Chapter 3
Joseph pushed a five–layer cake to the center of the stage, his gaze fixed on Ember with deep affection as he spoke.
“Wife, thank you for being with me all these years. It’s because of you that I’ve been able to rise from scratch to where I am today. My achievements are all due to your silent support behind the scenes. In the future, let’s walk the road of happiness together! We’ll have many more years together, living until we grow old. I love you!”
The audience burst into applause, their excitement filling the room.
Joseph had spent a lot of money on this extravagant display of affection.
He had invited all of his company’s employees to witness his love for Ember.
The more he expressed his love for her, the more dramatic it would be when he exposed her alleged affair in front of everyone.
But Ember knew his true nature now. All of Joseph’s gestures only served to deepen her disgust.
Lucas walked up to Ember holding a glass of juice. “Mom, I wish you a happy birthday too,” he said, his voice full of innocence.
He seemed so well–behaved and thoughtful.
To everyone around her, it appeared as though Ember had a perfect life–a husband who doted on her, a son who was respectful and loving.
But only Ember knew that the juice had been laced with a drug.
She recalled the time when Joseph and she had been a very loving couple.
When they had first met, during the summer vacation, Ember had gone back to the countryside to help her parents with the house, and Joseph had been renting from them.
His electricity bill had been the highest in the building, as he would leave the lights on all night, studying.
At that time, Ember had thought he was hardworking and diligent.
He had been good–looking, gentle, and appeared to be very honest. She had seen him a few times a day as he would go downstairs in his ill–fitting suit to throw out the trash.
Later, Joseph had told Ember that he had fallen for her at first sight, saying she was cute and that he had
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After Divorce I Revealed: Th
left the lights on to get her attention.
He had caught her attention indeed–he was good–looking, had excellent academic performance, and every time he came back, he would bring her a dessert, telling her that her smile was sweeter than the
dessert itself.
Ember’s family had been wealthy, but she hadn’t been well–read, and she had been defenseless against a man like him.
Her parents had suggested sending her abroad to study, but she had rejected it.
She had willingly fallen into his sweet trap.
Thinking back now, after Joseph had gotten together with her, he no longer had to pay rent. Ember had even given him money to help fund his graduate school exams.
Though Joseph had once hated the rich, he had used her money without hesitation.
He had held her hand and promised, “Ember, when I make money in the future, I’ll build you a big house.”
He had always believed her family only owned the old, run–down house they had.
Later, he had kept his promise and bought a three–bedroom apartment in the city. Ember had been even happier than when her mother had given her two villas in London.
She had considered telling him about her family’s wealth, but after that, Joseph had started using work as an excuse to stay away from home more and more.
After Lucas had been born, Ember had focused entirely on him. He had often had colds and fevers, and Ember, trying to take care of him, could only sleep about four hours a day.
But now, watching her son–whom she had nurtured so carefully–hand her the drugged juice, it broke her heart.
“Lucas, I don’t want to drink the juice today. Could you please change it for me?” she had asked him quietly.
Lucas, only ten years old, was likely influenced by the adults around him.
Ember decided to give him one more chance. As long as he changed the juice, she would still be able to keep him by her side.
“Mom, I’ve already poured it for you. Just drink it. There are so many people watching,” Lucas said, his tone impatient.
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His words echoed Joseph’s–using the gaze of others to pressure her. Ember realized that Lucas had become just like his father.
The first time Ember had discovered Joseph’s lie about working overtime, he had been dining out with colleagues.
When she found out, Joseph had calmly said, “There are so many people watching. I’m just out for a meal. I didn’t do anything else!”
These words had become more and more familiar to her.
What she hadn’t expected was that her son would use the same words on her.
Ember sighed and picked up the glass. She drank the juice in one go.
Jennifer rushed to the banquet, and it seemed she had already arranged for someone to play the role of Ember’s affair partner.
Lucas nervously looked up at Ember, as if waiting for the drug to take effect so their plan could unfold.
Ember ignored him for ten minutes before finally leaning her head against the back of her chair.
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