A Fabrication of Seven Years

Hector arranged for me to apologize on a livestream from a TV station.

After I signed the nondisclosure agreement, I faced more than a dozen cameras and read from the script like a machine. "Hello, everyone. My name is Conrad Brown. Regarding the recent controversy online, I'm here to formally apologize to Mr. Hector Gomez and Ms. Quinn Summers...

"I fabricated the chat records for attention. Quinn and I were only classmates."

The number of viewers soared, and the comments were full of abuse. Netizens flooded the screen, telling me to get out of Oceanton. Every comment felt like an invisible bullet. By the time I came back to myself, my heart was already full of holes.

After the livestream ended, Hector took out several stacks of cash and tossed them onto the floor. "Oops. My hand slipped. Pick it up yourself."

The bills were scattered across the floor.

"Hector, don't push it!" I yelled. Just as I was about to charge at him, his bodyguards managed to grab me first. Someone kicked the back of my knee, and I dropped to the floor in pain. As I struggled, my entire body was forced down as my forehead slammed against the floor before Hector.

Laughter erupted all around me as the cameras turned toward me again. The laughter was especially painful for me to hear.

Hector grabbed me by the hair and laughed mockingly. "Conrad, take the money and get out of Oceanton. Don't even think about provoking me."

He turned and called Quinn, his voice fawning. "Honey, everything here is settled! Praise me!"

Quinn blew him a kiss over the phone. "Thanks for your hard work, honey."

I knelt on the floor and picked up the bills one by one. This was the money that would save my dad's life.

After the crowd dispersed, a pair of red high heels appeared in front of me. "Conrad, are you really that short on money? You would even kneel on the floor and pick it up?"

Quinn grabbed my wrist and dragged me all the way downstairs. Then, she threw a bank card at me. "Come to me if you need money. Don't lower yourself like this."

Quinn drove me back herself. Because I was being very apologetic about it, her tone softened. " I bought you an apartment with a river view. Move in tomorrow. Once this all blows over, I'll arrange for you to join the company. We won't need to have a long-distance relationship anymore."

I did not respond as I only counted the money in my hands.

When I got out of the car, Quinn suddenly hugged me. She kissed my face, her eyes full of pity. "Conrad, I'm sorry you have suffered so much these past seven years. I promise, I'll give you whatever you want from now on.

"Hector went a little too far today. He has a bad temper, but please put up with him for now."

Two hours later, I dragged my luggage to the airport.

A headline popped up on my phone. Quinn and Hector had attended a charity gala hand-in-hand and were being praised as a model couple by the other prestigious families.

Meanwhile, I was still the homewrecker that the entire internet was cursing.

Just as I was about to board, Quinn sent me the address of the new place. I replied without hesitation: [Quinn, let's break up.]

After sending it, I blocked her. I did not question her any further, nor did I accuse her hysterically. I simply ended this seven-year-long deception.

When the plane took off, I turned and looked at the city lights outside the window.

Where those lights glowed in the distance, there would never again be a way home for me.