Chapter 3

"I'm sorry, Nora, they really don't want to sit with you. This is the best we can do. You should explain online, and slowly everyone will accept you!"

One of Ethan's friends sneered.

"The institute has already expelled her; having her around is bringing shame to the institute. Who could accept someone like her?"

The mocking voices swirled around me, I bit my lip and looked at Ethan and Aurelia.

"Happy birthday, can I go home now?"

He is really shameless!

At the bar, a waiter approached with a drink and placed it on the floor in the corner.

"Sorry, Sister Nora, they really don't want to sit with you. Just bear with it for now. Explain it online later, and eventually, everyone will come around!"

One of Ethan's friends sneered.

"The institute has already removed her name. Her presence just tarnishes the reputation of the Sunrise Research Institute. Besides, who can accept someone like her?"

The mocking voices swirled around me as I bit my lip and looked at Ethan and Aurelia.

"Happy birthday. Can I leave now?"

Ethan, who had been sitting since we arrived, stood up.

"They're just talking. You're here to have fun, so don't make a scene!"

After saying this, he forced me to squat on the ground, holding the drink that was tossed there, like a discarded stray.

Soon, someone came in with a mop and drove me to the farthest corner.

Then Ethan forced me to record an apology video and post it on the social media platform.

"It just went up! Already ten thousand comments! This is even more than top celebrities get."

Ethan glanced over, and the person quieted down.

"I've never seen so many. They surely understand Sister-in-law!"

But soon, a few popular comments were pushed to the top.

["Seriously, she's going to a bar? Is she scouting for a new target?"]

["She starts the video squatting in the bar's corner. Who knows what's happening? Is she completing her master's task?"]

["I can't believe she has the nerve to show her face. Has the incident of seducing someone else's husband just blown over?"]

["Don't enter the Sunrise Research Institute again. We can't trust those products anymore!"]

...

Ethan looked at me, his expression gentle.

"Nora, leaving the Sunrise Research Institute is the only way to protect our child. I'm doing this for our future."

I stared hard into his eyes, feeling the sting of tears.

"Ethan, do you really believe the person in the video is me?"

His expression changed instantly, the gentleness turning to impatience.

"Everyone thinks it's you now. Would anyone believe your explanation? Over time, people will forget."

The video was posted from my account, sealing this stain on me. Whenever my name appears, people will remember this incident.

They want to ruin my life.

I glanced at Aurelia, who had a sinister smile, and suddenly smirked.

The comments under that video kept increasing, hundreds more every second.

"People like this should be deported!"

Ethan closed his phone, ignoring the comments.

"Nora, don't worry. People will forget over time. You can stay home and focus on the pregnancy!"

Aurelia suddenly approached with a toast, forcing me to down a glass of strong liquor.

In the booth next to us, they were loudly celebrating Aurelia's birthday, spewing blessings like they were free.

I knelt on the ground, staring at the disgusting messages in my private inbox, feeling completely lost.

"Brother Ethan, a business partner wants to meet with me. Hurry and take me to meet them."

Everyone rushed out with Aurelia in a hurry, leaving me alone in the corner.

Suddenly, sharp pain radiated from my stomach, and I felt something wet below.

It must have been the alcohol!

The sight of red blood on my thigh shocked my senses.

I endured the pain, holding my phone, and made my way to the lake.

Standing at the lake's edge, I recorded a video of myself.

In the video, I looked pale, eyes determined, but with a mocking smile.

["During an avalanche, every snowflake is not innocent. If you want me to die, then I'll fulfill your wish!"]

After hitting send, I jumped into the lake with the phone, swimming out with all my might.

Only through destruction can there be rebirth. I had to leave.

Ethan was sitting in his office, waiting for the collaboration Aurelia was discussing.

He was about to call me to come home when a friend suddenly pushed him.

"Ethan, bad news, Nora jumped into the river! She posted that and then committed suicide!"

4

The man's face suddenly froze, his pupils narrowing.

"What on earth are you talking about? Stop with this nonsense!"

Only then did he notice the phone being handed to him, displaying a recently posted video on the screen.