Chapter 285: Vincent’s Horrifying Truth

Luca had initially assumed Stephanie’s late-night visit had been arranged by Maison Premier. Perhaps Vincent had sent her as a final attempt at negotiation, hoping his wife could act as a mediator and convince Luca to show the family some mercy.

Instead, he’d found something completely different.

Stephanie wasn’t here to plead for Maison Premier. She hated them. More specifically, she hated her husband’s family.

Luca raised an eyebrow. That was unexpected. Still, he wasn’t about to accept her offer just because her story sounded convincing. He leaned back in his chair, studying her in silence.

He wasn’t stupid.

What if this was simply another trap set by Vincent?

And as for Stephanie’s beauty, that wasn’t enough to sway him either. He had plenty of beautiful women around him. If anything, he’d learned that appearances meant very little when trust was involved.

"Miss Stephanie," he finally said, "let’s put aside the fact that you and Vincent are husband and wife for a moment."

His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.

"Everyone in Capital City knows how devoted you’ve always been to him. You practically built your entire life around that man."

Stephanie’s expression stiffened.

"And now you’re asking me to believe you’ll help me destroy the very family you’ve spent years protecting?"

Luca gave her a calm look.

"Finding a weakness in Maison Premier won’t be easy, but it isn’t impossible either. Given enough time, I’ll find one."

He leaned forward slightly.

"Your help would certainly make things easier. But why should I trust someone who has spent every day beside Vincent?"

His eyes narrowed.

"Especially when that person suddenly decides to cooperate with his biggest rival."

Stephanie’s hands tightened around the fabric of her dress.

"What do I have to do for you to believe me?"

"Tell me why." Luca’s tone remained relaxed. "That’s all I want. Give me the reason you came here."

He paused. "Whether I believe you afterward is still up to me."

Stephanie understood. If she refused to explain herself, she’d come here for nothing. She drew a deep breath. Her hands curled into fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

"Alright." Her voice trembled. "I’ll tell you."

And then she began.

She told Luca everything. What had happened after she’d escaped Maison Premier. How she’d eventually been brought back. What Jack had done. And, most importantly, what had happened when she’d gone to Vincent expecting her husband to protect her.

Luca listened without interrupting. The more he heard, the darker his expression became.

’So that’s what happened.’

Jack had already been holding a grudge against Vincent ever since the slap he’d received at the engagement party. He’d waited for an opportunity. When Vincent was away, he’d gone to Stephanie’s room under the pretense of checking on her.

Then he’d attacked her. There was no excuse for it. Jack should have been punished severely. Instead, Maison Premier had locked him in a room and called that punishment.

Mr. and Mrs. Denim had even gone to Stephanie personally, asking her to forgive their son. They’d called it immaturity. A mistake. Something that shouldn’t be allowed to destroy the family.

Stephanie had been devastated. She’d gone to Vincent in tears, believing that at least her husband would stand up for her. Instead, Vincent had reacted with impatience. He’d pulled his hand away from hers as though her touch disgusted him.

That moment had finally made everything clear.

To Vincent, she had never been a wife. She was a useful connection. A piece on the board. A woman whose family and connections could help Maison Premier grow.

And perhaps, most painfully of all, she had always been a substitute. A replacement for the woman Vincent actually wanted. Arabella.

Stephanie’s eyes lowered. Even now, remembering that moment made her chest ache. She had spent years pretending she didn’t understand. She had convinced herself that Vincent would eventually come to care about her.

But that illusion was gone.

When she closed her eyes, she could still see herself sitting on the cold floor that day, completely drained. Her voice had barely been more than a whisper.

"Vincent... let’s get a divorce."

Those words had taken everything she had.

Despite everything she’d known about Vincent, she’d never seriously considered leaving him.

She had endured the coldness. The distance. The knowledge that his heart belonged to someone else. She had endured all of it because she was still his wife.

But after what Jack had done, something inside her had finally broken.

She didn’t want anything from Maison Premier anymore. She didn’t want Vincent. She didn’t want their marriage. She just wanted to leave.

She’d expected Vincent to agree. Instead, he had looked at her with a cold smile.

"Divorce?" He stepped closer.

Then he grabbed her chin.

"Don’t even think about it."

Stephanie stared at him in disbelief. "Why?" Her voice shook.

"You already have control over my family’s research laboratory. You don’t love me. You’ve never loved me." Tears gathered in her eyes. "So why won’t you let me go?"

Vincent released her chin. For a moment, Stephanie thought he might finally answer. Instead, his hand caught her hair.

He pulled hard enough to force her head back.

"Do you know why we’ve been married for so long and you’ve never become pregnant?"

Stephanie winced. "Isn’t it because... I have trouble conceiving?"

She had spent years blaming herself for that. Her in-laws had constantly criticized her. Even her own parents had complained. She’d gone to the hospital eventually, desperate to find out what was wrong.

The diagnosis had devastated her. She had believed she was the reason Vincent had never had a child. She’d carried that guilt for years.

So why was he bringing it up now?

"What are you talking about?" Vincent laughed. "Stephanie, that hospital belongs to Maison Premier."

Her face slowly drained of color.

"So..." Her voice barely came out. "The diagnosis wasn’t real?"

"Haven’t you figured it out yet?" His smile widened. "You guessed correctly."

Stephanie stared at him. "But what does that have to do with our marriage?"

She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I don’t care anymore. I just want to leave."

Vincent’s expression changed. The refined, gentlemanly image he maintained in public disappeared completely.

"As the heir of Maison Premier, I can’t exactly allow the outside world to know that I can’t have children."

Stephanie’s eyes widened.

Vincent stepped closer. "Do you understand now?"

Her breathing became unsteady.

"Since you’re already..."

He paused.

Then finished coldly.

"...then you can still serve a purpose. You can help Maison Premier have children."

Stephanie’s entire body went rigid.

"You want me to...?"

She couldn’t finish.

The realization was enough.

The man she’d once believed was kind, composed, and honorable was showing her a side of himself she’d never imagined existed.

This wasn’t simply cruelty. It was something far darker.

Vincent turned away. "Come in."

The door opened. Footsteps approached from outside.

Stephanie’s blood ran cold. She knew that voice. She knew that presence.

Even if she had never seen him again, she would have recognized him anywhere.

Jack.

The same man who had once pretended to care about his sister-in-law before turning against her.

He walked into the room with a shameless smile.

Stephanie immediately scrambled backward.

"No."

Her voice cracked.

She pushed herself away from him, desperately trying to create distance.

"Vincent!"

She looked toward her husband.

"Vincent, please!"

Jack continued approaching.

"I won’t ask for a divorce anymore."

Stephanie’s voice became frantic.

"I won’t mention it again. Please, just help me!"

The memories came rushing back.

The room. The fear. The helplessness.

The sickening feeling of being trapped.

She couldn’t go through it again.

Vincent simply watched.

Then he turned toward the door.

"Vicent?"

Jack glanced at him.

"Aren’t you staying?"

Vincent stopped without looking back.

"Handle your own business."

His voice was flat.

"And remember, keep your mouth shut."

Jack grinned.

"Of course."

Vincent covered his nose and mouth with his hand, as though even being near the room disgusted him.

Then he walked out.

The door closed behind him.

Stephanie stared at it in disbelief.

For years, she’d convinced herself there was still something human left inside her husband.

Now she finally understood.

There had never been anything left to save.