A Price for Humiliation

"Claire?"

Evan panicked faintly when I pulled away from him. He instinctively took a step forward, hoping to sway me somehow.

The scent of cheap perfume grew stronger when he approached. That was when Isabel showed up out of nowhere and threw herself into his arms.

"Evan! She had them forcefully graft my skin to get revenge… It hurts so much…"

Evan looked at the gauze wrapped around her chest, then at my chest with the tattoo removed. His expression dropped in an instant.

"Claire, how could you be so cruel?"

Isabel was all around him and was weeping her eyes out. However, I noticed the smug, taunting look in her eyes.

"She’s so young. How do you expect her to live with that kind of scar?" His tone was severe, and his eyes were filled with disappointment. "What is it going to take for you to be satisfied? Must you ruin her?"

I observed how protective he became when it came to Isabel. As I watched his fierce protectiveness toward Isabel, I couldn't help but recall the man he was years ago. He once treated me with such tenderness as though even a simple embrace might break me.

That was a past version of him who used to love me.

After all, I was someone who could single-handedly bankrupt his business rival if they so much as hurt a strand of my hair.

That version of him was long gone.

I clenched my fists and fought to push back the bitterness rising within me. When I spoke, my voice was hoarse.

"Did it ever cross your mind how it felt when she forced that tattoo onto me? Since she was the one who marked me, it is only right that I reclaim the skin she took."

His lips parted as if he wanted to speak, but no words came out.

Upon noting his silence, Isabel snuggled closer to him and cried out, "Evan! Don’t you have some good news to share with her?"

She turned to flash me a malicious smile. "I'm pregnant with his baby. Congratulations, Claire, you’re going to become a stepmother."

The news zapped me like an electric shock. I turned to Evan with a look filled with disbelief, but he averted my gaze before coming up with a sheepish explanation.

"I had too much to drink one of those nights. When she came to take me home, I thought it was you. It's all your fault. If you had been with me, I wouldn't have done something like that. Claire, you should calm down and think about how you can fulfill your duties as a wife."

He avoided my gaze before hurriedly leaving with Isabel.

After that, he did not return home for three consecutive months. He took Isabel on a trip around the world.

When she casually brought up how much she loved vacationing on islands, he bought her a private island.

When she said she wanted jewelry, he bought her an expensive diamond ring.

Soon, she posted a picture of their hands enveloping each other’s on her page, supplied with a short caption that was clearly meant to show off: "Feels so good to be the favorite one."

Evan had never been one to be modest with his displays of affection. Even when he was in love with me, he went all out too.

I stared at the picture for ages until my tears dried up.

Then, I looked at the silver ring I wore. It was the one Evan bought for me with his very first paycheck years ago.

When the housekeeper brought me a pot of tea, I turned to her. "Elena, is my grandmother the trustee of Rodger Corporation’s unit trust fund?"

Elena proceeded to open the safe to retrieve the documents for me. "Mrs. Fisher, the late madam had everything arranged for you before she passed away."

I went through the terms before dialing Evan’s number.

He did not pick up for three consecutive calls. With that, I decided to give him a video call instead.

When the call was connected, Isabel’s face popped up on the screen.

"Claire? Evan is sleeping. He doesn’t have time to talk to you."

She panned the camera to Evan so I could see the hickeys all over his neck. I could even see condoms all over the floor.

"Wanna know something, Claire? He is obsessed with me in bed. He loves how young and freaky I am. He also told me he’s sick of you. You’re too old and ugly for him."

With that, she abruptly ended the call.

I had completely given up on him by then and proceeded to dial another number.

That same night, his proposal to Isabel became a trending topic online. There were countless iterations of "Claire Fisher’s debut as the new Mrs. Rodger".

All the people attending the proposal ceremony did not bring up her past and had unanimously started to address her as Mrs. Rodger. Many of them turned into bootlickers.

"You two are a match made in heaven!"

Showered under the dazzling lights of the banquet hall, Evan led Isabel to the stage. They held hands and flaunted their affection for the cameras as if they were a pair of newlyweds at a grand wedding. The audience exploded into cheers and applause.

"This is a very special night." Evan expressed as he leaned over to kiss Isabel. "I’d like to officially announce—"

His speech was interrupted by the door of the banquet hall being flung open. Countless men in suits poured into the scene.

A middle-aged man leading the charge announced gravely, "Mr. Rodger, the Fisher Corporation is officially suspending all ongoing contracts. According to the terms set out by the late Madam Fisher…"

Evan was about to call security when he realized all the venue staff had been called away from the venue.

"What?!"

The man proceeded to give Evan the contract stipulating the immediate suspension of the trust fund.

"All of your shares in the Fisher Corporation have been frozen."