“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!”

Within a year, this was the 72nd time Hadden had made her apologize to Janice. No matter what happened, who was right and who was wrong, Hadden would only make her bow her head to Janice.

Before, for her father’s sake, for the sake of the divorce, she had endured it again and again. But now, she didn’t want to endure it anymore. “Hadden, it’s not my fault and I’m not the one who should apologize!”

Janice said, her eyes red, “Forget it, Hadden, it’s my fate to be beaten, I deserve it. Don’t argue with Miss Hicks anymore because of me.”

The more sensible Janice appeared, the deeper Hadden’s guilt towards her became. Hadden lowered his gaze, threateningly stating, “Louisa, if you don’t apologize today, I won’t perform the surgery tomorrow.”

Louisa stared at him blankly. So, his father’s life was so worthless in his eyes. For Janice, he could actually watch his father die.

That was right, he wouldn’t die anyway. This wasn’t the first time he’d done something like this. But when they first got together, Hadden had always treated her like royalty. So, new love could never compare to old flame.

Louisa’s back bent again. She stared at Hadden and asked, “If I apologize, will you definitely perform the surgery?”

The man replied decisively, “Yes! But this time, I want you to kneel before Janice yourself. Louisa, after so many times, it’s time you learned your lesson.”

Louisa’s eyes were filled with disbelief. The man who wouldn’t even let her kneel before her parents was now making her kneel before a mistress.

Louisa knew she had no choice. She admitted she’d been blind to have chosen the wrong person. She slowly knelt, the cold air biting at her, but not as painful as the chill in her heart.

“Miss Sharp, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hit you. Please forgive me.”

Janice didn’t dare make a scene in front of Hadden, so she feigned generosity, saying, “Miss Hicks, please get up. We’re all sisters. let’s get along better from now on.”

Just as Janice was about to help Louisa up, Hadden stopped her. “No need to help her. Let her kneel here tonight to sober up, so she won’t cause trouble again in the future.”

Hadden said he needed her to have surgery tomorrow, so she couldn’t get up tonight. Finally, he took Janice away to celebrate her birthday.

Louisa, on the other hand, knelt in the corridor all night, with passersby pointing and whispering. But for her father’s surgery, she could endure it all.

When dawn broke, Louisa slowly got up, but her knees were throbbing with pain. On their wedding day, Hadden skipped the step where the bride and groom where supposed to kneel before their parents.

He said, “My woman doesn’t need to kneel before anyone.”

So, “anyone” didn’t include Janice. Louisa’s throat tightened, suppressing all her emotions and she limped to the hospital to take her father for a checkup.

But she found Hadden wasn’t there again. She had apologized last night and she had even knelt. she thought Hadden would keep his promise. She called Hadden many times, but he didn’t answer.

Two hours later, Hadden finally answered. He said he had taken Janice to Linkon.

Although Janice’s cancer was cured, there was still a risk of recurrence. Last night, a medical doctor in Linkon said he had developed a new experimental pod that could provide special treatment for recovered cancer patients, greatly reducing the probability of a second cancer attack.

“Louisa, I know about Dad’s condition. He can wait a little longer. I’ve rescheduled the surgery. I’ll definitely have it done next Wednesday.”

Perhaps afraid of upsetting Louisa, he hung up immediately after speaking, turning off his phone.

She repeatedly texted Hadden and even Janice, begging her to spare her family’s life.

But no one responded, until Harvey condition suddenly worsened and the doctor said immediate surgery was necessary.

Louisa pleaded in a trembling voice, “I don’t want Hadden to do the surgery anymore. Please, please operate on my father and save his life.”

It wasn’t that the doctor didn’t want to help, but he was powerless. He sighed and said, “Miss Hicks, the special medicine from last night was kept by Dr. Cole. We can’t contact him now. Without this medicine, the surgery won’t be effective.”