Drowning in Memories

Chapter 6 The Trending Lists

Matthew paused for a moment, then continued peeling the apple with steady movements. Only when the last strip of peel fell did he hand it to her, his voice calm.

"Don't mind her. She deserves it. I'll have the SIM card canceled and get you a new one—this line's been compromised."

Clara offered no protest, letting him take the phone wordlessly. It was for the best, she thought, sparing her the trouble of dealing with it herself.

On the fourth day, Adrian had their marriage license delivered, and Clara froze at the sight of their joint photo.

Ever since she was little, marrying Matthew had been her lifelong dream. To stand by his side, she had mastered everything he loved: fencing, car racing… Even when Matthew wanted to go bungee jumping, she had leaped after him without hesitation.

All these years, she had forced herself to become someone she wasn't. But now… she was marrying another man.

That evening, Matthew came back to tend to Clara's every need—even accompanying her to the bathroom. His gaze flicked sideways when he noticed her unsteady right leg.

"I've arranged for the top orthopedic surgeon to treat your leg. You'll recover soon."

Clara's lips twitched, torn between mocking his hypocrisy and letting out a bitter laugh. She wanted to refuse, to say someone else would handle it, but all her protests faded into a quiet "Mm."

After she finished in the bathroom, Matthew left, and Maid Mary came to help her clean up. But that night, Mary rambled nonstop, singing Matthew's praises.

Once, she would have listened eagerly, even joined in. Now, the words only grated on her nerves.

"Enough, Mary. I need to rest."

"Mr. Coleman made your chicken soup himself tonight… Oh, alright."

Frustrated, Clara pulled the blanket over her head, only to yank it off as soon as Mary left.

That night, she had no idea what the next day would bring.

Early the next morning, her phone rang. It was Gina.

"Clara! Turn on the livestream right now—someone's flooded the entire city with intimate photos of you and Adrian!"

Clara's face drained of all color. Before she could hang up, a hashtag about her and Adrian shot to the top of the trending lists: Clara Sharp & Adrian Gilbert Caught in a Scandalous Affair…

Clara's mind went blank, a sharp ringing buzzing in her ears—her last shred of composure shattered.

The photos showed her stepping out of a car with bare shoulders and disheveled clothes. The marks on Adrian's body left no room for doubt.

Who could have taken these photos?

Her phone clattered to the floor as she stared blankly ahead. Just then, Ivy—who was supposed to be overseas—walked straight into her room.

Smirking triumphantly, she sneered. "Clara, I'm the one who leaked these photos. Don't you want to know who gave them to me? It was Matthew—the man you loved more than anything! I told you I'd get my revenge. You ruined my life, and now I'll pay you back tenfold!"