Chapter 40  As I listened to the increasingly harsh whispers around me, I thought I’d never get rled up over those two traitors again. Yet her  burning with anger.  Nicole had already snatched my paintings, but I never imagined she’d tamish my reputation, too. She had spread nasty rumors ev after I was gone, leaving me cursed by so many  She’s got a heart of pure evilness!  And Chase, his stupidity was unmatched. We once shared everything, but he judged me based on a blurry video and a mole on my  chest  Was he the fool, or did he always think I was that kind of person?  As those unbearable words reached my ears, I quietly stepped away from the crowd  from a comer, I overheard a man’s voice. “Mr. Derek, should we step in? Clearly. Ms. Kennedy wasn’t even in Cloudville. This person Isn’t her.”  “There’s no point. It just add fuel to the fire, drawing attention back to me. If rumors of Amanda having an affair with Chase’s uncle got out, that wouldn’t sound any better, would i17 Derek sighed softly. “Words can sting. Let’s go. She probably won’t show”  I was stunned. How did he know I wasn’t in Cloudville?  Unless Derek had already checked!  Why would he do what my husband didn’t? No wonder he was probing around Chase and Grandma. Was he worried about me?  He was the only one who cared about my reputation.  I closed my eyes, recalling how Nicole’s taunts once led to my miscarriage.  That day, I was drenched in blood. I crawled to the door, and before blacking out, I glimpsed a pair of designer shoes on a wheelchair,  He made sure I had the surgery quickly. We couldn’t save the baby, but it minimized the harm to my body.  As the doctor asked for a family signature outside the operating room, I faintly heard his deep voice. It was Derek.  Half a month before the wedding, I saw him again. His expression was cold as he asked, “If you don’t want to marry Chase, I can call off the wedding  At that moment, my mind was fixated on revenge at the wedding. I refused without hesitation. “Chase and I grew up together. Marrying him is my dream.”  The cold wind brushed against his face, a frosty veil hiding his true feelings from me.  After a long pause, when my legs were numb from standing, he finally said softly, “I wish you happiness.”  He left me with only his cold silhouette and left the country that very day.  Still, I sent him an invitation and a wedding gift. On my wedding day, he didn’t show up.  We didn’t cross paths much, but why did Derek rush to find me when even my own family didn’t care after I disappeared?  If I’m not mistaken, his visit today wasn’t just for Grandma’s birthday. He wanted to see if I’d be there.  Did he care about me?  The bustling crowd eventually calmed down, and the staff brought in a towering ten–layer cake.  Everyone gathered around Grandma to celebrate, momentarily brushing aside the video incident. In the dancing candlelight, I saw many insincere faces.  Only Grandma looked genuinely worried.  I moved next to her, singing the birthday song softly, just out of her hearing “Grandma, make a wish.”  She closed her eyes and clasped her hands together, a look of sincere prayer on her face. Her voice was gentle. “I wish Amanda a safe, smooth life, free from worries.”  She blew out the candles, and with tears in my eyes, I whispered in her ear, “Grandma, please live a long and healthy  healthy life for both o  of us.”  Chapter 41  Chapter 41