Chapter 4

Across the road stood the grand and luxurious The Grand Continental Hotel, its neon lights twinkling intoxicatingly under the night sky. It was one of the few five-star hotels in Lutetia City.

Liam wasn’t unfamiliar with this place. Before he went to prison, he would occasionally come here to entertain important clients.

He even used to celebrate Karen’s birthday here every year.

Even the familiar room number on his phone was the one he had first booked for Karen.

But now, it was clear that room no longer belonged to him but to Karen and another man.

Could it be Frank Thomas?

Liam knew he shouldn’t let his thoughts wander in that direction. After all, one was his wife, and the other his best friend.

But he wasn’t a fool. In fact, he was far smarter than the average person. In the past, he hadn’t thought much about it, but now, as he reflected on everything, too many things seemed suspicious.

Firstly, it was an undeniable fact that Karen and Frank were together today, but that didn’t prove anything.

After all, like him, Frank also liked to entertain clients here.

Moreover, the noise on the phone earlier clearly indicated that more than just Karen and Frank were present.

But suddenly, Liam remembered some details he had previously overlooked.

Among all of Liam’s friends, Karen’s attitude towards Frank was distinctly different from her attitude towards others—she didn’t look down on him at all, and they got along very well.

Sometimes, when Liam was too busy, it was Frank who accompanied Karen.

But this didn’t prove anything either. After all, Frank was Liam’s best friend, and their relationship was naturally closer than that of other people.

What echoed in Liam’s mind now was something John had said at a gathering three years ago.

He had advised Liam to spend more time with Karen himself rather than letting Frank replace him, as it could easily lead to misunderstandings.

At the time, Liam hadn’t thought much of it. In fact, after returning home, he had even joked with Karen, saying that John’s thinking was quite twisted for suggesting that she and Frank were too close.

Liam had long forgotten this drunken jest, but now, he suddenly realized that it was after that incident that Karen’s opinion of John had taken a sharp turn for the worse.

Not only did she forbid Liam from bringing John home for drinks, but she also asked him to reduce contact with John.

It was possible that Karen was angry at John for his nonsense, but it was also possible that she was furious because he had accidentally exposed the truth.

However, all of this was just speculation. Liam wouldn’t know the truth until he saw it with his own eyes.

He didn’t want to think about it because he was afraid he couldn’t bear such cruelty.

If his best friend had really gotten involved with his wife, just the thought alone was maddening.

Taking a deep breath, Liam tried to control his emotions, his hands trembling slightly as he took out his phone and dialed Karen’s number again.

This time, it wasn’t off, and it connected quickly.

“Where are you?”

Liam’s voice was hoarse, so much so that it sounded unfamiliar to even him.

“I’m at the Lakeside Club. I’ll be home soon. Wait for me at home, okay?”

Karen’s voice was as calm as ever, without a hint of emotion.

But Liam had already seen it clearly— the BMW he had given Karen as a gift was parked in the parking lot in front of The Grand Continental Hotel.

And the Lakeside Club was at least twenty kilometers away from here!

Did she really take him for a fool?

Liam hung up the phone, muttering to himself. At that moment, he felt a coldness spread through his limbs.

Then, gritting his teeth, he strode towards the hotel across the street.

Beep!

Just a few steps in, a shrill horn suddenly blared. Liam barely had time to turn his head before a red sports car sped towards him.

Bang!

With a dull thud, Liam felt his body being flung into the air. A sharp pain surged through him, and everything went black as he lost consciousness.

And the last thing he vaguely remembered before sinking into darkness was the sound of a clear, tearful female voice.

"Uncle, I’m so sorry…”

***

Liam didn’t know how much time had passed, but when he slowly opened his eyes, he was greeted by a white ceiling, and the familiar smell of disinfectant filled his nose.

“Huh? Sir, you’re awake…”

A surprised voice rang out, and a young girl in a white coat and mask quickly walked over to Liam, helping him sit up.

“This is… a hospital?”

Liam’s mind was still somewhat foggy, but after a while, he finally regained full clarity and recalled everything that had happened before.

Clearly, misfortune had struck again. He had been hit by a car while crossing the street and had been sent to the hospital.

“Nurse, where am I hurt?”

Liam wasn’t in the mood to care about who the driver was. He was more concerned about his own body.

His mother was still critically ill in the hospital, and with Karen obviously unreliable, if something happened to him as well, it would be the ultimate tragedy.

“I have to say, sir, you’re really lucky. Aside from some minor scratches on your arm, you’re not injured at all. But just to be safe, I suggest you get a full check-up to make sure there’s no risk of a concussion or anything like that.”

The nurse smiled as she spoke.

Liam slowly got out of bed, moving his body around a bit. Sure enough, he didn’t feel any discomfort, although his head still throbbed slightly, likely due to the impact.

“How long was I unconscious?”

“About two hours, I’d say.”

Liam nodded and said, “Thank you, but there’s no need for another check-up. I feel fine now. By the way, where do I go to settle the bill? I have something to take care of.”

“You don’t need to worry about the bill. The girl who brought you here already paid the deposit. But are you sure you don’t want a thorough check-up?”

The nurse asked with some concern.