Chapter 3

The next morning when I woke up, River was already gone from the house.

Calmly, I first changed the door code, then made breakfast as usual.

And I called my mom.

Half an hour later, Vivian—with her mouth covered—was brought in by my mom's butler, Bob, and his men.

"Mmph! Mmph!"

Vivian was thrown on the floor. She looked up at me, her eyes full of venom and resentment.

I nodded to Bob. He removed the cloth from her mouth. Once freed, Vivian immediately started cursing:

"Madelyn, what the hell gives you the right to kidnap me here? Believe it or not, I'll have River call the cops on you?!"

"You're old, ugly, totally useless, and you shamelessly spend River's money—no wonder River stopped loving you long ago!"

"Let me tell you, Madelyn—the one who isn't loved is the real third party. River loves me now. No matter how jealous you are, it's useless!"

I sat leisurely on the sofa, drinking milk while speaking indifferently:

"Vivian, I think I've been very good to you. Why would you take revenge on me like this?"

Vivian sneered.

"We're all human. Why do you get to have so much? Why should I be forced to marry an old man?"

"So what if you sponsored me? I won River over myself. You need to accept your loss!"

I smiled gently.

"Vivian, when I sponsored you, did you fail to investigate my background?"

Vivian looked completely puzzled.

"I am Madelyn Smith, of the New York Smith family."

The Smith family of New York—if Vivian hadn't done anything wrong,

Just by carrying my name, Madelyn Smith, she could move freely anywhere in New York.

"I don't care whose family you're from. I'm warning you—let me go now! Otherwise, I'll have River sue you!"

I shook my head gently.

I'd given her one last chance to admit her mistake.

"Bob, strip her!"

Bob nodded. Ignoring Vivian's screams, he had his men roughly tear off all her clothes.

They photographed her, posting nearly a hundred photos in all the group chats in the operations circle.

After all this was done, Vivian had already cried herself hoarse.

I stretched lazily, my tone still indifferent:

"You pranked me before. Now I've returned the favor."

"I heard young people like you don't get angry even when pranked, right?"

"Madelyn, you bastard! You violated my privacy rights! I'm going to sue you!"

"I'll make River cut ties with you completely. You won't get a single penny from the company!"

Bob didn't give her much chance to speak, waving his hand to have his men throw her out.

Vivian's photos spread rapidly through the circle. In less than three hours.

River had called me over a hundred times and sent countless messages.

Just then, the sound of someone trying the door code rang out, failing repeatedly.

After several attempts, the door was pounded violently.

Along with it came River's angry roar:

"Madelyn, open the door!"

Only then did I go over and open the door. Once opened, River grabbed my hand and dragged me outside.

"Madelyn, Vivian slit her wrists because of you! She's being resuscitated at the hospital right now!"

"You must come with me to the hospital to donate blood. This is what you owe Vivian!"

"Madelyn, I never realized how vicious you were! Vivian just played a little joke on you—was this really necessary?"

"All that happened to you was your panty color being exposed, but Vivian could lose her life!"

I laughed bitterly, violently shaking off his hand.

"River, so in your eyes, Vivian is more important than me?"

"Important enough that you disregard your identity as my boyfriend to protect her?"

River sneered, his face full of disgust:

"I only regret not seeing through what kind of woman you are sooner."

"Madelyn, you wanted to break up? I agree. From now on, you have no right to interfere in company matters!"

"Now, please come with me to the hospital immediately to give Vivian blood, then kneel and apologize to her!"

He opened the car door, trying to pull me in.

But before he could touch my hand, someone slapped it away.

"Mr. River, may I ask where you intend to take Miss Madelyn?"

River looked at the person behind me in shock. It was Uncle Bob.

Bob smiled and handed River an agreement.

"Mr. River, this is the relationship contract our young miss signed with you previously."

"Since you violated it first, our side has the right to demand you return all the funds our young miss invested in your business!"

"Please review it. If there are no issues, sign here!"

River was stunned.