From Orphan to Queen: Taming the Tycoon

A stretch Lincoln pulled up silently in front of the Jeffrey Technologies building.

Ophelia Blake pushed the car's door open and stepped out.

Luca's steady voice came from the back seat, "Ms. Blake, do you need me to come up with you?"

Without glancing back, she replied, “No need. I just need ten minutes.”

Ophelia held the document envelope so firmly that her knuckles began to pale.

Just thirty minutes earlier, a marriage certificate had caught her eye from the corner of a study drawer.

The names on the certificate were her husband, Jeffrey Adams, and his childhood sweetheart, Freya Stewart. Their marriage registration had been officially recorded three years ahead of hers.

She had been married to Jeffrey for three years, and throughout that time they had never shared a bedroom. She had assumed his distance was respect, perhaps due to a sexual dysfunction, but it turned out that consideration had been masking a truth she never knew.

Ophelia arrived at the CEO’s office on the top floor, but before she could knock, she heard suggestive noises from inside.

She stopped in place and peeked through the narrow gap in the door.

On the wide sofa in the office, Freya was straddling Jeffrey's lap, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, kissing passionately.

Ophelia felt her blood run cold, her body trembling uncontrollably. Without hesitation, she shoved the door open.

"Ophelia, what are you doing here?"

A flicker of panic crossed Jeffrey’s face as he immediately stood up.

She laughed bitterly. “If I hadn’t come, I would’ve missed such a great show."

She strode forward and slapped Jeffrey hard across the face.

"I intended to spare you some dignity, but you’re the one acting shamelessly!"

Jeffrey’s face was knocked to the side, a clear handprint marking his cheek while he looked at her in shock.

"Jeffrey, are you okay?" Freya rushed forward without hesitation, her eyes brimming with worry.

Just as the atmosphere grew tense, a childish voice called out, "Daddy!"

A small figure came running inside from beyond the door.

It was a little girl about three or four years old, wearing a pink princess dress, with a timid little face and eyes identical to Freya's.

The little girl was Jeffrey and Ophelia's adopted daughter, named Kaida Adams.

A complicated look crossed Ophelia’s face at once.

Kaida was adopted by Jeffrey six months ago. She didn't like children and had never thought about adopting, but Jeffrey had strongly persuaded her at the time:

"It’s my fault you can’t have children of your own. Adoption could help fill that gap and spare us from Mom and Dad’s repeated pressure about having kids. Plus, Kaida is so cute, she'll definitely bring you a lot of joy."

Seeing his guilt, Ophelia’s heart softened. She didn’t want him to carry the blame, so she agreed.

After bringing Kaida home, she tried hard to be a good mother, but somehow, no matter how well she treated Kaida, Kaida never warmed up to her. Whenever Kaida was with her, the girl would cry and fuss nonstop.

Kaida had now run to Freya and hugged her leg.

"Mommy, pick me up."

Hearing that word, Ophelia's heart felt like it had been struck hard by a blunt object.

Ophelia studied Kaida’s face, it bore a striking resemblance to Freya’s.

So that was it! The adoption was all a lie. Kaida was actually Jeffrey and Freya's child!

Furious, she pulled out the marriage certificate and threw it hard in Jeffrey's face.

Jeffrey's face turned deathly pale. He bent down to pick up the certificate, his fingers gripping it until they turned white. "Where did you get this?"

"Does it matter?" Ophelia took a step back, looking at him coldly, her tone full of mockery. "The only thing that matters is that our marriage has been a lie from start to finish! Jeffrey, you really are something! You deceived me for three entire years!"

Freya held Kaida, a flash of panic crossing her face, but she quickly composed herself. "Ms. Blake, it's not what you think..."

"Shut up." Ophelia didn't even look at her. "You're a homewrecker. You don't get to talk to me."

Jeffrey finally dropped his gentle mask, anger showing in his eyes. "Ophelia, are you done causing a scene? Given your background, it’s already an honor that you were able to marry me. Keep acting like the ideal Mrs. Adams. As a helpless orphan, you have no one to rely on. What right do you have to question me?"

Those words were like a knife, stabbing into the most vulnerable part of Ophelia's heart. But strangely, she didn't feel pain, only coldness.

“Jeffrey, is it because I’m an orphan with no one behind me that you think you can just bully me as you please?'' She stared at him, asking each word deliberately.

Jeffrey was caught off guard and softened his tone. "I’ll let this slide for the sake of our years together, on one condition: apologize to Freya"

Ophelia laughed in anger. Just as she was about to speak, a steady voice suddenly came from behind her:

"Ms. Blake, do you need help?"

Luca was at the door, having appeared unnoticed. He remained at the entrance, respectful in stance but impossible to ignore.

Jeffrey and Freya both froze. Though they didn't know who this person was, they could tell he wasn't ordinary.

Jeffrey frowned, looking at Ophelia with confusion, clearly not believing she could know someone like this.

But she walked straight toward Luca, her tone already calm again. "I'm done here. Let's go."

"Wait." Jeffrey stepped forward to grab her, his eyes moving between the two of them with a hint of suspicion. "Ophelia, who is he?"

Luca stepped forward, blocking her from Jeffrey, his tone firm. "Sir, please let go, or I'll have my lawyer charge you with harassment."

Jeffrey's face darkened, his tone unfriendly. "So that's why you're so bold today—you've latched onto another rich guy?"

"Though your taste is pretty bad, finding such an old man!"

Ophelia laughed coldly. Before she could speak, Luca said, "I've already recorded what you just said. You'll be receiving a lawyer's letter."

Jeffrey's expression changed several times, and he said angrily, "Ophelia, don't forget we're still married! This is cheating!"

Ophelia scoffed and turned to look at him. "Jeffrey, did you forget that my marriage certificate with you is fake? I have no relationship with you. Right now, I'm single!"

With that, Ophelia didn't spare him another glance and strode away.