Chapter 186

"You can't possibly love me, Vincent. Unless you've gone mad."

Mad?

Vincent King's pupils contracted sharply, his knuckles turning white. His burning rage suddenly died when his gaze landed on Susan Thompson's maimed left hand.

Who would love someone who hurt them?

Only a madman.

He staggered to his feet, his tailored trousers soaked. He wanted to storm out, but froze when he heard suggestive noises from outside.

Susan seized the chance to shrink into the corner, her back pressed against cold tiles.

Vincent's lips twisted into a bitter smile at her defensive posture.

Even now, despised by her, he still wanted her. Not just physically—but something deeper.

What was it?

He didn't dare dwell on it.

"Susan, I'm sorry."

The words were wrenched from his chest, raw with unprecedented sincerity.

Susan froze. For the first time, she saw genuine remorse in his eyes.

"It's all in the past," she murmured, lowering her lashes.

Those years of shared hardship, those soul-crushing betrayals—it was time to move on.

The bathroom fell into suffocating silence.

Outside, Nicole Capra's voice filtered through as she took a call. Soon, the click of high heels faded, followed by Henry Bartley's departure.

Susan waited ten more minutes before emerging.

She swiftly retrieved the hidden pinhole camera from the vase and fled the private room without a backward glance.

The taxi sped through the night.

Back in her apartment, Susan frowned at her laptop screen. The entangled bodies in the video made her stomach churn. Nicole was no "Pure Jade Maiden"—she was a nymphomaniac.

Susan had thoughtfully pixelated the explicit parts, but it was enough to expose Nicole's true colors to the world.

She clicked "Send."

Wrapping herself tighter in the blanket, Susan smiled coldly. This was only the beginning.

Meanwhile, Nicole stood in the dressing room of an awards ceremony.

"Jenny, this dress is perfection!" She stroked the ruby-studded hem, admiring her breathtaking reflection.

Jenny Keene smirked. "Bella Lucas had to fly abroad suddenly. This is our golden opportunity."

Under the spotlight, Nicole ascended the stage in fifteen-centimeter heels. The red gown flared like flames, drawing ecstatic screams.

"Goddess Nicole!"

"Stunning!"

Amid the cheers, someone suddenly gasped, "Check the trending hashtag! That woman in the video looks like Nicole!"

Nicole, basking in adoration, didn't notice the growing commotion—until her ashen-faced assistant rushed over and whispered in her ear.

Her radiant smile shattered.