Chapter 1

Silvanburg's seasons were always like spring, but this winter was exceptionally chilling.

Cecilia stood before the full-length mirror, clad in a thin wedding gown with a voluminous and heavy train that accentuated her increasingly skeletal frame. Despite her fair complexion and delicate features, she appeared even more emaciated, yet remained the most beautiful bride of the day.

Bang!

The bedroom door was kicked open.

"Cecilia! What have you FUCKING done now?" Alston's handsome face exuded an imposing aura, his dark eyes tinged with a chilling glint.

He threw a stack of old newspapers at Cecilia's face. "You shameless bitch, how did you convince my mother? How could she agree to this ridiculous marriage?!"

Cecilia furrowed her brows, instinctively touching her small abdomen. The gown was huge, but her eight-month belly was too large to conceal.

Alston's gaze fell on her belly, his eyes filled with disdain and mockery. "And you're carrying someone else's bastard!"

"It's not..."

It's not a bastard.

Cecilia instinctively rebutted, but Alston cut her off, grabbing her by the neck, sneering, "Not a bastard? Then is it my child? Seems like tonight is the first time we've met!"

Cecilia's neck creaked under his grip, but her hands instinctively shielded her abdomen.

"Let go of me..." Cecilia's face flushed, her eyes fixed on Alston, "If something happens to me, you won't fare any better!"

Alston's gaze darkened abruptly, loosening his grip.

Cecilia slumped to the ground, her slender neck marked with red imprints.

She lifted her trembling hand to touch them, breathing heavily, locking eyes with him, gritting her teeth. "Didn't your mother tell you? Your three brothers all died of cancer. Your family has a genetic defect, and you can't escape it. You have an eighty percent risk of leukemia, and coincidentally, I'm a suitable match."

"You're lying!" Alston clenched his fists, his jaw tightening, "That's just a risk!"

"It's a high risk! Your mother has only you left, and with an eighty percent chance, she wouldn't dare to gamble!" Cecilia smiled, "I promised your mother I'd be ready to donate bone marrow for you anytime, but you have to marry me."

Alston's expression turned uglier, silent for a moment before disdainfully saying, "Cecilia, I can promise you anything except marriage."

"Except marriage, I want nothing." Cecilia's gaze was firm, her tone almost stubborn.

Alston pulled her up from the ground, gripping her chin tightly, his cold eyes tinged with redness. "Why? Have you gone mad? Even if you have to walk down the aisle alone with a this fucking bastard today, you still insist on marrying me? Don’t you know I only want to marry Marian?!"

Cecilia's ears buzzed, her stomach churning violently. His words, like sharp blades, seized her heart.

Her nose tingled, she bit her lip, took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the tears in her eyes, then lifted her chin, meeting his gaze coldly. "You're here about Marian's disappearance, aren't you?"

"Marian's disappearance is indeed related to you!" Alston's thin lips turned into a sharp blade, his strong fingers almost crushing her jaw.

"I don't have that much power, it was your mother's help." Cecilia smiled bitterly, pointing to the marriage contract on the dressing table behind her, "The wedding is over, all that's left is the marriage license. Your mother will only see Marian safe once she sees the signed paper today."

"You're fucking insane!"

Alston was instantly annoyed, swinging his arm forcefully.

Cecilia was too weak, thrown out abruptly, her belly hitting the edge of the table, a sharp pain surging through her!

"AH!!" Her belly tightened, waves of intense pain hit her.

Cecilia clutched her belly, her face drained of color, her delicate eyebrows furrowed deeply. "Take me to the hospital, quickly, take me to the hospital——"

Alston's gaze darkened, crouching down, glaring at Cecilia. "Tell me, where is Marian? Tell me, and I'll take you to the hospital!"

Soon, the pure white wedding dress was stained red with blood. Cecilia's hands, resting on her belly, were instantly covered with a bloody scent.

"I don't know! She didn't tell me."

Cecilia bit her lip tightly, never as panicked as she was now, the intense pain in her abdomen making her terrified.

She felt like she might go into premature labor after being bumped by Alston, as if she was about to have a premature birth.

"Are you still lying to me?"

Alston's expression was blank, his eyes like the deep sea, seemingly touched by something for a moment, but it disappeared in an instant.

At the moment of eye contact with him, Cecilia's heart skipped a beat. She saw ruthlessness in his eyes, just like eight years ago.

She knew begging him was useless, so she dragged her wet hem soaked in blood, reaching for the phone on the dressing table.

Alston suddenly stood up, one step ahead of her, holding the phone, and pulled out the SIM card in front of her.

"What are you doing?"

Cecilia's voice suddenly choked with tears, the tears in her eyes couldn't be suppressed anymore, a feeling of helplessness like grievance invaded her limbs and bones, the dull pain in her left chest even surpassed the pain of labor contractions.

Alston ignored her, walking straight into the bathroom.

Soon after, Cecilia heard the sound of the toilet flushing.

"No——"

Cecilia stood stunned in place, her head buzzing. She couldn't believe her ears.

She knew what Alston was doing. He must have flushed her SIM card!

For Marian, he forced her to this extent. Even if she died here, he wouldn't have an ounce of pity.

As soon as Alston came out of the bathroom, he reached out and unplugged the landline fixed on the dressing table, completely tearing apart the phone line.

Cecilia couldn't bear it any longer, slipping and falling to the ground, clutching his trouser legs, pleading, "I'll do anything, but my child must be safe! I don't want to marry you anymore. Please save my child, I beg you."

"Alston! This is YOUR child too!"

Chapter 2

"Mine?" Alston sneered, "I've said it! Tonight is the first time we've met! I won't FUCK a woman like you!"

He picked up the paper from the dressing table, waving it in Cecilia's direction. "You want me to sign this, don't you?"

Cecilia was in too much pain to speak, cold sweat streaming down her forehead. But all of this was nothing compared to the chill in Alston's eyes. She saw murder in his eyes, the kind of hatred that wished her dead today.

Alston looked down at her with disdain, his deep black eyes like ice that had been frozen for millennia. "Well. If you can survive today, I'll sign!"

Alston took the household that paper, slammed the door shut, and locked it with a bang.

Then, Cecilia heard the sound of keys turning outside the door.

Her trembling fingers pressed against her belly, and the next moment, she crawled towards the door——

The doorknob was covered in blood, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't turn it.

Yes, she was right. Alston had locked the door.

To vent his anger, to retaliate against her, he severed all her ties with the outside world. He wanted her to die in their wedding room, even if it meant deliberately framing her for murder.

"Come back! Alston, come back! The child is yours! You can abandon me, but you can't abandon our child. You can't."

Cecilia was in so much pain, almost numb.

When she wanted to give up, her belly kept twitching. She didn't know if it was an illusion, but she felt that her baby was very obedient, eager to come out, eager to see the world, even if it was just a glimpse.

Cecilia could betray anyone, but she couldn't betray her child, an innocent little life.

She walked step by step to the dressing table, clutching the scissors, and with a snap, tore open her wedding dress, revealing her round belly.

Bending over with effort, she took the first aid kit, one step at a time with blood stains, slowly walked towards the bathroom.

Cecilia lay in the bathtub, filling it with warm water to alleviate the pain.

As the night darkened, the contractions became more frequent, and her water broke, but the baby still didn't come out.

During the previous prenatal check-ups, the doctor had told her that this baby was in a breech position and might have a difficult birth, recommending a caesarean section. But in this situation, how could she have a cesarean section?

She could only grit her teeth and exert all her strength, disregarding everything, just to give the baby a chance to survive.

As dawn approached, Cecilia ran out of strength. The baby still hadn't come out, and she couldn't even feel its movements anymore.

Cecilia was terrified.

Her mother died of illness, her father remarried, and Alston didn't want her anymore.

In just over twenty years of her life, she had lost everything she could lose.

She wanted to keep this child, even if it meant exchanging her life for it, she was willing.

She bit down on the towel, took out the scalpel from the first aid kit, and then, following the texture of her belly, made a cut.

She had once studied medicine, but she had never imagined that she would use this scalpel on herself.

For more than ten minutes, she didn't know how she endured it. She only knew that when her consciousness was hazy, she heard a loud cry.

Her baby had come into the world.

Blood quickly flowed out of her body, and the large wound sprayed liquid, dyeing the entire bathtub red.

At the moment the child was born, Cecilia's strength seemed to be completely drained. She couldn't even lift her eyelids, her head dizzy, shrouded in a black haze.

She saw herself from eight years ago, and she also saw Alston, who kissed her passionately eight years ago.

She also saw Marian, who begged her desperately eight months ago...

Eight months ago, Marian found her in a panic, crying and said to her, "Cecilia, help me! They've been hiding it from me. I just found out that Alston's three brothers all died of cancer! He'll die too, sooner or later!"

"Cecilia, I don't want to be a widow. They forced me to have a child with Alston, to leave an heir for him. If I really do that, my life will be ruined. Do you love him so much? Please help me, they just need a child in their family, they don't care who it is."

Cecilia felt dizzy, and the next moment, her mind was filled with images of a man and a woman entangled naked.

If they could just stay in that night, how good would it be? If everything could have stayed in that night when he loved her so much. How good would it be?

But how could things in this world be turned back with 'if'?

Cecilia probably lost too much blood, and scattered fragments kept surging through her mind.

In the end, she saw an illusion of Marian holding a bloody child, slowly approaching her, and then a sinister smile appeared on her face.

"Cecilia, thank you. Thank you for giving birth to Alston's child for me. I'll take good care of him for you and for Alston. Go ahead and die in peace. I'll continue your life for you."

Cecilia smiled desolately.

It's okay, it's better this way. After all, Alston now loves Marian.

She died, and there would be no obstacles between them anymore.

Chapter 3

Three years later.

The towering FC Group building, reaching into the clouds, stood out like a landmark in the prime location of the Silvanburg center.

Cecilia emerged from the conference room carrying a stack of documents. Her assistant Tara and secretary Stacey immediately held their breath, attempting to conceal the gossip magazine in front of them, but it was too late.

"Ma...Madam." Tara timidly glanced at her, then quickly lowered her head.

Cecilia set down the documents, glancing at the magazine cover.

The man on the cover was as handsome as he was three years ago, his refined features matured even more with time, exuding a sensual charm.

Alston wore a light blue shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, confidently embracing the woman beside him. His smile was carefree, as if he didn't remember he was married.

The woman beside Alston was the latest rising star of FC Entertainment, tall and voluptuous, not particularly stunning but with hints of Marian in her features.

The headline on the magazine read, ‘Sandy Jeffery Stays Overnight at The Baycrest Manor, Adding Another to Alston Faber's Harem.’

"Sandy Jeffery? Her face is average, but a bit overweight," Cecilia's clear eyes scanned the page, her tone unusually calm. "Notify her manager to have her lose twenty pounds, or our marketing department won't promote her."

Tara and Stacey were both stunned. They had expected Cecilia to be upset or distressed, but they didn't anticipate her complete detachment, as if nothing was wrong.

Not only that, but she subtly punished the other party as well.

Sandy was the curvy type of actress, but even at her heaviest, she wouldn't weigh over a hundred pounds. Losing twenty pounds would leave her at eighty pounds with a height of five foot seven.

What would she look like then?

If she couldn't lose weight, and the marketing department didn't promote her, what's the difference between that and being abandoned?

It was well-known that FC Entertainment's artists either had to please the PR department or the marketing department to gain prominence.

The PR director Radford and their director were college classmates, and if the marketing department didn't promote her, the PR department could easily make her disappear.

"What's wrong? Can't you hear?" Cecilia noticed their frozen state and tapped the table.

Tara, feeling worried, whispered, "Director, are you alright?"

Cecilia's eyes dimmed.

If this were three years ago, she might have clung to this magazine and fallen into a state of depression for three days and nights without eating. Ten years ago, she might have gone to a bar late at night to drown her sorrows in alcohol until she was completely drunk.

But now, she was truly fine.

No matter how deep the emotions were, they couldn't withstand the erosion of time.

Moreover, in these three years, Alston had given her nothing but bone-chilling despair and endless waiting.

"I'm fine," Cecilia straightened her posture, smiling even more brightly. "But what about you? Oakwood Residences is about to launch, and Alston needs to show up. How are we going to explain it to the media for today's headlines? Quickly inform the PR department so they can align their story and not disrupt the launch."

Tara was startled. "Does that mean the opening ceremony will proceed as usual tomorrow?"

Cecilia's eyes sparkled, then she casually dropped two words, "As usual."

She took a few steps forward, then paused and turned back with a smile. "If possible, bring Sandy along. I want this project to have as much momentum as possible."

"Alright, I'll arrange it."

Tara knew Cecilia never went back on her word, so she quickly accepted the task and hurried to the office of the general manager on the sixty-eighth floor.

***

"Sir, this is the speech that the marketing department just sent over. They mentioned that you should attend the ceremony tomorrow as usual, no need to avoid it," Secretary Boyce handed over the documents.

A large hand reached out to take them. The leather strap on Alston's wrist and the prominent veins on the back of his hand complemented each other. Alston glanced at the documents, a hint of dark gloominess appearing in his otherwise calm eyes. "Didn't Cecilia see the magazine this morning?"

"She... she did," Boyce gritted his teeth.

"What was her reaction?" Alston casually flipped through the documents, asking nonchalantly.

"No reaction," Boyce answered with a lowered head.

Everyone knew about the indifferent relationship between him and Cecilia.

Alston's eyes suddenly deepened, and within the icy depths of his eyes, something seemed to be fracturing inch by inch.

Seeing Alston's silence, Boyce thought he had accepted it, so he continued, "The marketing department also mentioned that they hope you can bring Sandy along to make the opening ceremony more grand. Oakwood Residences is the largest project in the eastern district, and this year's performance of FC Group's real estate sector relies heavily on this project."

"Bring Sandy along? Hah..." There was a mocking tone in Alston's frivolous laughter as he pursed his lips into a thin blade. "Is that the marketing department's suggestion, or Cecilia's?"

Boyce's expression slightly changed, lowering his head as he answered, "It's Director Cecilia suggestion."

Alston lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and then exhaled lightly, half of his face veiled in smoke.

That woman really had some skills.

She not only carried someone else's child, threatened his mother, but also effortlessly married him.

In these three years, she even gained the approval of his father, who personally brought her into FC Group.

Starting from a small manager in the marketing department, she climbed her way up to become the director of the marketing department and even entered the board of directors of FC Group.

The once infamous and scorned socialite didn't get ostracized by FC Group's clearly tiered corporate culture, but instead successfully established her own reputation in the workplace.

Alston felt that this woman was too scheming.

Since driving Marian away three years ago, she has been scheming step by step. She didn't just want to marry him; she also aimed to seize everything from his family. It's unclear how she managed to ingratiate herself with his family, even winning the praise of his stern father.

"Sir?" Boyce called out to him when he seemed lost in thought.

"Hmm."

Alston remained calm, not displaying even a hint of the pent-up anger he had anticipated.

"As for tomorrow's opening ceremony, are you going?" Boyce continued. "I recall you had a meeting scheduled with Mr. Trafford."

"Of course, I'll go," Alston replied, his gaze piercing. "If I don't, am I supposed to watch Oakwood Residences' success slip into someone else's hands?"

Boyce's lips twitched. Could spouses really be referred to as "someone else"?

He didn't dare to argue, only nodded. "Alright, I'll make the arrangements."

Chapter 4

Cecilia finished organizing the materials needed for the opening ceremony, and it was already past nine o'clock.

Her stomach grumbled with hunger, prompting her to prepare dinner. When she turned on the lights in the living room, she noticed some activity coming from the adjacent bedroom. She frowned and pushed the door open.

On the child-sized bed, Gladys was wearing a floral cartoon nightgown, with little stars awarded by her kindergarten teacher still stuck on her forehead.

She was flipping through something with her left hand while holding a marker in her right hand, making circles and dots on the side.

"Gladys, why aren't you asleep yet? Do you want Mommy to stay with you?" Cecilia had been too busy these days and had neglected her child a bit.

Gladys, who was three years old, was very obedient and sensible, never causing trouble for her mother. Being born prematurely, she was lighter and thinner than other children, and her health was somewhat fragile.

But Gladys never showed any signs of being a difficult child; even when she was sick, she behaved in a way that was heartwarming.

Cecilia felt fortunate that three years ago, in that dim bathroom, she had fought hard to save this lovely daughter.

The child took her surname, Quinn, because Alston refused to acknowledge her, and the Faber family wouldn't recognize her either.

It was better that way; Cecilia didn't want her daughter to be involved in the power struggles of the elite.

"Mom!" Gladys exclaimed excitedly. "Has Mom finished working?"

"Yes," Cecilia nodded, smiling warmly. She bent down and lifted Gladys from the small bed, but her gaze inadvertently fell on the magazine lying there.

In the magazine, the smiles of Alston and Sandy seemed particularly glaring.

Where did this magazine come from? And why was it on Gladys's bed?

Cecilia's head buzzed.

"Mom, what is mistress and cheating mean?" Gladys pouted and gritted her teeth, frowning. "Our teacher in the neighboring class said that my dad found a mistress and cheating, and he doesn't want Mommy anymore!"

Gladys's voice was not loud, even weak enough to be ignored, but this seemingly insignificant question blew a huge hole in Cecilia's heart, devouring all her sense of achievement in her career.

"The magazine is full of nonsense. Good girl shouldn't look at these things!" Cecilia took the magazine and threw it into the trash can, her fingers trembling slightly.

Because in that instant, she seemed to see the marks Gladys had made on the magazine. Words like "Alston," "Cecilia," "Sandy," and "cheating" were circled, with question marks in some places.

Clearly, Gladys hadn't expected Cecilia to be so angry. Her big, round eyes quickly filled with tears.

"Mom, is what they said true? Does Dad not want Mom anymore? Does Dad not want Gladys anymore?" Gladys's voice trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks, hitting Cecilia's hand and heart like tiny pebbles.

Cecilia's eyes welled up too.

So Gladys had circled those words with a marker to look them up in the dictionary. If she hadn't stumbled upon it tonight, Gladys probably wouldn't have asked her about it.

The child was afraid of hurting her, so she quietly did these things.

"Babe, don't cry. Don't listen to what others say. Daddy loves Mom, and Daddy loves Gladys too. Daddy would never not want Mom," Cecilia comforted as she placed her back in bed, wiping away her tears. "If you say these things to Daddy, he will be sad."

"Really?" Gladys furrowed her brow. "Then why doesn't Daddy come to see Gladys? Gladys has never seen Daddy."

Cecilia was choked up again.

Moonlight Manor was a house Cecilia bought herself. After Gladys was born, she had been living here with her. Alston didn't acknowledge Gladys, so he had never come.

Occasionally, she showed Gladys pictures of Alston, telling her that she, like other children, also had a father. It's just that her father was different from other fathers; he managed a big company and had to earn money to spend on Mom and Gladys.

These words might deceive a child, but now, Gladys was getting older and more sensible.

"Who said Daddy never came to see Gladys? Daddy comes to see Gladys every day after work, very late at night. But Gladys is already asleep then, so Gladys doesn't know," Cecilia explained, her voice strained.

Gladys frowned, "Mom, is what you said true?"

"Of course it's true," Cecilia's throat tightened. "Daddy has to work hard to buy a big house for Mom and buy lots of pretty clothes for you. Others are just jealous of us, that's why they say bad things about Daddy."

"Okay," Gladys blinked at Cecilia. "I believe Mom. So can Mom ask Daddy to take Gladys to school when he's free? Gladys wants to show her classmates that she has a Daddy, that Daddy doesn't not want Gladys, and that Daddy is the most handsome Daddy in the world."

Cecilia choked up.

"Mom, please?" Gladys tugged at her sleeve, looking at her pitifully.

"Okay," Cecilia couldn't refuse. "When Daddy has time, Mom will ask him to take Gladys to school. It's too late now, so Gladys should go to sleep, okay?"

"Great! Thank you, Mom!" Gladys jumped up excitedly, then burrowed into her blanket the next moment, lying down obediently.

Cecilia's heart couldn't calm down. Instead of staying to accompany her, she just said "good night" and turned off the lights in the room before leaving the baby's room.

Cecilia sat in the living room, staring at the names on her phone's contact list for a long time, but ultimately didn't make the call.

Forget it!

Have Alston take Gladys to school?

What was she even thinking?

Daydreaming!

Instead of that, she might as well help Gladys transfer to another school.

Cecilia returned to the bedroom, tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. In the end, she called Erin.

"Erin, Oakwood Residences is opening tomorrow, and I might be busy until late. Can you pick up Gladys from kindergarten for me?"

Erin immediately agreed, "Sure!"

"Erin."

"Cecilia, do you have something else on your mind?" There was a pause on the other end of the phone, then Erin continued, "I saw the magazine this morning. Are you okay? If you ask me, Alston is a real asshole!"

"Erin, what I want to talk to you about is this matter." Cecilia furrowed her brow. "I don't care about Alston and Sandy or any other women, but now that Gladys knows about this, when you pick up Gladys from school tomorrow, could you subtly inquire with her teacher to see if Gladys can transfer schools?"

"Can this be solved by transferring schools?" Erin complained. "In my opinion, why don't you talk to Alston about what happened eleven years ago? Dragging it out like this won't solve anything!"

"..."

Cecilia remained silent for a long time.

Erin realized she had been too harsh and quickly added, "Okay, okay! I'll do as you say! Tomorrow after work, I'll find out. But Cecilia, I don't want what happened three years ago to happen again. If Alston is still being unreasonable, I'd rather you stay away from him, even further away! Even if it means getting a divorce!"

"Okay."

"With your looks and abilities, even if you're alone with Gladys, there will still be someone who likes you," Erin said, trying to cheer Cecilia up. "In my opinion, Brian Radford from the PR department in your company isn't bad!"

Cecilia furrowed her brow, her tone becoming serious. "What nonsense are you saying? Brian is Alston's cousin."

"So what?" Erin protested on Cecilia's behalf. "It's just to show Alston that the wife he thinks is worthless is actually someone else's treasure!"

"That's enough! Erin! Brian and I don't have the kind of relationship you're imagining."

Cecilia didn't give Erin a chance to continue; she hung up the phone directly.

Chapter 5

Early the next morning, as Cecilia answered Conrad's call, a layer of soft rain started falling from the sky, bringing a chill to the air. As soon as Conrad got into the car, he complained, "You're really dragging your feet. I had to stand out in the cold wind for over ten minutes. Don't you have any sense that I'm a big star?"

Cecilia glanced at Conrad sideways. They had been college classmates for four years, and she had never expected to become so close to someone, who one day would become famous across the country.

He was wearing a punk-style jacket over a pair of Martin boots, his fair face and charming features exuding charisma, especially when he smiled, it was like basking in the spring breeze. There was even a dimple on his right cheek, which was simply a killer weapon.

Cecilia wasn't deceived by his appearance, she just smiled casually.

Conrad raised an eyebrow and said loudly, "Is this your attitude towards inviting me for endorsement? If it weren't for our good relationship, I wouldn't have come. Seeing your husband's face makes me annoyed, not to mention seeing him flaunting his affair with the mistress in different newspapers and magazines every day. Do you really want me to witness it up close?"

Cecilia knew Conrad was referring to Sandy, because Conrad wasn't the only ambassador for Oakwood Residences. She was used to Conrad's outspokenness, so she wasn't angry.

She drove seriously and said softly, "I was just a little late, weren't I? Stop blaming me. I'm driving, okay?"

Conrad snorted coldly. Seeing Cecilia relenting, he changed the subject.

The meeting point wasn't far from Oakwood Residences. When they arrived, the rain hadn't stopped, it was still drizzling lightly.

As Cecilia reached for the door handle, Conrad said, "Wait, let me come around and help you. If you slip later, it will affect my image."

As he spoke, he got out of the car and quickly came around to Cecilia's side, extending his hand to support her out of the car.

Cecilia was wearing high heels, and Conrad put his arm around her shoulder, closing the car door with a smile. "Hmm, moved by my gesture?"

Cecilia smiled, her eyes narrowing. "Conrad, stop talking nonsense. There might be media around."

The two of them were so engrossed in their banter that they forgot about the occasion.

Just as Alston got out of the car, he witnessed the scene.

It was the first time in three years that Alston had seen Cecilia up close.

She was dressed in a pale pink suit with a waistline design that accentuated her slender waist. The color complemented her complexion, making her skin look even whiter and more flawless.

Her buttocks were wrapped in a pink skirt, her legs slender and graceful. Leaning against Conrad's embrace, she looked charming and almost enchanting.

Despite standing next to the nationally renowned man, she didn't seem overshadowed at all. On the contrary, they complemented each other like a well-matched couple.

Alston's thin lips twitched. It seemed that three years of singlehood hadn't affected her quality of life. She even managed to get close to Conrad, a big star! Her way of getting along with men was becoming more and more skillful!

Cecilia couldn't break free from Conrad's embrace due to her lack of strength, and just as she was about to scold him, she heard a cough beside her.

They both turned to look.

When Cecilia saw Alston, she was momentarily stunned.

He stood by the car, tall and slender, his face still flawless. His black suit outlined his body's smooth lines, and his legs were encased in straight trousers, poised and ready.

Cecilia's fingers involuntarily clenched together.

He didn't move, yet everyone around him seemed to be drawn to him.

But his words didn't sound so lovely. "You're quite capable, cuddling with male stars like this, must be promoting the project. Should I go back and apply for a Best Employee Award for you?"

The emphasis he put on "capable" sounded sarcastic and sharp.

Cecilia blinked, her smile becoming somewhat forced.

Before she could speak, Sandy got out of the car with Alston. She linked her arm through his, speaking loudly, "Alston, the opening ceremony is about to start. Let's go in. I don't want to get rained on."

Sandy's voice was artificially sweet, and her gaze occasionally flicked towards Cecilia, provoking her directly.

Obviously, Sandy still resented Cecilia for making her lose twenty pounds.

In theory, as the legitimate wife, Cecilia should have had the final say, but Alston didn't intend to give her any face.

He reached out and embraced Sandy's waist, leaning down slightly, his tone tender, "Alright, be careful, it's slippery."

As they walked away, Conrad's face darkened. "He is really FUCKING ASSHOLE! He doesn't even consider divorcing you. Are you out of your mind?"

Cecilia chuckled and pushed Conrad away. "Fine! Just go now. Alston and Sandy are entering together. You'll join me later. Tomorrow's entertainment headlines will speculate about our divorce. This isn't promotion; it's tarnishing our own reputation!"

Conrad rolled his eyes and dragged Cecilia onto the red carpet. "In my opinion, you should find a few male models to retaliate!"

Unable to resist Conrad and already on the red carpet, Cecilia adopted a resigned attitude and walked in with him.

As she expected, when Alston and Sandy appeared, they immediately attracted attention. Cecilia could see from afar that the cameras were mainly focused on Sandy and Alston.

Contrastingly, Conrad, whose fame was undoubtedly higher than Sandy's, seemed less popular.

Because they were following closely behind Alston and Sandy, Cecilia also saw how Sandy confidently clung to Alston's arm.

Her position, both publicly and privately, should have been Cecilia's. The media naturally didn't want to miss such a spectacle.

"Sandy, is it true that you spent the night at The Baycrest Manor with Mr. Faber the day before yesterday?"

"Sandy, what are your thoughts on this?"

Cecilia didn't have to look at her face to know whose reporter was asking these questions.

Anyway, she had called them over to build up the momentum of Oakwood Residences, so Cecilia waited patiently with Conrad for a while.

But the fire was still burning on Cecilia's body, I don't know who, shouted Cecilia is here."

The reporters turned around and came straight towards Cecilia.

"Mrs. Faber, your husband was seen spending the night at The Baycrest Manor with another woman. What are your thoughts on this?"

"Mrs. Faber, today Sandy accompanied your husband to the opening ceremony. What is her status in attending?"

"It's well known that you, as Mrs. Faber, have had a strained relationship with your husband. Does Sandy's appearance signify anything?"

The reporters' questions were sharp, and Alston and Sandy showed no signs of explanation. Cecilia glanced at Alston's face almost imperceptibly.

He appeared aloof, lowering his head as if listening to something Sandy was saying.

Seeing that the sensation had reached its peak, Cecilia smiled and said, "I was already aware of everything you're mentioning."

With that sentence, the flashbulbs went wild, their light blinding Cecilia.

"Today, I have three things to announce, with the first being the most important. As you all know, Oakwood Residences is opening, and as one of the project leaders, I want to thank the media for their support."

"Secondly, welcome Sandy to Oakwood Residences as a special guest and spokesperson. Thirdly, it's a private matter between us."

"As you all know, Sandy comes from a humble background. She has been supported by both Alston and me for many years. She's like a sister to me and Alston; we've always liked her. It's not unusual for her to stay at our house, right, Sandy?"

As Cecilia finished speaking, a reporter who was closer to Sandy handed her the microphone.

Sandy did indeed come from a poor background, and the image FC Group created for her on screen was always inspirational. With Cecilia saying that, if Sandy denied it, she would be admitting to her affair with Alston and becoming a saboteur in their marriage!

Sandy detested Cecilia's haughty demeanor.

With just a casual sentence, she could clarify her relationship with Alston and even force her agent to order her to lose twenty pounds!

Clamping her teeth tightly, Sandy's face forced out a strained smile. "That's right, I'm very grateful to Cecilia."

For three years, Alston's scandals had been endless.

Cecilia had gone from being speechless in front of reporters to now answering them effortlessly.

It was incredible even to herself.

Once everything was clarified and the reporters found no explosive material, they unwillingly shifted their attention to the opening ceremony of Oakwood Residences.

FC Group had hired a well-known host, who quickly livened up the atmosphere of the audience.

Just as the mood was getting high, the host instructed the technician to play a concept video of Oakwood Residences.

At that moment, Cecilia was busy reviewing documents handed to her by Stacey when suddenly there was a commotion in the room.

Sensing her sleeve being tugged, Cecilia glanced at Stacey, whose face had turned pale, her voice trembling. "Madam, look at this."

Cecilia raised her head and came face to face with a scene on the large screen—a woman entangled naked with multiple men is more daring than the usual porno film, and the absolute protagonist of the picture is one of today's spokespersons - Sandy.