Chapter 7

She seemed to be leaning against the headboard, and the camera swayed slightly with her movements.

In that instant, Ophelia's breathing completely stopped.

Deep blue wallpaper with intricate dark patterns.

Dark green brass vintage wall lamps.

The same background.

"Scarlett, which hotel are you staying at?" Ophelia heard her own voice drifting, hollow as if it wasn't coming from her own throat.

"Just... just the Radiant Pearl Hotel in downtown Sunrise City. Why?" Scarlett's eyes suddenly became evasive, her tone unnatural, as if eager to end the call. "Gotta go, I have to get up early tomorrow to meet clients, bye!"

The video was abruptly cut off, and the screen returned to darkness.

Ophelia slumped back against the sofa, her phone sliding to the floor with a dull thud.

All the suspicions came full circle in this moment.

The marriage she was so proud of, the friendship she treasured—in this moment, they became a complete and utter joke.

Matthew and Scarlett were actually together!

They were staying at the same hotel right now, possibly even in the same room.

No wonder Scarlett looked panicked when she answered the video call; no wonder she hung up so quickly.

Tears finally burst through the dam. Ophelia pressed her hand hard against her mouth, not letting herself cry out loud.

Five years.

She had been with Matthew through instant noodles and basement apartments, through the toughest startup days. She had treated Scarlett like a sister she could tell everything to, sharing all her joys and sorrows.

In the end, she had become the fool played by the two people she trusted most!

After the sadness came overwhelming anger.

She couldn't just let this go.

If they wanted to push her out, she would tear off their cover and show just how rotten their hearts really were!

The next morning, the rain in Harmony City had stopped, and the sky turned a cold gray-white.

Ophelia didn't alert anyone. She dressed Katya in a warm little windbreaker and casually stuffed some spare clothes into a travel bag.

"Mommy, where are we going today?" Katya asked in a sweet, childlike voice, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"Mommy's taking you to Sunrise City to see the big whales, okay?" Ophelia forced a gentle smile and softly patted Katya's head.

"Yay! See the big whales!"

After securing Katya in the back seat's car seat, Ophelia got into the driver's seat, stepped on the gas, and sped toward Sunrise City.

During the four-plus-hour drive, Ophelia's brain ran like a machine at full speed.

She imagined ten thousand possible scenes she might see when she opened that door, and each scenario felt like her heart was being slowly cut to pieces.

Her knuckles turned white, gripping the steering wheel, but her eyes grew colder and colder.

At noon, the car pulled up across from the Radiant Pearl Hotel.

Ophelia didn't rush to get out.

She rolled down the window, letting the early winter cold wind pour into the car, her gaze locked like a knife on the hotel's revolving door.

Before long, a familiar figure walked out.

It was Matthew.

He was wearing the same black coat from last night, carrying a pink luggage bag in his hand.

Following behind him was a young girl in a down jacket with her hair in a ponytail.

Ophelia narrowed her eyes.

That was Kismet—she had seen her once in a family gathering photo.

Matthew walked to a ride-share car already waiting by the roadside, opened the door for Kismet, carefully placed the luggage in the trunk, and said something to her through the window.

Kismet waved at him and got in the car, then left.

Ophelia sat frozen in the driver's seat.

Was Kismet actually in Sunrise City? Matthew's claim last night about bringing Kismet here wasn't a lie?

But if the Kismet situation was real, how could she explain the matching room background with Scarlett? Did he go to Scarlett's room right after settling Kismet in last night?

Ophelia took a deep breath, unbuckled her seatbelt, and got out to pick up Katya from the back seat.

"Mommy, are the big whales inside?" Katya looked around curiously, pointing at the grand hotel entrance.

"Yes, Mommy will find Aunt Scarlett first, then take you to see them."

Walking into the hotel's luxurious lobby, Ophelia took out her phone and called Scarlett.

"Hello, Ophelia?" Scarlett's voice sounded a bit lazy, as if she had just woken up.

"Scarlett, I'm in Sunrise City too, and brought Katya for a weekend trip." Ophelia suppressed the tremor in her voice and got straight to the point. "Which room are you in? I'm coming to find you."

There was an odd two-second silence on the other end.

"What? Are you in Sunrise City? This isn't really a good time for me..."

"I'm in the hotel lobby. Tell me your room number." Ophelia's tone left no room for argument, carrying an all-or-nothing determination.

Scarlett sighed helplessly. "Alright, 1608."

Ophelia took Katya into the elevator and watched the floor numbers climb one by one. Her heart tightened with each floor, as if an invisible hand was squeezing her throat.

The sixteenth floor arrived.

Walking on the thick, soft carpet, Ophelia reached room 1608.

She set Katya down, tightly holding her soft little hand, took a deep breath, and pressed the doorbell hard.

Footsteps in slippers came from inside.

The door opened.

Scarlett was wearing a champagne-colored silk slip nightgown, her long hair messily draped over her shoulders, her face showing guilt and awkwardness. "Ophelia, why did you suddenly come here? I'm..."

Ophelia said nothing. Her gaze, sharp as an ice blade, looked past her directly into the room.

Deep blue wallpaper with intricate dark patterns, dark green brass vintage wall lamps. It was indeed the same room from last night's video.

Just then, the bathroom door was pushed open. Along with the sound of running water, a man walked out, drying his wet hair with a towel.

"Scarlett, who is it? Room service?"

The man was bare-chested, with only a white bath towel loosely wrapped around his lower body. Water droplets ran down his defined abs.

Ophelia's blood instantly froze. She stared at the man who had walked out of the bathroom.

It wasn't Matthew.

It was the junior from Scarlett's school she had excitedly mentioned at the coffee shop a few days ago—the one who was pursuing her.

Scarlett covered her face and groaned. "This is so embarrassing! I didn't want to tell you, but I'm not actually here on business—I came here on a trip with him..."

Ophelia stood frozen, her mind completely blank.

She had misunderstood.

The scheming friend plotting behind her back didn't exist.

Scarlett really was her good friend—she just happened to bring her boyfriend to Sunrise City for a romantic getaway and happened to stay in the same style room at this hotel.