Chapter 290: Feel So Disgusted

\[Wilson\]

A piece of social news blazed across my screen, dominating every headline. The sleek private jet belonging to Pierce Technologies' CEO Theodore Pierce had touched down on American soil. Within minutes, the news had ignited social media, spreading like wildfire among hungry netizens.

I lounged on my silk-covered chaise, wine glass dangling from my fingers, utterly unable to contain the triumphant smirk that crept across my face. Each swipe through the article sent electric jolts of satisfaction straight to my core. My heart hammered against my ribs—not with fear, but with the intoxicating cocktail of relief and delicious anticipation.

God, what a difference a week makes! Just days ago, I'd been pacing my bedroom floor at 3 AM, my stomach churning with acid every time I recalled Sarah's face. That knowing look in her eyes when she discovered my affair with Nathan—the slight arch of her perfect eyebrow, the almost imperceptible curl of her lip. The memory alone was enough to make cold sweat break out across my forehead.

"Who knows if America's sweetheart will ever grace us with her presence again?" I whispered to my reflection in the window, raising my glass in mock toast. The thought that she might be lying broken—or better yet, dead—in some European hospital sent a warm, tingling sensation cascading through my body like the most exquisite champagne.

"Wilson, you deserve praise for this!" my stepmother exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she placed her manicured hand on my shoulder. Her red nails dug slightly into my flesh. 

I had lived in Europe for a long time and had far more connections there than Sarah could ever dream of. That silver-haired man was quite a dangerous character in Europe, a notorious villain but extremely wealthy. I found him this time, sold Sarah's information to him, and received a handsome payment! The memory of his cold eyes when I described Sarah sent a shiver down my spine—half fear, half exhilaration.

Just as I was savoring this thought, mentally counting the zeros in my offshore account, my phone shrieked with a news alert. The sound sliced through my self-congratulatory haze like a knife.

"Prominent business and political figure dead." 

I tapped the notification with a manicured nail. The headline hit me like a physical blow—it was about the silver-haired man. My teacup slipped from my suddenly numb fingers, tea splashing onto the imported tablecloth, staining the pristine white fabric like a crime scene.

"No," I gasped, the word strangled in my throat. "No, no, NO!"

My stepmother's head snapped up. "Wilson? What is it?"

I showed her the screen, my hand shaking so violently the text blurred. Her makeup-perfect face transformed in an instant—eyes widening to saucers, mouth falling open in a silent scream of disbelief.

"This... how could this happen?" I stammered, my voice cracking like a teenager's. "That European bastard was supposed to be untouchable! I thought he would destroy Sarah!"

My stepmother collapsed into her chair, her designer dress crumpling like her composure. "Theodore," she whispered, the name escaping her lips as if it were something unholy. 

I dabbed at the spilled tea with trembling fingers, my mind racing. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped animal. "To rescue his precious Sarah, Theodore must have bled his accounts dry."

Each word burned my tongue like acid. The thought of Theodore's blind devotion to Sarah awakened something ugly inside me—a creature of pure envy that clawed at my insides. I'd spent time trying to capture even a fraction of his attention that she commanded effortlessly.

"He'd sacrifice anything for her," I murmured, my fingernails digging half-moons into my palms. 

"Enough!" My stepmother's hand sliced through the air. She leaned forward, her expensive perfume suffocating me. "That man would set himself on fire if Sarah complained about being cold." Her crimson lips curved into a cruel smile. "Did our dear Sarah survive her little adventure?"

"According to my source, Theodore practically lived at the hospital." I paused deliberately. "And a pregnant woman needing extended hospitalization? I'd bet my inheritance that precious baby is gone."

"She still has those two brats," my stepmother hissed. Her eyes gleamed with something that made my skin crawl. "If only they would disappear."

"It seems Theodore returned alone, while Sarah is still in Europe," my stepmother's eyes lit up as she thrust her phone at me, nearly hitting my nose. Her breathing quickened with excitement as she shared first-hand information she'd received. "And Theodore went straight to work after returning. I suspect there's trouble in their relationship."

"That shouldn't be the case! Theodore spent a billion dollars for Sarah!" I said, leaning forward eagerly, my tea forgotten. "Could it be that Theodore dumped Sarah?"

The possibility made my pulse race with a mixture of schadenfreude and renewed hope. I imagined Sarah, broken and alone, while Theodore finally saw her for who she truly was.

"Regardless of who dumped whom, Theodore's billion dollars has gone down the drain!" my stepmother's lips curved into a cruel smile that didn't reach her eyes. Her voice dripped with malicious glee. "Sarah definitely can't pay him back that much money."

"Theodore is a very dominant man," I said sourly, my fingers gripping my teacup so tightly I feared it might shatter. "Even if they break up, he won't ask Sarah for money." A familiar jealousy gnawed at my insides. Theodore would forgive Sarah anything. He always did.

My stepmother's eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she tapped her red nails on the table in a rhythmic pattern that grated on my nerves. "A billion dollars isn't a small amount even for Theodore," she mused, her voice taking on that dangerous tone I recognized from our most successful schemes. "He might want it back but finds it difficult to bring up."

I raised an eyebrow, curiosity overcoming my jealousy: "What do you have in mind?"

My stepmother's face transformed, a slow, mysterious smile spreading across her features like poisonous ivy. She leaned across the table until I could smell her expensive perfume, her breath warm against my ear as she whispered her plan. 

On Sunday, just as we predicted, a news article exploded across America!

The article was published in an electronic magazine, the headline screaming in bold: Pierce Technologies CEO Theodore Pierce Scammed Out of $1 Billion?! The Behind-the-Scenes Truth Will Break Your Heart! The subheading was equally inflammatory: Don't Let So-Called Love Empty Your Wallet!

The article mentioned the shooting incident in Europe but twisted the narrative completely. The reporter—properly paid and pointed in the right direction by us—painted Sarah as a conniving manipulator who had orchestrated the entire crisis.

Because Sarah had deep connections in Europe, it was practically her second home, the article claimed. Being kidnapped in a place she was familiar with—couldn't her European connections and personal wealth have resolved the crisis? Why did she specifically need Theodore to fly his private jet to rescue her?

As I read each word, satisfaction bloomed in my chest like a dark flower. The article ended with the perfect touch of sarcasm: Even business genius Theodore Pierce had his day of being played by a woman. To protect one's wealth, one must stay away from women! Especially "strong women" as beautiful as Sarah Sullivan! Because her wealth was basically obtained by exploiting men.

Within hours, the article was reposted by major media outlets and went viral across every social platform. My phone buzzed constantly with notifications as the story spread like wildfire. Each vibration sent a little thrill of victory through me.

Comments flooded in from outraged readers:

—I think this report is credible. Theodore did fly his private jet to Europe a few days ago. My friend works at the international airport and told me personally.

—So Theodore is actually a love fool?! A billion dollars, my goodness! Sarah is truly skilled!

—Will Sarah return to the country? How long would her company need to operate to earn a billion dollars?

—In this situation, can Theodore report it to the police? Can he recover this huge sum?

I refreshed the page obsessively, drinking in every hateful comment like fine wine. After the news went viral, online opinions became increasingly heated, exactly as we'd hoped. Many people rushed to Sullivan MedTech's official social media accounts to leave comments.

There was even the flood of netizens who flocked to Jason's social media to "warn" him:

—Jason, your goddess is a big scammer! She cheated Theodore out of a billion dollars! You must protect your wallet and don't let her scam you!

—Jason is too kind, so he didn't see through Sarah's true face! Thankfully it was Theodore who got scammed, not Jason!

—Sisters who bought Sullivan MedTech products to support Jason, come together for comfort! Looking at the medical equipment in my house now makes me feel so disgusted!