Chapter 98
Another file arrived on Maisie’s phone.
She hesitated, then accepted and opened it, only to freeze in shock at what unfolded before her eyes.}
It detailed every truth about Luca’s overseas work history: from being a lowly employee to doing menial tasks, even working as a janitor and waiter.}
I had deliberately sent it in two parts, knowing the slow reveal would sting far deeper than unloading everything all at once.
As I expected, the impact hit her harder this time, far worse than the betrayal she’d uncovered before.
Maisie hadn’t chosen Luca just because he was her first love.
She had believed all those grand tales of career triumphs and powerful connections he boasted about. Maisie had always wanted to prove to her father that she could lead the Renner Corporation by herself.”
Knowing her own limits, she had chosen to lean on Luca.}
She believed his connections would help the company flourish, even if he never returned from abroad.” “What exactly were you doing overseas? I want the truth.“}
Maisie’s voice had turned icy cold, a terrifying calm settling over her after hitting emotional rock bottom. Luca glanced nervously at her phone, trying to guess what she had discovered.}
“I already told you. I was a top investment analyst on Wall Street.“>
“Maybe someone deliberately sent you false information?“}
Seeing he still refused to confess, Maisie rubbed her forehead, helplessness clouding her eyes.}
She never imagined she’d be deceived like this not just once but for ten long years, all while she had suffered through countless abortions for him and now was even planning to carry his child.
“Maisie, please don’t get upset! Be careful, you’re pregnant!“}
Luca’s fear was real; the baby was his last hold on her, the only bond pulling her back after all this time.”
But then Maisie’s lips curled into a cold, hollow smile.
“Baby? What baby? Have you lost your mind?“}
She abruptly stood up and rushed toward the door.
At first, Luca didn’t follow, afraid she might hurt herself in the heat of the moment.
But when she declared she was going to have an abortion, panic finally seized him.”
He dashed after her and grabbed her arm.
Maisie struggled fiercely, and in the struggle, she stumbled and fell.
Maybe this was fate.
By the time she reached the hospital, the doctor shook his head solemnly. The child couldn’t be saved.}
Surprisingly, Maisie felt relief wash over her.”
She had wanted to cut all ties with Luca anyway, and now she finally could.
From that moment on, she drew a firm line in the sand.
Yet even that wasn’t enough to quell her unrest.
Maisie took Luca to court, charging him with fraud, sexual coercion, and more, and succeeded in having him sent to prison. Each time Maisie returned to the empty house, her mind wandered back to me, the me she believed was lost forever.
Until one day, she saw me on TV, standing at a Nova Group press conference.}
Without hesitation, she booked a ticket and flew overseas to find me.
I went about my usual workday, already settled into the rhythm here.
I asked my secretary to prepare for the afternoon meetings.”
Just as I stepped out of the elevator, I bumped into Maisie at the reception desk, her face flushed, eyes wide with anxiety.”
The receptionist quickly filled her in on everything.
When Maisie saw that I was truly alive, tears welled and spilled down her cheeks.}
I hadn’t expected her to find me, much less come all this way.
Yet, compared to before, my emotions remained surprisingly steady.
4
