Chapter 3

The Livestream Incident. Liam was a moderately famous finance influencer.

He had millions of followers, cultivating a persona of being "woke, independent, and a strong advocate for women."

Three days after the initial incident, he started a livestream.

He called it a discussion about "modern, independent relationships."

Chloe Davis was there as a special guest, sitting beside him.

Today, she looked especially innocent, in a white dress with her long hair flowing over her shoulders.

On her wrist, she wore a watch.

It was the limited-edition couple's watch from a certain brand that I'd given Liam for Valentine's Day last year.

My matching watch was still in my jewelry box.

In the livestream, Liam spoke eloquently: "A good marriage is one where both partners are independent and not reliant on each other."

"Especially financially, the AA system is the best way."

"It filters out material impurities, allowing feelings to return to their purest form."

Chloe nodded vigorously, her eyes full of adoration. "Brother Liam is so right."

"Like Brother Liam and I, we're the best of friends, with the purest brother-sister bond."

As she spoke, she casually brushed her hair back, revealing the watch on her wrist.

"Just like this watch, Brother gave it to me, representing our indestructible friendship."

The comments section instantly exploded: [Wow, couple's watch?!] [Liam is so sweet to his 'sister'!] [Isn't that Liam's wife's watch?] [Don't talk nonsense, up there! It's a brother-sister bond! Liam said so!] [Where's the wife? Why isn't she doing anything?] [She probably can't control her man, otherwise why would Liam be with her?] [Exactly, independent women understand boundaries. Only women who nitpick drive their men away.]

I sat in front of my computer, my fingers icy cold.

Liam glanced at the comments. Instead of explaining, he draped his arm over Chloe's chair, a gesture of intimate familiarity.

"Chloe and my relationship doesn't need to be explained to anyone."

"Those who understand, understand."

Chloe shyly lowered her head, but couldn't help the slight smirk playing on her lips.

It was an open provocation and humiliation.

They were using the token of our love to stage a show of "deep platonic friendship."

Then they stood on their moral high ground, implying I was "too nitpicky" and "didn't understand."

At that moment, my phone suddenly emitted a loud alert.

The sound was so loud that it passed through my computer microphone and clearly entered the livestream.

[Ding! Detected partner Liam Carter unilaterally gifting a marital asset (couple's watch, purchased for $32,000) to a third party, Chloe Davis. This action constitutes an infringement on Host's property. Account automatically balanced: $16,000 transferred from Liam Carter's account to yours.]

The mechanical, emotionless electronic voice echoed in the livestream watched by tens of thousands of people.

Liam and Chloe's smiles froze.

The comments section, silent for three seconds, then absolutely erupted!

[Holy cow! A system voice?!] [Marital asset? Sixteen thousand? The wife bought the watch?!] [Hahahahahahaha, epic public humiliation! One second it's pure sibling love, the next it's slammed by a system!] [What is this system? So smart! "Absolute Fairness System"?! I'm dying!] [So Liam's persona was all fake? Using his wife's money to buy things for a 'tea-girl,' then calling his wife nitpicky?!] [Chloe's face just went green, hahahaha, is that stolen watch comfortable to wear?] ["Millionaire Mr. AA," Liam Carter! I've seen it all now!]

Liam's face flushed from red to white.

He frantically tried to end the livestream but couldn't tap the button.

Chloe fidgeted, the watch on her wrist now burning like a branding iron.

Eventually, the livestream was forcibly terminated by the platform.

On the black screen, the last few comments still lingered.

[Wife is awesome! Share the system link!] [This is what a truly independent modern woman looks like! No shouting, just transferring money!] [Liam, apologize now!]

I closed my laptop and leaned back in my chair.

On my phone screen, the bank deposit message and the system notification lay side by side.

Outside the window, night deepened.

I knew that the war between Liam and me had just begun.

He wouldn't let this go.

Sure enough, not long after, my phone rang. It was Liam.

I didn't answer. He called again and again.

Finally, a text message popped up: "Jade, you're going to pay for this."