Her only remaining eye looked up at this terrifying man.

She was filled with regret; how could she have mistaken the tenderness and affection he showed in front of Clara Vance for his true nature?

That was clearly just a facade displayed solely for Clara Vance.

A man who only took four years to start from scratch and ascend to the position of the richest man in Jiang City—how could he be a soft-hearted person?

"My patience is limited." Julian’s tone was flat but carried a chilling impatience: "If you don't speak, I really will dig out your left eye and donate it."

He said it lightly, yet Selene knew deeply that he was by no means bluffing. The current Julian held no affection or loyalty toward her whatsoever.

Just then, a sharp pain shot through her fingertips; Selene let out another miserable scream:

"I'll talk... I'll talk!"

She pleaded through her tears, and in her blurred vision, she finally recounted the truth of those years: "Back then, she didn't truly want to break up with you; it was because her mother was involved in a transnational case..."

◇ Chapter 15

As Selene recounted the story, the truth of the past slowly unfolded before Julian’s eyes, like a blood-drenched, gruesome scroll.

His hands clenched uncontrollably, his knuckles turning white from the force, as if his joints were about to pierce through his palms.

It felt as though thousands of steel needles were crazily piercing his heart; every moment hurt so much he was nearly suffocated.

So, it turned out his treasure didn't stop loving him, didn't fall for someone else, and was certainly not vain...

She was merely shattered by the crushing blow of cruel fate, fearing that she would implicate him again.

And what had he done?

In these three years of a marriage in name only, he had acted like a devil blinded by hatred, using the coldest words and the most heartless attitude to torture her already scarred heart day and night.

He had wantonly vented his anger and resentment, never once imagining that behind every instance of her forbearance and every tear lay such a heartbreaking reason.

Selene huddled in the corner, her entire person as if stripped of her soul.

Julian squatted down, his gaze piercing her like a knife: "You were her best friend. You clearly knew her dilemma, and yet you still joined her to lie to me?"

The curve of his lips was filled with cold irony.

Looking at the indifferent and heartless man before her, an infinite fear rose in Selene’s heart.

She trembled, grabbing his trouser leg, her voice tearful and nearly pleading:

"I was wrong; I was possessed... It’s because I love you that I did such a thing!"

"You don't love me. You only love the status of 'Mrs. Sterling' and the life it can bring you."

Julian spoke coldly, his tone devoid of any warmth.

Having said that, he easily kicked her away, his movement like kicking aside a piece of disgusting trash.

"If you dare to lie to me, you have to pay the price."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he snapped his fingers sharply.

In an instant, the black-clad bodyguards who had been waiting outside the villa for a long time poured in like a tide.

Selene was rudely hoisted by two bodyguards and dragged out, terror causing her to scream out of control:

"Julian! Julian! I am your wife! How can you treat me like this!"

She twisted her body frantically, pushing desperately against the bodyguards beside her, her eyes filled with panic and terror.

Large, heavy tears burst from her eyes, covering the face that had become ferocious and disheveled from despair.

"Wife? Are you worthy?"

Julian squatted down, tilting his head to look at her.

"Since you like lying so much, then go spend the rest of your life in a place where no one believes a word you say."

With a wave of his large hand, the bodyguards quickly gagged Selene with a cloth and dragged her out of the villa.

Soon, a black SUV left Jiang City in the night, heading straight for a private psychiatric hospital in a neighboring province.

The bodyguards delivered her to the hospital and told the doctor: "Assign her a private ward, use the best treatment protocol, and ensure that this Miss Selene receives the best care possible."

For a person who is not insane, what happens when you use the best psychiatric treatment protocol?

Selene was tied to a bed with hemp rope, shouting loudly:

"Do you know who I am! I am Julian Sterling’s wife! How dare you treat me like this!"

"He is just angry at me right now! He will cool down in a few days!"

"Get away! Get away!"

The man in the white coat spoke with an indifferent tone: "The patient is currently in a manic state; give her a dose of sedative."

Soon, the cold sedative was pushed into her veins.

Selene’s eyes gradually went unfocused, and she lost consciousness.

After paying a hefty sum of money, the bodyguards left.

She would spend the rest of her life in this psychiatric hospital.

◇ Chapter 16

In the living room of the Galaxy Star Bay villa, the 100-inch television was playing the news.

The anchorwoman’s voice pierced straight into Julian Sterling’s ears through the speakers:

"On the night of March 7th, a sudden fire broke out at Building 208 in the Yuanshan Garden villa district, resulting in one unfortunate fatality. The cause of the incident is still under intense investigation..."

Julian’s hand trembled slightly as he reached for the TV remote, and the screen instantly went dark.

A moment later, the phone rang.

On the other end was Chen Lin, the man who handled affairs for Julian.

"Mr. Sterling, we have completed the DNA comparison. According to the results, the body found in the villa is not Ms. Vance."

His straight, rigid spine suddenly relaxed. His heart, which had been hanging in his throat as if it might jump out at any moment, finally settled back into place.

Recalling that day at the scene of the fire, when he first caught a glimpse of the corpse, ravaged and rendered unrecognizable by the blaze, he had felt completely devastated.

In that moment, the world had spun, and the sun and moon had lost their light.

His heart felt as if it were being pierced by thousands of sharp blades simultaneously, hurting so much he couldn't breathe, with only one thought left in his mind and soul:

It would have been better to just die with Clara Vance; at least in the afterlife, she wouldn't have to be afraid alone.

That bone-deep despair had nearly swallowed him whole.

However, after waking from his stupor and regaining a modicum of reason, he gradually noticed many suspicious details.

For instance, the cause of the fire was actually arson...

He immediately had people carefully examine the remains and worked tirelessly to obtain DNA comparisons from the blood samples Clara had previously left at the hospital.

Sure enough, the results confirmed his suspicions.

She hadn't died at all; she had merely used a faked death to vanish from everyone's sight.

Julian leaned against the soft yet cold sofa, his eyes deep as an abyss, and whispered an order: "Do not expose the fact that she is still alive. Proceed exactly according to her original plan: let the major media outlets publish the news of the death that occurred yesterday."

"Set up a mourning hall and hold the wake for forty-nine days. I want everyone to be convinced that Clara Vance is no longer among the living."

Although Chen Lin was full of confusion on the other end, faced with Julian’s indisputable tone, he dared not ask another word and quietly complied.

"Furthermore, investigate her whereabouts with everything you have, in secret. She has no real identity now, and the fake identities she made may not be safe to use easily. Focus on thoroughly screening busy, chaotic places like ferry terminals and ports; she is highly likely to have attempted to slip through there."

After the call with Chen Lin ended, Julian paused, took a deep breath, and quickly dialed another number.

"Director He, there is a tricky matter I would like your help with."

He wore a smile, his tone filled with the politeness of someone asking a favor: "It is really not convenient to explain in detail over the phone. Let me know when you are free recently; I will host and treat you to a meal."

A middle-aged man’s voice, warm yet tinged with authority, came from the other end: "Oh, you brat, you really never visit unless you have a favor to ask."

"You jest." Julian also smiled, his tone cautious, the reckless arrogance of his past completely restrained.

The man on the other end laughed and spoke a few more words.

Julian agreed repeatedly: "Very well, then tomorrow night. I will pick you up at Mingyue Manlou."