Suddenly, Miss Maggie saw a figure standing by the speakers.
It was Sophia! Dressed in a red gown, Sophia looked like a wild rose—beautiful yet dangerous.
She stood there without a hint of panic, exuding complete confidence, as if she didn’t even consider Miss Maggie a threat.
All the details clicked together in Miss Maggie’s mind. It wasn’t Joanna who went to see Lucas; it was Sophia!
Sophia had planted a recording device on Lucas and deliberately said those things to lure Lucas to her, making her confess!
Such a cunning move.
Just then, ambiguous breathing sounds and a woman’s moans came through the speakers, unmistakably belonging to Miss Maggie.
Flustered, Miss Maggie’s face turned red as she yelled, “Turn it off! Turn it off!”
Everyone laughed. “Claiming to be assaulted, yet having the energy to engage with other men. That’s impressive!”
Miss Maggie’s face went pale from the mocking stares.
The recording abruptly stopped. She stared at Sophia in disbelief, unable to understand why Sophia would go to such lengths to ruin her.
Sophia’s smile was faint. That day, when she went to see Lucas, she’d already predicted that Lucas wouldn’t agree to her terms.
Human nature is greedy, especially for someone like Lucas, who had experienced wealth and addiction. Fifty thousand dollars meant little to him, so he would undoubtedly go to Miss Maggie, asking for more and blackmailing her in return. That’s why she’d planted a listening device on Lucas—small and discreet, almost invisible. That was how she managed to capture their entire conversation.
As this revelation settled, a group of men entered the room.
Seeing Miss Maggie, they each called out, “Maggie!”
Then they exchanged glances, looking puzzled. “Who are you to Maggie?”
“And who are you?”
“I’m Maggie’s first boyfriend!”
“Nonsense, I was her first! Maggie’s first night was with me!”
“You’re all wrong. I was her first man!”
The group of men began arguing, realizing only then that Miss Maggie had told each one they were her “first.” She’d dated enough men to form a soccer team, with some even dating her simultaneously!
They had all thought Miss Maggie was pure, a rare innocent girl.
The crowd erupted with murmurs.
“She claimed to be a virgin who was assaulted?”
“What is she trying to do? Why is she lying one after another?”
“Who would dare marry someone like Miss Maggie?”
“Even though she’s been with so many men, she still claimed it was her first time.”
“The lengths people go to for money—even making up a story about assault.”
The situation had fully flipped, even leaving the police officers stunned by the spectacle. The crowd couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. Apparently, even the wealthy weren’t free from drama; without strong mental resilience, this sort of mess could drive anyone to despair.
“Miss Maggie, please come with us.”
At that moment, the Scott family’s legal team arrived. Each lawyer, over six feet tall, well-dressed in suits, looked like they could form a boy band.
“Mr. Scott, we’re here. Leave the rest to us; you’re free to go,” one of them said, then added, “By the way, Mr. Scott, we’ve completed your instructions—the Will Family’s stock has already hit the floor.”
Hearing this, Miss Maggie was utterly shocked. She glared at Scott Livinus, shouting, “What did you do to my family? You’re so despicable!”
“Despicable?” Scott Livinus smirked coldly. “From you, that sounds like the highest compliment.”
What had he done? He had simply provided the media with the Will Family’s financial situation, letting them run with it. Naturally, the news made shareholders anxious, sparking a panic. He’d also spread rumors of the Will Family’s impending bankruptcy. As a result, their stock plummeting was inevitable.
Miss Maggie didn’t know what to do. She wanted to go home and discuss countermeasures with her father, but the police were already cuffing her.
“Miss Maggie, please come with us.”
Suddenly, Miss Maggie realized that playing with fire could easily end in self-destruction.
From Scott Livinus’s gaze, she knew one thing for sure—he wouldn’t let the Will Family off the hook. He would ensure they paid the price for her actions.
—
And so, the spectacle came to an end.
With the recordings, everyone now understood that Scott Livinus had been a victim of Miss Maggie’s threats and blackmail.
People felt sympathy for him; without the recordings, the accusation of assault would have stuck, and he’d have been unable to silence the gossip.
But now, with proof in hand, the entire incident looked like a farce, with Miss Maggie cast as the tragicomic lead.
“Mr. Scott, take care of yourself. Don’t let this weigh on you!”
“Everyone encounters things like this sometimes. Just take it easy and relax.”
“Mr. Scott, this would be hard on anyone. Make sure you look after your health!”
Everyone offered words of encouragement.
For them, Scott Livinus was a role model. Seeing him threatened like this was unsettling. They also believed he wouldn’t openly express his frustration, instead quietly bearing it. So, they kept comforting him.
Scott Livinus thanked them for their kindness.
After handling everything, he headed to the back garden, where he found Sophia sitting alone, enjoying the cool breeze. Walking over, he said:
“Thank you.”
Sophia shrugged without responding. They stood in silence for a moment before Sophia got up, intending to go back to the front. But her heel wobbled, nearly causing her to fall. Fortunately, Scott Livinus caught her in time, preventing her from taking a spill.
They were close, their skin brushing, and a sense of intimacy lingered in the air.
They could smell each other’s scents.
For two people who had shared an intimate night, this was undeniably tempting.
Memories of that night resurfaced.
Sophia quickly pushed him away, only to be pulled back by Scott Livinus, who held her tightly.
Sophia struggled, but when she looked up, she saw an unusual seriousness in Scott Livinus’s dark eyes, gazing at her as though he might pull her into an endless abyss.
“Sophia.”
“Yes?”
Scott Livinus’s tone left no room for doubt: “You care about me.”
