Chapter 1 Cheating Live on Air
1021 Words
Under the dim, sultry lighting, two lovers tangled in their passion.
"I have no idea why my dad forced me to marry someone as pathetic as her, let alone stay with her for three years without divorcing," Buper sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.
"Don't worry. You'll get rid of her soon," Shurna purred, her fingers tracing his jawline. "Just don't forget about me when the time comes."
Buper Bush's face softened as he gazed at the woman before him.
His tone turned honeyed. "Of course, Shurna. You'll always be the only one I love."
*****
What neither of them realized was that their entire conversation was being secretly recorded, the feed broadcast live to the banquet hall directly below.
The crowd froze, staring at the screen in stunned silence, until a piercing shriek shattered the tension.
"Fake! This must be fake! Stop looking, all of you!"
The voice belonged to a middle-aged woman: Buper's mother, Lorelei Bush.
She rushed to shut off the screen, but the remote seemed to fail her. After a frantic struggle, she finally unplugged the power.
Nobody spoke. All eyes turned to a serene figure standing calmly in the room.
She had imagined many ways she might react to such a revelation—rage, tears, even hysteria.
But now, her heart was filled with an unsettling stillness, as though she were a bystander to someone else's misfortune.
'So this is what it feels like when you've given up on someone completely,' she thought.
*****
The truth was, she'd long suspected something was off. That was why she'd set up the hidden camera and arranged for Buper and Shurna to have their private rendezvous.
Then, all she needed to do was to make their affair public.
A little coding magic ensured their actions played out in high definition, unfiltered and uninterrupted.
"Nelia, you have to believe me! My son would never do something so shameful!"
Lorelei cried, rushing over to grab Nelia's arms.
But Nelia yanked herself free, her voice icy. "Forgotten already? Just yesterday, you told me I didn't deserve a seat at the table and made me eat with the dog."
Her gaze locked onto Lorelei's, unyielding and merciless.
*****
From the moment she'd married into Buper's family, Nelia had been treated worse than a servant.
Divorce had crossed her mind countless times, but every time, Buper's pathetic pleas would make her heart waver.
But now that she'd seen his true colors, sparing him any consideration felt like a waste of energy.
She wanted out—out of this house, out of this life, as far away from him as possible.
Lorelei forced a smile. "You're just upset. Let's go home and talk this over. I'm sure this is all just a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?" Nelia's voice was sharp as she turned to the gathered guests.
"Let me be clear: as of today, I'm divorcing Buper. And Lorelei," she added, her tone cutting, "tell him we'll meet in court."
"No!" Lorelei exclaimed, her panic evident.
*****
"Everyone, don't listen to her nonsense," Lorelei implored the crowd, her voice softening.
Then she turned to Nelia, her eyes filled with fake concern. "Sweetheart, why don't we talk this over after we get back?"
Home? So they could lock her away and silence her? Huh. She wasn't a fool.
"Well, I guess I can..." Nelia muttered.
Lorelei seemed relieved, but Nelia's mocking gaze sent a chill down her spine.
"But first, why don't you explain why you insisted on Buper staying married to me for three years?"
Lorelei stiffened, her expression shifting into a barely concealed panic.
"W-what are you talking about? There's no such thing."
Nelia raised an eyebrow and pulled out a flash drive.
"Really? Because I heard it had something to do with Eostre Isle."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Eostre Isle? Isn't that a haven for criminals and fugitives?"
"And Lorelei's a government official. Her family's actually involved with them?"
"That explains why no one's ever cleaned up that place! The officials covered them up!"
*****
Lorelei's face turned ashen at the growing whispers, but she quickly forced a stern expression.
"Do you have any proof for these wild accusations?" she demanded.
Nelia didn't flinch. She caught every flicker of fear in Lorelei's eyes. The secret she was hiding was darker than Nelia had thought.
What she had was just a shred of evidence: a record of Lorelei's housekeeper selling supplies to fugitives. Apparently, it was too trivial to make Lorelei scared.
Well, this family never failed to surprise her.
But still, since the big fish had bitten the bait, she had to try her best to reel it in.
Nelia dangled the flash drive, her expression solemn.
"If there's nothing to hide, I'm sure the police will sort it out."
As Nelia turned to leave, Lorelei's shrill voice echoed behind her.
"You ungrateful brat! Have you forgotten who took you in after your family was wiped out? My husband should never have saved your life!"
Nelia stopped in her tracks.
*****
Lorelei smirked triumphantly, thinking she had struck a nerve.
'That's right,' she gloated silently. 'A lowly orphan like her should know her place.'
Nelia slowly turned, her gaze colder than ice.
"Took me in? You mean you found a convenient excuse to seize my parents' fortune."
She stepped closer, her voice steady and cutting. "You know exactly how Bush Corporation rose to dominate Galemore State. Even that massive diamond you wear was my mother's."
Lorelei's face contorted with fury.
"What exactly do you want?!"
"Simple," Nelia replied, her tone casual. "A divorce. And Buper leaves with nothing."
*****
Lorelei scoffed. "You? You're just a nobody with nothing. What right do you have to demand divorce? We even paid for your birthday banquet—"
Before she could finish, a splash of wine drenched her from head to toe.
A woman smiled faintly. "Oops. Slipped. Must've been the joke I just heard."
"You little—" Lorelei froze when she met the newcomer's gaze, her words dying on her lips.
Not in a million years would she dare offend this woman.
- Writer
