The Marriage That Never Existed novel Chapter 25

Chapter 9

The day Lily’s condition showed slight improvement, she was transferred from the ICU to a regular hospital room.

The Sterling family announced that they would be entering a business partnership with the Carter family, investing nearly ten million dollars.

For a moment, the Carter family was both surprised and fearful.

With the Sterling family’s support, not only did their business soar, but their value in the market

also skyrocketed. The partnership lifted the Carter family to new heights.

Nathan Carter, grinning smugly, called me up.

“Vivian, I never thought you still remembered me. It was my fault for not keeping an eye on you

and Lily. I let Tessa fool me.‘

“Now, you’re using the Sterling family’s power to help me? I must say, I’m impressed. How is Lily? Has she woken up?”

I couldn’t be bothered to entertain him, so I hung up the phone and kept on tapping the divorce

papers.

The higher they climb, the harder they fall. I was the one who helped boost the Carter family’s

status to where it is now, and they’ve already made more enemies than they can count along the

way.

Everyone believed Nathan and I were still married. With the Sterling family backing him, no one

dared make a move.

But what if the backing were gone?

I couldn’t help but laugh lightly at the thought.

Three days later, at the investment partnership event, people from all walks of life attended, including celebrities, financiers, and gossip columnists.

Everyone witnessed the Sterling family’s first public support of the Carter family.

My father–in–law, who usually paid me no attention and even seemed to disdain me, was now smiling at me, nearly fawning.

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“Vivian, it’s Nathan who has wronged you. I never imagined you’d do this for him.”

Nathan, in a suit, gave me a cold snort, as if he still saw me as his personal maid.

But just as both sides were about to sign the agreement, the massive screen behind us suddenly

flickered to life.

A wave of gasps filled the room as everyone covered their mouths in shock, reporters shouting for

pictures and calling it a massive scandal.

My father–in–law quickly turned to look. After seeing the screen, his body stiffened.

There, on the screen, was a video of Nathan with another woman in a hotel room.

The most shocking part wasn’t even that–there were multiple women.

The room erupted with gasps. “Nathan Carter has been keeping more than one mistress?”

“Wow, didn’t see that coming. He really plays the field.”

At such a public event, with everyone watching, my father–in–law’s face turned beet red in anger. He slapped Nathan hard across the face.

Yet, he still had the audacity to force a smile. “It was Nathan’s mistake. Let’s continue the

contract…”

But before he could finish, the screen switched again, and this time it showed evidence of Carter family’s tax evasion.

I watched my father–in–law wipe his sweat and smiled coldly. As the daughter of a crime family, I

wasn’t exactly naive.

Nathan thought I lacked education and experience, but in reality, I was a high–level financial

genius.

I glanced over the Carter family’s financial records and immediately spotted the problem.

The Carter family had been using their overseas operations to evade taxes, to the tune of tens of

millions.

My father–in–law, in a desperate attempt to cover his tracks, shouted, “Who’s spreading rumors about the Carter family? Come out here!”

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“Don’t let anyone take pictures! Put those cameras down! If any media dares publish this tomorrow, I’ll have them blacklisted!”

My father chuckled. “You really think these reporters came on their own? I hired them all.”

My father–in–law froze. “You!”

Before he could react, the police rushed in.

“Mr. Carter, you’re under investigation for tax evasion, fraud, and possibly even involvement in a

scam.”

The once–glorious president of Carter Group was now on the verge of being brought down.

Realizing his predicament, Nathan tried to grab the police officers. He was still too naïve.

The officers flashed their batons. “Sir, assaulting an officer is punishable by three years in

prison.”

Nathan, realizing what was happening, charged at me in a frenzy.

“Vivian Sterling, how could you be so cruel? I thought this partnership was just your way of getting revenge on me, wasn’t it?”

I sneered at him. Why should I keep bending over backwards for him, working myself to the bone, even investing in his pitiful company?

I calmly reminded him, “Your father isn’t a good man, and neither are you. Do you really think the police will let you off the hook?”

In the next moment, the police handcuffed Nathan for coercion.

Both Nathan and his father were taken down. Within just three days, Carter Group–once a giant in the business world—was reduced to nothing, vanishing into thin air in the capital.

Chanter O