The old woman admired my courage and used her connections to secure a prime location in the city center.


    Gallery opening day was a massive sess.


    Pretty much every big name in Mn’s art scene showed up.


    I wore a forest green velvet gown I’d designed myself, standing under the spotlights epting congrattions from everyone.


    Then I spotted Alex and Maya in the crowd.


    For the first time ever, Alex’s gaze lingered on me for more than three seconds.


    But still-he didn’t recognize me.


    Maya looked pissed. She probably never expected the “stray dog” she’d stepped on tond on her feet in Mn’s art world.


    he walked over with a champagne flute, voice low: “Grace, you really don’t know when to quit.”


    You think this will make Alex notice you? Dream on.”


    He’s only here to support me.”


    ight on cue, Alex headed our way.


    e walked past me straight to Maya. “Congrattions, Maya.”


    he immediately put on her sweet act. “Thanks, Alex.”


    Il eyes turned to them


    eporter


    torres dating?”


    buy that gallery to promote Miss Torres’s career?”


    answer, just looked at Maya with eyes so tender they could melt ice.


    silence said everything.


    hat’s when uniformed cops suddenly stormed in.


    hey walked straight to me and shed an arrest warrant.


    Grace Carter, you’re under arrest for corporate espionage-stealing client data and exhibition ns from Carter Industries’ gallery subsidiary. You


    eed toe with us.”


    My head buzzed.


    Not again.


    Another bullshit charge.


    Maya covered her mouth in fake shock. “Oh my God, Grace, how could you do something like this?”


    She turned to Alex with instant tears. “Alex, I knew she wouldn’t let this go. She’s trying to get back at us!”


    Alex’s face went dark as thunder.


    He walked up to me step by step, eyes like poisoned daggers.


    “This is what you’ve been hiding for? You’re that jealous? Had to prove you’re better than Maya?”


    “This is so immature. You tricked me into divorce when you could’ve had anything as Mrs. Carter.”


    “Grace, I gave you a chance.”


    ‘You chose to humiliate yourself.”


    He raised his hand. The cops immediately moved in, cold handcuffs clicking around my wrists.


    stared at him, feelingpletely empty inside.


    Alex, you’re going to regret this.”


    Heughed like he’d heard the world’s best joke.


    Regret? My biggest regret was marrying you in the first ce!”


    he cops pushed me toward the exit while Maya’s triumphantughter and the guests’ disgusted whispers followed behind.


    espair nearly drowned me. <fn0fa5> Get full chapters from FιndＮovel</fn0fa5>


    1st as I was about to be shoved into the police car, a voice rang out-old but powerful.


    Stop right there!”


    he crowd parted. The silver-haired woman walked through, leaning on her cane with an old butler supporting her.


    ehind her was a man in an old police uniform, gray-haired and weathered.


    he old cop’s eyes swept the crowd and locked onto my face. His cloudy eyes suddenly zed with recognition.


    Found her! That’s her!”


    le rushed forward excitedly, pointing at me, then turning to Alex.


    Mr. Carter, do you remember me? Twenty years ago, I’m the one who rescued you from those traffickers.”


    lex frowned-clearly had no memory of this random old man.


    ut the cop didn’t care. He carefully pulled a yellowed document from his briefcase.


    This is the incident report from back then. It clearly states that the person who called for help was another little girl who’d been kidnapped with you.”


    le unfolded the report and held it in front of Alex.


    The report says when that girl escaped, she was wearing a torn white dress and had a rose-shaped red birthmark on her wrist.”


    Alex’s body went rigid.


    His eyes locked onto my left arm where the handcuffs had pushed up my sleeve.


    There, bright as blood, was a rose-shaped birthmark.