Eclipsed Love: A Billionaire's Betrayal

In Shao City’s most luxurious five-star hotel, music and dancing filled the air as distinguished guests gathered in celebration. In the hotel corridor, a tall and handsome man held a petite and delicate woman in his arms, sharing a passionate kiss. “Mm~” The woman let out a soft moan, melting into the man’s embrace with a shy expression. Su Nuan Chu stood silently, watching the two people completely lost in each other, her nails digging into her palms so hard that blood seeped out. These two people—one was her husband, Cheng Hang, and the other was her half-sister, Su Xiaoyou. Su Nuan Chu pressed her full red lips together tightly, her delicate makeup masking her pale complexion, but she couldn’t hide the stabbing pain in her heart. She and Cheng Hang had only been married for three months. On their wedding day, his cold, unwilling demeanor had made her a laughingstock among the guests. Yet now, he was throwing an extravagant birthday party for Su Xiaoyou, an event so grand that the entire city knew about it. Suppressing the ache in her heart, Su Nuan Chu maintained a graceful smile, her high heels clicking elegantly as she walked toward Cheng Hang. “Excuse me, but even if you can’t help yourselves, shouldn’t you be mindful of the occasion?” She glanced at Su Xiaoyou, who was clinging to Cheng Hang, her dress crumpled and disheveled—a clear sign of their earlier intensity. Letting out a soft laugh, she continued, “If I hadn’t come over to remind you, you two would be on the front page tomorrow.” Cheng Hang’s gaze darkened with anger at her indifferent attitude. The world believed Su Nuan Chu loved him deeply, but only he knew the truth—she had married him only for the title of Mrs. Cheng! Suppressing his fury, he said coldly, “You’re that concerned about keeping your position as Mrs. Cheng?” “Of course. I wouldn’t want to be publicly humiliated,” Su Nuan Chu replied, her eyes playful and teasing. With that, she turned gracefully and walked away without looking back. As she left the corridor, the smile she had forced on her face faded, replaced by a bleak expression devoid of her previous confidence and charm. She had loved Cheng Hang for so many years. When she returned from studying abroad, she discovered he had fallen for her illegitimate sister. Two years ago, the Cheng Group faced a financial crisis. To help them through it, her father had advised her to stay out of it, telling her that Cheng Hang had moved on. But she hadn’t believed him. She thought that if she married Cheng Hang and stayed by his side, he would eventually fall in love with her again. Seeing her determination, her father had no choice but to agree and proposed a marriage alliance between the Su and Cheng families. She had borne the reputation of stealing her sister’s lover to marry him. But on their wedding night, Cheng Hang had stood at the doorway, his expression icy as he crushed all her hopes with one sentence: “I love Xiaoyou. Even if you marry me, I will never love you.” His words had frozen her heart. Prideful as she was, she forced herself to hold her head high and retorted, “The world may think Su Nuan Chu is madly in love with Cheng Hang. But only I know—I love nothing more than the title of Mrs. Cheng!” With that one statement, she had severed any remaining possibility between them. Cheng Hang, burdened with guilt toward Su Xiaoyou, took her everywhere with him, always by her side. And Su Nuan Chu? She became a mere decoration, a joke in the eyes of others. A silent tear fell from her eyes. She quickly wiped it away. “Didn’t you seem so confident just now? Why are you hiding here, crying?” Startled, Su Nuan Chu turned around to see Su Xiaoyou standing before her, looking smug. “What do you want?” “I came to see your misery, of course.” Su Xiaoyou leaned in close and whispered in her ear, “Su Nuan Chu, five years ago, you couldn’t beat me. And now, you’ve lost completely!” Su Nuan Chu clenched her fists, her eyes burning with anger. “You’re gloating over a love that was never truly yours. What is there to be so proud of?” Su Xiaoyou burst into laughter, her eyes filled with provocation. “So what? As long as Cheng Hang loves me now, that’s all that matters!” Pain pierced through Su Nuan Chu’s chest. Yes, as long as Cheng Hang loved Su Xiaoyou now, she had lost utterly and completely. “Su Nuan Chu, Cheng Hang wishes you were dead. Even if you died, he probably wouldn’t feel a thing.” Su Nuan Chu’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you planning?” Su Xiaoyou’s expression suddenly twisted into something sinister. “Why should you get to be glamorous while I have nothing? You have everything—why should you get to steal Cheng Hang and the position of Mrs. Cheng from me?” “Steal?” Su Nuan Chu sneered, crossing her arms as she eyed Su Xiaoyou with disdain. “You tricked Cheng Hang into believing you were his first love when he lost his memory. Everything you have now was gained through deceit. So tell me—who’s the real thief?” That gaze again! That same arrogant, belittling gaze! Su Xiaoyou’s rage boiled over, her face contorting with fury. Without warning, she grabbed Su Nuan Chu’s shoulders tightly. “As long as you’re dead, everything will be mine! Now, die!” Su Nuan Chu’s eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t expected Su Xiaoyou to actually make a move. She struggled desperately, but Su Xiaoyou was too fast. In the next second, a powerful force shoved her backward— Into the swimming pool. Help! I can’t swim! Su Nuan Chu screamed in her mind, thrashing in the water in a desperate attempt to stay afloat. But the laughter and chatter from the hotel’s grand hall drowned out her silent pleas for help. No one noticed the secluded pool. Someone, save me… Despair washed over her as the air in her lungs depleted, her chest burning painfully. Her vision blurred, her mind clouded, and darkness consumed her. Her body slowly sank to the bottom of the pool… On the edge of the pool, Su Xiaoyou watched as the water stilled, a malicious smile curling her lips. Then, without hesitation, she turned and walked away.