Chapter 145

Annie's POV

To be honest. even though I haid adjusted my attitude toward Philip. I still didn't want to spend any more time with him than necessary. Every conversation with him always ended with him saying something utterly confusing.which left me feeling exhausted.

"Hmm," Howard nodded, his perceptive eyes noticing my discomfort.He gestured toward the door. "Go ahead."

When I stepped out of the office, breathing in the slightly fresher air of the hallway. I felt an immediate sense of relief. Philip had transformed into someone who only made unreasonable demands, using what he called"love" to mask his controlling nature and selfishness. I couldn't help questioning myself: how had I ever fallen in love with Philip in the first place? What had blinded me to see past his eloquent promises and carefully crafted tenderness?

Six years of marriage, looking back now, seemed like an elaborately staged play, and somehow I had been completely immersed in the illusion he created. The contrast between his genuine concern for Sarah and his perfunctory attention to me was so stark-I don't know how my former self had been so blind to it all. Perhaps it was the naivety of first love that made me believe every sweet word he uttered, or maybe I wanted a complete family so desperately that I ignored all the obvious warning signs.

Regardless, I was thankful that my life now was filled with genuine care and respect. I no longer needed to guess whether someone's feelings for me were sincere. Suddenly, I spotted Catherine Morgan just stepping out

of the elevator. Her eyes immediately brightened when she saw me.

"What are you doing here?" she asked excitedly, her tone filled with pleasant surprise.

"Just getting some fresh air," I replied, somewhat surprisedI to see her here as well. "What about you? Are you here to see Howard?"

Catherine linked her arm through mine, her eyes sparkling with the unmistakable gleam of gossip. "I'm here looking for you, to share some absolutely shocking news!"

"Oh?" I responded, matching her excitement, my curiosity inevitably piqued by her enthusiasm.

Catherine cautiously glanced around, making sure no one was within earshot. She quickly pulled me into a secluded corner, lowering her voice although her excitement was hardly containable.

"My friend just messaged me with the most unbelievable news..." she began, her eyes widening with excitement.

"Bill White's allowance has been cut off!"

"His father has publicly announced that whoever dares to lend money to Bill will have to collect the debt from Bill himself!"

"Hle's made it explicitly clear that he won't help Bill repay any debts!"

"Which means..."

Catherine grinned mischievously, "Bill White might soon be poorer than me!"

Watching Catherine's delight over the impending downfall of someone

who had been arrogant and rude brought me a subtle sense of satisfaction.While I typically wouldn't rejoice in someone else's misfortune,Bill had certainly earned these consequences through his behavior.

Catherine added, her eyes gleaming with triumph: "Just think-Bill used to be the golden boy of our social circle."

"And now.penniless..."

"He can't be so arrogant anymore!"

I pondered the complexity of the situation and decided to temper her celebration with a reality check. "He might still maintain that attitude for a while," I cautiously said.

Catherine looked puzzled, "Why do you say that?"

I patiently explained, recalling patterns I'd observed when dealing with wealthy individuals: "Think about it-Bill is still Mr. White's beloved son.Even if Mr. White publicly states he won't help Bill repay his debts..."

"People will assume Mr. White is just saying that but still deeply loves his son."

"So to maintain good relations with Mr. White, some people will secretly help Bill,giving him money to spend."

"They'll try to gain Mr. White's favor this way."

"That way, when Mr. White eventually reconciles with Bill, Mr. White will remember their kindness toward his son and be more likely to do business with them."

Hearing my explanation, Catherine's face screwed up in disgust as if she'd

smelled something unpleasant. "Really? Is that necessary?"

"Perhaps not for us." I smiled, remembering how I too was once oblivious to these social maneuvers, "but for others, it might seem absolutely necessary."

Catherine looked somewhat disappointed, her shoulders drooping slightly,"So I got excited for nothing?"

I shook my head gently, wanting to balance her expectations, "Not entirely.The fact that Mr. White mnade such a public declaration indicates he genuinely wants to teach Bill a lesson."

"He hopes Bill will learn from his mistakes and improve his behavior."

"So either Mr. White will privately speak with these potential helpers,or find another way to make it clear he truly has no intention of repaying Bill's debts."

"Once people realize Mr. White is serious,they'll stop lending money to Bill."

Catherine's eyes widened, "Wow!" She seemed to perk up again, "So you're saying that if I'm patient enough, I'll eventually see everything I'm hoping for?"

I nodded, "Essentially, yes." I found myself more knowledgeable about the workings of high society than I'd expected, which surprised and somewhat proud of myself.

Catherine's eyes sparkled with anticipation, "I really want to mock him to his face,"

"Hmph!" she snorted contemptuously, "He came and made a scene in front

of me, disrupting my work..."

I watched Catherine's expression grow complex, seemingly torn between the satisfaction of revenge and the potential consequences. I waited quietly as she sorted through her thoughts.

After careful consideration, Catherine finally appeared to decide on the wiser course of action: "Focus on work, absolutely avoid looking at Bill White altogether," she muttered to herself.

I silently nodded in approval of her decision. Sometimes, the best revenge was simply continuing to live your best life without being distracted by those who had hurt you.

"Are you two discussing Bill White?" a familiar voice suddenly came from behind us.

Catherine jumped, and I felt her startle beside me. She only relaxed when she recognized the speaker, her hand gently pressing against her chest.

I turned to see Howard's secretary Susan, whose expression told me she had some interesting information to share. "What are you doing here?”I asked,somewhat surprised to encounter her in the hallway.

Susan lowered her voice, her face bearing that distinctive expression that people wear only when they're about to share bombshell gossip: "I have the latest news about Bill White. Want to hear it?"

Catherine and I immediately moved closer to Susan, and I could feel my curiosity fully engaged:"What is it?"

The Betrayed Wife's Revenge:Marrying the CEO