Gilded Lies

That night, the yacht was filled with screams. My body still carried the trauma, haunting me in nightmares every night. He was the one who stayed by my side. Whenever I jolted awake from a nightmare, he would gently stroke my back and comfort me. He told me he couldn't control Jasper, but his brother owed me and he would repay me tenfold. To give me a grand wedding, he didn't hesitate to sever ties with the Griffins and establish himself independently. He announced his love for me to the world, but five years of happiness eventually turned out to be nothing but an illusion. The man who pulled me out of the abyss was the same one who pushed me into hell. I stumbled back into the private room. Jordan saw my pale face and his eyes turned red with anxiety. He pulled me into his arms, patting my back gently, just like before. "What's wrong, Willa? Did something trigger your memory again? Don't be afraid, I'm here with you this time and those people won't show up again. I asked the doctor to bring you your medicine before we came up. Drink it when the water cools down." Looking at his deliberately gentle expression, I spoke softly. "Jordan, I don't want to take the medicine anymore. I'm already cured. I want to go home." The warmth in his eyes slightly dimmed. He reached out and playfully tapped my nose. "Be good, Willa. Psychological illnesses tend to relapse easily. You need to take your medicine to recover faster. Once you take it, you won't have nightmares anymore." Before I could refuse, he had already placed the pill in my mouth. Warm water slid down my throat, but my entire body felt ice-cold. It was as if he was certain I would soon lose consciousness after taking it. Jordan didn't stay with me. He turned and quickly left the private room. I knew where he was going, to find those people from five years ago. Like shattered nightmares, the memories surged back. Cold sweat broke out all over my body. I collapsed onto the floor, writhing in agony. As my consciousness blurred, a warm pair of lips pressed against my forehead. "Shh, be good, Willa. It'll be over soon. I'll be waiting for you." Then came the tearing pain. Blood continued to flow from below and the sensation was all too familiar. A wave of dread washed over me as countless rough hands grazed my skin. I don't know how long it was before I heard Jordan's voice again. "Miscarriage?" "Yes, but Mr. Griffin, they couldn't stop in time, it seems they went a bit too far. Miss Schmidt probably won't be able to get pregnant again." "Good job. Your payment is doubled. Go collect it before you leave the ship." When I opened my eyes again, five hours had passed. Jordan was clutching my hand tightly, his eyes filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry, Willa. I failed to protect you. Those people from five years ago found out you were here and came for revenge. I couldn't save our child. The doctor said you may have trouble conceiving again in the future, but don't worry. I've taken care of them. They won't appear ever again. Please don't cry. No matter what happens, I will always be by your side. Losing the baby doesn't matter. I only want you." I stared blankly at the wooden deck. I was so numb that I couldn't even feel the pain anymore. I was the one who had suffered the humiliation and lost my child. Yet, he was crying harder than me. His acting was flawless, but I didn't even have the energy to expose him. After a long silence, when his sobs finally quieted down, I spoke softly. "Avenge me. That must have been exhausting, right? Jordan, get some rest. I'm fine." Seeing that I wasn't making a scene, he breathed a sigh of relief. He closed his eyes beside me, his breathing gradually evening out. Silently, I reached for his phone. In our five years of marriage, this was the first time I had ever unlocked his screen.

He used Jade's birthday as the password. The social media app on his phone was still open and there was only one contact, who was saved under the name Jade. I clicked on it. Their conversation stretched from five years ago until now. The "good morning" and "good night" messages had never stopped. Jade sent Jordan her daily schedule while she was overseas, including when she went shopping, had coffee, worked at her firm and attended meetings. No matter what she sent, Jordan never failed to respond enthusiastically. One photo earned her a thousand dollars reward. Jordan had been a constant presence in her life until ten thousand photos filled his album. It's too bad his response was always the same whenever I shared something with him: "Willa, I'm in a meeting. Let's talk when I get off work." To keep Jade happy, he went to great lengths to send her gifts from here. His auction orders filled dozens of pages on his phone. Many of the luxury brands were familiar to me. Jordan had given me a gift once, too. Sadly, it turned out to be a complimentary item from an auction he attended for Jade. The latest video in his album was from five hours ago. The thumbnail showed me unconscious after taking my medication. Surrounded by a dozen familiar faces. My fingers trembled uncontrollably. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't bring myself to click on it. In the end, I pressed delete. Then, I turned off his phone. "Jordan, since our beginning started with a lie. Then, let me end it with my own lie this time." I immediately messaged my best friend to ask her to wait for me in a lifeboat tomorrow night on the other side. I found a divorce agreement online, downloaded the electronic version and attached it to an email. After finishing everything, I looked over at Jordan. Even in his sleep, a cold sweat covered his forehead. He kept mumbling my name, "Willa. No, you can't. Something can't happen to you." "Willa!" The moment Jordan opened his eyes, he grabbed me and held me tightly as if he had just regained something he thought he had lost forever. Our chests pressed against each other, but our heartbeats were out of sync. For a long moment, he stayed like that. Then, he finally snapped out of his nightmare. "Thank god you're okay." Scenes like this had happened so many times before. I used to think he felt my pain because he loved me deeply, but I see it for what it really is now. It was just another act. Just another part of his flawless performance. I lowered my head, allowing him to hold me and offer empty comfort. "Be good. I'll go get you something to eat. Wait for me." I followed him as soon as he stepped out the door, but he didn't go to the restaurant. Instead, he turned and headed to a private lounge downstairs. The moment he entered, a slender hand reached out and wrapped around his shoulder, pulling him inside. I stood outside the door, listening to the rapid breathing inside. Then, I heard Jordan's suppressed voice. "You're finally willing to come back?" Jade smiled, her face radiant. She tiptoed and pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips. "If I stayed away any longer, I was afraid you might actually fall for Willa. I heard you pulled the same trick again. She's been your wife for five years now and she just got pregnant. Are you really willing to go this far, Jordan? If Willa finds out, she'll probably want to tear me apart." Jordan chuckled, pulling her closer and leaning against the door. "I told you, as long as I'm here, no one can touch you. As long as you're happy, I'll use her flesh and blood to pave your path." A passing waiter spotted me and gasped. "Madam Griffin? What are you doing here? You haven't fully recovered yet, you shouldn't be running around. If Mr. Griffin finds out, we'll all be punished." "Let me take you back." As she spoke, a group of wealthy businessmen passed by. They glanced at me, their eyes filled with ridicule. "So, this is Mr. Griffin's wife. Huh? The one who was dragged into the private room by over a dozen men just now?" "I heard she's already been ruined twice and he still keeps her? Jordan really has a strong stomach."

"Twice? That's nothing, there are like a dozen guys at a time. The math is insane! He's being cheated on with everyone. How blind could he be to fall for a woman like that? She'd make anyone sick to their stomach to even sleep with." "Who knows if she was forced or if she wanted it? She might not be any better herself. Otherwise, why does trouble always seem to find her on such a big yacht? And now the kid is gone too. That poor child was unlucky to have her as a mother." *** I stood there, barely able to keep myself upright. Jordan heard the commotion outside. When he stepped out, this was the scene he walked into. His face turned deathly pale. Just before I collapsed, he caught me in his arms. "Willa? What are you doing here? Are you feeling unwell? Let me take you back." I didn't respond. My gaze shifted past Jordan, landing on Jade. He feared I would misunderstand and quickly explained, "Don't overthink it. Jade just got back from overseas. I happened to run into her and came over to check on her. It's been five years since that incident. Jade was afraid you'd be mad, so she stayed abroad all this time. Now that she's finally back, we're family after all. Maybe we should ... Don't worry. As long as I'm here, that bastard Jasper will never step foot in this house." "Hmm, it's all in the past. I won't bring it up again." I knew exactly what he wanted to say. Rather than letting myself be backed into a corner, I could take the initiative. At least I could keep a little dignity. The onlookers who had been mocking me moments ago scattered as soon as Jordan appeared. "Willa, long time no see." Jade greeted me with a smile, subtly showing off the limited-edition luxury bracelet on her wrist. I nodded silently, swallowing my grievances as I spoke. "I just stepped out for some fresh air. Since you're busy, I'll head back first. I wouldn't want to cause you any trouble." Thinking I was upset, Jordan chased after me all the way back to the private room. His eyes were red, full of pity. I found this act amusing as I watched him perform it, his lingering desire still visible in his eyes. To make way for Jade, he had drugged me and ruined my life without hesitation. Now that he got what he wanted, leaving me to drown in humiliation, who was he pretending for? "Don't worry. It's been five years. I've long forgotten about it. It's just that the private room felt stuffy and stepping out brought back some unwanted memories." Jordan let out a breath of relief. He gently wiped away the tears at the corner of my eyes. After feeding me some medicine, Jordan left again. This time, he headed towards the dining area. Ten minutes later, a waiter slipped an invitation to a banquet through the door crack. I knew it was Jade's doing, but I still went. Before leaving, I threw my suitcase into the sea. At the banquet, Jade appeared in a haute couture gown, radiating elegance. She was introduced as Mrs. Griffin. Everyone was speculating about her relationship with Jordan and whispers filled the room. People gathered around, raising their glasses and praising them as a perfect match. Jordan arrived soon after, busy socializing and oblivious to my presence. Jade, however, approached me and led me outside the private room. Her eyes lingered on the bruises on my neck. A smile played on her lips. "Willa, five years and you're still a good-for-nothing. How does it feel to be dragged into a room like that? Couldn't protect the Schmidts back then, can't protect your own child now. You're a joke. You don't know, do you? Those men weren't an accident. Your beloved husband arranged it all. He was watching when they stripped you bare. I almost feel sorry for you!"

A surge of hatred welled up within me. Before I could even react, Jade slapped herself across the face twice. A piercing scream shattered the night. She lunged forward, tumbling over the railing and plunging straight into the sea. Her frail body thrashed desperately against the waves. I hadn't even processed what was happening when Jordan shoved me hard to the ground. Without sparing me a glance, he turned and dove in after her. As he brought Jade back on board, she sobbed uncontrollably in his arms. Jordan looked at me without any love in the eyes of the past. "Willa, have you lost your mind? This is what you call 'letting go of the past'? Jade found out about what happened to you and came all the way here to check on you, to explain the misunderstanding from back then. How could you lay a hand on her?" I lay on the ground in disarray, my clothes disheveled, revealing red marks on my skin. My expression grew colder. "Misunderstanding? The so-called misunderstanding from back then, don't you owe me an explanation? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have fallen so low that she'd feel the need to 'visit' me!" His brows furrowed, a flicker of panic flashing across his eyes. "What explanation? You knew the Schmidts went bankrupt back then. I took you in out of kindness! If you hadn't been so disobedient and run off today, none of this would've happened! What did you expect me to do? Even if I were a god, I couldn't watch over you every second! You brought this upon yourself, why blame Jade? If anything, blame yourself for being reckless! Willa, apologize to Jade!" Before I could respond, tears streamed down Jade's face. "No, please, don't make things difficult for Willa. It's all my fault that the Schmidts went bankrupt. I didn't stop Jasper in time and I owe her for that. As for today, let's just treat it as my way of making it up to her. If she hates me this much, then let's not contact each other anymore. I don't want to put you in a difficult position." My nails dug into my palm, breaking the skin, drops of blood falling silently. As I watched the two of them walk away, arm in arm, I knew it was over. Five years of love turned to ashes at that moment. Around me, the murmurs of onlookers swirled like a storm. "So, this is the infamous Mrs. Griffin, the one who's been 'ruined' twice? She has the nerve to go after Miss Jefferson when she's nothing but a used woman. How shameless!" "No wonder Mr. Griffin never takes her out in public. He's probably embarrassed. A CEO marrying a woman like her? And that miscarriage, who knows whose child it even was? the Griffins' reputation is in shambles because of her!" "Miss Jefferson and Mr. Griffin make such a perfect couple. I heard they were together in college. If she hadn't gone abroad, there's no way this woman would've gotten a chance. Honestly, no one else would be blind enough to marry her." *** I staggered back to the private lounge. The blood had already seeped through my dress. After washing up, a message from Jordan finally came in. [Don't overthink what happened tonight. Jade is technically my sister-in-law and there were many business partners from the Griffins on that yacht. If you had hurt her, it wouldn't have looked good. Asking you to apologize was just for show.] [I'll come back and make it up to you once I've taken care of her injuries, alright? I promised to give you a gift—don't be upset.] I knew this wasn't an act for outsiders but for me. He had kept up this illusion of love for five years. Now, it was finally time to end it. I signed the divorce papers and attached screenshots of the video from his phone, setting them to send on a timer. After taking the medication, I sat on the edge of the bed until the early hours. Unfortunately, he never came. Only a hotel staff member arrived, bringing news. "The President of Griffin Company spent the night on the yacht, risking everything for his beloved." Jade just caught a cold from falling into the water and he called up all the doctors on the yacht. He didn't hesitate to spend millions on it. I called him at dawn, but he was busy auctioning jewelry for Jade and didn't have time for me. The place was lit up like daytime. The guests around were all full of envy. Only then did he remember to pick up my call. "Willa? I'm preparing a gift for you. Are you feeling unwell? I'll send the doctor over first. I'll be there soon." I looked down, watching the email countdown on the screen tick by. Down in the hall, Jordan was hugging Jade tightly. "It's fine. You're busy, I won't bother you." "Alright, be good and wait for me in the room. I'll be there soon, wifey." The call ended. Then, I turned around and left. The auction ended. As always, Jordan gave the jewelry to Jade. He kept the gift box and went back to the private room. Jordan's heart sank as he found out that the room was empty. Just as he was about to call me, his friend suddenly burst through the door with an ashen face. "Something's wrong, Jordan. Willa is in trouble! Those people from last time, they didn't leave the yacht as planned. Someone saw them taking Willa away!" Before he could react, Jordan's phone rang.