After that, he frequently stayed at Renee’s place for long periods, up until Zac turned eight. That year, Renee told him she no longer wanted to live a life of hiding. More importantly, she didn’t want Zac to grow up that way either. And so, without any warning, she disappeared. Zac was left at an orphanage. John acted quickly, orchestrating a plan and bringing Zac into the Gray family within just a few days. But now, looking back, he realized it had all been a setup by Renee! Zac wasn’t his son. That meant Renee had been with someone else while she was with him! In Renee’s eyes, he had been nothing more than a scapegoat, a fool. What was even more ridiculous was how he had been completely unaware, foolishly reveling in a happiness that had never been real. Now that he thought about it, Renee had reappeared the moment Gray Corporation began to decline. The first thing she did was tell him she felt insecure, subtly guiding him into transferring shares under their name. So, it had all been part of her plan from the very beginning! And the worst part? He had spent eighteen years treating Zac as his own son, loving him as if they were truly family! For eighteen years, he had ignored Zac’s inherent flaws. He had convinced himself that Zac was his and Renee’s child, and no matter what, he had to love him unconditionally. When Arthur made Zac unhappy, John had sent Arthur away. When Zac needed a punching bag, John turned a blind eye, letting Arthur take the fall. The more he thought about it, the more agonizing it became. What had I done? I had spent years mistreating my own biological son! Tears of regret soaked his pillow. Thinking about his shattered family, John suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face. One slap wasn’t enough—he lifted both hands and struck himself again and again. His IV line was still in his hand, and with the violent movement, the IV stand crashed to the ground. The loud clang momentarily snapped him back to reality. Staring at the metal pole on the floor, he suddenly sat up. Then, he climbed out of bed, grabbed the IV stand, and smashed it against his own head with full force!He had lost everything—his family, his company. He had nothing left. What is the point of living? Blinded by grief, he hit himself so hard that he collapsed. Just as he lost consciousness, the nurse, drawn by the commotion, burst into the room. As her scream filled the air, John’s eyes closed. John didn’t die. He woke up in the same hospital bed. Slowly opening his eyes, he stared at the familiar ceiling, and a fresh wave of sorrow washed over him. He couldn’t even die properly. Standing nearby, the nurse thought to herself. Seriously? Did he really think beating himself with an IV pole would kill him? He’s not exactly someone with real power. Of course, she would never say that out loud. At Cloudia Corporation, Arthur sat in his spacious chair, listening to Stanley’s report. “John has already discovered that Zac isn’t his biological son. He’s been repeatedly getting paternity tests lately.” “People on the streets say he’s lost his mind. He’s wandering around in a daze—looks like he’s about to go insane.” “The hospital reports that John tried to kill himself with an IV stand. But all he managed to do was swell up his own head. He passed out for a bit, but they saved him.” Toward the end of the report, Stanley struggled to suppress a smirk. He knew exactly how John had treated Arthur. Honestly, he couldn’t wait for John to suffer even more. He had even intentionally leaked John’s whereabouts to David, ensuring that more people saw him stumbling through the streets. And among the so-called onlookers? Stanley had arranged for a few of them to be planted there on purpose. All to push John toward taking that paternity test. Hmph. That scumbag deserves to experience what betrayal feels like! Arthur raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. Suicide by IV stand? Hearing about John’s attempted suicide didn’t stir any emotion in him. Instead, one thought crossed his mind. That’s a pretty niche way to go.With a wave of his hand, Arthur dismissed the topic. The kindest thing he could do for John now was to ignore him altogether. Then, he asked, “What about Seacity?” Stanley understood that Arthur was referring to Raelynn and the others. He reported honestly, “After returning to the hotel that day, Raelynn and the others were kicked out because they couldn’t pay the bill. The hotel manager had security throw out their belongings, and a huge crowd gathered to watch. It was completely humiliating for them. But their troubles didn’t end there. While walking down a deserted street, they were mugged by a gang. Their luggage was stolen, and they were beaten. Susie got the worst of it.” Stanley paused briefly before continuing, “She took a hard kick to the stomach and collapsed in the street from the pain. They lost their phones too. Luckily, Stephen happened to pass by and took them to the hospital. According to…”