The Invisible Founder

"Ms. Hartwell, I'm sorry to tell you that your test results show you have cancer. According to our system, you're currently unmarried."

The doctor’s words nearly knocked Penelope Hartwell off her feet.

Her face turned pale as she swayed unsteadily-as if she might faint at any moment.

She'd been experiencing intermittent stabbing pains in her stomach lately, and had even coughed up blood .

Before coming to the hospital, Penelope had already imagined the worst about her health, but she had never thought it would actually be cancer.

But even more shocking than the cancer diagnosis was being recorded as unmarried.

"You said I'm unmarried? There must be an error in your system. I've been married for three years."

Penelope's voice trembled as a strange light flashed in her eyes.

Three years ago, she and Dominic Sinclair had gotten married and registered. Afterward, she had even hacked into the City Hall system herself to verify their marriage status. As a top cybersecurity expert, retrieving data was child's play; there couldn't be a mistake.

Hearing this, the doctor looked at the computer screen again, which crushed Penelope's last shred of hope.

"The system data doesn't make mistakes. Given your current condition, I suggest you be admitted for treatment as soon as possible."

Penelope couldn't hear anything else the doctor said. Her mind was filled with just two words: cancer, unmarried.

The doctor had no reason to lie to her.

After leaving the hospital, she stiffly pulled her phone out of her bag and called her friend Samantha Cooper.

"Samantha, I remember you work at City Hall now. Could you please check our marital status—Dominic's and mine?"

Penelope tried hard to suppress the tremor in her voice.

Maybe the hospital system had really made a mistake.

What if Samantha told her that she and Dominic weren't married?

What if that were true?

She simply couldn't accept that the husband she'd trusted and depended on for three years had told her such a massive lie!

But deep down, she already had a more terrifying theory—the results she obtained three years ago might have been fabricated from the very beginning.

Someone had intercepted her query and forged the response.

Could this all have been part of Dominic's plan from the start?

Samantha didn't understand why, but still said, "Penelope, hold on a second. Let me check for you. I'm a bit busy right now, I'll get back to you with the results later."

"Okay."

Penelope hung up and hailed a taxi at the roadside.

The radio was playing in the car.

"The Sinclair Group's CEO Dominic is spending lavishly today at Sky Garden to celebrate Catherine Morrison's birthday. It's said that Dominic specially had over ten thousand roses airlifted in for the party, making Catherine the princess in a fairy tale."

Penelope sat frozen in the back seat. Every word was like an invisible knife, twisting mercilessly in her heart.

Catherine was Dominic's dream woman.

Penelope instinctively glanced at her bag, which held the cancer diagnosis she'd brought back from the hospital.

This morning, her stomach pain had been unbearable. She'd wanted Dominic to take her to the hospital, but he'd impatiently told her she could just ask the driver to do it—he had important things to attend to today.

At first, Penelope thought he was busy with work, so she thoughtfully chose not to press him and took a taxi to the hospital on her own.

But now she realized that those "important things" meant celebrating Catherine's birthday.

Her birthday mattered more than Penelope's health!

Her hand trembled as she pressed it against her stomach. Ever since Catherine had suddenly returned to the country a year ago, Dominic had changed.

No matter what was happening, as long as Catherine made a single phone call, Dominic would rush to her side immediately.

All those romantic, airlifted roses—Dominic must have spent so much time preparing for this birthday party, yet he wouldn't even accompany her to the hospital.

This realization struck Penelope like a slap across the face, the pain searing deep into her heart.

After taking a deep breath, she still pulled out her phone and dialed Dominic.

The phone rang five times before it was finally answered.

Dominic's deep, cold voice came through the line. "What is it?"

His tone was so indifferent, as if they were merely business partners, that it nearly brought Penelope to tears on the spot.

She bit her lip hard to steady her voice.

"Are you done with what you were doing? I'm not feeling well."

"If you're not feeling well, then go to the hospital."

Before Penelope could say anything else, Dominic had already hung up the phone.

The phone screen reflected her pale, haggard face and dull, lifeless eyes.

She clearly remembered the last time there had only been thunder—Catherine had called in tears, and he'd patiently comforted her on the phone for two whole hours before driving out to find her despite the pouring rain.

But with her, he was simply dismissive and cold.

Penelope gave a bitter smile as she looked at the report in her hand. Even if she told Dominic she had cancer, he probably wouldn't spare her a second glance.

She dragged her exhausted body home. The twisting pain in her stomach grew more intense. She hadn't eaten anything, yet she still couldn't help rushing to the bathroom to vomit violently.

Penelope washed her face with cold water and managed to find two painkillers, hoping to dull the pain enough to fall asleep.

But she'd barely fallen asleep when a restless hand settled on her waist, persistently trying to slip inside her pajamas.

It jolted Penelope awake. She instinctively grabbed Dominic's strong wrist.

Stopped by her, Dominic looked displeased. Only a warm yellow nightlight illuminated the bedroom, making his already sharp features appear even colder.

Penelope's heart quivered. She pushed his hand away. "I'm not feeling well today. Let's do this another day."

But in that moment, Dominic had already rolled on top of her.

He braced his hands on either side of Penelope, his narrow eyes tightening as they revealed both displeasure and danger.

"Playing hard to get?"

Penelope suppressed the pain, her voice trembling. "I really don't feel well."

"Isn't this exactly why you called me home?"

As he finished speaking, Dominic pressed down on her.

Penelope stared up at the ceiling as a tear silently slid into her hair.

When it came to sex, Dominic never gave her a chance to refuse.

As her consciousness grew hazy, she heard Dominic's voice near her ear.

"As long as you don't make a fuss, the position of Mrs. Sinclair will always remain yours."