mom, I'm still scared..."
"Scared of what? Once our plan succeeds, who will remember Lily? You were always meant to marry Eric."
"But Eric..."
"Don't worry, Eric only has eyes for you. He said he's long been tired of Lily's cold demeanor. Always acting high and mighty, just like her dead mother!"
Lily curled up in the corner of the bed, tears silently falling. Everything was a lie—Zane's kindness, Celeste's gentleness, Eric's promises, Haven's closeness—all meticulously crafted deceptions. She had been kept in the dark, only seeing their true faces at the last moment.
As the moon rose, the door opened, and Eric stood at the entrance, looking down at Lily curled up in the corner. His gaze lingered on her face, and his heart trembled.
Lily's long hair was disheveled, strands sticking to her pale, almost translucent cheeks, outlining her delicate jawline. Her eyes were swollen, yet still clear like a deep pool, now filled with despair and anger, giving her a broken beauty. Her clothes were wrinkled, the collar slightly open, revealing her slender collarbone, her skin glowing in the moonlight like fine jade.
Eric's Adam's apple moved involuntarily.
He had always known Lily was beautiful, and he wanted to possess that beauty.
But Lily was too uncooperative, always maintaining her aloofness, never letting him touch her, insisting on saving herself for their wedding night, as if he were some kind of monster. If she hadn't been so rigid, he wouldn't have needed Haven to vent his frustrations.
Haven was different—innocent outside the bedroom, seductive inside, never making him unhappy like Lily.
"Lily, I know you love me deeply. If you listen to me now, I'll give you a chance. Stay by my side as my lover. It's better than... dying without a trace, right?"
Thinking of the plan ahead, he looked at her beautiful face, feeling a bit reluctant. Such a stunning beauty, it would be a shame not to have her once.
Eric reached out to touch her cheek, but Lily slapped his hand away. Her eyes were filled with rage and contempt, stabbing Eric's heart like needles.
His patience ran out, his face darkening as he reached for her roughly.
Lily's earlier resistance had drained most of her strength. She felt the knife blade in her palm, the one she had used to open packages, left on the bedside table. Now, it was her only hope for survival.
With her last bit of strength, she grabbed the blade and swung it at Eric.
Eric didn't see it coming. He couldn't dodge in time, and a deep cut appeared on the back of his hand, blood pouring out instantly.
He was both shocked and furious, glaring at the wound with a murderous look in his eyes.
"Lily! Are you out of your mind?!"
Just then, Haven appeared at the doorway, seemingly out of nowhere. She rushed to Eric's side, covering her mouth in feigned shock and screaming, "Eric! You're hurt! It's all Lily's fault. How could she do this to you?"
"Lily's always been strict with Eric, but to actually hurt him? Lily, do you have another man outside? Is that why you're treating Eric like this? Speak up, Lily!"
Haven knew full well that Lily had been drugged and couldn't say a word, yet she insisted on making Lily defend herself.
Lily could see through Haven's schemes, but what could she do?
Any struggle now would just be a joke in Haven's eyes.
Even if she were to die today, she wouldn't let Haven have the last laugh!
Eric's last bit of hesitation vanished under Haven's instigation. Yes, as long as Lily was alive, she was a constant reminder that his current success was all thanks to her.
Horizon Innovations Group was the legacy of Lily's maternal grandfather. Although Lily willingly played second fiddle to Eric, elevating him to a high position, as long as Lily lived, the CEO's chair was never secure. She was a thorn in his side.
Lily had to go. She had to die!
Eric's eyes turned cold, filled with nothing but murderous intent. He snatched the blade from Lily's hand and threw it to the ground, roughly dragging her up like she was trash, and started hauling her outside.
"If you won't appreciate what you have, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Lily was forcibly taken and shoved into an unmarked van. The inside was pitch black, but she could sense Haven sitting next to her, her breath filled with barely contained excitement. When the van stopped at the edge of a cliff, Lily was pushed out, a blinding flashlight beam hitting her face.
She knew she was going to die today.
As death approached, she realized that pain and fear had vanished. All that remained was curiosity about what kind of death this family had planned for her.
"Victor! Get over here!" Eric shouted into the woods.
A burly, ugly man with a face full of scars came running over, reeking of cheap tobacco. He shamelessly pulled Lily into his arms, his greasy hands roaming over her body in a nauseatingly intimate manner. Lily was too weak to struggle, lying limp like a broken doll.
Victor held Lily with one arm and dragged Haven with the other, pulling them both to the edge of the cliff.
At that moment, the roar of engines and the wail of sirens filled the air.
A lot of people and cars had arrived.
A cold smile appeared on Lily's lips.
The stage was set, the actors and audience were all in place. The show was about to begin. Such a spectacular scene, she wanted to watch it too.
But unfortunately, today she could only be an actor.
Haven suddenly started crying and trembling, "Lily, please make him let me go! Let's go home, okay?"
Victor played along, yanking Haven roughly, "Shut up! You ruined my fun, and you want to go home?"
Haven cried even harder, her voice shaking, "I didn't mean to! I just wanted to tell Lily to prepare for the wedding. I didn't expect you two to be doing that! You're disgusting!"
"Disgusting? What do you know? That's pure pleasure! If you hadn't interfered, we would've been having a great time! You ruined our fun, so you don't get to live either!"
With that, Victor raised his knife, ready to stab Haven.
"Stop! Don't hurt her!"
Victor paused, "What do you want to say now?"
Eric joined in, his face dark and filled with "anger" and "disappointment." He held up his still-bleeding hand and questioned Lily, "Lily, you've already hurt me. Let Haven go! She's innocent! Lily, come back to your senses!"
The surrounding media and police were in an uproar, their discussions growing louder.
"I can't believe Lily would do something like this."
"The Martin family is so prestigious. If this gets out, their reputation will be ruined."
Someone couldn't help but ask Zane and Celeste, "Mr. Zane Martin, Mrs. Celeste Martin, is this true?"
Zane and Celeste's faces were pale, their lips trembling, but they remained silent. To the onlookers, their silence was an admission of Haven and Eric's words.
All the malice surged towards Lily like a tidal wave, the disdainful looks and vicious comments stabbing at her like needles. She lay in Victor's arms, appearing docile and compliant, without any rebuttal.
But no one knew that Lily's heart was already dead.
She watched this carefully orchestrated farce by her closest people with cold indifference. They didn't just want her dead; they wanted her to die in disgrace!
Victor seemed pleased with the effect, tightening his grip on Lily's waist and taking the opportunity to grope her. He figured he might as well enjoy it while she was still alive.
Haven saw the timing was right. She pretended to struggle forward, crying out, "Lily, I know I was wrong. Please let me go!" Her arm, hidden from view, suddenly pushed Lily hard.
Victor cooperated by releasing his hold on Lily and tripping her with his foot. Lily, already weak, lost her balance from the sudden push and trip, stumbling towards Haven.
Haven exerted force, causing Lily to fall backward. To the onlookers, it seemed like Lily was trying to push Haven, but she ended up falling off the cliff herself.