Chapter 2

"Dean Harrison! This is a complete setup! Let me explain—"

But in the face of such "undeniable" evidence, my colleagues looked at me with disgust and avoided me like the plague.

When my wife heard the news, she canceled her business trip and booked the first flight back.

"Arthur, do you have any idea how much your little scandal has ruined my career? I just lost a million-dollar contract because of you!"

My wife, Olivia, worked extensively with international clients. Her firm's executives placed a massive emphasis on a partner's family values.

They always ran background checks before signing any contract.

It was their corporate culture. They believed a man who couldn't manage his home couldn't be trusted with a company project.

I looked at Olivia, my heart aching with guilt, and tried to explain. "Olivia, honey, you have to believe me. I would never do something like that! And besides, I have low sperm motility. Remember? We've tried for years. It’s medically impossible for that baby to be mine!"

"Low motility doesn't mean you kept your pants zipped!" Olivia snapped. But as she calmed down, she chose to trust me. "Fine. Hire a lawyer. Call the police. If your conscience is clear, no one can frame you."

And that was exactly what I intended to do. With Olivia standing by my side, I felt a surge of courage.

I set up a meeting with Maya at a quiet cafe.

"Maya, what is your angle here? I have sponsored you for three years. If you aren't going to show gratitude, the least you could do is not ruin my life."

"Professor, you remember you sponsored me for three years? Then why did you reject my thesis proposal?"

Her completely unrelated question caught me off guard. "Your thesis was poorly researched. What does that have to do with you framing me?"

Maya didn't answer. Instead, she slid a medical document across the table. "Professor, this is a prenatal DNA test. It proves the child in my womb is yours. If you don't believe it, we can go to any clinic you want. You choose the place."

"We have never even slept together! What kind of sick fantasy is this?"

I slammed my fist on the table. My raised voice made several people in the cafe turn to look.

Maya smiled coldly. "We didn't? Six months ago, at the VIP country club gala. You were drinking with the university board. I was there too. Only my name was Cherry that night, and I was wearing heavy makeup."

My jaw dropped. "Cherry?"

Maya smirked. "Bingo. So you do remember me."

I stumbled back, nearly losing my balance.

Six months ago, I indeed attended a dinner with some high-ranking board members. They had ordered a few young hostesses to sit with us. One of the deans joked that if I didn't pick one to keep me company, I wasn't part of the "team."

I politely declined, but I had too much to drink and tripped on my way out. The girl named Cherry immediately came over to support me. No matter how much I tried to push her away, she clung to me tightly.

"I gave you $500 a month for living expenses! Why were you working as a hostess at a club? And nothing happened that night!"

Maya ignored my questions. Instead, she looked past my shoulder, her eyes darting to something behind me. Suddenly, her face morphed into an expression of sheer terror. She threw herself onto the floor, wrapping her arms around my leg.

"Arthur, please don't make me get rid of the baby! The child is innocent..."

Disgusted, I tried to shake her off. "Get off me! What are you doing?"

Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a hand reach down and grab the DNA report from the table.

"Arthur Vance, you absolute liar."

I turned around. Olivia was standing there, her eyes filled with utter disappointment.

"Wow. Just wow. You claimed you had low motility, yet you managed to get a college girl pregnant. You two must have worked really hard on this, huh? Arthur! The proof is right here. What else do you have to say for yourself?"

Olivia spat out my name, her teeth clenched.

"Olivia, it's not what you think! We can go to the hospital right now and do another test. I am being set up!"

But as I said those words, even my own voice lacked confidence.

Because Maya really was Cherry. And we did spend that night in the same hotel suite.

My sudden lack of confidence came from the terrifying realization—did I actually lose control that night?

I hadn't drunk that much. My alcohol tolerance had always been high.

Could the drink have been spiked?

"Fine. We're going to the hospital right now!"

Olivia gave me one last chance.