After a decade as Adam Carter’s secret lover, I was still just a plaything to him. He only spent nights at my place, rushing back to his wife at dawn. I thought his devotion to me was genuine, until I smashed a wine bottle over his wife’s head and he went berserk. With one slap, he extinguished the last shred of conscience I had. Adam Carter, are you ready to face our revenge? Adam Carter slapped me hard across the face. The force of the blow made my head spin and my ears ring as I stumbled sideways. I steadied myself against the wall and slowly sank to the floor. Something glinted as it fell – the earrings I had just bought yesterday. But the man who had lovingly put them on me was now frantically embracing Zoe, checking her injuries with concern. Watching Adam’s nauseating display of false affection, I almost laughed out loud. He and Zoe had been married for ten years. I had also been his secret lover for ten years. For a decade, he catered to my every whim and showered me with affection. His only request was that I not interfere with his wife Zoe. Not only did I ignore his wishes, I deliberately provoked Zoe by smashing a wine bottle over her head. Crimson liquid trickled down her face. Zoe wasn’t particularly attractive and had a meek personality. Even after being assaulted, she just stood there helplessly. It wasn’t until Adam rushed in and embraced her that she timidly spoke up. “Adam, who is she?” Adam glanced back at me huddled in the corner, his expression dark. “Just some crazy woman.” The side of my face that he had slapped began to burn. I silently watched as he led Zoe out the door. When he bent his head towards her, the tenderness in his expression made him look like the perfect husband. I felt utterly pathetic. After they had gone, I finally picked myself up off the floor. But as soon as I stepped outside, I saw a figure standing around the corner. Adam had always been handsome and charismatic, the center of attention since childhood. No wonder Zoe and I were both so captivated by him. He walked towards me, his features coming into focus in the dim hallway. Looming over me, he leaned down for a kiss. His lips tasted of roses – Zoe’s favorite perfume. Suddenly nauseous, I pushed him away. How could he do this? One moment tenderly comforting his trembling wife, the next passionately kissing his lover. “Stop it,” he said. Adam was never good at sweet talk. The countless times we argued, he would just flatly say the same thing: “Ava, stop making a fuss.” But I wasn’t his obedient wife who followed his every command. I was the seductress who had thrown herself at him. It all started when I was truly desperate, flinging myself onto his car on a cold, rainy night to seduce him. I knew he had just gotten engaged to the wealthy Chen family’s daughter. His own net worth was over 100 million. As I lay on the freezing ground, I was still calculating how much money I could extort from him when I heard the car door open. Designer shoes splashed through puddles, the water droplets glittering like tiny crowns. For some reason, I started laughing. It took me a while to look up and see Adam standing there with an umbrella. After that night, I had two jobs – officially Adam’s assistant, but really his mistress. Adam was skilled in bed and extremely generous. In the past, I could barely make $800 in three months of work. Now Adam would casually hand me over $20,000. But after being his mistress for ten years, he still treated me like a cheap whore. Adam only spent nights at my place. Before dawn, he would get dressed and rush back to his home with Zoe. He said he needed to make breakfast for Zoe. The housekeeper’s cooking didn’t agree with her stomach, so she wouldn’t eat and would get stomach pains. Without fail, every single time. Even though I knew Adam was probably just keeping up appearances for the business partnership with the Chen family, he still insisted on making Zoe breakfast. Even after Adam had completely taken over Chen Corp, he still persisted in making breakfast for Zoe. I could no longer deceive myself.
I’ve gone crazy, pretended to be sick, thrown tantrums – nothing could stop him from returning to Zoe’s side. He would only say to me, “Ava, stop making a fuss.” Then he would lean down to kiss me before rushing off like the wind. Back at home, the unfinished wine still sat on the table. The sweet aroma of alcohol hung in the air as Adam took off his coat and went to the kitchen to get some ice to press against my face. “Aren’t you going to comfort your wife?” I asked, staring at his long eyelashes as he bent over me, feigning nonchalance. “She’s much more obedient than you.” The words I wanted to say got stuck in my throat. The warm yellow lamplight enveloped us as I listened to his breathing, suddenly feeling empty inside. Ten years. I had devoted ten years of my time and energy to Adam Carter, thinking it would soften his heart. But his heart remained as cold and hard as ever. “Let’s break up,” I said. His hand on my cheek paused for a moment as he looked at me steadily. I hated that expression of his the most – aloof and callous. In an instant, it transported me back to that stormy night thirteen years ago. My body started trembling uncontrollably. I shook off his hand and turned away, hiding my vulnerability in the shadows. Adam just thought I was having another outburst. He was used to me threatening to break up whenever I was upset, only to be appeased with some money. So easy to placate. That night, Adam still slept at my place. He held me close as he slept soundly, moonlight flowing like the tide over his hair. His brows, his eyes – I had gazed at them for ten full years, each time etching them into my memory with a hatred that cut to the bone. A faint vibration interrupted my thoughts. Adam’s phone lit up, displaying just one word on the screen: “Nian”. “Hello?” I answered the call. The urgent tone on the other end suddenly fell silent. After a long pause, Zoe’s trembling voice came through. “Is…is this Ava? Is Adam there? Can you ask him to take the phone? I…I think I’m having a miscarriage…” I turned back towards Adam, at a loss for words, and met his still slightly dazed gaze. When he finally registered what Zoe had said, his expression changed. He snatched the phone from me, his voice barely containing his anger – directed at me. “Why did you answer the phone?! Haven’t you upset her enough already?” His grip on my wrist was so tight it felt like he would crush the bone. I trembled, feeling the blood in my heart run cold. I watched him hurriedly throw on his clothes and rush out the door, his face etched with anxiety that seared my vision. I collapsed onto the floor, letting out a bitter laugh as I looked down at the angry red marks on my wrist. I remembered my first miscarriage. I had also made a phone call then, forcing Adam to come back from the villa where he was cooking for Zoe. I had been even more ruthless back then, sitting calmly on the sofa as I watched the pool of blood spread. Only when it was certain the baby couldn’t be saved did I finally call Adam. The anxiety on his face when he arrived was identical to just now. As if he had divided his love equally between Zoe and me. But how can one heart love two people? He was false and pretentious, unable to let go of either Zoe or me. I felt exhausted and cold. I curled up on the carpet and fell asleep until the sky began to lighten, but there was still no sign of movement outside the door. Adam wouldn’t be coming back. I sat in our spacious home, looking around, and realized for the first time how many traces of Adam there were. The mugs on the kitchen island – we had picked them out together as a couple. Adam had scoffed at such childish things, but still used the silly cartoon rabbit mug to drink alcohol. In the fridge, half was filled with his liquor, half with my calcium milk drinks. He had mocked my habit, but would silently restock the milk each time. And the wall of perfumes he had collected for me, the ring designs he had personally sketched… My phone lit up as the long-awaited message finally arrived. It was a photo from Zoe. Adam’s handsome profile was buried in the snow-white bedding, one hand tightly gripping Zoe’s pale, slender fingers. The smile on her face was gentle and serene as she gazed directly at me through the screen. “I told Adam you scared me into miscarrying.”
Children had always been a sore spot for Adam. He found them troublesome, but couldn’t do without one. After all, his business empire needed a legitimate heir. Adam was the typical rich second generation. Spoiled by his family since childhood, he excelled at smoking, fighting, and racing cars. It wasn’t until he got into trouble and his family had to cover it up that he finally cleaned up his act and took over the family business. But Adam had a younger half-brother from his stepmother, ten years his junior, who was about to come of age and take on responsibilities. The two were at odds, destined for a fight to the death. Adam’s father favored his younger son and had always been strict with his eldest. As luck would have it, several major business partners withdrew their investments at this time. Adam was overwhelmed, barely able to come home once in a while after working late into the night. Seeing his son’s career setbacks, Adam’s father began gradually handing over control of the company to his younger son. Adam fought this for a long time before his father finally relented slightly. He could have the company, but Adam needed to produce an heir first. After all, he was already in his mid-thirties with no children, inevitably raising doubts about whether Adam had some hidden condition. If that were the case, the company would naturally go to his brother, who would inherit after Adam’s death anyway. I had miscarried once a year ago. And now Zoe, who I had just hit over the head with a wine bottle, had been frightened into miscarrying. The heavens were not on Adam’s side. I almost wanted to applaud. I thought Adam would stay at the hospital with Zoe for a long time, but he called me very soon. “Come to the hospital,” he said. His tone was so cold it seemed to seep through the phone. I carefully applied my makeup and walked to the hospital room in high heels, only to be hit in the face with a heavy medical chart as soon as I entered. “Apologize,” Adam commanded. He stood imposingly by the hospital bed, his gaze ice cold. Zoe leaned against the bed, her small face pale as paper, her eyes glimmering with laughter. This wasn’t the first time I had seen Zoe. Before smashing the wine bottle over her head, before I knew Adam had a wife, I had hidden in corners many times, watching her like a voyeur. She liked to wear cream-colored sweaters, gently taking Adam’s suit jacket. She loved rose-scented perfume, subtle and elegant. When Adam held me at night, the rich scent of roses would envelop me. She enjoyed doing small crafts. Adam still wore the red string bracelet she had made on his wrist. Adam was covered in traces of her. This woman asserted her dominance without a sound. I tried to deliberately ignore these things, but they only became more glaring. Especially when Adam stood beside her. I clutched my stomach where the medical chart had struck me, meeting Adam’s warning glare. …I couldn’t fight back. I wasn’t ready to openly defy Adam yet, so I could only swallow my pride and apologize to Zoe. “I’m sorry, Miss Chen. I was wrong.” Hearing me give in, Adam also relaxed. He turned and took Zoe’s hand, his face full of tender caution. “It’s my fault. You focus on getting better. I’ll end things with her. From now on, we’ll have a good life together.” A faint smile bloomed on Zoe’s pale face. Like a delicate white flower swaying in the wind. I rolled my eyes, but she immediately caught it. “Adam, can you ask her to leave?” Adam obeyed her every word. I don’t know where she got such charm. “Go outside…handle some company matters. Don’t disturb me unless it’s important.” Adam’s phone was tossed into my arms. I got up, limping towards the door. As I was leaving, I turned back and waved the phone at Zoe. She lifted her head from Adam’s embrace, her eyes curving into crescents. Silently signaling to me with her gaze. The corners of my mouth twitched upwards. — The plan had succeeded. [Cut-off point] Because Zoe had always been in poor health, this miscarriage took a severe toll on her already fragile body.
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