"Ms. Lydia did that to herself. We couldn't stop her. She said that only by doing this would you soften your heart and take her back."

The people around them had echoed the lie, saying Lydia forced them to hit her and purposely stood in the way of a flying bottle.

At the time, he was frustrated and angry that she had become so manipulative and used such underhanded methods to spite him.

Now he knew his Lydia had never changed.

It was all Sienna’s doing. She had used his name and money to bribe the people at the Scarlet Club to abuse Lydia.

She had even threatened to shut them down if they spoke the truth.

With bloodshot eyes, Julian clicked on the surveillance videos from the Scarlet Club included on the drive.

He watched Lydia being slapped to the ground without a word, and countless feet stepping on her without mercy.

He watched her being forced into a dog collar and beaten until she vomited blood because she refused to comply with their demands.

Julian’s gaze was murderous as he stared at the man in the video shouting that they could do whatever they wanted as long as they didn't kill her.

He could only watch a few clips before he couldn't bear to see any more. Guilt and heartache overwhelmed him.

He didn't need to see the rest to know they would only be more cruel.

He knew the methods of the Scarlet Club all too well; force-feeding alcohol and locking people in cages were common.

Because of his supposed backing, no one dared force her to entertain guests, but he didn't dare imagine what would have happened if she wasn't his wife!

And all of this was done on Sienna’s orders.

But not just Sienna—he was a bastard too.

If he hadn't sent her to that place, she wouldn't have been hospitalized, and she wouldn't have been in a car that exploded because she went to buy candied haws.

She wouldn't have left him. It was all his fault.

Julian couldn't say another word; he was nearly drowned by his own tears.

He gasped for air, his eyes filled with a rage that made him want to kill Sienna immediately to serve as a sacrifice for his wife.

Before this, Julian had never once thought Sienna would lie to him.

Chapter 16

Because of the environment Sienna grew up in, Julian had always believed she was as honest and kind as she appeared on the surface.

But she had deceived him from the very beginning.

Her parents had never abandoned her; instead, they had spent everything they had to push her toward the big city.

Yet, because she despised them for not being wealthy enough, she hadn't even gone home when they passed away—she wasn't even willing to buy them a single coffin.

Even her presence at the Scarlet Club and her pursuit of that profession wasn't forced by life’s hardships; it was her own choice.

She simply wanted money, so she didn't care about any of it.

She wanted fame and status, so she provoked Lydia time and again and lied to him repeatedly.

Even the child, Leo, was not his; she was already pregnant before she ever left the Scarlet Club.

She had set a trap, getting him drunk to use him as a "patsy" to take responsibility for the child and gain his protection.

And what about him? He had believed every word she said.

He kept her by his side, and several times, he had actually felt genuine affection for her.

For Sienna’s sake, he betrayed Lydia, only to receive this in return.

Not only that, he had forced Lydia to kneel in front of everyone and apologize to the woman who had destroyed her mother's keepsakes.

At this moment, Julian felt that the person who deserved to die most wasn't just Sienna—it was him!

Lydia had explained herself so many times; why hadn't he believed her even once?

If he had believed her just once, would the outcome have been different?

For the first time, Julian realized that true despair was when the tears had run dry, but the heart continued to bleed.

He sat frozen on the sofa all night, with only one thought in his mind.

Sienna—he would never let her go.

Julian only drifted into a hazy sleep as dawn broke, but he was soon awakened by his phone.

The call brought Sienna’s usual aggrieved yet fawning voice.

"Julian, do you not want me anymore? Did Lydia say something bad about me again? I swear I never provoked her. If she’s really that unhappy with me, I’ll just take Leo and leave."

Her voice trailed off, sounding lost.

A cold sneer curled Julian’s lip; it was the first time he realized how fake Sienna sounded when she spoke.

"Sure."

Sienna froze. "Julian, what... what do you mean?"

She sounded like she was about to cry, but Julian felt only mockery.

What else could it mean? Since she wanted to leave, he would grant her wish.

But for now, he was only saying it; he wouldn't let her go that easily.

For every bit of pain she inflicted on Lydia, he would make her pay back tenfold.

And didn't she enjoy making quick money at night clubs?

Then he would help her, ensuring she earned her living in such a place for the rest of her life.

"I’m joking. I’m just a bit groggy from waking up. What’s the matter?"

Sienna’s palms were sweating, and she only breathed a sigh of relief when she heard it was a joke.

"Julian, don't scare me like that again. I’ll take it seriously."

"It's nothing. It’s just that you haven't come by, and I was afraid you hated me. When are you coming to see me at the hospital?"

Julian checked the time and pondered for a moment before speaking.

"I’m a bit busy today. If you're feeling up to it, handle the discharge yourself. I’ll take you to a club tonight; remember to dress up beautifully."

Sienna’s eyes lit up. There was only one club Julian could be referring to: the Scarlet Club.

That was where she used to work, and the people there had always been snobs.

Last time she used Julian’s name to order them around, they were still defiant, always finding reasons to squeeze money out of her.

They even mocked her for "acting powerful on borrowed authority."

This time, she would show them whether her authority was borrowed or not.

She wanted them to know that she, Sienna, had truly risen to become a phoenix.

At this point, she couldn't hide the excitement in her voice. "Okay! I'll see you tonight then."

Hearing her eager tone, Julian also began to feel a sense of anticipation.

He looked forward to seeing her return to the abyss, kneeling for mercy and apologizing to Lydia.

He would make her pay for everything she had done.

After hanging up, Julian’s eyes were still swollen, filled with tears he couldn't banish.

He placed Lydia’s ashes into a necklace pendant and wore it against his chest.

Then, he took Leo’s hair to the hospital and asked his friend to run a paternity test.

The results came back quickly: Leo was indeed not his biological son.

Without hesitation, he immediately sent Leo back to Sienna’s residence.

After finishing this, he contacted his friend at the police station.

A place like the Scarlet Club... it was time for a change of management.

Chapter 17

By the time Julian arrived at the Scarlet Club, Sienna was already there.

Seeing him get out of the car, she rushed forward and grabbed his arm.

"Julian, you're here!"

As she spoke, her eyes darted around the area.

When she saw the surprised and stunned looks of the onlookers, her smile widened.

But Julian discreetly pulled his arm away. "Let's go inside."

Sienna’s smile stiffened. Just as she was about to reach for him again, Julian had already started walking.

Hearing the sounds of muffled laughter around her, Sienna glared at them hatefully.

She then hurried to catch up with him.

"Julian, what’s wrong?"

But Julian didn't answer; he just kept walking.

Sienna felt that Julian was very strange today—everything from the morning phone call to his reaction just now was off.

Most strangely, he used to hate noise and filth; every time they went to a club, they sat in a private room.

But this time, he sat in the main hall.

An inexplicable panic surged in Sienna’s heart, accompanied by a vague, ominous premonition.

But no matter how hard she thought, she couldn't figure out what she had done to upset him.

Finally, her expression turned fierce; she decided it must be Lydia’s doing again.

Lydia must have said something to Julian to make him treat her so coldly today.

It seemed Lydia hadn't suffered enough; she would make sure Lydia paid for it next time.

Having convinced herself, Sienna composed herself and sat tall beside Julian.