Chapter 6 The Fake Mrs. Hughes

Cecilia opened the photo and zoomed in, her finger hovering over the screen, trembling slightly.

That small mole above the corner of the man's eye—it was her favorite spot to touch in their most intimate moments.

So she hadn't been mistaken!

The man accidentally caught on camera in that food livestream was Sebastian.

Cecilia collapsed onto the sofa, her heart aching beyond words.

Sebastian wasn't just cheating—he and Zachary were working together to deceive her.

The overtime and meetings were lies. The coffee stain on his coat was a lie. Even what Zachary said was a lie.

So what about Sebastian's love for her all these years? Was that a lie, too?

As Cecilia drowned in grief, Sophie called.

"Cecilia, I went through all the restaurant videos and found footage of Sebastian's face!"

"Good!"

Seeing Cecilia's low spirits, Sophie could only comfort her, "What's done is done. What you need to think about now is what to do next."

"I don't know what to do. Sophie, Sebastian has been really good to me. If he doesn't love me, I can't figure out why he'd treat me so well."

Cecilia felt like her brain had stopped working.

She and Sebastian had been together for eight years. If love could be faked, Sebastian was more terrifying than she could imagine.

"Cecilia, you probably don't realize how much you have that others want but don't have. Good looks, an advanced degree, and you started your own company. By getting you, Sebastian got career, family, reputation, money—everything. He became a winner in life."

"More people envy him for finding a good wife than envy you for finding a good husband."

Sophie's words hit Cecilia like a wake-up call.

Everything Sebastian had was given to him by Cecilia.

He cheated. He betrayed her. She should take back what belonged to her.

She pulled herself together and asked again, "You said you didn't get a clear shot of the woman's face?"

"No." Sophie changed her tone and advised, "Cecilia, the woman isn't the point. The point is Sebastian—he's the one who cheated. He's the one you should confront."

Cecilia noticed Sophie's way of thinking lately didn't match her usual style, but she didn't have the energy to think about it now. She hurriedly hung up and rushed to the company.

By the time she took a cab to the company, it was almost closing time.

This building was a gift Cecilia had given Sebastian before she became a stay-at-home wife.

A whole building in the old district, five full floors, very impressive.

The building's name was interesting too—The Cecilia.

She had told Sebastian at the time, "Every day when you see it, you have to think of me. I'm your precious Cecilia. You have to love me forever and never betray me."

Sebastian had hugged her, said thank you, and promised her deeply, "Cecilia, you're my precious one for life. I'll love you forever and never betray you."

Cecilia's heart ached. Sebastian had personally torn up the promise he once made.

As soon as she entered the building, a pretty young receptionist stopped her with a chirpy voice, "Miss, who are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for Sebastian!"

After Cecilia spoke, the young woman's big eyes swept over her from head to toe, her face wearing a professional smile. "Are you looking for Mr. Hughes? Do you have an appointment?"

"No!"

Since becoming a stay-at-home wife, Cecilia had rarely come to the company and knew nothing about any new rules.

"Sorry, you can't see him without an appointment. Mr. Hughes is very busy. I hope you understand!"

Left with no choice, Cecilia directly gave her name and identity.

But the young woman immediately showed a disbelieving expression. "You? Mrs. Hughes? Are you kidding me? How could Mrs. Hughes dress like you?"

Cecilia had left home in a rush, wearing home clothes, no makeup, hair casually tied up—completely looking like a housewife.

The receptionist clearly didn't believe her identity.

She said with a stern face, "I really am Sebastian's wife. If you don't believe me, call and ask him."

The young woman immediately replied sharply, "Mr. Hughes is so busy, how would he have time for front desk matters? You say you're Mrs. Hughes—you call him yourself. If I hear Mr. Hughes's voice, I'll believe you!"

Her tone seemed certain that Cecilia couldn't reach Sebastian, and that claiming to be Mrs. Hughes was just made up.

The former CEO, being given a hard time by a front desk receptionist, Cecilia struggled to control her emotions to keep from losing her temper.

She pulled out her phone to call Sebastian, wanting to prove the receptionist wrong.

The phone rang for a long time with no answer.

She found assistant Zachary's number and called him, with the same result.

Seeing her holding the phone with a bad expression, the young woman smiled and advised, "Miss, if you want to see Mr. Hughes, I suggest you come up with a better excuse. Otherwise, if Mrs. Hughes finds out, you might never get to work with our company!"

Cecilia swayed.

Who was Mrs. Hughes? Wasn't it her? Why was there another Mrs. Hughes?

A series of questions exploded in Cecilia's head, making it buzz. She asked through clenched teeth, "The Mrs. Hughes you're talking about—is she Sebastian's wife?"

The young woman's face showed complete disdain, her tone extremely contemptuous. "Who else could be called Mrs. Hughes? You? Ridiculous. Anyone dares to come here pretending to be Mrs. Hughes these days?"

At that moment, many employees from the office area ahead poked their heads out to watch the scene.

Cecilia felt countless eyes examining her. Angry, she commanded the snobbish receptionist, "Call Sebastian right now. I need to see him!"

"Sorry, I can't do that. If you want to see Mr. Hughes, I can help you make an appointment. As for whether Mr. Hughes will see you, please wait patiently for notification!"

Cecilia never imagined there would be a day when she'd have to wait to see Sebastian at her own company.

"I have urgent business. I need to see him right now!"

The receptionist's cold indifference pushed Cecilia past her limit. She rushed inside.

"Security, someone's causing trouble!"

Cecilia was dragged out of the building while passersby pointed and whispered.

Her disheveled appearance reflected in the glass.

This was the first time she truly felt that the company was no longer her company.

She was shaking with anger when Zachary called.

"Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Hughes is in a meeting. Did you need something?"

Cecilia wanted to demand who the Mrs. Hughes the receptionist mentioned was, but then she realized that since he was Sebastian's man now, he would only make up lies to help Sebastian deceive her.

"Never mind!"

She hung up, forcing herself to stay calm.

For the receptionist to recognize an imposter as Mrs. Hughes, Sebastian must have publicly brought her in and out of the company.

Cecilia stood at the company entrance, looking at the words "The Cecilia," her eyes stinging unbearably. "I put you in that CEO chair, Sebastian. How dare you let another woman claim the title that belongs to me?"