Chapter 2

My heart sank. I broke out in a cold sweat all over, still refusing to lift my head.

"He's talking to you, idiot!"

The manager forcibly lifted my chin, and I found myself staring directly at Marcus.

"It's you."

Marcus narrowed his eyes slightly and walked toward me step by step.

"You stole my wedding ring, didn't you?"

He questioned coldly.

"No!"

I shook my head frantically. "Today's the first time I've seen you."

Everyone knew Marcus was ruthless and didn't value human life. To eliminate rivals, he'd use any means necessary.

From his demeanor, was he trying to make me the scapegoat?

"Marcus."

"It probably isn't him, right?"

Elena glanced at me, a mocking smile on her lips. "When you came back, he fled overnight. How would he dare steal your ring?"

She seemed to be blaming me for being a coward.

I didn't understand how she had the nerve.

The whole room erupted. Countless people cast contemptuous looks my way.

"From what she's saying, is he Mr. Blackwood's former stand-in?"

"A stand-in is just a stand-in. Miles away from the real deal. Look how pathetic he is now—can only work as a server."

"If he didn't have a face that looked like Mr. Blackwood's, he wouldn't have enjoyed those few good years. He should be grateful."

Mocking voices poured down like a torrential rain.

I thought this might help me escape punishment.

But Marcus clearly had no intention of letting me go. With a playful smile, he said, "But this morning when I was changing and showering upstairs, I clearly saw him delivering clothes."

"Though at the time I thought I'd seen wrong, so I didn't pay attention."

Hearing this, Elena's delicate brows immediately furrowed. She said coldly, "Nathan Anderson, I didn't expect it really was you. Hurry up and hand over the wedding ring."

Eight years ago, I'd fled with my daughter not just because I feared Marcus, but because I was afraid Elena would be biased and believe only him.

I hadn't expected it to play out exactly as I'd feared.

"You're lying! I didn't arrive at the event until noon!"

I argued my case, casting pleading looks at the manager and my coworkers.

"Please help clear my name. I need to get to the hospital. I'll come thank you properly later."

But everyone remained uniformly silent.

Marcus coughed lightly. "Speak up. Why are you all standing there? Anyone who dares lie, I'll sew their mouth shut with a needle!"

Everyone shuddered.

The manager's eyes darted around, then he pointed at me. "Don't drag us down with you. You clearly came this morning."

"That's right!"

One coworker also stepped forward. "I saw Nathan Anderson enter Mr. Blackwood's room with my own eyes this morning."

"You people..."

I was utterly desperate, my eyes nearly red with anger.

Clearly.

They were deliberately framing me, wanting to use me as a stepping stone to curry favor with Marcus.

"Someone!"

"Search him! Strip off all his clothes!"

The manager waved his hand, then flashed a fawning smile at Marcus. "Mr. Blackwood, rest assured, I'll get to the bottom of this. No mercy."

Two security guards pinned me to the ground.

I tried to resist but was held down by my head. Several more guards arrived and began tearing at my clothes in front of everyone.

Though I'd knelt plenty over these years and taken many beatings, I'd never been humiliated like this.

Shame flooded my heart.

The key issue was that this entanglement would waste so much time. Who knew when it would be resolved.

It would delay me getting to the hospital to pay!

That concerned my daughter's life!

Forced into a corner, I looked at Elena.

"It really wasn't me!"

"You have to believe me!"

"In the eight years we were together, when did I ever take anything from the Winters family? When did I ever ask you for a single dollar?"