A glimmer of hope finally appeared on Louisa’s face as she smiled and asked, “How long will the divorce take?”

Philip’s eyes narrowed slightly, his tone inquisitive. “You seem quite anxious, Miss Hicks. I’ve heard Mr. Cole loves you very much and you even turned against your own father to marry him. But now it seems you two are somewhat different from the rumors.”

Louisa lowered her eyes and smiled self-deprecatingly. The love she once felt was real, but so were the repeated hurts she’d experienced now.

She looked up, a helpless smile tugging at her lips. “People change, don’t they?”

Philip pondered for a few seconds. The Cole Family was one of the most powerful and influential families in Aetherfall. Winning this case would be beneficial to him as well.

“Give me seven days. I will gather all the evidence and help you win this case.”

A smile finally appeared on Louisa’s face as she sincerely thanked him, “Attorney Pierce, thank you.”

The woman’s happy smile brought back a flood of memories for Philip. He had returned to Valerie this time to find his childhood playmate. Louisa’s smile just now bore a striking resemblance to that of his childhood friend. He wondered how that little girl was doing all these years…

Philip had other things to attend to, so he paid Louisa’s medical bills and left, exchanging contact information.

Louisa didn’t stay in the hospital but went to her classmate’s reunion. She had heard that one of them was with the largest pharmaceutical company overseas. Perhaps she could find a way to get her father another dose of the special medicine.

Years had passed and her classmates had all become elites in their respective industries. The boys brought their wives, the girls brought their husbands and even the single ones had hired prostitutes to accompany them.

And Hadden was even invited. Only at this moment did Louisa realize why her classmates, whom she rarely contacted, had invited her. They wanted to use her to get close to Hadden.

Hadden knew this was her classmate’s reunion, yet he still brought Janice. Seeing her arrive, Hadden proactively explained, “Louisa, I heard you were also attending the class reunion, so I came to keep you company. But Janice was a bit emotional tonight and I was worried about her safety home alone. I was also concerned about you, so I had to bring her along. Don’t overthink it.”

Louisa felt a burning pain in her face. He’d brought her right in front of her and he was telling her not to overthink it.

Hadden only cared about Janice, but he couldn’t see that she’d been in a car accident and was even limping.

Oh well, you can’t change someone who doesn’t want to change.

“Whatever.” With that, Louisa continued drinking with the pharmaceutical tycoon.

In a short while, a case of vodka was empty. Louisa felt a burning pain in her stomach and her cough contained traces of blood.

While Janice was offered a drink, Hadden would snatch her glass and drink it for her. “Janice isn’t feeling well, I’ll drink this for her.”

Hadden only remembered that Janice wasn’t feeling well, but he forgot that Louisa was allergic to alcohol.

However, throughout the entire course of the drinks, Hadden’s mind was entirely focused on Janice, never showing her any concern.

Louisa, enduring her stomach pain and itching, forced herself to say, “Guys, we’ve drunk so much already, do you know about my father’s medication?”

The pharmaceutical tycoon chuckled, “Louisa, although we’re old classmates, this kind of special medicine you’re looking for is rare globally. If I manage to get it for you, how will you thank me? How about you come with me and I’ll keep you as my mistress.”

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room froze. Hadden’s face darkened. He was about to speak when Janice stopped him.

“Hadden, it’s so stuffy in here. It’s a mixed bag of people. I’m afraid to go out alone. Can you take me out for some fresh air? Miss Hicks is usually so assertive. She definitely won’t let herself be taken advantage of. Please.”

Janice gently tugged at the man’s sleeve, pleading.

Hadden gave Louisa a complicated look, but ultimately didn’t speak up for her. He took Janice outside. The classmates present looked at Louisa with some pity.

Louisa smiled weakly. It wasn’t the first time. She was used to it. Their love was like a pile of loose sand, easily scattered by the wind.

Louisa tried her best to maintain a composed demeanor. “Don’t joke like that. I can give you a $73,000 thank-you fee separately.”

Seeing Louisa refuse, the man’s face darkened noticeably and he began to act arrogantly. “Louisa, do you think I need your little bit of money? I’m only willing to help you because I still think highly of a used woman like you. Don’t be so ungrateful! Everyone in the industry knows you rose to power as a mistress. If you hadn’t broken up Hadden and his first love, you wouldn’t be Mrs. Cole."

Louisa’s face turned deathly pale. Back then, they were clearly in love. How did it become her being a mistress?

“You can listen to whatever you want, but you can’t say whatever you want, or I’ll sue you for defamation.”

The pharmaceutical tycoon smiled disdainfully, glancing at Hadden outside the door. “Tsk, you won’t admit it? Then let Mr. Cole verify it.”

Louisa’s eyes were red with grievance, her questioning gaze fixed on Hadden, seemingly waiting for an explanation.

Meanwhile, Janice pitifully tugged at the man’s clothes, whispering, “Hadden, I’m scared. If you admit that Miss Hicks wasn’t a mistress who rose to power, are they trying to smear me with the ‘mistress’ label? If I have to be smeared with that kind of rumor, I’d rather die.”

Hadden’s fists clenched tightly and he didn’t utter a single word for a long time. The pharmaceutical tycoon’s smile widened.

Louisa’s self-esteem was utterly trampled underfoot. She stared at Hadden, enunciating each word clearly, “Hadden, are you even unwilling to acknowledge my identity? To protect her, you expect me to take the blame for everything? Have you forgotten who knelt outside my house for three days and three nights, begging my father for permission to be with me?”

Hadden remained silent amidst Louisa’s breakdown and accusations. The man’s reaction confirmed Louisa’s status as a “mistress.” Louisa’s nails dug into her palms, staining the sofa with blood.

After a long silence, Hadden said in a low voice, “Everyone, I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t stay.”

Before leaving, he looked at Louisa with a complex expression. “Louisa, go home early after the banquet.”

Hadden left, taking Janice with him. He made her a laughingstock throughout the entire event. Even breathing hurt Louisa. She had no home anymore. Hadden had destroyed it all.

After Hadden left, the pharmaceutical tycoon planned to force himself on Louisa, but suddenly received a phone call and was forced to leave.

The class reunion ended badly and Louisa became the laughingstock of the entire capital. An identity even her own husband wouldn’t acknowledge—what else could she be but a mistress?

That night, Louisa didn’t go back to the Cole Family home, but instead returned to the Hicks Family’s old mansion. Because she drank too much, she vomited all night.

In her hazy dreams, she always remembered Hadden staying by her side time and time again when she had an allergic reaction to alcohol. The man had promised that he would never let her suffer.

But the man broke his promise. All the grievances and hardships she had endured in her life were caused by him…

It wasn’t until noon the next day that she groggily got up and found Hadden had already prepared lunch and was waiting for her downstairs.

Louisa’s emotions immediately flared. “Get out! You’re not welcome here, you murderer!”

Hadden seemed completely unconcerned by Louisa’s attitude, gently comforting her, “I know you’re angry that I didn’t help you last night, but I had my own reasons. In that situation last night, if I had helped you, Janice’s status as a mistress would have been confirmed.”

“My relationship with her is completely innocent. I can’t let her suffer this injustice. She’s sick. I can’t let her be cyberbullied. Louisa, she’s sick. Please let her be. Although I left last night, I paid a heavy price to damage that person’s company, forcing him to leave Valerie. That’s a way of avenging you.”

Hadden stepped forward and hugged her, like a loving husband. But Louisa knew it was all a facade.

A slap followed by a treat. She didn’t want this rotten love. Louisa pushed him away forcefully, scoffing, “Let her be? Haven’t I given her enough? I gave her my father’s miracle drug, I gave her my husband and now I’ve even given her home.”

“Since you care about her so much, why won’t you divorce me? Playing the devoted lover while cheating on me, Hadden, you’re as hypocritical as a villain!”

Hadden frowned, wearily saying, “Louisa, be sensible, stop making a scene. I took care of Janice all night last night. I was afraid you’d overthink it, so I came to cook for you as soon as it was light. I’m really tired. Anything you mention besides divorce, I… I can agree to anything as compensation.”

Looking at his hypocritical expression, Louisa deliberately said, “Fine, then make her leave Aetherfall completely and never come back.”

Hadden frowned. “No, her illness isn’t fully cured yet. Leaving Aetherfall is too dangerous.”

Louisa wasn’t surprised and added, “Then you must never see her again.”

Hadden’s brows furrowed even more and he sighed deeply. “Louisa, do you have to make things so difficult for me? You know Janice can’t live without me.”

Louisa scoffed coldly, “Fine, then let Janice stay. I’m leaving.”

Hadden’s furrowed brows remained unsettled. “Louisa, do you have to force me like this?”

Louisa retorted, “No, you’re the one forcing me.”

Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, the hospital suddenly called Louisa. “Miss Hicks, the hospital has just received a new batch of a special medicine. Would you like to come and take a look?”

Louisa burst into tears of joy. Her father was finally saved. She rushed to the hospital, with Hadden accompanying her.

At the hospital, Harvey’s attending physician said that this was likely the last batch of the special medicine. If Harvey didn’t receive it this time, there would truly be no chance.

Louisa immediately paid for the medicine. She asked, “Doctor, can the surgery be arranged immediately?”

She had encountered such hope many times in the past year, but all of them had ultimately been dashed. She feared that things might change if she delayed.

The doctor said, “Miss Hicks, your father’s surgery is very difficult, especially considering he also suffered a severe stroke. In the entire capital city, only Dr. Cole can perform this type of comprehensive surgery.”

Before Louisa could speak, Hadden said, “Louisa, I’ll perform Dad’s surgery. This time, I definitely won’t let you down.”

Louisa didn’t believe him and was about to refuse when the attending physician added, “Miss Hicks, since Dr. Cole is willing, the chances of success are very high. Otherwise, it would be difficult for anyone else to perform such a complex surgery. Moreover, Dr. Cole performed a similar surgery a year ago. If he can lead the operation, it will be foolproof.”

Louisa knew Hadden’s skills were excellent, but his heart was with Janice. She was afraid.

Hadden hugged Louisa and said earnestly, “Louisa, he’s not only your father and my father-in-law, but also my friend of many years. This time, I will definitely cure him. Trust me.”

Louisa had no choice but to agree to let Hadden perform her father’s surgery. “Hadden, don’t disappoint me this time.”

“Louisa, don’t worry, I won’t let you go without a father.”

Because it was already too late and there were still many pre-operative examinations to be done. Finally, the surgery was scheduled for tomorrow morning.

To avoid any unforeseen circumstances, Louisa asked Hadden to stay at the hospital to rest that night and to have the surgery immediately after the pre-operative examinations the next morning.

Midway through, Hadden went out to answer a phone call, while Louisa went to help her father with the paperwork.

Just as she returned, she saw that Janice had also arrived and Hadden was affectionately wiping away her tears.

Standing beside them were several of Hadden's close friends, who teased him with smiles. “Hadden, Janice couldn’t reach you and cried so hard. Only you could comfort her.”

Janice buried her head in the man’s chest, staring at him with teary eyes. “Hadden, I heard Miss Hicks and you had another fight. Will you get tired of me because of this and stop caring about me?”

Before Hadden could speak, his friends started teasing him. “How could that be? We all call you ‘little sister-in-law’ in private. Everyone knows how much Hadden favors you. Even if he divorces Louisa, he won’t abandon you.”

Janice smiled smugly, then lowered her head shyly, saying, “You all just talk nonsense. Miss Hicks will be unhappy if she hears this.”

The crowd laughed, while Louisa stood not far away, scoffing, “Knowing I’d be unhappy, you still dared to come to the hospital to seduce a married man. Are you shameless?”

Louisa’s sudden appearance startled those who had just talked behind her back. The group froze, quickly offering apologetic smiles. “Sister-in-law, we were just joking, don’t take it to heart.”

Louisa raised her eyes, coldly staring at him. “Tomorrow I’ll introduce your wife to a male model, let her experience the allure of freshness.”

The man's expression hardened, Louisa scoffed, “Why the sudden change of heart? I was just joking too. Is it funny?”

Louisa rarely interfered in their squabbles, but when she did speak up, it made everyone lose face. She walked straight over, grabbing Hadden to leave. “Come with me.”

Tomorrow was her father’s surgery, Hadden had to stay with her. But Janice refused to let go. “Hadden, today is my birthday, you promised me you’d celebrate it with me this year.”

Louisa finally couldn’t hold back and slapped her hard. “Janice, are all the men in the world dead? Why did you have to find a married man to celebrate your birthday with you?”

Janice’s face immediately showed five handprints, her eyes bloodshot. Hadden forcefully shook off Louisa’s hand, staring at Janice with heartache. “Louisa, you’ve gone too far! Apologize!”