Chapter 4

The next day, I processed Emma's discharge and didn't return to our former home.

I quickly rented an apartment through an agency, close to Emma's kindergarten.

During this time, Ethan didn't contact me, and naturally didn't ask about our daughter either.

Later, I received a photo from Mia.

In the background, she was wearing a men's silk robe, taking a mirror selfie.

I recognized it immediately. I'd bought it for Ethan last month.

Now it was on Mia, the collar open wide, revealing red marks on her collarbone.

Below the photo came a message:

"Mr. Carter said this robe was too dowdy, but it fits me perfectly, so I'm keeping it."

I was peeling an apple for Emma. My knife didn't stop.

I replied with two words:

"Keep it."

Less than a minute later, my phone rang.

When I answered, Mia's voice came through.

"Did you get the photo?"

"Mr. Carter was so tired last night, he's still not awake."

I put the phone on speaker and set it on the nightstand, continuing to cut the apple.

"Do you need something?"

Mia seemed irritated by my calm, her voice rising several pitches.

"Mr. Carter said he's been putting up with you for a long time. Coming home every day to see your face, he feels no desire at all."

"Not like me. I make him feel young again, like he can still climb higher."

I handed the cut apple to Emma, my tone flat.

"Is that so? I already signed the agreement."

"Anything else?"

The other end went silent for a moment.

Then she played her trump card.

"Sophia, since we're getting divorced anyway, I might as well tell you."

"I'm already pregnant with Mr. Carter's child."

"I have the ultrasound right here. It's a boy."

"All of Mr. Carter's assets will belong to my son in the future."

So this was why Ethan was in such a hurry to divorce.

"Congratulations, then."

I hung up and immediately blocked her number.

Emma was munching on her apple, her cheeks puffed out, looking up at me.

"Mommy, who was that?"

"Insurance salesperson."

I stroked her head. "Eat up. When you're done, Mommy will take you for your checkup."

After settling Emma, I went downstairs.

Adrian was already waiting there.

He wore a gray hoodie, holding a can of iced Coke.

When he saw me, he handed over an access card.

"What you asked for."

It was a visitor card with the highest access privileges to Ethan's company.

I took it and slipped it into my pocket.

Then I handed him a USB drive.

"This is the countermeasure patch for the core architecture of Carter Enterprises."

Adrian took the USB drive, looking at me with a complex expression.

"You're really going through with this?"

I watched the traffic in the distance.

"The core logic hasn't changed. It's just a backdoor."

"Once you plug it in, you can close or open the backdoor whenever you need to."

Adrian was silent for a moment before pocketing the USB drive.

"Also, help me look into someone," I said.

"Mia, Ethan's personal assistant."

Soon, a file arrived on my phone.

"Rachel Mendez, worked as an escort for two years, infiltrated Carter Enterprises three months ago."

I looked at the file, my eyes stopping on the last line.

Medical records showed she had blocked fallopian tubes. Permanently infertile.

The pregnancy was fake.

Naturally, carrying a son was also fake.

I put away my phone and turned to go downstairs.

"Thanks."

Adrian called out behind me.

"There's a ransomware virus going around in the industry lately. Several major companies have been hit."

"I'm not asking you to help Ethan."

"I'm reminding you that this is exactly what he needs right now. You're holding another card."

I didn't stop, waving back at him over my shoulder.

"Got it. Let him deal with it."