Mistaken shadi

In the living room, Gianna sat seductively on the couch, dressed in silky pajamas.

Seeing Callie, she arched her perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Well, if it isn't Callie."

Callie clenched her fists tightly. During the time her mother had been sick, Gianna had already made herself at home.

Her gaze fell on the expensive jade bracelet on Gianna's wrist. It seemed the money from the Robinson Family had turned Rafael's fortunes around.

Bitterness welled up inside her. "I'm here to see Rafael."

Gianna flicked her wavy, chestnut-colored hair. "Your dad's not home."

Callie turned to leave...

"Wait."

Gianna called out to her. "You're not here to ask for money, are you? You're already the Young Mistress of the Robinson Family. How could you be short on cash? Let me tell you, we have no money to give you. Your mother is a bottomless pit."

Callie pressed her lips together. This Mistress was now acting like she owned the place?

"Rafael hasn't divorced my mom yet. If he refuses to pay for her medical bills, I'll sue him!"

"You..." Gianna started to say something but quickly changed her expression to one of kindness when she saw someone walk in through the door. "What Rafael? He's your father. How can you call him by his name?"

Callie noticed the change in her expression and turned to see Rafael.

"Give me the money," she demanded bluntly.

Rafael walked in with a cold expression. "Now that you're married into the Robinson Family, you think you have the guts, huh? Just now, you said you were going to sue me?"

Callie looked at him steadily. "My mom needs surgery. You promised, one million dollars."

"I don't have the money right now..."

"The Robinson Family gave a dowry of two hundred million dollars, and you say you don't have money? Dad, I'm still your daughter, and Mom is your legal wife. I expect you to keep your promise, or we can both go down together. I'm not afraid to make a scene!" She stared at Rafael coldly.

"Are you threatening me?" Rafael's face darkened.

"Just because I'm a girl, you've never valued me as your daughter, father." You've only ever controlled and used me. I'm a person too, and if you push me too far, I'll do whatever it takes." Her determined expression made Rafael pause. Considering that she was now part of the Robinson Family and could still be useful, he relented.

"Follow me," he said, heading towards the study.

Gianna tried to intervene, "Rafael..."

"Shut up, I know what I'm doing," Rafael snapped. In the study, he took out a checkbook from the drawer. After writing a one, he hesitated for a moment before adding a five.

He handed the check to Callie. "Here's one and a half million dollars. Take it and buy yourself some new clothes. You're the Young Mistress of the Robinson family, yet you dress so poorly. You're embarrassing them. By the way, doesn't Shane give you any money?"

Callie stared at the check, her eyes red. She knew that her father's sudden kindness and concern were just attempts to win her over, to use her for his own benefit within the Robinson Family.

Her heart ached. Her own father saw her only as a tool.

She reached out and took the check. "Do you not know how I got into the Robinson Family? Shane give me money? He'd rather see me dead!"

Rafael's face darkened. "You're a girl; you need to learn how to please a man. You're not unattractive..."

"Is Shane some lovesick fool? Has he never seen a woman before? Or do you think a man like him can be swayed by a woman's beauty?" Callie pocketed the check. "If you have time, you should hurry up and divorce my mom."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Rafael retorted. If he had wanted a divorce, he would have done it long ago. "Your mother and I still have feelings for each other."

Rafael had long decided not to divorce. He planned to bring Callie into the Robinson Family, creating an alliance between the two families and reaping the benefits.

If he divorced, he wouldn't be able to control Callie anymore.

"I stayed with your Aunt Gianna because she gave me a son. You know your mother couldn't have children; you can't blame me for finding another woman. I need an heir..."

"I have things to do. I'm leaving," Callie cut him off, not wanting to hear his sweet lies.

Feelings? His words might fool her mother, but not her.

She stepped away, and Rafael called after her, "Come back when you have time."

Callie didn't respond.

She walked briskly out of the Norris Family estate.

Her first stop was the bank. She only felt secure when the money was in her own account.

She was waiting for her mother's health to improve so she could take her away.

Right now, her mother's condition couldn't handle any stress.

So, for now, she had to stay.

...

After returning from Blue Bridge, Shane went straight back to the office.

Henry was just about to leave.

He bumped into Shane in the office area and hurried over. "President Robinson."

Shane cast a sharp glance at him, his tone far from pleasant. "Did you get to the bottom of what I asked you to investigate?"

Henry inwardly grumbled. Did Shane think he had three heads and six arms? The workload today had been enormous!

"No... not yet. I was just about to," he stammered, trembling slightly. What on earth had happened? Why was Shane so furious?

At that moment, the secretary approached. "President Robinson, there's a Miss Ayers at the front desk. She says she wants to see you."

"Miss Ayers? Could it be Belinda..." Henry's words trailed off as he noticed Shane's cold expression, tinged with a hint of anger. Wisely, he shut his mouth.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Shane's voice was icy. "Henry, bring her up."

"Yes, sir."

A short while later, Henry escorted Belinda to the CEO's office.

Shane stood by his desk, having removed his suit jacket, which he had casually draped over the back of his chair. He slowly turned to face her.

Belinda still maintained her graceful and elegant demeanor.

"Did my sudden visit disturb you?" she asked softly.

At the time, Shane didn't bring it up, nor did he question her afterward. He simply said, "No."

After all, he wasn't planning to marry her.

Whether she was pure and innocent didn't seem to matter much.

Belinda hesitated for a long time before finally speaking up, "Um... I..."

She found it hard to say.

"Need money?" Shane Robinson cut straight to the point.

Belinda was stunned. How did he know she needed money?

Shane didn't waste words with her. "How much do you need?"

Belinda hurried to explain, "My dad is sick..."

"Ten million? A hundred million?" Shane interrupted, uninterested in her reasons.

What she needed the money for was her own business!

He couldn't be bothered to care.

Belinda felt that Shane was not as gentle as before, but she couldn't pinpoint what was off about him.

She thought she had always presented herself flawlessly in front of Shane.

Asking him for money was a last resort.

Corey had agreed to break up with her if she repaid the money, but there was a catch—she had to do it within 24 hours. Corey probably thought there was no way she could come up with that amount in such a short time.

But now, Belinda was desperate to get rid of him, so she had no choice but to seek help from Shane.

"I'll work hard to pay you back..."

"No need. Just tell me, how much?" Shane was starting to lose his patience.

He hadn't noticed it before, but now he found her behavior incredibly fake.

He was really annoyed.

How did he end up with a woman like this?!

"Twenty-five million," Belinda said, thinking she needed to solve Corey's issue first. She would figure out how to redeem herself in Shane's eyes later.

He picked up the phone and connected to the internal line. "Take Miss Ayers to the finance department and transfer thirty million to her."

"Shane..."

Shane's gaze was icy, mixed with a disdain that made Belinda shiver. She swallowed her words.

The secretary entered and gestured for Belinda to follow. "This way, please."

Belinda bit her lip and lowered her head, following the secretary out.

Only then did Henry cautiously step forward. Shane's attitude towards Belinda had taken a complete 180, and he had ordered a new investigation into that night. "Do you suspect that Miss Ayers wasn't the woman from that night?"

Shane tugged irritably at his collar, a cold snort escaping from his chest.

The memory of that night, the innocence of that woman, lingered deeply in his mind.

Belinda had a boyfriend. The way she was so close to that man, it was obvious they had been intimate.

"The surveillance footage from that night was destroyed. Without concrete evidence, there could be a mistake. I'll go back and check if there's anything we missed. If only you had left some kind of token or something back then, it would have been better..."

Henry grumbled as he went about his tasks.

"Wait..."

Shane called him back, "Never mind."

Thinking it over calmly, a woman who would engage in such an encounter in that situation—could she really be a reserved woman?

Someone who would give herself away so easily—how could he expect her to be pure?

His standards were too high.

Now, it didn't matter to him at all.

Whatever kind of woman she was, he no longer felt the initial excitement.

Henry couldn't understand Shane's change in attitude.

Curious, he asked, "Did Miss Ayers upset you?"

Shane looked up, his eyes dark and cold, as if covered in a layer of ash, the deep blackness filled with ice.

Henry immediately backed down, "Never mind, I'll get back to work."

He quickly exited the office, as if staying a moment longer would mean being devoured by a wild beast.

The office door closed, shutting out the noise.

The room fell silent.

Shane sat down at his desk, pressing his temple with one hand, rubbing it hard. His mood had finally calmed down.

He didn't ask Henry to investigate again because he had come to terms with what happened that night.

No matter what kind of woman she was, he had lost interest.

It was just an accident!

Not worth his attention, and certainly not worth wasting his emotions on!

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. He spoke in a low voice, "Come in."

The secretary walked in, "Miss Ayers has left with the money. Also, President Jenkins from Regen Pharm called, asking if you've arrived at Blue Bridge."

Shane then remembered he had an appointment.

The other party was seeking his investment.

Regen Pharm was researching a new cancer drug but was short on funds.

Shane had agreed to the meeting because he saw the potential.

Both domestic and international efforts in cancer drug research were significant because everyone knew that once successful, the market would be enormous.

In the face of life, money seemed insignificant.

Those large pharmaceutical research institutes were backed by powerful financial groups.

Once successful, they would undoubtedly monopolize the market.

Of course, he wanted to get involved. It wasn't just about preventing foreign conglomerates from monopolizing the market; he also saw the enormous potential for returns.

He was a businessman, prioritizing profit over humanitarian concerns.

He wasn't a selfless saint.

He decided to send Callie because she was a doctor and should have some understanding of the field. He himself was completely clueless about pharmaceuticals.

But Belinda's situation had thrown everything off course.

Looking back, he realized he had been too impulsive.

"Tell them I have something urgent and reschedule."

"Yes, sir." The secretary left the office.

...

On the other side of town, Callie, who was out of work but had to stay, went to visit her mother. Caitlin's condition had improved significantly, but she still needed some time to recover.

Although Callie had managed to get some money from Rafael, if she remained unemployed, they would soon run out of funds.

How long could that money support her and her mother?

Despite working for several years, she hadn't saved much. Her mother's illness had always consumed her salary.

Unable to practice as a doctor, she had to consider other job options for now. Her dream of becoming a military doctor would have to be put on hold. She wasn't giving up; she was just bowing to the realities of life.

If the opportunity arose in the future, she would return to being a doctor.

She left the hospital and took a cab back to the villa.

"Young Mistress, are you feeling unwell? You don't look so good," Mrs. Ford asked with concern the moment she walked in.

Callie shook her head and replied, "No, I'm fine."

She changed her shoes and stepped inside.

"Don't you have work today?" Mrs. Ford inquired.

Callie had always been busy, sometimes even working night shifts.

Callie's heart clenched. She looked up at Mrs. Ford. She was supposed to be at work, but...

Suppressing her bitterness, she forced a smile and said, "I'm off today."

Mrs. Ford was very kind to her, the only warmth in this villa.

She didn't want Mrs. Ford to worry about her.

Putting on a brave face, she said, "I'll be off for the next few days. The dean gave me some time off."

"Time off? That's good. You look so thin. Take this time to rest and take care of yourself," Mrs. Ford said with a smile.

Callie nodded, hiding her disappointment. "I'll go upstairs and take a nap."

"Alright, go ahead," Mrs. Ford said kindly.

Callie went upstairs, curled up on the couch, and hugged her laptop. She began editing her resume. Since she had studied medicine and had no other work experience, finding a suitable new job was not going to be easy.

She had to apply for more jobs, but fortunately, besides studying medicine, she had many other skills.

Rafael had forced her to learn them.

Back when she decided to study medicine, Rafael had strongly opposed.

To make her give up, he refused to pay for her tuition.

Determined to pursue her dream, she worked part-time jobs while studying to earn her tuition fees.

Looking back now, she realized that learning more things had its advantages.

She had initially wanted to open a small clinic, but the costs were too high. Renting a place, buying equipment—even the basic tools required money she simply didn't have.

Moreover, she had to take care of her mother and ensure her well-being.

She didn't plan to stay long; once her mother's illness was cured, she intended to leave this place.

Thinking about Shane's inhumane behavior towards her made her heart grow cold.

After sending out her resume, she decided to offer online medical consultations. This required no overhead costs, and she had a medical license. She only needed to pass the platform's verification process.

Besides, Shane had restricted her from practicing medicine in real life. Could he control her online activities?

She started by finding a reliable platform. Then she began the registration process...

Having something to do made the time pass quickly. In the blink of an eye, the afternoon was gone.

In the evening, Mrs. Ford came upstairs to call her down for dinner.

She put her computer aside and went downstairs.

Shane rarely had dinner at home because he usually came back very late.

But today, he was unusually early.

Seeing him there, Callie froze for a moment, surprised by his presence.

The thought of him trying to humiliate her again made her seethe with anger. Her hands, hanging by her sides, clenched into tight fists.

"What are you standing there for? Come eat," Mrs. Ford called out to her.

Callie forced herself to adjust her expression, took a deep breath, and walked over to the dining room. She pulled out a chair and sat down, keeping as much distance as possible from Shane.

Since she couldn't fight back, she decided to keep her head down and stay out of trouble.

She lowered her head, trying to make herself unnoticeable as possible.

Shane, thinking she was still embarrassed about using the wrong spoon the other day, picked up a piece of shrimp and chewed it slowly, a mocking smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Staying away from me, do you think that will stop you from making mistakes?"

Callie didn't react immediately. She looked up at him for two seconds before understanding what he meant.

But she didn't respond.

This man always had something to humiliate her with.

She lowered her head and stuffed food into her mouth, wanting to finish quickly.

Shane frowned at her silence. "Why are you eating so fast? No one's going to steal your food."

He felt inexplicably annoyed.

Watching her eat so ungracefully, he didn't find it rude. In fact, he found it somewhat endearing.

She was much more genuine than those women who always pretended to be elegant and classy.

Callie finished her last bite, took a sips of water, and retorted, "Whether I eat fast or slow is my business. Why do you care?!"

After all, he had already made her jobless.

She had nothing left to fear from his threats.

She was ready to fight back!

Shane slowly lifted his eyelids, a hint of coldness in his eyes. "Are you tired of living?"

Had she grown a backbone?

Talking back to him like this?

Did she not want her job anymore?

Callie glared at him, her eyes filled with confrontation. "Yes, I am tired of living. If you have the guts, kill me. Using those dirty, underhanded tricks, what kind of hero does that make you?"

Shane was utterly confused, not understanding what she was talking about.

"Are you crazy?"

Callie tried to calm herself, but the thought of almost being assaulted by Kane made it impossible.

She let out a cold laugh and called him by his full names, "Shane Robinson, don't push me too far. If you do, I'll tell everyone that I'm your wife, and I'll make sure everyone knows you got cheated on! You'll be the king of cuckolds!"

Shane stared at her with a blank expression, his pupils narrowing slightly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "Do you even know what you're saying?"

Callie laughed, "I know, but I'm not afraid of you. When you tried to have me assaulted again and again, I realized that pleasing you was useless because you're a heartless beast!"

Shane was enraged. He stood up and grabbed her by the throat, his immense anger making him want to kill the woman in front of him.

She was truly fearless!

Callie struggled to breathe, forcing out words from her throat with difficulty, "You're nothing... just a bully who picks on women..."

Her face turned redder and redder.

Shane Robinson smirked, his arrogant brows twisted with a sinister cold smile, "Bullying women isn't my specialty, but bullying you is."

Callie's chest heaved with difficulty, her lungs squeezed of oxygen, leaving her unable to breathe.

She continued to glare at him with stubborn and hateful eyes.

Mrs. Ford watched in terror from the side, seeing that Callie was on the verge of being strangled to death. She mustered her courage and stepped forward, "Sir, the Young Mistress didn't mean it. Please don't hold it against her..."

Shane, however, was not moved by her plea.

He wanted to see just how sharp and tough this woman's tongue could be!

"Young Mistress, please say something nice. The Master isn't a bad person," Mrs. Ford urged, almost in tears.

Callie refused to relent, a mocking cold smile tugging at her lips. "He's not... a bad person?"

She sounded as if she had just heard a joke.

"That man didn't... succeed, so now you're furious?" She sneered at Shane.

"What man?" Shane finally sensed something was off.

His grip loosened slightly.

She gasped for breath, "You led me to Blue Bridge, didn't you... to have someone violate me?"

Shane squinted, feeling something sharp and piercing stab into his chest, making it painful to draw a breath. "I wanted someone to violate you?"

"What are you pretending for? Can't face what you've done? Are you disappointed that the other man didn't succeed?" Callie gritted her teeth, struggling to hold back her emotions.

Shane shoved her away. "I did no such thing!"

Callie nearly fell, but Mrs. Ford caught her just in time, helping her to stand.

"You are my wife. As long as you are, I won't let any other man defile you. I don't need another reason to be humiliated!" His face was equally grim. "Who was it?"

Callie stared at Shane.

Given his personality, if he had done it, he wouldn't deny it. His pride wouldn't allow him to do something and then not own up to it.

"Speak up, who was it?" Shane demanded, inexplicably furious.

He couldn't understand why the thought of her almost being taken advantage of made him so angry.

"The man from last time..."

Before Callie could finish her sentence, Shane realized who it was.

He had met Kane when he was leaving Blue Bridge.

In an instant, he understood everything.

His face darkened like the sky before a storm.

He stormed out, unable to remain calm at the thought of Callie being taken advantage of by someone else!

He didn't like Callie, but no matter what, she held the title of his wife. He would never allow another man to insult or touch her! To him, that would be a disgrace!

If anyone was going to bully her, it would only be him!

Leaving the villa, he got into his car, started the engine, and called Henry.

The call connected quickly. "Get Kane Ortiz for me!"

"...Alright."

He hung up and drove off.

Thirty minutes later, Henry brought Kane to the company.

Kane grumbled, "What do you want me here for at this hour?"

Henry didn't know and didn't answer.

"If you don't tell me, I'm leaving!" Kane tried to walk away, but Henry grabbed him. "President Robinson wants to see you."

"Why does he want to see me?" Kane barely finished his sentence when Shane's car pulled up.

The car stopped, and Shane got out, striding over with a fierce, intimidating presence that felt like a hurricane sweeping through.

Henry's eyes widened. Who had provoked him this time?

Thinking this, he glanced at Kane. Henry took two steps back.

Kane glanced at Shane, also wanting to keep his distance from him.

Just as Kane was about to move, Shane spoke up, "What did you do today at Blue Bridge?"

Kane quickly shook his head, "I didn't do anything."

"Think again." Shane's demeanor seemed calm, but it was only on the surface.

Kane thought for a moment, "Really, I didn't do much. I went to Blue Bridge just to kill some time. Then I ran into Miss Norris from last time. I had been looking for her everywhere, and there she was at Blue Bridge. How could I let her go..."

"So, what did you do to her?" Shane's deep black eyes glinted with icy coldness as he asked.

Kane swallowed hard, unable to understand why Shane was so angry.

"I wanted to do something to her, but that girl is really hard to tame. Look at my arm; she bit me so hard." He extended his arm, showing the deep bite marks that Callie had left, even drawing blood. "And my nose, she hit me so hard it bled. I was in pain for a long time. I wanted to ask you, where did you find that woman? She's really something else. Honestly, I kind of like her."

Shane's expression hardened. "You like her?"

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