I was against this marriage from the start , " he boomed . " I never wanted Steven marrying this brainless creature . Your family beg- ged me , you shoved her at us ! And now she disgraces our name , scheming with another man and passing off his bastards as our own ! " " The divorce is non - negotiable . Amanda will leave with nothing . Smith Corporation is pulling all investments from Vance Industri- es . As of this moment , our families are done . " Pulling investments . Done . Divorce . Leave with nothing . Amanda's head snapped up . " No. Steven and I can't get a divorce . " But the people around her were already scrambling to pick up the reports . Seeing the undeniable results - Paternity Excluded - on every single one , no one dared to speak up for her . Instead , the whispers turned hostile . [ The children really aren't his ... They belong to that killer's son ... ] [ Shameless . I actually thought she'd changed . Turns out she's just a heartless , love - sick fool . ] [ To raise a daughter like that ... If my company had nearly gone bankrupt because of her , I'd rather die than live with the shame ! ] [ They even adopted the killer's son ... ] Hearing the cascade of insults , Amanda's mother finally broke . She spun around and slapped her daughter hard across the face . " Are you satisfied now ?! Your father and I barely managed to save the company , and you've destroyed it all ! Do you have any idea what happens when the Smiths pull their funding ?! " " Get on your knees and apologize to Steven ! If you don't , you are no longer welcome in the Vance family ! " With that , she shoved her way through the crowd and stormed out , abandoning her daughter , who had crumpled to the floor . Amanda was trembling , clutching her stinging cheek as she looked up at me , a pathetic , broken figure . " Steven ... I can have another baby with you . A real one . Please ... can we just not get divorced ? " I had already handed the infants off to an assistant . I stood on the stage , looking down on her from a great height . Then , slowly , I delivered the final blows . " A divorce is just the beginning . We terminated all contracts with Vance Industries weeks ago . And as of now , I have acquired a 60 % controlling stake in your family's company . " " At the shareholder's meeting next week , Vance Industries will be formally renamed Smith Holdings . " A collective gasp went through the room . The media went into a frenzy , flashes popping like fireworks as reporters surged forward , shouting questions about the hostile takeover I had executed in complete silence . Amanda stared at me , her eyes wide with shock and utter confusion . " What ... what did you say ? " I adjusted the lapels of my suit , my expression placid . " I told you , didn't I ? The Smith family code is strict . The men do not cheat . And the women who marry into our family ... if they make a mistake , we destroy everything they hold dear . We leave them with not- hing but ashes . " " You once said you loved Evan even if he was a murderer's son . So , I'm setting you free . To be together , without the burden of class or wealth . Shouldn't you be thanking me ? " Amanda looked as if she'd been struck by lightning . She staggered to Chapter a mask of dawning horror . 14:20 84 I gave her a scornful smile . " Knew what ? That you and your mother were plotting in the hospital room ? That you and your lover were planning my demise in the wellness retreat ? Or that you adopted him as your ' brother ' so you could continue your illicit affair ? " Stop it ! " Amanda shrieked , lunging forward to grab my hand . " Steven , I know I was wrong ! Please , just forgive me this one time ! I promise I'll be good , I'll never do it again ! I'll be the perfect wife ! " " Forgive you ? " I laughed as if it were the funniest joke I'd ever heard . " Do I look like some kind of masochist to you ? Amanda , we grew up together . From the day I could understand , I knew I was meant to marry you . But you ? You cheated on me the moment I went overseas . You've been putting a crown of thorns on my head from the very beginning . " " You stood before my grandfather , on your knees , and swore you would never betray me again , or you would burn in hell . What hap- pened to all those promises ? Did the dog eat them ? " " There are no more second chances . " I wrenched my hand from her grasp and took the divorce papers Mr. Carter handed me . I threw them at her . " Sign them . Don't force me to annihilate what's left of you . " Then I turned my back and walked away from the ruin of her life . 5 When I got home , I had the children sent back to the Vance estate . Mr. Carter returned later , reporting with a grim satisfaction . " When I arrived , Mr. Vance had just flown back from abroad after seei- ng the news . He was livid about the disaster his wife and daughter had caused . He was beating that Evan fellow to a pulp right up until I brought the children in ... " At the sight of the twins , Amanda had completely lost it . She'd lunged at the nanny holding them . " It's them ! They're the curse ! Get them out of here ! Take them away ! " Evan , who had been silently taking the beating , suddenly grabbed Amanda's wrist , his face a mask of disbelief . " Amanda ? What are you saying ? You're their mother ! You're abandoning them ? " When Evan's father was imprisoned for murder , Evan was only ten . His own mother , unable to bear the gossip and pointed fingers , had abandoned him , leaving him to rot alone in that abyss of despair . " I thought you were the light in my life , " he whispered , his voice cracking . " But you're no different from her , are you ? A few harsh words from strangers , and you throw away your own children ? " " You never really loved me , did you ? " Her innermost thoughts exposed , Amanda's face flushed with shame and anger . Her expression toward Evan hardened into cont- empt . " Don't be ridiculous , Evan . Steven was abroad , I was lonely , and your little ' rebel ' act was intriguing . Did you really think I'd fall for someone like you ?" " You're nothing but the son of a murderer . I was greedy and lost my head for a while . But I've given you children now . My debt is paid . Take them and get out . Go as far away as you can and never show your faces to Steven or me again . " " Lonely ? Get out ? Evan laughed , a broken , bitter sound , his eyes burning with red - hot fury . " I gave up everything to be with you . I did whatever you asked . i debased myself , became a pathetic homewrecker- " * Amanda , are you even human ?! " His heart was shattered . His gaze flickered from Amanda's cold face to the two innocent babies . He threw his head back and laug- Chapter 2 14.20 hed twice , a hollow , echoing sound , before carefully taking the children from the nanny . " Mr. Carter , isn't it ? " he said , turning to my assistant . " It was all a show . The whole Vance family . Their plan was for Amanda to mar- ry into the Smith family , steal corporate secrets , and use them to build their own empire . " " And Amanda ... she's a piece of work . She was with plenty of men before me . She never deserved someone like Mr. Smith . " Amanda stared at Mr. Carter in terror , terrified he would believe Evan's words . " You're lying , Evan ! What are you talking about ? I've never been with other men ! You ungrateful bastard , I'll kill you ! " she shrieked , clawing at his face , her long nails drawing blood . Evan , trying to shield the babies in his arms , could only endure the attack . Bruised and bleeding , he finally turned and walked away without looking back . After relaying the entire sordid affair , Mr. Carter snorted . " That entire family is rotten to the core . It's a good thing you found out , Mr. Smith " I slowly lifted my teacup and took a small sip . " Pay them no more mind . Prepare for the shareholder's meeting next week . They wanted to steal our secrets ? It seems their punishment isn't nearly severe enough . " Over the next week , Amanda became my shadow . She would appear everywhere she thought I might be - on my usual route to work , in the parking garage . The moment she saw me , she'd latch on like a ghost I couldn't shake . Sometimes she'd be begging for forgiveness with red - rimmed eyes ; other times she'd drop to her knees and plead . The harassment became unbearable . She even caused a scene outside the corporate headquarters , vowing to the empty air , " If you don't forgive me , I'll follow you forev- er ! Steven , believe me , you're the only one I've ever loved ! It was only because you were abroad that Evan was able to seduce me ! " She probably thought she sounded deeply devoted . But after the live - streamed gala , the entire city had seen her for what she was . The public comments were brutal . The spectacle was becoming a problem . Finally , Mr. Carter intervened on my behalf . Mr. Smith doesn't want to see you . Why do you insist on this harassment ?" Amanda bit her lip , looking devastated . Tears streamed down her face . " Mr. Carter , I just want to see Steven . He wanted a child of our own , right ? I can give him one , right now ! I'm just begging him not to throw me away . " " We were engaged since we were children . He can't be this cruel to me , can he ? " Mr. Carter looked at her as if she'd lost her mind . " You betrayed Mr. Smith first. Where do you get the audacity to think he would ever want a woman who is not only tainted but has stabbed him in the back ? Get out of here . Don't tarnish Mr. Smith's sight . " His words were like a bucket of ice water . Amanda froze , her expression turning numb . She wandered away from the building in a daze , and after that day , she finally disappeared . At the shareholder's meeting , both of Amanda's parents were present . The moment Amanda saw me , she scurried over . " Steven , you're here ! " frowned and stepped away from her , laying a folder on the table . " Let's dispense with the pleasantries , " I began , my voice all busi- ness . " I now own 60 % of this company's shares . I will be assuming the role of CEO , effective immediately . " Her father hadn't expected such ruthless finality . " Steven , you and Amanda are still husband and wife . After her mother and I retire , this company would have been yours anyway . Isn't this a bit ... premature ? " He was a veteran of the boardroom , his words smooth 1420 14.20 Chapter 2 and veiled . I looked him straight in the eye , a humorless smile playing on my lips . " Have you forgotten , Mr. Vance ? Your family's current standi- ng is entirely thanks to me . But your daughter repaid that debt with treachery , having children with another man . I sent her the divorce papers long ago . " My bluntness stripped away his composure . His fists clenched , a muscle twitching in his jaw . " The divorce isn't final . As long as it's not final , there's still a chance ." I just scoffed . " A chance ? " I clapped my hands twice . Mr. Carter entered , followed by several police officers . " Over the past week , I had team audit the Vance company books . We found evidence of significant tax evasion , not to mention trafficking in black market goods . Mr. Vance , these are very serious crimes . " The color drained from her father's face . " You ... what proof do you have that I did any of that ? " I smiled faintly . " Why don't you take a look at the file in front of you ? " Her mother frantically flipped open the folder , discovering it wasn't a shareholder agreement , but a detailed dossier of her husband ' s smuggling and tax fraud . " Darling , what do we do ? " she whimpered , clutching at his arm . 1 told you from the beginning , " I said , my voice low and steady . " When you marry into the Smith family , you play by the rules . We are not like those other nouveau - riche clans . " At that moment , Mr. Vance's composure finally shattered . He violently shook off his wife's hand and pointed a trembling finger at Amanda . " It was all because of you ! Our rise , and now our fall ! Why couldn't you have just been good enough ?! " With the evidence irrefutable , the police led him away . Amanda ran after them , crying his name , but it was useless . She stood there , alone in the vast boardroom , finally understanding the true cost of her actions . She had lost everything . Her family was dest- Toyed Only then did I walk over to her . It was the first time I had spoken to her directly since that night . " Amanda , " I said softly , " the day my grandfather asked if I truly wanted to marry you , I remembered something from when we were children My mother told me she took me to see you right after you were born . You were just a tiny baby , but you immediately grab- bed my hand and wouldn't let go . That's why she arranged our engagement . " That's why agreed to marry you . " " It would be a lie to say I had no feelings for you . I thought we could be different from the other arranged marriages in our world . I price imagined growing old with you , loving you the way my father loved my mother . " " But you betrayed me . And for that . Thate you more than I can say . " I walked away without another word . This time , she didn't follow In the days that followed , Amanda signed the divorce papers and mailed them to my office . She began selling off everything she owned - jewelry , art , property - trying to scrape together enough money to reduce her father's sentence . It was a futile effort . He was pentenced to life in prison . Destitute and out of options , she and her mother tracked down Evan . But when she knocked on the door of his small apartment , she found he was married . To a simple , ordinary girl with a warm , bright smile .