CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: I WON THE BATTLE AGAINST THE MISTRESS

The receptionist’s face was exceptionally awkward, stammering and unable to provide a clear answer.

Jack Sullivan frowned and said, "What did you just say?"

I said, "Go check the surveillance footage, I’ll be here waiting! If you don’t give me an explanation today, perhaps I’ll report on how arrogant your Xavier Group’s receptionist is! Is this your corporate culture?"

Without another word, Jack Sullivan had someone check the footage.

The receptionist’s face turned pale, and she quickly said, "Assistant Sullivan, I... I was just standing up for Miss Sawyer. I..."

Before she could finish, Jack Sullivan interrupted, "Is it your place to comment on President Xavier’s affairs? You don’t need to come to work here starting tomorrow. Go to the finance department and settle your accounts now!"

The receptionist tried to plead for herself, but Jack Sullivan no longer paid her any attention and respectfully said to me, "Please follow me."

I followed him into the president’s private elevator.

Quickly, the elevator reached the top floor.

Inside the office.

Timothy Xavier had a pile of documents in front of him.

He should have already been briefed by Jack Sullivan about my arrival.

Hearing the door, he didn’t even look up, instead saying to Jack Sullivan, "You may leave."

After Jack Sullivan left, I professionally started, "I’ve come to interview you about the Xavier Group’s cardiopulmonary support device. If you’re not available now, I can wait for you."

Timothy Xavier put down his pen, frowned, and looked at me, "Promise me one thing first."

"Let go of Serena Sawyer’s fans?"

I spoke before he could say anything.

Timothy Xavier diverted the topic, saying, "This time, if it wasn’t for her father, there wouldn’t have been a professional capable of correctly tuning my mother-in-law’s equipment. I don’t want my wife to be someone who repays kindness with ingratitude."

I chuckled lightly and said, "You might as well say you don’t want Serena Sawyer to lose the lead role she has in hand. That might be more convincing."

Then, I took out the video from the day Serena Sawyer’s fans stood below my company, slandering me.

I said, "Timothy Xavier, open your eyes and look carefully. If it were you, would you let them go? Are you that magnanimous?"

The video clearly showed how those fans insulted me.

They held large posters with my photos, filled with all sorts of unsavory words and symbols, making me still shudder.

Timothy Xavier gently frowned but made no comment.

Being slandered and insulted like this, they even cursed my family to die, yet Timothy Xavier just frowned slightly.

But when Serena Sawyer showed just a bit of weakness and acted pitiful, he decisively abandoned me in the hospital during my mother’s life-and-death crisis.

Before the video finished playing, he interrupted, "Enough! I know you’ve been wronged. But all this was the behavior of irrational fans, and had nothing to do with Serena."

I calmly said, "Indeed, so I didn’t sue Serena Sawyer. I only sued those who directly harmed me. Is there a problem?"

Timothy Xavier’s gaze was cold and stern, "But your lawsuit caused Serena to lose her lead role. Do you know how much she’s sacrificed for this role?"

I quietly stared at him and said, "Timothy Xavier, have you seen my sacrifices? From the moment I married you until now, have you seen what I’ve given?"

Timothy Xavier’s lips moved slightly, yet it seemed like he had nothing more to say.

I sniffed, trying to control my emotions, and restrainedly said, "I’m not here to argue with you today, nor to discuss personal matters. Can you accept my interview now?"

Timothy Xavier cooperated and accepted my interview.

However, regarding the device’s market launch time, he only said "as soon as possible" without giving me a specific timeline.

This news held no real significance, taking up most of my day and leaving me frustrated and speechless as I left Xavier Group.

...

After work, I went to the hospital to see my mom.

Unexpectedly, Peter Sawyer was also there.

At the time, he was sitting by my mother’s bed, continually gazing at her.

And his hand was actually holding my mother’s hand.

Startled, I walked into the room and called, "Professor Sawyer."

Upon hearing my voice, he seemed to wake suddenly, quickly letting go of my mother.

"What are you doing here?"

I suspiciously looked at him, feeling increasingly that something was off.

Peter Sawyer’s brief moment of tension on his face didn’t escape my notice.

He awkwardly explained, "I... I came to see how your mother is doing."

As if realizing his explanation might cause misunderstandings, he hurriedly added, "Oh, because she is one of the few testers of this equipment. Recently, the device is in the review stage, and the review team needs me to provide further evidence to prove the effectiveness of the device. So, your mother’s condition is very important to us."

He explained a lot, and I held a doubtful attitude.

At this moment, Peter Sawyer hesitated before speaking, "Zoe, I have something I want to discuss with you..."

"Go ahead."

I looked at him and had already guessed what he wanted to say.

Sure enough, he said, "Could you give Serena a chance for my sake? Recently, due to her brother’s situation, her career has suffered greatly. This lead role is really important to her."

I smiled slightly, and ultimately, Peter Sawyer was no different from everyone in the Sawyer Family.

His daughter wrecked my family, created various troubles for me, yet he says nothing about it.

Instead, he wants me to do it for him?

What kind of favor does he have?

I coldly said, "Sorry, Professor Sawyer, I can’t agree to your request. I’m not targeting your daughter; I’m targeting only those who harmed me."

"It’s alright, it’s alright, don’t be angry."

Peter Sawyer spoke to me cautiously, saying, "I was presumptive. Indeed, Serena was wrong. Please don’t take my words to heart."

I didn’t say anything further but asked, "If you have nothing else, please leave first. Your time is valuable, and I’ll take care of my mom."

Peter Sawyer paused, nodded, and said, "Okay, I will come another day."

I grew increasingly suspicious.

Previously, when my mom used this device for so long, I seldom saw the designer of the equipment come by.

But since the day Peter Sawyer came to adjust the equipment, he seems very concerned about my mom.

The scene of him holding my mom’s hand flashed in my mind.

My heart inexplicably felt uneasy and unsettled.

...

A few days later, my lawsuit against Serena Sawyer’s fans went to court.

I took leave from work and, together with Hannah Quincy, appeared in court.

Jenna Sutton also came.

Those few fan leaders who previously took the lead in defaming me were now all in disgrace.

The opposing lawyer, as expected, was from the Xavier Group.

However, no matter how skilled the lawyer is, since their client had no case and we had plenty of evidence, they still lost the lawsuit.

The judge found the ringleaders guilty of "libel and slander," and I also submitted my own proof of depression.

A month ago, when I visited a psychologist, the doctor had said I showed signs of depression.

This moderate diagnosis was something I got purposefully before the trial from the psychiatric department to ensure these people received the punishment they deserved.

’Defamation’ impacts those with depression differently than it does ordinary people.

An ordinary person might simply feel anger and upset when slandered.

But if it’s a person with depression, the harm could be devastating.

Therefore, because of my depression, the judge gave them heavier sentences, each receiving six months of detention.

After the verdict, the fans who thought they could resolve things by paying a fine now faced six months’ imprisonment and started shouting in court!

Unfortunately for them, their dissatisfaction and insults meant nothing in the face of the law.

The police took them away too.

We achieved an absolute victory at this court session.

After it ended, Jenna was ecstatic, repeatedly saying, "We finally vented our frustration!"

It wasn’t until we walked out that we realized Serena and Timothy were also there.

He now barely hides his favoritism and affection for Serena.

The lawyer from Xavier Group was reporting the court proceedings to Timothy.

Serena, her eyes red, said, "Timothy, they were all implicated because of me. I feel so awful, it’s all my fault..."

Timothy gently comforted her, saying, "It was their own mistake, it has nothing to do with you, don’t put so much pressure on yourself."

I’m no longer surprised by my husband’s preference for his mistress.

But Jenna couldn’t hold back and said, "Hah! Serena, what those fans face today is your tomorrow! Just wait and see!"

Timothy glanced at me with a cold gaze, saying, "To drive someone to the brink, you even forged a fake depression diagnosis. Zoe Ellison, you’ve really got a talent for this now."

Jenna still wanted to say something, but I stopped her.

I didn’t want to argue with someone pretending to be asleep; I couldn’t wake Timothy.

So why waste my breath?

Even if he knew I truly got depression from this marriage, he wouldn’t feel a bit of regret.

I took Jenna with me as we left.

Back in the car, she indignantly said, "Why didn’t you let me finish? Timothy doesn’t even know you saw a psychologist. We could throw the medical record in his face and see if he still calls you a liar?"

"It’s meaningless."

I rubbed my abdomen and told her, "Now all I want is for Timothy to stay as far away from me as possible. That way, the child in my womb won’t have to call him father in the future."

Jenna was stunned, "You... what did you say?"

"Yes, I’m pregnant."

I smiled bitterly and said, "I wanted to tell you earlier, but then you were so passionately in love with Dr. Payne, I didn’t want to spoil your mood."

Jenna was silent for a long time, then asked, "You’re not thinking of having his child, are you?"

I seriously replied, "This child is mine alone and has nothing to do with him. I’ve made up my mind; by the time this child is born, Xavier Group’s device should be on the market. Then, I’ll go to the civil affairs bureau with Timothy for registration. If he disagrees, I’ll sue directly."

"But... in Veridia, you’ll both inevitably run into each other!"

Jenna looked at me worriedly, gently touching my stomach.

I said, "After I’m done with the Xavier Group cardiopulmonary support device news, I’ll resign and leave Veridia with the child, to a place where he can’t find us."

"That’s good; the previous child was always your regret. Now, you can make up for that."

Jenna’s eyes were wet, and she hugged me, saying, "Then I’ll be the child’s godmother!"

"Okay."

I smiled at her, "You must keep this secret; I don’t want Timothy to know and cause more complications."

Just then, my phone rang; it was the hospital calling.

I was startled, thinking something had happened to my mom.

When I answered, the excited voice of the director came through: "Miss Ellison, your mother’s condition is gradually improving, which is remarkable! Thanks to Professor Sawyer coming regularly. He just arrived again! With him protecting your mom, there shouldn’t be any problems."

"What? Professor Sawyer came today again?"

I once again fell into confusion and anxiety.

A woman’s intuition tells me that Peter Sawyer coming to see my mom so frequently is definitely not normal.

After finishing the call with the director, I told Jenna about Peter’s frequent visits to my mother.

Upon hearing this, Jenna said, "This can’t be right! Don’t forget, he’s Serena’s father! With the relationship you and Serena have, and how his son was disgraced because of your news, how can you allow him near your mother?"

I was a bit conflicted and explained, "The other day, my mom’s equipment parameters had an issue; the director said only the designer could resolve it and invited him over."

Jenna asked doubtfully, "Wasn’t Miles Sawyer said to be the designer of that equipment?"

"I guess Miles is just a nominal designer, and the real designer should be Peter. He probably wanted to use his connections and background to lift his son up. Who knew his son was so unpromising, failing from beginning to end."

After I finished speaking, Jenna urged, "Then hurry to the hospital! If Peter helps his son fake things and with his daughter being a mistress stealing someone’s husband, how can he be a good person?"

Though Peter has always been quite polite to me, his recent actions were just too strange.

Especially that day, he even held my mother’s hand.

Since Jenna still had matters to attend to at the kindergarten, I parted with her and drove to the hospital.

Peter Sawyer hadn’t left yet.

Seeing me arrive, he immediately stood up and greeted me courteously, "Zoe, you’re here."

"Yes."

I approached him and asked, "Professor Sawyer, is there something you needed with my mom today?"

Peter smiled and said, "Just checking on my patient. Your mother is recovering well, and I hope one day she’ll wake up."

"I hope so too."

I politely said, "If there’s a need for your help with the equipment, I’ll ask the director to bring you in. You’re so busy with work, it’s not necessary to take time for my mother."

Peter’s expression stiffened, and he looked at me intently, "Zoe, I mean no harm."

I smiled slightly and said, "I know. My mother can still survive using this equipment thanks to you. But given my relationship with your daughter, I really don’t want to be too close to her family members."

Peter sighed lightly, with a somewhat forlorn tone, "Alright, I understand."

Just then, the ward door was abruptly pushed open.

Both Peter and I were startled and looked towards the door.

Unexpectedly, it was Serena’s mother.