Five Years Abroad, A Stolen Love

“Ethan, you’re just bitter Sophia dumped you for a rich heir. You’ve got no one to blame but yourself for being useless! Now that you’ve offended the Carter family, don’t even think about surviving in New York City!”

“Guys, we have to stand up for Sophia! Get him!”

I tried to break free, but two men hoisted me off the ground, holding me immobile.

One smashed a bottle against my car window, another dragged a brick along the paint, grinding it mercilessly.

In the blink of an eye, my Pagani—one of only ten in the world—was reduced to a heap of twisted metal.

Rage made my entire body tremble.

“Sophia, you’re insane! Do you even know what you’re doing?”

“This is a crime! Do you want to go to prison?”

She slipped off her high heels and whipped them across my face.

The flesh split open instantly, blood pouring down.

“Crime? In New York City, the Carter family is the law!”

“You tried and failed to seduce me again, and now you’re furious. But tell me—when my husband arrives, do you think he’ll arrest you or me?”

“Ethan Carter, you were trash five years ago, and now, five years later, you’re still trash beneath my heel. You’ll never rise above it in this lifetime!”

She glanced at the others.

“Let him go.”

“If you kneel right now and kowtow in apology, I might let bygones be bygones and offer you a driver’s position. That way, you’ll get to see me every day.”

“If not… you’ll regret it.”

I spat out a mouthful of blood and sneered.

“Apologize? In your dreams.”

“Sophia, I swear you’ll pay a heavy price for this day. I promise you.”

A sharp crack rang out as she slapped me again, even harder this time, pushing me over the edge of fury.

“Still mouthing off at death’s door? Just wait until my husband comes—you’ll see who really pays the price!”

“This gown cost two million. If you don’t pay every last cent, you won’t walk out of here alive!”

If I hadn’t sworn never to strike a woman, she would already be incapable of speaking.

I let out a cold laugh.

“Fine. Just let me go. Two million? I’ll pay.”

“In fact, I’ll pay ten times that.”

The crowd howled with laughter.

“Listen to him! His words stink worse than athlete’s foot! Ten times two million? Does he even realize how much that is? In cash, it could bury him alive!”

“Sophia, he’s lost his mind ever since you dumped him. He’s nothing but a deranged pauper now!”

“Lucky you didn’t marry him back then. Otherwise, how would you be enjoying your life now?”

I pulled out my phone and recorded a voice message to my assistant.

“Withdraw two hundred million. In cash.”

“I don’t know if it’s enough to bury me—but it’s definitely enough to bury them.”

Then I dialed 911.

“Hello? Police? I want to report a violent assault. There’s a mob attacking me. The location is—”

Before I could finish, Sophia snatched the phone from my hand and smashed it on the ground.

“You dare call the cops?!”

“Call them, I’ll show you!”

“Hold him down—beat him until he can’t stand!”

A rain of fists crashed onto me. My face swelled so badly it was unrecognizable.

Finally, someone hesitated.

“Sophia, this… this doesn’t look good. He’s barely breathing.”

She waved dismissively.

“What’s there to fear? If something happens, my husband will handle it!”

She called Daniel Carter, her voice dripping with false panic.

“Honey, my poor ex lost his mind—he came to the hotel to crash the wedding! He even tore my gown to shreds!”

“But don’t worry, my classmates have him under control. He’s just been roughed up a little.”

“You know I only love you, darling. Besides you, I’ll never marry anyone else in this lifetime!”

“Please hurry—I’m so scared!”

Hanging up, she looked down at me with a cruel smirk, pressing her bare foot against my head.

“Ethan, you ruined my wedding and shredded my gown. If you admit fault now, I might even give you a discount on the compensation.”