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Novel Catalog
Chapter_71
Dying in Glory Is Better Than Living in Dishonor
Ivanna’s sympathetic gaze met mine as I fought to keep my composure. The weight of everything was too much to bear, and I was on the verge of breaking. She tried to console me, her voice soft and reassuring. “Chlo, don’t be upset. We’re in this together now.”
But her words did little to ease the suffocating pain I felt. My eyes welled up, and I quickly excused myself to the bathroom. I texted Johnson, hoping for some clarity or support, but there was no reply. I washed my face, trying to regain control over my emotions before returning to the room.
“What should we do?” I asked, my voice trembling with uncertainty and frustration. “I’m ready to do whatever it takes. I don’t care about my pride anymore.”
Tears streamed down my face as I stared at Ivanna. I felt utterly helpless. The situation seemed like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.
Suddenly, Matthew’s phone rang, and I saw him glance at the screen. His face drained of color, and his hands shook as he answered. Though I couldn’t hear what was said, his reaction spoke volumes. After a few moments, he hung up and bowed his head, his shoulders slumping with defeat.
Ivanna caught my eye, her expression hard to read. I raised an eyebrow at her in response, unsure of what was unfolding. Matthew looked up, his gaze meeting mine, before he said, “I need to step out for a moment. I’ll be back soon. Ivanna, please stay with Chlo. I have something to take care of.”
I couldn’t hide my irritation. “Where are you going?”
“Just a quick errand. I’ll be back in no time. Don’t worry, okay?” He turned away without waiting for my response, heading down the stairs.
The moment he left, I quickly tried calling someone, but the line was busy. Ivanna leaned in and whispered, “What’s he going to do? He didn’t even finish explaining. Why did he leave so suddenly?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve lit a fire under him,” I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “He’s determined to make amends.”
I began eating, but the bitterness I felt was evident in my every move. Ivanna noticed my frustration and hesitated before suggesting, “Why don’t you just expose Melanie right now?”
I paused, thinking about it. “Let’s wait a little longer,” I said, my tone serious. “I’m afraid he’s holding onto something, and I need my remote card.” I couldn’t believe how deep we were in this mess. Can I ever trust him again?
Ivanna sighed, her face reflecting the pain of seeing me struggle. She silently cleared the table as I called my daughter, Ava, feeling a pang of longing for her. It was a relief that she wasn’t here to witness this turmoil, though I hated that she had to grow up in a world where this was the reality.
When Matthew returned, I was already in bed, facing away from him. I didn’t want him to see the raw pain in my face.
He climbed into bed and placed his hand gently on my back, his voice barely a whisper. “I’m tired.”
I stayed still, trying to control the lump in my throat. He paused before withdrawing his hand, sounding defeated. “Alright, get some rest. It’s my fault. I know I’ve hurt you. That woman… duped me. I swear I’ll do nothing like this again. I’ll give our child the best future, and we’ll live a good life together.”
His voice was filled with exhaustion and remorse, but it didn’t reach me. I couldn’t bring myself to believe his promises anymore. What sort of future could there be with him? The real mistress was still out there, and he could remain calm because her identity hadn’t been exposed to the public.
I realized then that I couldn’t keep living this way. I’d rather be broken than to stay in this relationship, serving him alongside his sister. I’d have to leave for the sake of my dignity and for Ava, who deserved better than a heartless father.
Tears soaked my pillow as I struggled to make the decision. I hoped that, someday, my daughter would understand why I had to make this choice.
As things continued to spiral out of control, more and more people began to dig into the affair, trying to uncover the whistleblower and the people who had caught Matthew and Melanie. Tanum Corporation was implicated, and soon, my role as the true founder came under scrutiny. The public’s support was fickle, and some started to examine my personal assets, making things even worse.
It wasn’t long before Matthew noticed the gravity of the situation, and he took swift action. That afternoon, I received a notification on my phone—The missing down payment for our house had been returned.
But just as I thought I could breathe a sigh of relief, Melanie stormed into the room, her face flushed with anger.