Across a Sea of Lies

In the evening, Arlo returned, carrying a small paper bag. "Leia, you're still awake."

He walked over and placed the cake on the table, speaking in a somewhat pleading manner. "I bought a small cake for Anna. Doesn't she have a sweet tooth? I was too anxious earlier, so my tone was a bit harsh.

"Hayden is seriously ill, and our family has good resources. Anna is sensible, so I thought of having her help Hayden. Once Hayden gets better, I'll move the piano back. "

I looked at him coldly. "That piano costs over two million dollars. Your cake costs 20 dollars at most? Is this the guilt you have as a father?"

Arlo's smile froze as his eyebrows instantly furrowed. "Leia, could you please stop talking about money? Isn't it vulgar? Sincerity is priceless! Do you think everything has to be measured by a price tag?"

I sneered, "Alright, if you think money is vulgar, let's sort out the accounts. This year, you used the excuse of pursuing your studies to withdraw eight million dollars in research funds from the company. But I checked the immigration records, and you never went abroad. Where did you spend this money?"

Arlo stopped untying his tie and turned furious. "You investigated me? Leia, you actually had me investigated? What happened to the most basic trust between spouses? "

He slammed his hand on the table, raising his voice. "Yes! I didn't go abroad! Simone just got divorced and returned to the country with her child. She has no one to rely on and is suffering from depression. Can't I help her?

"I spent that eight million dollars on Simone's treatment! What's wrong with that? I'm not like you, who's hell-bent on money. Loyalty is priceless to researchers like us!"

I found it utterly ironic.

Back when he was struggling with research funding and facing setbacks everywhere, I defied all opposition, sold my shares, and invested my first sum of money in him. He was unkempt in the lab. I was the one who brought him food and clothes every day, making sure he looked presentable.

We were married for seven years. I respected his talent and tolerated his aloofness. When he said that his research work required isolation, I shouldered the dual pressures of raising the child and running the company alone.

Now, to protect his first love and another man's son, he was accusing me of being heartless.

"Arlo, your so-called loyalty was paid for with my money. Have you forgotten that all your research projects and labs are funded by Jordan Group?"

Arlo sneered, looking condescendingly and smugly at me. "Leia, get this straight. You begged to invest in me. My research is priceless and can change the industry! Countless investors are always lining up to invest in me. I only chose you back then so that you could enhance your resume. Without me, you're just a vulgar nouveau riche!"

With that said, he turned around to leave.

I called out to him, "Stop. Arlo, if you walk out this door today, I'll freeze all your project funding immediately."

Arlo stopped and turned around to look at me, his eyes full of disdain. "I dare you. My project is about to reap its results. If you withdraw your investment now, you'll be the one who suffers. If you touch my funds, I'll expose your short-sighted, profit-driven capitalist nature to the media!"

He was confident I did not have the guts to do so. For the past seven years, I had let him have whatever he wanted. I cherished him and sheltered him from the smallest hurdles. He now thought I could not live without him.

"Fine." I nodded, my tone calm. "Go, then."

Arlo snorted coldly, seemingly pleased with my compliance. He hummed a tune as he left.

Just as the door was about to close, his phone rang. It was the lab's financial director calling.

Arlo assumed it was good news, so he deliberately stopped, put the call on speakerphone, and looked at me defiantly. "Hello? Has the new equipment arrived? I'll be there soon..."

"Professor Payton! We have a problem! All the remaining research funding for the lab has been withdrawn!" the director shouted in a panic.