Chapter 5

The man didn't say anything. He just pulled out a pitch-black business card from his pocket and held it between two fingers in front of her.

The card had no title on it, just a strange gold-embossed symbol and a private number.

"The person who will set you free," the man said with a slight curl of his lips, a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Edward Hearst."

Scarlett took the card. As her fingertips touched the cold edge, her heartbeat inexplicably skipped a beat.

This was the man who could make her completely disappear from Tristan's world.

Edward's voice was deep, like a cello soaked in nightfall, each word carrying a convincing calmness.

"The Getty Family has deep roots in Sovereign City. To plan a perfect accident right under Tristan's nose takes time." He put the cigarette back in his pocket, as if it were just a prop. "I'll investigate your movements, everyone around you, your social networks, and Tristan's security system. During this process, you need to act exactly as before, without showing any signs."

His professional tone eased Scarlett's tense nerves slightly.

She didn't want sympathy. She wanted a foolproof result.

"How long will it take?"

"One month at the earliest, three months at the latest." Edward's gaze fell on her flat stomach, lingering only for a moment, yet seeming to see through everything. "Before you start showing, there'll be enough time."

He knew she was pregnant.

Scarlett wasn't surprised at all. She simply put the cold card into her purse and nodded. "I'll wait for your message."

With business concluded, Edward didn't linger for another second. He turned and melted into the deeper darkness, silent as if he'd never been there.

Scarlett stood there for a while before Rose came looking for her. "Scarlett, Mr. Getty is looking everywhere for you."

She acknowledged and smoothed her dress, then turned back toward that false, glittering place.

When she reappeared in the banquet hall, she wore a proper smile, as if the woman who had just been plotting life and death in the garden was merely an illusion.

She spotted Chloe immediately.

Chloe had also changed into a champagne-colored dress and was nestled beside Harper, her face practically overflowing with smugness and coyness, no trace of the embarrassment from being doused with wine earlier. Seeing Scarlett, she didn't avoid her gaze but instead shot her a look full of provocation and showing off.

Apparently, Tristan's comforting words on the terrace had satisfied her greatly.

Scarlett looked away, too lazy to spare her another glance.

The evening's climax came when Tristan led Scarlett onto the main stage.

Under the spotlight, he raised the microphone, his voice gentle and affectionate enough to make any woman in the room swoon. "Thank you all for coming tonight. Today, I have something even more important to announce."

He took Scarlett's hand, gazing at her with focused attention, as if she were the only person in the world.

"I will be transferring fifteen percent of the Getty Group's shares to my wife, Scarlett."

As soon as he finished speaking, the room erupted.

Fifteen percent of the Getty Group's shares meant immeasurable wealth and absolute recognition of her status. This was the kind of security countless wealthy wives could only dream of.

"Oh my God, Mr. Getty loves Mrs. Getty so much!"

Envious comments and discussions surged like a tide. Scarlett stood beside him with a perfect smile, letting him craft her into a woman deeply loved by her husband to the extreme.

But inside, she only felt it was absurd.

Was this compensation? Hush money to make her let go of the matching ring incident with Chloe? Or was it his self-righteous way of giving her peace of mind?

The banquet ended amid everyone's well-wishes.

On the way home, Tristan held her hand and said softly, "Scarlett, I might not be able to come home tonight. There's an important international video conference at the company. It might go all night."

Scarlett sneered inwardly.

His excuses were always so unoriginal.

She leaned against the car window, watching the neon lights rapidly receding outside, her voice calm and flat. "Then you go ahead. Drive safely."

Her compliance pleased Tristan.

After arriving home, he kissed her forehead and hurriedly left in the car again.

The villa returned to deathly silence.

Scarlett removed her makeup, took a shower, and lay alone in the vast bed.

She had no desire to sleep, just stared at the elaborate crystal chandelier on the ceiling with open eyes.

Late into the night, her phone screen suddenly lit up with a message from an unknown number.

She opened it.

The photo's background appeared to be a luxury hotel suite. Tristan, wearing a bathrobe, was holding Chloe from behind, who was also in a bathrobe. His chin rested in the curve of her neck, the posture intimate, his eyes showing an indulgence and infatuation Scarlett had never seen.

And Chloe was smiling brilliantly and maliciously at the camera.

Then another text came in.

[Scarlett, the "Eternal Tears" Tristan gave you—I went with him to pick it out. He said the sparkle of that main diamond was like the light in my eyes when he first saw me.]

Scarlett looked at that glaring intimate photo and the boastful text. The heartache and anger she'd expected didn't come.

She felt calm.

So that's how the necklace came about. Tristan hadn't just divided his love for her with someone else—even the gift symbolizing that love was tainted with another woman's presence.

She replied: [Really ugly.]

After doing this, she tossed her phone aside and closed her eyes.

The night was long, but dawn would always come.

The morning after the banquet, the sunlight was just right.

Scarlett had just finished a call with Edward when Rose brought her a document.

It was an urgent delivery from Tristan's private law firm—a share transfer agreement.