Sunset Over an Empty World

A flicker of doubt crossed Elvira's face as she looked at Toby.

Seeing Toby lower his head with a hurt expression, Elvira turned back to me and snapped, "That's enough, Wallace. How dare you threaten my parents with divorce? Toby was just trying to help me get back at you.

"Besides, I have every right to do what I want with my body before marriage. My virginity is mine to give whoever I choose."

I cut her off calmly. "You're right—your body, your choice. You can give your virginity to anyone you want. I cannot and should not have any complaints. Similarly, I have the right to think whatever I want.

"I can divorce whoever I choose, and you're not allowed to have any complaints about that either."

Elvira froze, her face instantly turning pale. But she quickly rolled her eyes and snorted coldly.

"Wallace, our engagement was arranged by both our grandfathers. Don't you forget that it's only because I married you that you got to be the richest heir!"

Seeing that I remained silent, she softened her tone and coaxed gently, "As long as you stop going after Toby, I'll overlook what you said to my parents."

As I listened to Elvira go on—first claiming I owed her my position, then practically planning a life with Toby—I realized that my past affection and indulgence had simply given her the nerve to blackmail me.

Those two were really made for each other. One brazenly called me to flaunt their affair, while the other wielded our relationship like a weapon.

Whitney, who'd been listening nearby, finally couldn't hold back any longer and said with biting sarcasm, "Elvia, as a fellow woman, I'm truly ashamed of you. My parents only have one son, and that's Wallace.

"Even without you, he can still inherit the family business. Don't tell me you think I'd compete with Wallace?"

Elvira's expression faltered slightly.

I looked at her calmly and composedly. "Elvira, it's completely over between us."

After ending the video call, I couldn't help but feel dazed.

Back then, Britton Group was facing a financial crisis, and Elvira had cried herself unconscious in front of me, begging me to save her family business.

I'd knelt before my parents for three days and nights before they finally agreed to help Britton Group through the crisis.

But the ordeal took a heavy toll on me, and I fell seriously ill. It was Elvira who nursed me devotedly for three months, never leaving my side.

Never did it once cross my mind that she could also change.

I thought I'd made myself perfectly clear to Elvira.

Out of consideration for both our families' dignity, I simply asked her to come over and finalize the divorce.

I didn't want to make a big scene, but when Whitney and I arrived at the family estate, we found the entrance crowded with people.

"Toby is the one I truly love. So what if Wallace is wealthy enough to rival entire nations? So what if he's the richest man? Money can't buy my love.

"Besides, if my grandfather hadn't saved his grandfather back in the day, the Cochran family wouldn't even be where they are today."

Elvira's accusations spilled out endlessly. According to her, I'd somehow become the homewrecker who used money and status to come between her and Toby.

She also claimed that my family had built our fortune by leeching off Britton Group.

She even said, "I just wanted to give my virginity to the person I truly love. How can something like one's first time be treated as a bargaining chip? Isn't a woman free to do as she pleases with her body?"

Her words felt like a hammer pounding on my nerves, each blow sending a jolt of pain through me.

It sounded laughable, but more than that, it was heartbreaking.

Elvira kept proclaiming Toby as the love of her life, yet the man she legally married was me.

There was no way Whitney was going to let Elvira blabber on to the reporters. She immediately got out of the car and, cradling her pregnant belly, charged forward.

When the reporters spotted us coming back, all hell broke loose as they swarmed around us.

Wealthy families had always been a goldmine for secrets and scandals, and every reporter there was racking their brains, desperate to dig up something sensational.

"Mr. Cochran, is it true what Ms. Britton said—that you were the third party in their relationship?"

Before I could even respond, Whitney erupted with fury. "Did all of you skip ethics class? Whatever Elvira says, you just believe it? She's the one who cheated—"

Whitney's words were cut short by the sharp crack of Elvira striking her cheek.

Caught completely off guard, Whitney fell hard to the ground. Her face contorted in pain as a cry escaped her lips.

But Elvira, still seething with rage, continued her tirade.

"I am your sister-in-law and the future sole mistress of the Cochran family! Why do you insist on driving a wedge between Wallace and me? You even fabricated that video and uploaded it online!"

These two accusations from Elvira struck like thunder, sending shockwaves through the gathered reporters.

The reporters' eyes went wide as they surged toward Whitney and me, firing off questions.

"Mr. Cochran, is what Ms. Britton said true? Did Ms. Cochran really upload that video?"

"Is this over a fight for the family fortune? Ms. Britton claims that without her grandfather, the Cochran family wouldn't be where it is today.

"And now Ms. Cochran uploads a video to sabotage the marriage between the two families—does she have her own ambitions regarding the inheritance? Mr. Cochran, what's your take on all this?"

Whitney was jostled by them until she collapsed to the ground, blood quickly pooling beneath her.

But Elvira still made a move to strike her.

I was practically spewing fire as I roared, "Elvira, if you so much as touch a single hair on Whitney's head, I'll destroy your entire family!"

I glared fiercely at all the reporters, my emotions running high. "I don't care what nonsense you want to report, but the consequences of slandering or harming my family are something even the Britton family cannot bear.

"If anything happens to Whitney because you're blocking the way here, my family and I will never let you off!"

At these words, the reporters were greatly startled and hastily made way.

But Elvira still stood in my way.

"Move!" I roared, shoving her aside.

Seeing Whitney trembling in pain, I quickly pulled out my phone to dial 911.

Elvira, however, knocked the phone right out of my hand. Then, in a tone as arrogant as ever, she said, "Wallace, you can't leave. You and Whitney must apologize to Toby today!"

A towering rage blazed in my eyes.

"Get out of the way!"

Toby, emboldened by Elvira's presence, chimed in to taunt me, "Wallace, Elvira is giving you a way out here. Don't be so ungrateful—"

But before he could even finish his sentence, I had already summoned my bodyguards.

I then pointed at Toby and commanded with an icy glare, "Beat him to a pulp! Every single injury Whitney has suffered, I want them returned a hundredfold upon him!"