Chapter 2

I usually have a very stern look. Being the CEO of a major company, my presence alone is usually enough to intimidate people.

The younger employees in my office usually walked on eggshells around me.

I thought raising my voice would make them back down so we could talk.

But these kids completely ignored my warning. They crowded around me, spitting and shouting insults.

"Your mom might tolerate you, but we won't! We're going to teach you how to act!"

"People who don't respect women shouldn't even exist. If I were your dad, I would've suffocated you at birth!"

In the chaos, someone spat on my sleeve. The cold moisture made my skin crawl with disgust.

I had lived for over forty years, and I never thought I’d see the day where I’d be cornered and bullied by a bunch of college kids at my own office door.

It was lunchtime. Many of my employees were returning from their break.

But the entrance was completely blocked by these thugs, so nobody could get in.

As the crowd of onlookers grew, I swallowed my disgust and looked the leader in the eye.

"I am saying this for the last time. You have the wrong person. I am not the creep you're looking for, and I have never done what you claim!"

"Furthermore, I am married. Watch your mouth. If you continue this harassment, I will sue you for defamation!"

I figured they were just hot-headed kids who made a mistake. I was willing to give them one chance to back off.

As long as they admitted their mistake, I was willing to let it go.

But to my surprise, my words only made him laugh louder.

"You have the guts to take the photos, but not the guts to admit it? What a coward!"

"Hilarious! Do all married men love to cheat? Since your wife can't control you, we'll do her a favor and teach you a lesson!"

The boy looked at me like I was piece of garbage. "You want to sue us? Are you out of your mind? You took photos of my girlfriend and posted them online. We're the ones who should sue you!"

Wait. My mind raced.

When did I ever post photos of someone else's girlfriend online?

I stared at him. "You say I posted photos of your girlfriend. Show me the proof."

I wondered if someone was using my identity to do shady things online.

After all, the only photos I had posted recently were of my wife.

The more I thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Otherwise, why would they be so sure it was me?

I betted he couldn't produce any real proof, or at least, his proof would be a mistake.

"Fine! Let's make sure you go down with no excuses!"

The boy tapped on his phone and quickly pulled up a page.

He shoved the screen in front of my face and sneered, "The evidence is right here. What do you have to say now?"

I looked at the screen, ready to dismiss it. But the moment I saw it, I froze.

The page on his phone was my own TikTok account.

Specifically, the post I made this morning.

Today was Valentine's Day. I had rarely posted about my personal life, but today I had shared two beautiful photos of my wife.

When I checked it earlier, it only had a few likes.

But now, the screen showed tens of thousands of likes, and the comment section was overflowing.

My brain worked fast. I immediately connected the dots.

I looked at the boy standing in the center. He had pale, smooth skin and a cute, boyish face—the exact type people on Snapchat call a "pretty boy."

On closer look, he actually looked a bit familiar.

But I didn't dwell on that. If I recalled correctly, he had just said that the woman in the photos was his girlfriend.

There were too many details here, pointing to a dark truth. But I kept my cool.

I decided to test him. "Aren't you guys being a bit too impulsive? What's wrong with me posting photos of my own wife?"

"You claim she's your girlfriend? Why don't we call her here right now and clear this up?"

The moment I said that, the boys burst into loud, mocking laughter.

"Old man! Go look in a mirror. What young girl would ever choose you?"

The leader turned to the crowd of onlookers and yelled, "Sisters! Would any of you date an old man twenty years older than you?"

Someone in the crowd yelled back, "No way!"

A smug grin spread across his face. "If you had to choose, would you date me, or him?"

He pointed to himself, then to me.

Unsurprisingly, everyone cheered for him.

This area was filled with office buildings. I scanned the crowd, hoping to see a familiar face who could speak up for me, but there was no one.

Some people even started advising me to delete the photos and apologize so the kids would let me go.

I looked at these young, energetic faces, but all I felt from them was pure, unadulterated malice.

Suddenly, a realization flashed through my mind. I reached into my briefcase and pulled out a document folder.

"This is the physical copy of my marriage certificate with Vanessa. You claim Vanessa is your girlfriend. Where is your proof?"

Vanessa had always been insecure and insisted I carry a copy of our marriage certificate in my briefcase for our joint insurance update today. I never expected it to come in handy like this.

But before I could even hold it up, one of the boys snatched the document from my hand and ripped it into pieces.

"Nice try with the fake document! Do you think we're stupid? Leo, this guy is shameless. Let's give him what he deserves!"

Leo! Leo Vance?!

Hearing that name made my blood run cold. Fragmented memories suddenly rushed back into my head.