Chapter 1

"Everyone, come look at this! This rich guy in the luxury penthouse is a pervert who preys on college girls!"

As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, my neighbor Kylie Drake blocked my doorway.

Pulling down her collar, she cried hysterically for her livestream camera.

"Guys, it was the man who lives here!"

"Just now in the elevator, he covered my mouth and groveled his hands all over me..."

"If the doors hadn't opened, he would have dragged me into his place!"

The live chat exploded instantly, flooded with furious comments cursing my husband to death.

But later, when they saw my husband in court―a hero who lost both arms saving lives...

Every single one of them was left utterly stunned.

......

On the first day we moved into Riverfront Towers, I became public enemy number one in the complex.

It all started with my neighbor, Kylie Drake, a TikTok influencer with millions of followers.

Right now, she was holding up her phone tripod right in front of my door, weeping with dramatic perfection.

"Guys, who can understand this? I'm having a total mental breakdown!"

"I thought this building had high-class residents, but a monster in human skin managed to sneak in!"

Kylie tugged down her already low-cut neckline, exposing pale skin and several alarming red marks across her neck.

She pointed at my closed front door, screaming hysterically.

"Just thirty minutes ago, the man living here―a guy dressed like a decent human being―groveled all over me in the elevator!"

"Taking advantage of the dead zone in the elevator, he harassed me verbally and pinned me into the corner. He covered my mouth with one hand and tried to rip my dress off with the other..."

"If the doors hadn't opened right then, I would have... I would have..."

Overcome with faux humiliation, she collapsed to the floor and sobbed uncontrollably.

The stream's viewership spiked past a hundred thousand viewers within seconds.

The chat was flooded with furious demands for justice.

【Holy shit! In broad daylight?】

【Rich scumbags are the absolute worst, thinking money gives them the right to do whatever they want!】

【Call the cops! Throw that pervert behind bars!】

【His wife must be trash too. Her husband is out here assaulting girls, and she's hiding inside like a coward!】

Outside, Kylie's mother, Brenda, showed up as well.

The older woman was an even bigger drama queen, banging on the door with a loud bullhorn in hand.

"Open the door! If you've got the guts to do evil, have the guts to face us!"

"Look at this monster in Unit 2801! How dare he prey on a twenty-year-old girl! It's a disgrace!"

"Give us an answer today, or I'll drop dead right at your doorstep!"

The deafening noise gave me a splitting headache.

I set down the warm towel in my hands and looked at my husband, Gavin Cross, who was lying on the therapy bed with a respiratory aid attached.

He couldn't speak, but his eyes were filled with worry. Hearing the commotion outside, he strained to turn his head.

I patted his shoulder gently and said in a soft voice, "It's okay. Just a couple of barking dogs. I'll handle it."

Gavin's body shuddered slightly.

My heart ached for him.

Five years ago, during that catastrophic mall fire that made national headlines, he had been a captain in the fire rescue squad. He went in and out of the blaze three times.

On his final entry, a falling beam crushed him while he shielded a trapped little girl, destroying his face and claiming both of his arms.

Over the past five years, we lived off his pension and compensation alongside my early investment returns, keeping our life peaceful and comfortable.

I had specially bought this riverfront penthouse just to give him a better environment for his rehabilitation.

Who could have imagined that on our very first day here, such a bucket of filth would be dumped over our heads?

Assault? Pinned her against the wall? Groped her with both hands?

I let out a cold laugh, my gaze hardening instantly.

Since you're practically begging for a slap in the face, don't blame me for hitting back with everything I have.

I walked to the foyer and pulled the heavy door open.

The screams outside came to an abrupt halt.

Kylie hadn't expected me to open the door, but after a brief stun, she shoved her phone camera straight into my face.

"Look, everyone! This is that pervert's wife! The lady of the house has finally crawled out!"

Brenda lunged at me like a rabid dog, pointing right at my nose.

"You shameless bitch! Drag your disgusting husband out here! He touched my daughter, and unless you pay five million dollars in emotional damages, this won't end!"

Kylie sniffled beside her, playing along. "Ma'am, we're both women. Your husband assaulted me―are you really going to cover for him? Look at my neck. These are the exact fingerprints he bruised onto me!"

She thrust her neck forward, and under the lens, several swollen red marks were clearly visible.

"Take a good look! This is hard proof of his evil deeds!"

Surrounding neighbors pointed and whispered, their eyes dripping with disgust.

Looking at Kylie's face, packed with greed and deceit, I felt no panic. Instead, I couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.

"Proof? Fingerprints?"

I crossed my arms and looked down at the two clowns.

"You're Kylie, right? You claim my husband choked you and ripped your dress with his hands?"

Kylie straightened her spine, looking completely confident. "Yes! His hands were terrifyingly strong, covered in calluses that scraped against my skin! I'll never forget those hands as long as I live!"

"Very good."

I nodded, a razor-sharp chill flashing in my eyes.

"I hope you can still remember what those hands look like when we stand in court."

"Because five years ago, my husband left both of his arms in a raging fire."

"You said he choked you? Did he do it with ghost hands?"