Victor sighed as he entered the office, three days before the major charity auction Zack was set to host. Yuna, sitting on the office sofa, felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her chest at the sight of him alone. His usual confident demeanor was overshadowed by visible fatigue.

Victor sank onto the couch beside her, his posture slumped and his face lined with exhaustion. “Zack’s…” he began, but the words seemed to catch in his throat.

Yuna steadied herself as she handed him a cup of tea, her hands trembling slightly. “That kind of deadly glare does not affect me, Victor,” she said, attempting to keep her voice steady. “I know you’d rather eliminate all sources of a problem than discuss it.”

Victor’s expression shifted to one of irritation, with his brow furrowing and his jaw tightening. The intensity of his gaze, often used to intimidate, softened momentarily, revealing a flicker of vulnerability.

“So you know I wanted to kill Zack’s grandfather?” he asked, his voice carrying an edge of resigned frustration.

“Huh?” Yuna’s eyes widened in shock at his blunt admission, her heart racing as she grappled with the gravity of his revelation.

She was bewildered, having always believed that Zack's grandfather's influence was the reason Zack was chosen as the Avere family's successor and became CEO at such a young age, instead of his father or uncles.

“Zack’s grandfather learned about the planned charity event.” Victor’s tone was grim, and he had picked up on Yuna’s confusion.

“No one from the Avere clan has ever supported Zack. In truth, Zack’s grandfather is our most prominent adversary within his own family. They’ll do everything they can to disgrace Zack and force him out of the Avere group.”

Victor exhaled deeply, his gaze locking onto Yuna’s with intensity and hesitation. “I don’t know if I’m even allowed to tell you how Zack became what he is now…”

“Please, don’t,” Yuna interrupted before Victor could finish. Her stunning almond-shaped eyes twitched slightly, but she forced herself to smile. “Just tell me what is necessary for me to know.”

“As I told you, his grandfather discovered the plan and exposed it to the president,” Victor said.

“Hm… So, the charity auction might not take place?” Yuna asked, her mind racing to piece together the situation.

She nodded, trying to make sense of the unfolding events. Yuna recalled how she had turned a crisis into an opportunity during the incident when Lucas attempted to kill his son. She had devised a strategy to bolster Zack’s reputation—the very name the Avere family had tried to tarnish in public.

“It’s not that simple,” Victor said. “The Avere will do whatever it takes to ruin Zack’s reputation. They see the event as Zack’s way of countering the negative rumors online and solidifying his position as heir. So, they’ll team up with the Avere to turn things against you and Zack.”

Yuna slowly grasped what Victor was trying to explain. However, her heart was blasting; she suspected that Victor's menacing behavior at the moment was not just about Avere and Zack.

“Please, Victor. Don’t try to hide it,” her voice was tinged with a mix of desperation and urgency. It carried a pleading undertone.

“Zack... Damn it!”

He turned away, biting his bottom lip in frustration. Muttering a curse, he realized he couldn’t hide anything from her.

"You are the top trending on the world's news topic. Your early personal life..."

Yuna raised her hand, silencing Victor. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

“Can I borrow your phone?”

Due to personal reasons, Yuna didn’t have a smartphone, so she often used Zack’s or Victor’s devices. For online purchases, she would use the computer in the home office.

'Early personal life?'

She could not bear to put her family at risk of exposure.

She took a moment for her hands to stop trembling before grabbing Victor's phone.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

[A Real-Life Cinderella Story]

The headline flashed across the screen, referring to the stark contrast in their statuses and relationships. Yuna couldn’t bring herself to open the article.

[Zack Avere Goes from Glamorous Celebrities to Orphaned Prostitute?]

Zack Avere, known for his string of high-profile relationships with the hottest celebrities, has shocked the world by swapping his beautiful, talented fiancée for a prostitute he met at a club…

Yuna rolled her eyes and scrolled past. She knew it was all sensational nonsense. She heard vile rumors and accusations about him—claims of racism, nepotism, misogyny, and even fraud. But she knew it was all a smear campaign to damage his reputation.

[What You Need to Know About Zack Avere’s Wife]

Her heart skipped a beat as she saw the headline about her life. She held her breath as she clicked on the article.

* On June 24, xx, Zack Avere wed an unknown woman. The world was abuzz with curiosity over the identity of his bride, given that he had previously been engaged to a renowned, stunning oil tycoon’s daughter. With his history of dating top-tier women, many speculated that his wife must come from aristocratic or royal lineage.

* But who is Zack’s wife?

* Yuna Collins, orphaned at five and raised in an institution until a fire destroyed it at twelve, was taken in by a kindly elderly couple. After their passing, she moved to the city and worked at a tavern, where she met Zack. Rumors paint her as driven by greed…

Yuna’s eyes stung with relief as she read the fabricated tales about her. Despite the vicious lies and slander, she was grateful that her true identity as Yuna Brende remained undiscovered.

“Good God,” she muttered under her breath, feeling a heavy weight lift slightly from her shoulders.

"Tell me about the charity auction now. Why is it troubling you too much?"

“Zack’s grandfather has forbidden him from speaking with or seeing you until the charity event is over,” Victor said, his frustration evident in his strained voice. “You’ll need to act as the host for the charity auction,” Victor continued. “It’s the only condition the president and Zack’s grandfather have set for allowing the event to proceed this Wednesday. It will be the largest charity event, with the most powerful government leaders and business moguls.”

"You know what I mean, right?"

"A backfired, huh?" She said it sarcastically.

Yuna instantly comprehended why they were pushing the event forward without Zack. They anticipated that it would be their trump card against Zack.

"So, what is the plan?"

"I'm not sure. I didn't have a chance to ask Zack if we should proceed. If I had my way, I'd take Zack from the Avere mansion and kill his grandpa and Lucas."

'I honestly don't know what to do because everything I've done wasn't of my own volition. My mission dictated everything I did.'

Victor murmured so softly that Yuna could not hear.

As she fixed her gaze on him, Yuna pondered the situation deeply, weighing her options and contemplating their next move.

"Do you want to laugh?"

She moved in closer and showed Victor the trending social media news articles so they could read together.

[IQ Range of Zack Avere: Brain: 180–200; Heart: 35-10]

“Pfft, this is the most accurate news about Zack if he did marry me for love,” Yuna chuckled, reading the headlines aloud.

“The internet is so good at turning everything into a joke. Social media wouldn’t be half as entertaining without this nonsense,” she added, her laughter bright and contagious.

Victor’s deep-set eyes showed a flicker of confusion as he glanced at the articles, trying to decipher what was so funny. Unsure whether to laugh, he mimicked a smile, his lips curving into a hesitant laugh.

“My men will take care of any news about you. Don’t worry,” he said reassuringly.

'Does he seriously have no idea what Zack wanted?'

Yuna suddenly dropped her smile, replacing it with a somber, almost catastrophic expression.

“Forget about it. Instead, use that short video you took of me digging the hole to generate more buzz,” Yuna said, her tone firm.

His brow furrowed, his struggle evident as he tried to process the request, unsure whether to reveal the truth or dodge the awkward situation. How could he admit to filming her while she worked in the mud like an ogre?

“How should we caption the video?” he asked, forcing an awkward smile.

Yuna’s gaze was steady. “Write something like, ‘After Zack Avere sobers up, Yuna Collins digs a hole for herself.’ Then, include a selfie of Zack and me after the dirt battle. Make sure Zack’s face is recognizable, but mine should be hidden.”

Victor’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Ah. You’re kidding, right?”

"I am serious. Aren't you and Zack are using me as a pawn? Zack set up the trap, and all you need to do is bait to lure the enemy." Her voice conveyed clarity.

“And after that?” Victor asked, his expression sour as he swallowed hard, rolling his Adam’s apple.

“Make the charity event that Zack and I are hosting trending on social media. Publicize the names of the attendees, but leave out any mention of the Averes. Make sure to announce that we’ll be live on major social media platforms.”

People were eager to see her face and understand how Zack Avere fell in love with her and married her so quickly. As a result, they will tune in to the live streaming.

'Heh, so this was Zack’s plan all along.'

Victor finally grasped what Yuna meant by Zack setting up the trap. It was all part of his strategy, and Yuna had seen through it perfectly.

His grin turned bitter as he accepted that Yuna’s insight was likely accurate.

'I may not know Zack very well yet.' he admitted in his mind.

"I'm guessing we'll be busy then."

Victor shrugged his shoulders.

A blank expression adorned Victor's face as he stared at the moon from the office window.

'Or I just forgot what type of people Zack and I really are.'