In the following days, I focused on the project.
After all, it was a project I had initially taken over, so there was no real challenge in it for me.
Ethan, however, seemed eager to impress. He scurried around me, always ready to assist, wearing an expression of feigned humility and eagerness to learn.
Though I wasn't sure of his motives, I had no secrets to keep.
It wasn't out of generosity—it was simply unnecessary.
The day of the project's launch arrived quickly.
In an effort to boost the company's profile, Amanda had arranged a banquet, inviting some of the most prominent figures in the business world.
Guests greeted Amanda warmly, toasts flowing freely as they congratulated her.
Amanda, despite her increasingly flushed cheeks and hazy eyes, smiled at me.
In the face of all the praise, she shook her head modestly.
"This—this is all thanks to my husband."
She beckoned for me.
"Honey, come over here."
I furrowed my brows, not moving.
It was then that I noticed Ethan—who had been standing behind me—was nowhere to be seen.
A feeling of unease crept over me.
As soon as the client representative took the project book, his face shifted.
"What's wrong?"
Amanda asked, puzzled.
The representative's lips twitched, his eyes filled with mockery.
"I didn't expect Ms. Johnson to be so...flirtatious behind closed doors. But what are you trying to imply by putting *this* in the project book?"
"We're here to discuss a business partnership, not to admire your figure."
Amanda froze, her hand quickly grabbing the project book. When she saw it, her face drained of color.
"This..."
The project book was a document I had painstakingly organized, so there was no reason it should have been tampered with.
But as I glanced down, I stopped cold.
On the very first page of the project book was a photo—of Amanda and Ethan, completely naked and lying together in bed, their pose intimate and suggestive.
Before I could fully process the situation, Ethan suddenly pointed a finger at me, his face twisted in outrage.
"Mr. Lucas! Don't you think this behavior is beneath you?!"
"I know you've been dying to divorce Ms. Johnson, and you're jealous that I handled the project on my own. But you can't just smear our names with such vile tactics!"
"You've ruined her reputation with this—how will she ever hold her head up again?"
Amanda looked at me, her eyes filled with disbelief and anger.
"You—you really did this?"
"Of course it's him! He's the one who handled the project documents, who else could it be?!"
Ethan glared at me, righteous indignation spilling from his words.
"I can't believe you're the one behind this, after all these years with the company!"
Amanda angrily demanded,
"Why? Were you trying to get back at me?"
"Stop talking to him!"
Ethan sneered.
"Ms. Johnson and I have nothing but a professional relationship. Your twisted thoughts have led you to make all these wild accusations."
"You want a divorce and then want to ruin Ms. Johnson's life? You have no humanity!"
"Ms. Johnson is such a great woman. It's a miracle she married you."
Unable to control herself anymore, Amanda lunged at me, pounding on my chest. But after only a few strikes, she collapsed, clutching her chest, her face contorted with pain.
"Ms. Johnson!"
Ethan rushed to her side, helping her up and shouting at the security guards to remove me.
The other guests watched with looks of contempt, whispering among themselves.
"Such a pity. After all these years, a marriage ends up destroyed by distrust."
"No matter what, resorting to these methods for revenge is vile."
The security guards approached, but hesitated when they met my cold stare.
Ethan shouted louder,
"Why are you still hesitating? Get him out of here!"
I gave a humorless smirk, watching him like a clown.
"In this world, just because you shout the loudest doesn't make you right."
"You're so eager to pin this on me—feeling guilty, are we?"
Ethan's eyes flickered nervously.
"Guilty? What do you mean? Who else had the chance to tamper with the project book? Who else could've done something so disgusting?!"
I pulled out my phone.
"I'm just as curious, so I installed a camera in the office beforehand. Let's pull up the footage and see exactly who's behind this."