Gilded Lies Exposed

Early the next morning, just as dawn broke, Drake dragged me out of bed.

"Liana, my cousin Kyle urgently needs money to buy a house. Give me your card. I know there’s $100,000 in it." He held out his hand like it was only natural, without a trace of guilt.

I looked at his familiar face and felt nothing but disgust. "I don't have money."

"Don't have money? Who are you trying to fool?" His voice turned sharp. "Hand it over. Otherwise, this marriage is over."

"Then let it be over." I looked at him calmly. "Drake, let’s get a divorce."

He froze, clearly not expecting me to bring it up first. Before he could respond, Diana rushed over, pointing at me as she snapped, "Divorce? Good! We were going to say the same! Sign the papers and get out. Don’t hold my son back from a better future!"

Rosalie leaned against the doorway, a cigarette between her fingers, watching like it was entertainment. "Liana, be smart. Hand over the money as a breakup fee. At least keep some dignity."

I looked at the ugly expressions filling the room and suddenly laughed.

I pulled out a gold card. "There’s a million in here. It was meant to be your New Year's gift."

"A million dollars?" Diana’s eyes widened, then she burst into laughter. "Oh, please. What is it, fake money? If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable!"

Drake sneered. "Someone like you struggles to come up with $100,000, and now you’re saying you've got a million? Do you think I’m stupid?"

He snatched the card and tossed it straight into the brazier.

My gaze swept over them, cold and detached. "Drake, from today on, we’re done. My lawyer will contact you about the divorce."

"You think you can talk about lawyers?" Rosalie cursed as she rushed forward to shove me. "Who do you think you are, acting tough in front of a man? You need to be taught a lesson."

She reached for my collar with one hand while raising the other to slap me.

My eyes hardened. The moment her hand came down, I grabbed her wrist and twisted it hard.

"Ah—!"

She let out a sharp scream, her body forced forward.

I didn’t hold back. I drove my foot straight into her abdomen.

She slammed into the cabinet behind her, dishes crashing to the floor.

"Rosalie!" Drake shouted, rushing over to help her before turning to glare at me. "Liana! You dared to hit her? You’re finished! I’m calling the police. I’ll have you thrown in jail!"

Clutching her stomach, trembling, Rosalie pulled out her phone and snarled, "You dared to hit me? I was going to leave you a way out, but now you’re done!"

"Hello? Aunt, where are you? Get to the Murrell house now! I’ve been hit! Yes, Drake’s useless wife! Bring backup. I want her finished!"

After hanging up, she stared at me with a twisted smile, a streak of blood at the corner of her lips. "Don’t run. My aunt will be here any minute. I swear I’ll break your leg today!"

The moment Diana heard Zara was coming, her posture straightened. She pointed at me and snapped, "Run? Where do you think you’re going? Block the door!"

I pulled a chair over and sat in the center of the room, taking a slow sip of tea. "Fine. I’ll wait right here. I’d like to see how she plans to make me kneel."

Less than 10 minutes later, hurried footsteps sounded from outside.

"Who the hell dared to touch my niece? Got a death wish?"

With a sharp shout, a middle-aged woman in a red coat strode in.

"Aunt! It’s her!" Rosalie cried, pointing at me. "She hit me and even insulted you! Said Halcyon Group is nothing, and even if you came, you’d still have to bow to her!"

Drake quickly added, "Exactly, Madam Finn. She has no respect for you at all!"

Zara’s anger flared as she rolled up her sleeves and stormed inside. "Damn it, someone actually dares to act like this in front of me? Let me see who—"

She charged in mid-curse and froze the moment her eyes met mine.