The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 122

Nathaniel’s Reward.

Meanwhile, Stefan could barely process everything.

His face was severely injured. He had a cut on his cheek. He swore his nose was broken, and he could barely see straight.

Nathaniel Thorne… had given him a good beating, and damn it, the man could punch.

Stefan truly believed he had Serena right where he wanted her.

He thought Serena was falling in love with him. Yet the recording proved she had followed him, watched him, and doubted him all along.

Clearly, he had underestimated Serena.

Serena had that very innocent-looking face. Her responses were always calm, and she always smiled. There was no hint of doubt from her. So, Stefan never expected things to turn out this way.

To him, the most shocking part was that she was Nathaniel’s ex-wife, the same woman he said he was trying to win back.

Stefan thought that by pursuing Serena, he was doing her a favor, but apparently, someone more powerful, far better, and the father of her children had been waiting for her.

So what was he then? Had Serena ever taken him seriously? Or was she only being polite with him?

But before he could worry about that, Nathaniel had pressured the hospital’s board members to cut him and his family out. The board members who were present readily agreed. And just when he thought his luck had run out, something worse happened.

Soldiers barged in.

One high-ranking officer read him a warrant of arrest. “Mr. Stefan Montgomery, you are under arrest for attempted fraud. You have the right to remain silent—”

“No, no!” Stefan finally broke free from the shock. His face stung, but he had to try to reason. “I haven’t done anything yet!”

“Planning, deception, and conspiracy are crimes, sir. Whether you succeeded is irrelevant,” the soldier said, reading Stefan the rest of his rights. “You are under arrest and will be held at Greyhold Fort Detention Facility.”

Another commotion erupted.

Charles and Stella begged Nathaniel to reconsider, but the man did not fold.

“Mom, Dad—no! Why Greyhold? Why a military base?” Stefan barked, retreating a step. "You have to help me! I'm your son!"

“Because you offended me,” Nathaniel pointed out, “and by extension, you offended someone with ties to the military.”

Nathaniel stepped closer, jaws tightening. “And for the record, I will be suing you for defamation—for speaking ill of my children!”

When Stefan’s parents couldn’t reason with Nathaniel, they turned to the Vanders. Stella cried in front of Sterling and Celine, begging.

Charles also pleaded, “Please, Sterling. Forgive us. For old time’s sake.”

Unfortunately, Sterling had this to say, “Your son needs to learn his lesson. Leniency will only teach him that he can always get his way. I am formally ordering you to divest your shares in my company. It is in everyone’s best interest that we part ways from this point forward.”

Sterling’s gaze hardened before he shook his head in regret. “Years of friendship, destroyed by deception. You only have yourself to blame, Charles. You are the head of the family. Stefan’s actions also reflect on you.”

And just like that, Stefan was dragged out of the conference room.

Uniformed men surrounded him as if he were a high-value criminal. The humiliation burned deeper than the pain in his face—all this, just for lying!

His parents and Melanie chased after him, crying and pleading with the soldiers, only to be ignored as if they didn’t exist.

“You’re going to the military camp?” Serena asked.

“Exactly,” he answered, his blood still boiling.

“You can’t.” Serena frowned.

“Why?” Nathaniel asked.

“You promised the kids you’d see them tonight,” Serena reminded him.

At that, Nathaniel’s gaze softened.

Honestly, he had forgotten. He was so furious, he had only wanted to completely ruin Stefan’s face.

“Let’s go to the kids,” Serena suggested. “Let’s regroup tomorrow, and we can talk it over then. I’m sure Stella and Charles will try to negotiate this. This isn’t over yet, but it doesn’t mean we should handle it all at once.”

Nathaniel nodded. He ended the meeting with his executives and the hospital’s board of directors, promising to discuss business another time.

The Vanders and Nathaniel exited the conference room at around ten in the evening.

It was probably because of the time, and Nathaniel thanked the heavens for that. Sterling suddenly said, “It’s late, but sadly, the kids are waiting for you. Why don’t you get a change of clothes? Your reward for today is a supervised overnight with the kids.”

Nathaniel was still in a bad mood, but hearing Sterling’s words, his heart warmed. A smile spread across his face. “Let me grab some clothes.”

He was staying at the same hotel, so it was an easy task.

“Make it quick,” Sterling said. “Before I change my mind.”