Chapter 103 The Best Repayment
Since it was my second surgery for a recurrence, there was no chance for a minimally invasive option. The scars were still raw, red, and more than a little shocking.
What I showed them was only part of it. If they saw the scars lower down, they’d probably be even more freaked out.
Lucky for me, Leonard had Lily hanging off his arm. If not, he might’ve noticed how off I really was.
I had studied the woman in the video carefully. Sure, her body was about 70-80% like mine, but there were clear mistakes. To make sure “my” face was captured perfectly on camera, she faced the lens the entire time, showing off her chest–ironically proving that the woman wasn’t me.
Leah quickly stepped in, buttoning my shirt with a scowl aimed directly at Leonard. “You don’t even trust your own wife? You’d rather listen to what everyone else says?”
Her glare sharpened. “You should’ve been the first one to defend Eva. If you’d done your job earlier, she wouldn’t have to go through this humiliation.”
Everyone’s attention zeroed in on him. He stuttered, grasping for words, until finally, all he managed was, I didn’t know.”
Leah’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You didn’t know? A surgery like that isn’t small! You really didn’t know? Don’t they need a family member’s signature for something that serious?”
Everyone in the room knew the truth: I didn’t have any family left. The only one who could sign off on it was Leonard.
Leonard glanced at me, opening and closing his mouth like he was searching for the right words. His voice, when it came out, was rough. “Eva, when… When did you have the surgery?”
“The day you and Lily made it official.” I said it flatly, with no emotion, as I tossed his jacket aside and locked eyes with him.
“When you two were lighting up the sky with fireworks at the beach, while she was showing it off all over social media, I was in a hospital room, with a doctor telling me I needed surgery.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? If you’d told me sooner, none of this would’ve happened!” He stepped closer, fists clenched, eyes burning with anger–like it was somehow all my fault.
I gave him a cold smile. The nerve. Even now, he had the audacity to play the victim.
“I called you, but you didn’t pick up. When I asked for money, you told me to get lost because Lily had cut her hand.
“When I was in surgery, you two were probably at our place, right? You even bought her my favorite egg
tarts.
“And then you splurged on either a diamond necklace or earrings–I can’t quite remember which.”
I glanced at the diamond necklace glimmering around Lily’s neck. So beautiful, so telling.
Gable
Turning back to Leonard, I said, “It was just surgery. Worst–case scenario, I die on the operating Clearly, that’s not as important as spending time with your girlfriend.”
1 aimed to sting him, but the words fell flat, devoid of warmth. I was merely stating facts.
Months of battling cancer, and Leonard had countless chances to notice something was off. Yet he never
did. Why? Because he didn’t care.
Chapter 103 The Best Repayment
No one in the room dared to speak. Leonard stared at me, his eyes bloodshot and bewildered.
Leah finally broke the silence, her voice tentative. “What kind of surgery leaves such a scar?”
“Thyroid nodules,” I replied, my tone flat. “It was serious. The doctor said it was stress–related.” It was a rehearsed line; everyone knew me as Mrs. Harmon, the wronged wife. Stress seemed a fitting excuse.
“You bastard! Leonard, you-” Mr. Harmon Senior erupted, hurling the teacup at Leonard with a fierce
shout.
Beside him, Lily lowered her head, her lips pressed together, lost in her own thoughts.
“Grandpa, no–Eva, please listen to me. At that time, I-
“You still think you can explain?” Mr. Harmon Senior moved toward Leonard, fists clenched, but others quickly held him back.
I shrugged, my expression icy. “It’s come to this. Might as well say it all out loud. Today, in front of everyone, I’m saying it again, Leonard–let’s get a divorce.
“You’ve had a child with someone else, and the Harmon family has embraced that child. It’s time for me to step aside.”
I turned to Mr. Harmon Senior, who was still seething with rage, and sighed deeply.
“Mr. Harmon Senior, I’m sorry I’ve let you down. But no matter who becomes Mrs. Harmon, I can’t be her
anymore.
“I’ll repay what I owe to the Harmon family, but first, I need to save my own life. If this continues–if this framing doesn’t stop–I really will die.”
As I spoke, a sense of relief washed over me. I couldn’t bear the blame that wasn’t mine, and the Harmon family’s need for explanations was theirs alone. After all, dragging my name through the mud was just as much a stain on the Harmon Group. They knew the stakes of shared honor and disgrace better than
anyone.
As I turned to leave, Leah stepped forward, wanting to stop me. But when she caught sight of my she paused, retreating instead.
facer
As I reached the door, I glanced back at Lily. Her face was practically radiant with excitement. “Lily, how did you know the video was filmed in a restaurant’s private room?”
Her expression shifted to a ghostly paleness, and the others froze, their glares sharpening on her. I couldn’t help but smile as I stepped outside, feeling a weight lift.
Now it was up to the Harmon family to decide their next move. If they chose to protect her, that was their decision. The ties were severed, and I had paid my dues.
I heard Leonard calling after me, but I didn’t even turn around. I drove his car back to the house. I began packing my things, thoughts swirling. We’d talked about divorce before, but now it felt inevitable.
As for what I owed Leonard… Leaving him and ensuring the Harmon Group wouldn’t suffer this mess was perhaps the best repayment I could offer.
