Victor firmly denied, "Of course not. Vivian and I are completely innocent. She’s just my childhood friend."

Belle softly questioned, "If everything is so innocent, why did you hide the fact that she joined Sunrise Corporation?"

Victor fell silent.

He moved to the sofa.

Sitting down next to Belle, he wrapped his arm around her waist, gently and tenderly, barely a handful. "I was just afraid you’d overthink things."

Belle looked into his eyes and even saw a hint of guilt in their depths. "If you didn’t want me to overthink, you should have told me everything openly. Your honesty is what gives me a sense of security."

Victor frowned. "Belle, Vivian is really in a tough spot right now. Back then…"

Belle swiftly stood up.

She interrupted Victor’s reminiscence, "Don’t say any more. I don’t want to hear about things that don’t concern me."

With that, she went back to her room.

Soon, a loud slam of the door was heard from outside, causing even the wedding photo hanging on the headboard to tremble.

Belle closed her eyes and wiped the moisture from the corners of her eyes.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled out her phone, found a number, and dialed it. "Detective Gary, right? I’d like to ask you to find evidence of my husband’s infidelity…"

Not long after hanging up with Detective Gary, Belle received a call from Wendy.

Wendy spoke urgently but logically, "According to usual practice, on your first day at work, you shouldn’t be assigned too heavy a task.

But just now, Manager Lynd suddenly set deadlines for two proposals. I’m negotiating with the CEO of GrandLit Company with the rest of the team.

I need you and Cherry to go over there. The contract has already been agreed upon. You two just need to go through the motions, make the client happy, and get their signatures."

Belle immediately responded, "Alright, Manager Chrzan."

Then she contacted Cherry.

Amid Cherry’s impassioned critique of the capitalists, the two met at the club’s entrance.

Despite her complaints, Cherry was still professional.

The moment they stepped into the private room, she put away her angry demeanor.

With a proper smile on her innocent face, she and Belle walked in one after the other.

In the private room, several executives were accompanied by a few female escorts, all dressed skimpily.

Belle narrowed her eyes slightly.

When the executives saw the two young girls enter, they were immediately delighted.

Not to mention how stunning the taller one was.

Even the slightly shorter one was far more innocent-looking than the women they were holding, causing their eyes to light up with delight.

The escorts in their arms suddenly lost their appeal.

Zachary was quite the character!

Belle placed the final draft of the contract proposal on the table. “Mr. Cain, Mr. Leach, here is the final draft of the contract proposal. You can take a look, and if there are no objections, could we sign it today?”

Mr. Cain casually picked up the two copies of the proposal and tossed them aside.

His gaze was fixed intently on Belle.

His lecherous eyes made her uneasy. “The contract is easy to handle. As long as I’m satisfied, I’ll sign it immediately. Let’s have a drink first, to build some rapport. There will be plenty of opportunities for future cooperation. I have a project that could make you two earn so much you’d be trembling.”

Belle forced a smile. “Mr. Cain, I really don’t drink, but since you’re being so accommodating, I’d like to offer you a cup of tea as a toast.”

Mr. Cain’s smile instantly vanished. He tapped his fingers on the glass table, his tone turning sarcastic, “So... you’re refusing to cooperate?”

Belle and Cherry exchanged glances, “...”

——

Victor lay on the chaise longue, his head resting on a woman’s lap.

Vivian fed him grapes and said, “Don’t worry, I’ve already talked to Manager Lynd. I told him to let Mr. Cain and the others intimidate Belle a little. Let her see what kind of scum she’s dealing with at the drinking table. Belle will surely back off and resign on her own. She might never want to return to the company again.”

Victor swallowed a grape and nibbled on Vivian’s fingertip. “Hmm.”

Feeling the bite, Vivian giggled coquettishly. “You’re so annoying. Why do you bite me? Vic, you’re so good to Belle. If there was a man who was so domineering and generous to me, I wouldn’t want to work either.

I’d want to stay at home and take care of him every day. Belle just doesn’t know how to appreciate her good fortune. Who else can she blame? It’s all your fault!”

Victor’s thick lashes fluttered slightly. “It’s my fault?”

Vivian replied slowly, “Who else could it be? You treat her as if she’s made of glass, afraid she’ll break. You’ve practically given your life for her. Vic, you’ve always kept yourself in such a low position. Over time, people just get used to it.”

A dark glint flashed in Victor’s eyes.

Is that so?

He didn’t quite understand.

When he first fell in love, it was Belle he liked. For her, he did everything he could think of.

So from the start, he had placed himself in a lower position.

That must be why Belle became so arrogant.

What bride wouldn’t let her groom touch her on the first night?

Thinking about last night...

Victor felt a mix of calculations and anger. He grabbed Vivian’s neck and pushed her down beneath him.

He lifted her skirt, touched her casually, and then deeply merged with her. “You slut, not even wearing panties.”

He was like a general.

Charging onto the battlefield.

On Vivian’s body, he experienced the pleasures of a man.

Pleasures that Plato’s love could never provide.

But what did it matter?

He was merely seeking pleasure in Vivian’s body.

Just like drinking, smoking, playing billiards, or golf, it was just a form of entertainment.

As long as he didn’t fall in love with someone else.

It wasn’t considered betrayal.

From beginning to end.

The one he loved was Belle.

Only Belle.

——

Club

Cherry lifted her glass. “Mr. Cain, my sister really can’t drink. I’ll drink on her behalf. I hope you can understand and not hold it against us.”

She downed the drink in one gulp, turning red and gasping for air. She emptied the glass. “Mr. Cain, every last drop is gone. Now let’s discuss the contract. We’ve continued with the concept from the final draft, focusing on green and environmentally friendly principles, leveraging big data…”

Mr. Cain smiled. “I didn’t catch that. Come closer and speak to me.”

Cherry shifted closer. “Leveraging big data, from…”

Suddenly.

Mr. Cain grabbed Cherry’s hand, pulling her forcefully into his embrace. “You smell really good. Let me see if it’s as pleasant inside.”

His stinking nose and mouth headed straight for Cherry’s neck.

Cherry’s face changed drastically. As she encountered workplace sexual harassment for the first time, she panicked and struggled, “Let go of me, you bastard!”

Mr. Cain began to tear at Cherry’s collar.

Belle immediately stood up, grabbing a bottle from the table. “Cain, let her go.”

The other executives looked at Belle, their faces twisted with lecherous grins. “This one’s got a fiery temper. Shall we all take her on?”

Belle shot them a cold glance.

She acted decisively.

She smashed the bottle over Mr. Cain’s head.

Blood splattered.

It landed on Belle’s pale face, resembling a red plum blossoming in a sea of white snow.

Belle pulled Cherry up, gripping the bottle by its handle. The glass shards glittered. “Get out of here, get away!”

She swung the bottle.

The old men recoiled two steps in fear.

Belle grabbed Cherry and bolted.

Mr. Cain held his head and shouted, “Chase them, go after them! I’ll make sure to ruin them both today. Damn it!”