Chapter 518
It was a sharp contrast to the thunderstorm raging outside.
But the calmer he sounded, the more Marina’s nerves frayed; she felt icy terror
prickling beneath her scalp.
Originally, Jonathan had sent Prescott to investigate Marina’s time in Blackspire–he wanted to know exactly what she’d been up to while abroad.
He hadn’t expected Prescott to dig up so much more.
“When you were studying in Blackspire… you were actually filming porn for the local gang–the Vipers‘ Nest.”
“You used your connection with the Vipers‘ Nest to stage a fake crisis with Daniel, luring me away so you two could kidnap Niamh.”
“In the end, Daniel died, and you unleashed a smear campaign that drove Niamh to bankruptcy.”
“When she managed to claw her way back, you pushed Susy Fraser to hire thugs to hurt her. When they failed, you tried again. Again and again.”
“You even went so far as to fake your own assault, just to ruin Niamh’s reputation.”
As Jonathan’s cold, merciless words cut through the room, Marina’s tears spilled over, streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks.
It wasn’t like that-
It wasn’t!
She hadn’t chosen to make those films.
She’d had no choice.
At first, Marina had gone to Blackspire to force Jonathan to choose–her or his grandfather. She was sure/with how much Jonathan loved her, he’d pick her without a second thought.
But he didn’t.
Furious and hurt, Marina started cycling through boyfriends in Blackspire–men who were either wealthy or handsome.
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But none of them, not one, could hold a candle to Jonathan.
That’s when regret crept in.
Still, she couldn’t bring herself to be the first to apologize, If she gave in, she’d lose what little control she had left in their relationship.
Then, one day, she heard about a big company in Blackspire holding auditions for al reality TV show. If she did well, she might even become a star.
Marina’s heart leapt at the chance. She imagined a glittering career, Jonathan realizing his mistake too late.
But the show was a lie.
Behind it all was the Vipers‘ Nest, the local crime syndicate.
Thinking she’d been chosen for the reality show, Marina told her parents she’d be out of touch for a while and not to worry.
But when she arrived at the villa, her phone was taken. She was locked away, cut
off from the world.
That time was hell.
Every day, the Vipers‘ Nest men came for her. She was raped, forced into prostitution, made to star in porn. If she disobeyed, she was beaten.
Countless times, Marina thought of ending her life.
But she couldn’t let go of Jonathan.
She was his first love–his true love. She was meant to be his wife, the future lady
of the Thomas Group.
That belief was all that kept her going.
Jonathan was her everything.
“You… what do you know… what do you know?!”
Suddenly, Marina screamed, wild and broken.
Jonathan’s grip loosened, and she collapsed to the floor with a dull thud.
“You have no idea how much I love you…”
Panting, nearly snarling, Marina spat out the words between gasps: “You have no idea what I’ve suffered for your sake! Why Niamh?! Why, when I was abandoned, desperate, living through hell–why did she get to become your wife? That was
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supposed to be me! I’m your first love! I’m your true love! Niamh is nothing–she’s a fraud, stealing my man, my future, everything that should have belonged to me! Why shouldn’t I want her gone?”
Her shriek drowned out even the thunder outside.
Yet Jonathan’s face remained cold, unmoved.
The hospital room felt suffocating, stripped of air–silent, heavy.
Until Jonathan finally spoke:
“My first love? My true love? My wife’s place should have been yours? Marina…”
He stepped forward, looking down at her tear–streaked face.
“You were never Rina.”
