The prosecution filed a formal public prosecution against Arthur.

Public opinion turned sharply against the Sebastian family, with countless netizens denouncing Sebastian as a scumbag.

When he was pursuing Clara, he had been incredibly extravagant; the "ultimate romance" between a wealthy patriarch and a genius profiler had once set the internet ablaze.

Videos of that grand proposal were still circulating on various platforms.

It was also a winter day with heavy snow falling. Sebastian had dropped to one knee, his gaze almost reverent: "Clara, will you marry me?"

"I am willing to spend my entire life loving you, protecting you, and standing right behind you."

In the video, Clara’s cheeks were flushed, her shyness rare: "...Before I say yes, you have to answer one question."

"Why do you like me?"

Sebastian smiled: "There are many reasons. For instance, your beauty, your sincerity, your justice and bravery..."

"But more importantly, you have a radiant soul."

A strong, persistent Clara was so dazzling that Sebastian wanted to spend the rest of his life being her guardian.

Deeply moved, Clara had accepted the ring.

The image of their faces framed by the falling snow had been hailed by netizens as the most beautiful scene of the year.

As many people as there were who blessed them under the video back then, there were just as many hurling insults now.

[You talked so sweetly back then, but you bullied Clara so much! Shameless!]

The Sebastian Group's stock price plummeted, and the board of directors no longer showed Sebastian any professional courtesy.

Sebastian locked himself in his room, refusing to come out for a long time.

Until Luna burst in, weeping.

"Sebastian, those people are all so cruel."

"And Clara! I never did those things! The videos and evidence must be AI-generated!"

Sebastian slowly raised his head, his gaze locking onto her.

Luna fell silent instantly.

She had seen that look before.

It was the look Sebastian had when he dealt with traitors who stole the company's trade secrets.

Cold, devoid of emotion—as if he were looking at a dead person.

A flash of fear crossed Luna’s eyes, and she instinctively backed away.

"It’s all your fault..."

"If it weren't for you, how could Clara have left me?!"

Sebastian muttered to himself, slowly rising and approaching Luna. "As long as I make her anger fade, she will surely forgive me..."

...

At the police station, Clara sat with a drawing pad before her, staring at Arthur through the transparent glass. Her tone was stern: "Tell me, who is the person behind you?"

Arthur was visibly agitated, grabbing onto her words like a life-saving straw: "If I speak, can you give me a way out?"

"I regret it, I truly regret it!"

"It wasn't intentional. They told me to set the fire. Forgive me, please forgive me, okay?"

He cried and screamed, tears and snot staining his collar, looking utterly pathetic.

There was no trace left of the powerful President of the Luna Group.

Clara clenched her fists, using every ounce of strength to suppress her urge to kill him.

How could someone who killed so many people still want to live?!

Even if the arson was ordered by someone else, what was the excuse for raping her sister?

Scum! Filth! He deserved to rot in the eighteenth circle of hell!

But for now, finding the mastermind was more important.

Clara softened her tone, adopting a negotiable stance: "As long as you are willing to cooperate, everything can be discussed."

"Come, tell me first, who is that person?"

A glimmer of hope burst in Arthur’s eyes, and he poured everything out like beans from a tube: "The Luna family’s rise depended on them, so I didn't dare disobey..."

"Actually, I didn't do much. I just helped them transport goods, provided cover, and kidnapped a few people. The killing was truly the first time..."

"I can't contact them actively; they contact me. I don't know who the contact person was; he was just tall and thin..."

Once the interrogation ended, the portrait in Clara’s hand was complete.

Her hand still suffered from after-effects, throbbing with pain, but she let out a long sigh of relief, her heart finally light.

She stood up and handed the portrait to the Chief.

The Chief looked embarrassed: "Clara, you're still as brilliant as ever. We truly can't do without you."

"Regarding what happened before, I’m truly sorry..."

"There's nothing to say," Clara interrupted him. "Just catch that criminal syndicate as quickly as possible."

"Of course, of course..." The Chief wiped the sweat from his forehead. "By the way, someone wants to see you."

Clara frowned, pushed open the door, and walked out.

Sebastian was standing outside, his eyes shining as he looked at her.

She suddenly remembered when she first met him.

Sebastian had come to the station on an unrelated matter and stumbled upon her working.

Back then, he had looked at her exactly like this, with undisguised admiration in his eyes.

Before leaving the station, he had handed her a business card: "Hello, Miss Clara. My name is Sebastian."

"I wonder if I might have the honor of getting to know you?"

She believed that at that time, Sebastian truly liked her.

Even if his motives weren't pure, the admiration in his eyes couldn't be faked.

Unfortunately, afterward...

Clara didn't want to think about it. She asked coldly, "What do you want?"

Sebastian stared at Clara almost greedily, answering with something irrelevant: "Clara, you're still so talented."

"Is that so? I'm not as good as I used to be." Clara lifted her hand. "After all, every single finger has been broken, and I was bitten by a venomous snake. Being alive is already a stroke of luck."

"I'm sorry..."

A wave of guilt instantly flooded Sebastian’s eyes.

"No need for words like that. My lawyer will sue you; I will take back everything you owe me."

"Whether it’s my hand or my sister..."

Clara didn't want to speak to him further. "Move. I’m going home."

"Home? Where else is your home besides by my side?" Sebastian grabbed her wrist. "Come back with me. I’ve missed you so much these past few days."

Clara suspected something was wrong with his brain.

"Do you not understand human speech? We divorced a long time ago!"

"If we divorced, we can remarry."

Sebastian didn't seem to care. "I know you're angry because of Luna."

"It was my fault before. I didn't see Luna’s true colors clearly."

"I know I was wrong. Luna will never appear before you again. Please forgive me, okay?"

Clara was startled: "What did you do to Luna?"

"Nothing much. I just let her suffer a bit and confess her crimes obediently, so you don't have to go through a long lawsuit." Sebastian said nonchalantly, "Clara, you're still too kind."

"She did all that to you, and you’re still worried about her?"

Clara’s voice was cold and hard: "No matter how many mistakes she made, she should be judged and punished by the law."

"I don't care about what happens between you and her. Now, let go of my hand."

Sebastian pursed his lips and simply decided to be shameless: "I won't let go. You're my wife; you have to come home with me!"

"Wife, let’s go. The car is waiting outside!"

Clara was incredulous: "Are you sick? Who is your wife?"

Sebastian didn't care.

Before coming here, he had specifically consulted a doctor friend whose marriage was extremely harmonious.

That doctor friend had mocked him for half an hour before grudgingly telling him that the most important thing in winning back a wife was being "thick-skinned."

As long as there was a shred of feeling left, there was a chance for a turnaround.

At a time like this, he had to set aside his pride as the CEO!

After agonizing over it for a long time, Sebastian decided to grit his teeth and follow through.

His wife was about to slip away—what did pride matter?

He pleaded with Clara in a soft voice: "We've had such a good relationship for so many years. I only messed up this one time... forgive me, okay?"

"I won't do it again."

Clara grew impatient. Just as she was considering calling a colleague to pull him off her, a hand with well-defined knuckles appeared before her eyes.

The owner of the hand gripped Sebastian’s wrist and gave it a gentle upward twist.

Caught off guard, Sebastian’s wrist joint dislocated, and his face turned pale instantly.

Julian walked to Clara’s side and meticulously straightened her slightly disarranged sleeve.

"Mr. Sebastian is truly a devoted lover, it seems."

"But unfortunately, Miss Clara already has a new boyfriend."