Chapter 3

The group of people scattered around the office froze, their eyes instantly darting toward me.

The laughter died instantly.

Victoria turned her head, and the smile on her face shattered.

"Ethan? How did you..."

She recovered quickly, stepping toward me with a panicked expression.

"Why are you here so fast? I told you to call me when you arrived so I could come down and get you."

I didn't answer. I just stared at her silently.

My silence made her squirm.

She tried to test the waters, her voice laced with anxiety:

"Did you... hear that?"

"We were just joking, Ethan. Don't worry, I promise I'll get your green card sorted out next month."

I remained silent.

My gaze drifted past her, slowly scanning the other people in the room.

Finally, I spoke quietly:

"No need. It seems I chose a bad time to drop by. I didn't mean to interrupt your chat."

"Since you’re busy, I'll go."

I had heard enough.

Demanding answers about her marriage in front of all these people would only make me look pathetic. I wasn't going to give them that satisfaction.

My flight was booked for tonight. I was leaving Victoria, for good.

But as I turned to walk away, Julian grabbed my sleeve, blocking my path.

Without a second thought, his eyes welled up with tears.

"Ethan, please don't go! It’s not what you think!"

"Victoria only married me for the green card. Please, don't be mad at her, okay?"

I couldn't comprehend why Julian was the one crying. I was the victim here.

I looked at him coldly:

"If you're so worried about me being mad, let go of my clothes."

Instead, Julian gripped tighter.

"No! I won't let go until you forgive Victoria and me!"

He actually made a move to drop to his knees in front of me.

"Ethan, please forgive us. I swear, the moment my residency status is completely secure, I'll divorce her. I promise!"

His pathetic act instantly drew sympathetic looks from the employees, while their glares toward me turned even more hostile.

No matter how patient I usually was, facing such a manipulative leech made my blood boil.

"Cut the act, Julian," I said, my voice dripping with disgust.

"Your mother was a gold-digger who ruined my parents' marriage by sleeping with my father. And you're doing the exact same thing, crawling into Victoria's bed under the guise of being her 'brother.' And you want my forgiveness?"

"What, is being a home-wrecker genetic? I’ve seen female gold-diggers, but you're the first male one I've met."

Julian gasped, sobbing even harder at my words.

The sight of his tears instantly made Victoria's protective instincts kick in. She barked at me:

"That is enough!"

"Ethan Miller, watch your mouth! If you have something to say, we deal with it at home behind closed doors. Stop acting like a psychopath in my office and making a fool of yourself."

Watching Victoria defend him so fiercely was the final nail in the coffin.

I completely gave up.

I didn't want to waste my breath arguing with her in front of a crowd.

I yanked my arm, trying to tear my sleeve from Julian's grip.

But before I could even apply any real force—

"Ah—!"

Julian let out a sharp cry and threw himself backward onto the sofa, deliberately slamming his side against the sharp edge of the wooden armrest.

His face went pale as he clutched his stomach, groaning weakly:

"Ow... it hurts so bad!"

Before I could even process what had happened, Victoria shoved me aside with immense force, screaming in my face:

"Ethan, you’re a lunatic!"

"Julian was just trying to make peace, and you physically assault him?!"

I stumbled back, looking at her in utter disbelief.

"You were standing right next to me, Victoria. You know damn well I barely touched him!"

"You married him behind my back. How do you have the nerve to stand there and lecture me?"

Victoria was furious.

And when she was angry, she knew exactly where to cut me deepest.

"So what if I did? Ethan, let's not forget one thing."

"For the last five years, I’m the one who paid for your entire life!"