A Long-Overdue Revenge
I crouched in the corner of the living room, my fingertips pressed against the safe's cold metal door, the mottled rust beneath my skin sending a sharp sting through me.
The sound of the teeth clicking into the lock was strikingly clear in the silent room.
I took a deep breath and turned the key forcefully; after a soft 'click,' the cabinet door slowly opened, the grating scrape of metal like a dull blade slowly cutting through my taut nerves.
The cabinet was small, piled with a few old photo albums and a stack of documents.
My eyes swept over those familiar items, finally settling on the bottom layer — two neatly folded sheets of paper, their exposed corners faintly yellowed, as if touched countless times.
The moment my fingertips brushed the paper, my heart skipped a beat, and even my breath stilled for half a second.
I carefully drew the paper out, unfolding it with movements as slow as if I were defusing a ticking bomb.
The first page was a prenatal examination report; on its pale pink cover, the hospital's logo was embossed, and the date clearly marked three months prior.
My eyes slid down to the expectant mother's name—'Melody Xavier'—the two characters glaring back in black Song script like slender needles, piercing sharply into my vision.
The paper trembled lightly in my hand. I gripped the edge of the report so tightly that my fingertips whitened, barely managing to steady my emotions as I reached for the second sheet.
It was a kindergarten enrollment notice, the sky-blue paper adorned with cartoon illustrations. The recipient's name read "Alex Lewis," and in the guardian's section, the two characters "Ryan Lewis" struck like a thunderclap, shattering my mind.
Ryan Lewis—the man who once whispered in my ear that he would protect me forever; The man who, as I lay on the operating table losing our child, held my hand, weeping and promising to make it up to me for the rest of his life; That man who should be at the Company right now, yet somewhere in a hidden corner, he was with another woman and a child.
The two sheets of paper in my hand felt like they weighed a thousand pounds. I gripped them so hard that my knuckles paled, the edges crumpled and wrinkled, and in some spots, my nails had even pierced tiny holes through the delicate paper.
Footsteps approached from behind, carrying a familiar scent faintly laced with tobacco—the very smell that once comforted me now struck like a serpent's venomous fang, chilling me to the core.
"What are you looking through?" Ryan Lewis's voice came, tinged with a faint and barely perceptible panic, his trailing tone trembling slightly, a stark contrast to his usual composure.
I slowly turned around and handed him two sheets of paper, my throat raw as if sandpaper had scraped it, each word piercing painfully: "Who is Melody Xavier? Is Alex Lewis your child?"
Ryan Lewis's eyes flickered, a trace of panic flashing through their usual calm. Instinctively, he reached to snatch the papers from my hand, his tone edged with impatience: "Stop making baseless accusations; this has nothing to do with you."
I took a step back, avoiding his hand, the storm of emotions in my chest threatening to break through reason. My voice rose several tones: "It has nothing to do with me? Ryan Lewis, don't forget—we're not divorced yet! You've had a child with another woman, and you tell me it has nothing to do with me?"
"Divorce?" Ryan suddenly laughed, his smile laced with scorn. He stared at me, his gaze chillingly cold and almost cruel. "Stacy Scott, don't forget—if it weren't for you back then, how would I have been cast out of the Lewis Family? How would I have fallen from a privileged heir to this state? What right do you have to speak of divorce with me now?"
"So you repay me with betrayal?" I fixed my gaze on his eyes, searching for even the slightest hint of guilt beneath that cold stare, but all I found was numbness and impatience.
All those moments of tenderness and promises now felt like nothing but a senseless dream.
Ryan Lewis's patience seemed exhausted; he stepped forward and gripped my wrist with a force that felt as though he might crush my bones, the pain instantly bringing tears to my eyes.
"I told you, don't interfere in my matters! Just stay at home and behave. You won't be shortchanged on what's rightfully yours!"
"I want a divorce." I struggled fiercely to break free from his grasp, leaving several red marks on my wrist, burning with pain.
I looked at him, speaking each word clearly and deliberately, every syllable heavy with finality.
"How dare you!" Ryan Lewis's face darkened instantly, his complexion turning ashen. He raised his hand, about to strike me across the face.
I closed my eyes, waiting for the slap to fall, my heart turning ice cold.
Memories flashed through my mind: the first spark of meeting, the sweetness that followed, the despair of losing the child, and his earlier promises—all shattered fragments scattered before my eyes.
But the pain I had anticipated never came.
I slowly opened my eyes and saw Ryan Lewis clenching his fists, knuckles paling from the pressure, his arm frozen mid-air, his eyes filled with suppressed rage.
"Don't push me." His voice was low, carrying a threat.
"You're the one who pushed me first." I turned and walked toward the door, my steps steady, without a hint of hesitation. "I'm done with this marriage."
As I opened the door, the cold wind rushed in, brushing against my face, clearing the haze in my mind.
I didn't look back, nor did I glance at Ryan Lewis again; I walked straight out of the place I once called "home."
Back in the empty rental house, I collapsed onto the sofa, my strength drained in an instant—I didn't even have the energy to lift a hand.
The rental house was small, just a one-bedroom with a living room. The furniture was all simple and basic, and the walls still bore stains left by the previous tenant.
This was the place I had found temporarily after arguing with Ryan Lewis—cramped, yet somehow comforting.
The sky outside darkened slowly, and the streetlamp's light filtered through the window, casting long shadows across the floor.
I fixed my gaze on that shadow, and suddenly, a scene from five years ago surged uncontrollably into my mind, vivid as if it had happened just yesterday.
The rain that day fell heavily, pea-sized drops pounding the ground and splashing water into the air, which was thick with the scent of damp earth.
Clutching the late-night snack I'd bought for Ryan Lewis, I walked down the alley toward the studio he often visited.
The alley was secluded and usually deserted, with only a few old street lamps casting a faint, flickering light.
At the mouth of the alley, I heard the sounds of a struggle inside, punctuated by Ryan Lewis's harsh shouts.
A sudden tightness gripped my heart as I quickened my pace and ran inside, only to see several men dressed in black surrounding Ryan Lewis, each clutching a knife.
One of the men raised his blade and lunged toward Ryan Lewis's chest with a speed that left no time to react.
Without a second thought, I sprang forward and stood in front of Ryan Lewis.
The moment the blade pierced my abdomen, a fierce pain surged through me; I could even feel the cold metal cutting through my skin and grazing my organs.
Ryan Lewis's heart-wrenching scream echoed in my ears, filled with despair and agony, yet I lacked the strength to respond; darkness closed in and I lost consciousness.
When I woke again, I was already lying in a hospital bed.
The white ceiling, the scent of disinfectant, and the steady beeping of machines formed the whole of my waking world.
Ryan Lewis sat at the bedside, his eyes bloodshot and streaked with red veins, a blue stubble shadowed his chin; he looked painfully exhausted.
Seeing me awake, he immediately took my hand, his voice thick with emotion: "Stacy, you're awake. How do you feel? Are you in any pain?"
I opened my mouth to speak but found my throat parched and burning with pain.
At that moment, the doctor entered, his face solemn as he looked at us. After a brief hesitation, he said, "Mr. Lewis, Ms. Scott, I'm very sorry. The baby in Ms. Scott's womb could not be saved, and... it will be very difficult for her to conceive again in the future."
"The baby... is gone?" I froze for a moment, tears instantly streaming down my face.
After marrying Ryan Lewis, I had always longed for a child. This pregnancy had brought us both great joy. I had even secretly chosen a name for the baby in my heart, but now...
Ryan grasped my hand tightly, his grip growing stronger as he cried, "Stacy, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I failed to protect you and the baby."
Rest assured, I will treat you well for a lifetime, spend the rest of my days making it up to you, and never let you suffer even a bit more injustice."
At that time, I was consumed by the pain of losing a child and Ryan Lewis's promises, without the slightest doubt in his words.
I believed he would truly be good to me for a lifetime, just as he said, but now those words seem no more than empty lies, fragile as bubbles—burst with a single prick.
I rose from the sofa, walked to the desk, and turned on the computer.
The moment the screen illuminated, the harsh glare made me squint.
I searched through the computer and finally found the hospital records from five years ago.
These were copies I had specially obtained from the hospital after my discharge, initially kept as a memento; I never imagined they would now become the key to uncovering the truth.
Ryan Lewis claimed he stayed by my side at the hospital the entire time, never leaving. Yet the records show that for three days, his name did not appear at all on the hospital's visitor log.
Those three days coincided with when I was battling a postoperative infection, burning with fever and drifting in and out of consciousness.
I remember calling his name drowsily then, but no one answered; the nurse told me he had gone out to buy something. I believed her at the time, but now it seems that was a lie conspired between him and the nurse.
It felt as if an invisible hand were clutching my heart tightly, the pain suffocating me.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down, and followed the trail in the records.
With the help of some friends, I found information about a private hospital in the suburbs; it had a fine environment, charged steep fees, and catered exclusively to the wealthy.
I retrieved that hospital's maternity records from five years ago, and amidst the dense list of names, the name "Melody Xavier" appeared again.
The records showed that on that very day five years ago—coinciding with when I was battling a fever from a postoperative infection—Melody gave birth to a boy at the hospital. The boy's birth date matched Alex Lewis's age exactly.
It turned out that while I was losing my child, lying on the hospital bed in agonizing struggle, barely conscious, Ryan Lewis was with another woman, in the comfort of a private hospital, welcoming their child into the world.
He spoke to me with promises of making amends, yet at the same time was building a family with another woman, basking in the joys of parenthood.
A crushing wave of betrayal and pain swept over me; I lay face down on my desk, my shoulders trembling uncontrollably, tears soaking the keyboard and blurring the words on the screen.
I didn't realize how long I had been crying until my throat was raw and my eyes were so swollen and red I could barely keep them open; only then did the tears begin to subside.
I picked up the phone and dialed Ryan Lewis.
The phone rang for a long time before he answered. Ryan's voice was heavy with sleep, as if he hadn't fully woken: "Hello, Stacy, what's wrong? Is something the matter?"
"Where were you five years ago when I was in the hospital?" My voice was icy, utterly devoid of warmth, each word forced out between clenched teeth.
After several seconds of silence on the other end, Ryan Lewis's deliberately composed voice came through: "Didn't I tell you? I went to handle some things and bought you some food on the way."
"There was a lot going on at that time, so maybe I didn't spend much time with you. I'm sorry, Stacy." He was still lying, a hint of indifference creeping into his tone.
"Handle things? You mean you went to be with Melody Xavier giving birth, didn't you?" I sneered coldly, tears spilling down again, "Ryan Lewis, you truly disgust me."
"How could you treat me like this? I lost our child for you, lost my chance to be a mother, and this is how you repay me?"
Silence fell again on the other end of the line. After a long pause, Ryan Lewis's icy voice came through, tinged with threat: "Stacy Scott, don't push too far. Some things, once uncovered, won't benefit either of us."
"If you're sensible, you won't ask any more questions. I'll give you enough compensation."
"Compensation? What benefit do I have left now?" I gazed out over the ceaseless traffic and flickering city lights, none of which could penetrate the chill settling deep within my heart. "Ryan Lewis, what you owe me, I will take back piece by piece. Just wait."
After speaking, I didn't wait for Ryan Lewis's response and simply hung up the phone.
I put down the cell phone, wiped away my tears, and my gaze hardened with resolve.
The seed of revenge sprouted from the depths of my heart at that moment, sharp and jagged, ready to pierce through every disguise and lie.
For the next three days, I barely slept, dedicating myself wholly to the investigation.
I contacted a private detective I knew before and asked him to investigate the kindergarten Alex Lewis attended.
The detective was very efficient; by the next day, he responded that Alex Lewis attended a prestigious kindergarten in the city center, dismissed at 4:30 p.m. each day and picked up either by Melody Xavier or the family's nanny.
On Friday afternoon, I arrived at the kindergarten gate an hour early.
The kindergarten's surroundings were pleasant, with broad lawns and playground equipment at the entrance. Parents stood near the gate in small groups, chatting with hopeful smiles, waiting for their children to be dismissed.
I mingled with the crowd, watching those joyful scenes, but inside, my heart felt icy cold.
Exactly at 4:30, the kindergarten gates opened on time, and the children lined up, following their teachers as they emerged.
They wore identical uniforms, chattering cheerfully, their faces radiant with innocent joy.
I kept my eyes on the crowd and soon spotted Alex Lewis.
He looked very much like Ryan Lewis, especially his eyes and nose, as if carved from the same mold.
He walked in the middle of the crowd, holding a toy car, occasionally chatting with the children around him, appearing lively.
I took a deep breath, suppressing the storm of emotions inside me, stepped forward, crouched down, and tried to make my voice gentle so as not to frighten him: "Little one, are you Alex Lewis?"
Alex Lewis stopped walking, blinked his big eyes, looked at me curiously, and nodded. "Ms., who are you? I don't know you."
"I'm your father's friend," I said, reaching out and gently stroking his hair, soft as cotton. "Your father is busy today and can't pick you up, so let me take you somewhere. He's waiting for us there."
Alex Lewis didn't hesitate, perhaps because I mentioned his father. He obediently held my hand and whispered, "Then let's go find Dad quickly. I got a little red flower at kindergarten today and want to show it to him."
Hearing his words, my heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle—a sharp, piercing pain.
This child is innocent, yet his very existence constantly reminds me of the pain I once endured and Ryan Lewis's betrayal.
I stifled the discomfort in my heart, holding Alex Lewis's hand as we left the kindergarten.
I took him to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts, a place rarely visited, surrounded by wild grass. The walls were covered with graffiti, and several windows were shattered, making the place look utterly dilapidated.
The warehouse was silent except for the wind whistling through cracks in the windows, and I could hear the pounding of my own heartbeat.
I found a relatively clean corner and had Alex Lewis sit there. Then, I took out the snacks and toys I had prepared beforehand from my bag and handed them to him. "You can play here for a while; Daddy will be here soon."
Alex Lewis took the snacks and toys, smiled happily, and sat on the floor playing with them, showing no trace of unease.
Looking at his innocent face, a pang of guilt surged within me, but whenever I thought of what Ryan Lewis and Melody Xavier had done to me, that guilt was quickly pushed aside.
No sooner had I settled Alex Lewis than the cell phone rang, the screen displaying the name 'Ryan Lewis.'
I pressed the answer button and put the cell phone to my ear.
"Stacy Scott, where did you hide Alex?" Ryan Lewis's voice was thick with anxiety and anger, even edged with panic. "I've already asked the kindergarten teacher. She said you took Alex away. What exactly are you trying to do? Give him back to me immediately!"
"If you want to know where he is, come yourself." I calmly gave the warehouse address, then without waiting for Ryan Lewis to reply, I hung up and switched the phone to silent.
In less than half an hour, the warehouse door was kicked open with a loud bang. The deafening noise startled Alex Lewis; he stopped in his tracks, looked up toward the doorway, his eyes wide with fear.
Ryan Lewis burst in, his hair tousled, his clothes slightly wrinkled, his face full of anxiety.
Behind him came a woman dressed in a pink dress, her figure graceful, her face made up delicately, looking very young—she must be Melody Xavier.
"Alex!" Ryan Lewis immediately ran over to Alex, pulling him tightly into his arms, his voice filled with anguish. "Alex, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Has that lady been mistreating you?"
Alex Lewis pouted in distress as he looked at Ryan Lewis, shook his head, and said, "Dad, I'm fine. That lady bought me snacks and toys."
Melody Xavier moved closer, offering Alex tender concern, but her eyes flickered toward me with a mix of resentment and anger: "Alex, you scared me to death. I thought I'd never see you again."
Ryan Lewis stood protectively in front of Alex, then spun around, glaring at me with a fury that seemed to consume me: "Stacy Scott, what exactly are you trying to do? Did you bring Alex here to hurt him? I warn you, if you so much as touch Alex, I will never forgive you!"
"What are you doing?" I took a step forward. The light in the warehouse was dim, casting shadows across Ryan Lewis's face, revealing the panic and anger lurking in his eyes. "Ryan, you have destroyed everything I had. I lost the child, lost the chance to be a mother, lost the love and promises I once believed in."
"Now, all I want is for you to taste the bitterness of loss, to understand how deeply I once suffered."
"Don't hurt Alex. If you have anything against me, come after me!" Ryan's body tensed tightly, like a wild beast poised to strike. He glared at me fiercely, afraid I might harm Alex. "Stacy, what's between us is our own matter. Don't drag the child into this; he's innocent."
"Innocent?" I sneered coldly, "When I lost my child back then, who ever cared that my baby was innocent? Who cared about the depths of my pain?"
Melody tugged at Ryan's arm, her voice sharp and laced with cruelty: "Ryan, don't waste words on her—she's crazy! Let's call the police, have them come arrest her and charge her with kidnapping!"
"Call the police?" I laughed, the sound echoing eerily through the empty warehouse. "Fine, let the police come and judge. Let them see how your Ryan Lewis betrayed his wife, how while I was hospitalized he stayed with another woman and had a child, how he deceived me all these years!"
I want to see—when the Police arrive, will they arrest me, the 'victim,' or you, the 'liar'?
Ryan Lewis's expression shifted; his reputation was everything to him. Though no longer the heir of the Lewis Family, he still obsessed over how others perceived him.
When he heard I was going to report this to the Police and make it public, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes.
Suddenly, he lunged at me, grabbing my collar with such force I nearly couldn't breathe. 'You dare! Stacy Scott, if you expose this, I'll make sure you vanish without a trace!'
I struggled, raising my hand to strike his face, desperately trying to break free from his grip.
He reacted swiftly, dodging my hand and shoving me away with the back of his hand.
I lost my footing and fell backward, landing heavily on the ground.
The ground was scattered with tiny stones; my arm was scratched, bleeding bright red drops, the pain making me clench my teeth.
Melody Xavier laughed triumphantly from the side, her voice dripping with scorn: "Serves you right! Meddling in our affairs, destroying our family—this is all your own doing!"
I climbed up from the ground, wiped the blood from my arm. The wound burned fiercely, yet my eyes were filled with stubborn resolve, without a trace of retreat: "Ryan Lewis, Melody Xavier, don't get too complacent."
"Even if it costs me my life, I won't let you off easy. I will make you pay for what you've done!"
Ryan Lewis met my unwavering gaze, a flicker of unease stirring in his heart. Holding Alex Lewis in his arms and pulling Melody Xavier along, he turned, intending to leave: "Let's go. Don't waste time with her here."
"You won't be leaving." I stood blocking the door, my gaze icy cold. "Today, we need to make things clear."
Ryan Lewis frowned, his eyes brimming with impatience. "Stacy Scott, don't go too far!"
"Go too far? I haven't even done the worst yet." I pulled out my cell phone from my bag and activated the recording function. "If you don't want this to escalate, then talk to me properly. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to let everyone know about your shameful secrets."
Ryan stared at the cell phone in my hand, his face turning pale yet utterly helpless.
He knew I was serious. If I made the recording public, he'd be finished for good.
After returning from the warehouse, I began organizing the evidence I had gathered.
In addition to the prenatal examination reports, the kindergarten enrollment notice, and hospital records, I also hired a private detective who uncovered some unsavory dealings Ryan Lewis had been involved in over the years.
After leaving the Lewis family, Ryan established a trading company that appeared legitimate on the surface but was actually smuggling goods and involved in tax evasion behind the scenes.
The detective provided me with ample evidence, including ledgers, transfer records, and photographs taken during transactions.
This evidence was enough to utterly ruin Ryan's reputation and even land him in prison.
I got in touch with a journalist I'd met before; his name is Leo Clark. He works for a reputable newspaper, is honorable, and fearless in reporting the truth.
I arranged to meet him at a cafe and handed over all the evidence.
"Is all of this evidence genuine?" Leo looked over the documents in his hands, eyes wide with surprise. "Though Ryan Lewis is no longer the heir to the Lewis Family, he still holds considerable connections in the business world. If this gets published, it could cause serious trouble."
"It's all true; I can guarantee it." I stared at Leo, my voice steady and resolute. "He's not only involved in these sordid dealings but has also been unfaithful throughout our marriage—he fathered a child with another woman, deceiving me for years."
I just hope you can reveal the truth in your report and ensure he receives the punishment he deserves.
Leo Clark hesitated briefly, then finally nodded, "Alright, I will compile the materials as soon as possible and publish them tomorrow."
Rest assured, I will safeguard your information and keep you from being implicated.
Early the next morning, I opened my cell phone and saw Ryan Lewis's name splashed across every major news headline.
"Ryan Lewis, the discarded heir of a wealthy family, caught cheating during his marriage and fathering a child with his mistress" "Ryan Lewis suspected of illegal transactions, with irrefutable evidence" "Ryan Lewis's company involved in tax evasion, accounting records exposed" ...
Every piece of news was accompanied by detailed evidence, including photographs and written descriptions. For a time, Ryan Lewis became the target of widespread condemnation, with the internet flooded by insults and accusations directed at him.
His company was also affected; the stock price plummeted, partners rushed to terminate contracts, and employees began to resign.
Looking at the news on my cell phone, I felt no sense of satisfaction—only an unrelenting despair.
I once loved him so deeply, even sacrificing so much for him, yet in the end, I was left with such a bitter fate.
This revenge was like a double-edged sword, wounding him while relentlessly piercing my own heart.
Ryan Lewis quickly discovered it was me.
That very afternoon, he burst into my rental house, violently kicking the door; the loud thuds reverberated down the corridor, drawing the neighbors to open their doors and watch the spectacle.
I opened the door and met his gaze calmly, without a hint of surprise.
His hair was tousled, his eyes bloodshot and veined, his face contorted with anger and despair, like a wild beast unleashed.
"Stacy Scott, why would you do this to me?" Ryan gripped my shoulder so hard it caused me pain. "Did you give that evidence to the reporter?"
Why did you have to destroy me? All these years of our relationship—was I really worth nothing in your eyes?
"So what if I am?" I leaned against the doorframe, my gaze icy as I stared at him. "This is what you deserve."
You betrayed me, deceived me, committed so many illegal acts, and now you are simply receiving the punishment you deserve.
"Deserve?" Ryan Lewis suddenly laughed bitterly, tears welling in his eyes. He looked at me, pain and resentment burning in his gaze. "I gave up everything in the Lewis Family for you—forsook wealth and status within easy reach, endured hardship with you—and this is how you repay me?"
Stacy Scott, how can your heart be so cruel?
"Give up the Lewis Family?" I sneered coldly, filled with scorn. "Don't flatter yourself."
I've already uncovered the truth. You crossed the Lewis Family's rivals back then and did things that damaged their interests, which is why Old Mr. Lewis expelled you. What does that have to do with me?
You're nothing but an excuse for your failures, a reason to justify your betrayal of me!
Ryan Lewis's face whitened instantly. He stared at me in disbelief, his eyes filled with shock, as if he never imagined I'd discover the truth.
He took a step forward, reaching out to grab my neck, his voice filled with madness: "Shut up! Stop talking! That's not true!"
Just as his hand was about to touch my neck, Melody suddenly rushed in, grabbing Ryan Lewis's arm, her voice trembling with panic: "Ryan, don't be impulsive! If you kill her, we won't get away either!"
The company is already in trouble, and the police could come looking for us at any moment. We should pack up quickly and leave here!
Ryan's body stilled, the murderous look in his eyes slowly fading.
He looked at Melody Xavier, then at me, and finally released my hand, snarling fiercely, "Stacy Scott, just wait. I'll admit defeat this time, but I won't let it go so easily. I will definitely come back for revenge!"
"I'm waiting." I watched as he and Melody Xavier left in disarray, their figures looking especially desolate in the hallway.
I closed the door and leaned against it, my heart utterly calm.
I knew this was only the beginning of my revenge. Next, I would make him lose even more, forcing him to truly endure the pain and despair I once suffered.
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