Victoria Windsor trembled violently, her face turning deathly pale in an instant.

She dragged her aching body to Theodore Valentine's feet, clutching his calf desperately. "Theodore, let me explain! I have nothing to do with that Hammer Ulrich! You were the only man in my life twenty years ago! Someone must be framing me!"

Disgust flashed in Theodore's eyes as he kicked her away violently.

Victoria crashed onto the floor with a pained cry.

Clutching her chest, it took her several moments to catch her breath.

"I swear!" She raised a trembling hand. "If I ever betrayed you, may lightning strike me dead!"

The moment the words left her mouth, a bolt of lightning split the sky.

A deafening thunderclap exploded outside the window.

Terrified out of her wits, Victoria scrambled toward the door on all fours.

"Even the heavens can't stand your lies anymore." Theodore sneered coldly. "Still denying it?"

"It's just coincidence!" Victoria turned frantically to the assistant. "Say something for me!"

The assistant swallowed hard. "Mr. Valentine, please calm down—"

"Silence!" Theodore cut him off sharply. "Are you involved in this filthy business too?"

The assistant paled and slapped himself hard. "I spoke out of turn!"

One hour later.

Victoria was locked inside the Honey Court Apartment in the suburbs.

Hammer Ulrich was thrown in with her.

The door was bolted shut, windows nailed closed, with two bodyguards stationed outside.

Victoria looked around dazedly as her vision blurred.

This was the same place where she'd secretly met Theodore twenty-four years ago.

Now it had become her prison.

"Pretty little thing." Hammer licked his lips as he approached. "How about we have some fun?"

Victoria recoiled in disgust. "Get away from me!"

Hammer grabbed her wrist insistently. "Stop playing hard to get. Your husband already discarded you."

"Let go!" Victoria struggled desperately.

Hammer pinned her down on the sofa. "You weren't like this twenty years ago."

Victoria suddenly froze. "What did you say?"

"Playing dumb?" Hammer leered as he leaned closer. "You were quite enthusiastic on this very sofa back then."

In the surveillance room, Theodore stared at his phone screen, veins bulging on his forehead.

The assistant ventured cautiously, "Mr. Valentine, should we—"

"Shut up!" Theodore hurled his phone against the wall violently.

The screen shattered instantly.

The assistant stood petrified with fear.

Late at night.

Theodore tossed and turned in his hospital bed.

He thought of Evelyn Grandelle whom he'd wronged, of Sophia Laurent whom he'd hurt.

Most laughable of all, he'd treated another man's bastard as his precious jewel.

Regret washed over him like tidal waves.

At dawn's first light.

Theodore called the psychiatric hospital.

"Evelyn..." His voice came out hoarse. "I wronged you..."

Vincent Laurent's cold voice answered. "Disturbing another man's wife at dawn—such fine manners, Mr. Valentine."

Theodore flushed with shame.

"Father-in-law, let me!" Natalie Sullivan snatched the phone. "You shameless old man!"

"Natalie..." Theodore tried to placate her.

"Shut it!" Natalie unleashed a torrent of scathing words. "My mother-in-law is perfectly happy now. Stop disgusting us!"

Theodore was rendered speechless by the tirade.

After hanging up, Vincent ruffled Natalie's hair affectionately.

"Well said." His eyes crinkled with amusement.