Chapter 180 - 180-You don’t believe me?
She had been busy at the clinic all day. It wasn't until Gary insisted she head home that she finally changed out of her uniform, exhausted and ready to leave, only to receive a call from Vincent. He told her he had retrieved her mother's diamond bracelet from William S. Lancaster and wanted to return it to her.
Overjoyed, she grabbed her bag and rushed out. This news felt like the only glimmer of light in her otherwise dreary life of late.
In the quiet little restaurant, under the soft glow of the lights, Vincent's gaze was full of tenderness as he looked at her.
"Cynthia, I know how much you've wanted this bracelet back. Now, it can finally return to its rightful owner."
Cynthia lowered her gaze to the emerald bracelet on the table. It radiated the same calm brilliance as ever. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked it up, cradling it like a treasure. Memories of a beautiful, slender woman flooded her mind—the bracelet adorning her fair wrist.
"How did you get it?"
She tore her eyes away from the bracelet, confused. She knew William S. Lancaster valued the bracelet as much as his life.
Vincent's eyes flickered with a hint of avoidance. "Maybe he finally thought things through and decided to let me pass it on to you."
Cynthia eyed him skeptically, but before she could press further, Vincent reached out and gently ruffled her soft hair, interrupting her doubts.
"Alright, it's back where it belongs. Let's eat now."
She nodded, carefully securing the bracelet, and picked up her chopsticks to start eating.
However, she had barely taken a few bites when a wave of dizziness washed over her. Struggling to keep her eyes open, she looked across the table at Vincent, only to find him slumped over it. Alarm surged through her, but her body was already succumbing to the overwhelming weakness. Darkness overtook her, and she collapsed onto the table.
From the early hours of the morning, an indecent photo began circulating wildly on the internet. It wasn't just the scandalous nature of the image that fueled its spread; it was because the person in the photo was none other than Vincent, a prosecutor known for his strict, incorruptible reputation.
The photo was titled: Vincent Spotted Spending the Night at a Hotel with a Mystery Woman. In the image, Vincent was lying shirtless on a hotel bed, holding a woman in his arms as they both slept.
But the photo was not the most damning piece of evidence. Along with it came a secret video.
The video showed Vincent standing by William S. Lancaster's hospital bed, engaged in conversation. Toward the end, Vincent placed a bank card in William's hand, and in return, William took out a diamond bracelet from his pocket and handed it to him.
The video was startlingly clear, capturing not just the visuals but also their voices. Vincent was heard saying, "Uncle, I know the Lancaster family is facing severe financial difficulties right now. If you're willing to give me the bracelet, I'm prepared to offer two million. It may not be enough to save the Lancaster empire, but at least it'll give the two young ladies some security in life."
Two million—an amount that would take a prosecutor with a reputation for integrity many years to save. Yet Vincent didn't even flinch as he made the offer, presenting the card without hesitation.
The video and photo quickly went viral, igniting a firestorm of outrage online. Netizens flooded social media with accusations, saying things like "Like father, like son!" and hurling other insults that nearly brought platforms to a standstill. Overnight, the once-revered Vincent, known for his integrity, saw his reputation crumble to ashes.
Morning arrived in the spacious hotel room.
When Cynthia and Vincent woke up from their unconscious state at the same time, both were utterly stunned. As they registered their situation, Cynthia let out a piercing scream, grabbing the blanket to cover her bare upper body.
Vincent, frozen for a moment, quickly scrambled to put on his clothes, then turned his back to her abruptly. Frustrated, he pounded his head with his fists before speaking in a trembling voice.
"Cynthia, I'm so sorry! I never thought this would happen. But I'm certain we've been set up!"
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Hearing Vincent's words, Cynthia forced herself to calm down and carefully replayed the events of the previous night in her mind. Gradually, she pieced things together. Shaking, she pulled the blanket aside and began dressing. Fortunately, her body felt untouched—no signs of anything sinister beyond being drugged. Relieved, she concluded they had only been sedated, not given anything worse. Otherwise, she truly wouldn't know how to face life.
Just as they finished getting dressed and were still trying to process the shock, the door to the room was suddenly kicked open. Albert stormed in, clutching a newspaper in his hand, his face twisted with rage.
"So this is why you so eagerly agreed to divorce me? Turns out you've been rekindling things with your old flame!"
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
Cynthia's body trembled with anger at his accusation. She and Vince had been set up—they didn't even fully understand what had happened yet, and here he was throwing baseless accusations at her.
"Nonsense? Look at today's front page!"
Albert threw the newspaper onto the bed with a sneer.
Cynthia, hands shaking, picked up the paper. Her mind went blank as a loud buzzing filled her ears. The photo on the front page showed Vincent's face, startlingly clear. The woman in the photo was turned away, showing only her back, but that was enough to make her feel faint. She recognized her own silhouette instantly.
But the scandalous photo wasn't what devastated her the most. The real blow came from his distrust.
Clutching the newspaper tightly, she met Albert's furious gaze with bitter eyes and said, her voice trembling,
"You don't believe me?"
She had thought that after all these years by his side, he would know what kind of person she was. Cynthia was never the kind of woman who looked elsewhere while holding onto what she already had. Whatever she once had with Vincent had been left behind long ago, and when she fell in love with Albert, her heart no longer held any feelings for Vincent.
"Hard evidence is right in front of me. How do you expect me to believe you?"
Albert had completely lost control, his words cutting like a blade.
He had tried to tolerate her emotional betrayal—such as calling Vincent—but he never imagined she would cross this line.
The moment he saw the photo on the front page of the newspaper, all his reason evaporated. He didn't even stop to question how his phone had received a text with the hotel's name and room number. Blinded by fury, he stormed into the scene.
The sight of Cynthia and Vincent, both disheveled, pushed him further into despair. He forgot who she was, forgot the odd coincidences—like how he arrived so precisely at the right time and place. All he could think of was the word betrayal.
Faced with his accusations and anger, Cynthia suddenly laughed. It was a laugh of utter resignation.
"Mr. Wilson, why are you so furious? Weren't you the one who asked for a divorce? What's the matter? You're allowed to get another woman pregnant, but I'm not allowed to end up in another man's bed?"
All lingering feelings evaporated in an instant. After the numbness of heartbreak, all that remained was despair. All she wanted now was to return home, sign the divorce papers, and sever ties with him once and for all.
With that thought in mind, she acted decisively. Tossing the newspaper to the ground, she turned and stormed out of the room. Albert watched her retreating figure, resolute and filled with pain. A sudden pang of panic shot through him, and without thinking, he hurried after her.