Chapter 2Love's Cruel Mistake

The phone clicked off, and the icy pool water swallowed me whole once more.

Brandon Miller covered his mouth, doubling over with laughter. Victoria, standing beside him, watched with a tolerant smile.

“Victoria, did you hear that? Julian said he’s going to make you beg on the streets! Who does he think he is?”

Genevieve Stone, Victoria’s rival, joined in the mocking. She pointed at me with disdain.

“Is your husband completely out of his mind, Victoria?”

“Contact every global media outlet? Does he think he’s the UN Secretary-General?”

The surrounding guests erupted in a chorus of piercing laughter. They stared at me with eyes full of scorn, as if I were nothing more than a pathetic joke.

Victoria’s face stiffened, clearly embarrassed that I was making a scene and humiliating her in front of everyone.

She spoke coldly to Brandon.

“Brandon, make him sober up. He needs to stop talking nonsense.”

“You got it, Victoria!”

Brandon excitedly pressed a red button on the control panel.

The ride’s seat jerked violently, hurling me back into the sky at high speed.

The zero-G sensation made my stomach churn, the mix of champagne and that detox drink from earlier making me gag.

“Aah—!”

My scream was swallowed by the wind.

Then, the seat plummeted down even faster, slamming into the pool water with a bone-jarring impact.

Massive splashes erupted, and the chlorine-scented water instantly enveloped me, making me cough violently.

I was tightly strapped to the chair, unable to move, subjected to being repeatedly tossed up and down.

Every plunge and ascent was a suffocating torment.

I stared intently at Victoria on the shore, the woman I had loved for five years.

Five years ago, my family’s company faced a crisis. My father, to protect me, publicly announced our family’s decline and sent me abroad.

Overseas, I met Victoria, who was still a struggling student.

I hid my identity, ate cheap takeout with her, lived in the shabbiest apartments, and backed her entrepreneurial dreams.

I genuinely believed we shared a true love, enduring hardships together.

When she returned home to start her company, I followed, willing to be the man behind her success.

To avoid burdening her, I never mentioned my family background, not even calling my parents often.

She used to hold me, crying like a child, “Julian, I swear, I’ll never let you suffer, not ever.”

Her promises still echoed in my ears, yet now, she was the one personally sending me straight to hell.

On the shore, Brandon pulled out his phone, frantically filming my pathetic state.

“Everyone look! A drowned rat! Ha ha ha, he looks absolutely pathetic from this angle!”

“Victoria, look at Julian’s face, it’s hilarious!”

Victoria didn’t stop him. Instead, she handed Genevieve a bottle of champagne, a fawning smile on her face.

“Genny, are you enjoying the show? My husband will do anything you want, as long as you’re pleased.”

Genevieve swirled her glass with satisfaction, her eyes raking my drenched body with a light, teasing gaze.

“Not bad, this is quite entertaining.”

“Victoria, if you can make your husband kneel and beg me today, I’ll have my father consider investing in your project.”

Victoria’s eyes instantly lit up. “No problem! Just watch, Genny!”

She turned, yelling at me as I struggled in the water, her voice cold and commanding:

“Julian Hayes! Do you hear me?! Hurry up and beg Genny! Kneel before her!”

The icy pool water and the biting wind were nothing compared to the chill her words sent through me.

I looked at her and suddenly laughed.

“Victoria Caldwell, you will regret this.”

“I promise you, you will pay a price worse than death for everything you’ve done today!”