Just three months into our marriage, my husband’s sister-in-law, Valentina, was suddenly diagnosed with kidney failure. After a month of treatment with no improvement, his older brother, Trent, actually ran off with his mistress. Just as I was wondering how to comfort Valentina, Marcus Miller handed me a kidney donation agreement. “Stella, our family has truly wronged Valentina. As my wife, as a part of *our* family, you should donate your kidney to Valentina.” I stared at the agreement, shocked, and eventually pushed it back. “Marcus, you know I’ve already had a third of my stomach removed, and my health isn’t great. Losing another kidney would seriously impact my lifespan.” Marcus stared back, insistent. “It’s just one kidney, right? You’ll recover.” “Don’t worry, after the surgery, I’ll take good care of you and make sure you get healthy and strong again.” Seeing Marcus’s desperate plea, I finally nodded, swayed by his tears. The surgery went smoothly, and a month later, I was discharged. As soon as I got home and sat down, Marcus pulled out another agreement. “Honey, since we’re helping, let’s help all the way. Trent isn’t around now, so I’ve decided to have a child with Valentina as soon as possible, to give her a reason to live.” “Sign this husband-sharing agreement.” It felt like a lightning bolt had struck. I stared at the agreement, utterly stunned. “Effective today, I voluntarily cede my husband, Marcus Miller, to Valentina Sanchez. For three years, I shall not engage in any intimate acts with Marcus Miller. Violators shall suffer a horrible death and burn in hell.” *Slam!* I threw the agreement at his face, a sharp pain ripping through my chest. “Marcus Miller, I already gave her my kidney! Now you want to ‘loan’ yourself to her to have a child?” “What did you promise me back then? Is this your idea of ‘taking good care of me’? Don’t you feel any shame?” Marcus looked conflicted. “It says three years, but it’ll be two at most. I’ll get Valentina pregnant as quickly as possible.” “Valentina is worried about a relapse and not having children later, so…” Marcus walked over and gently embraced me. “Stella, think about it. Valentina Sanchez is from one of the most powerful families in the country, brilliant and stunningly beautiful. And her connections to the nation’s elite families are unparalleled. Given your current health…” I looked at Marcus, his face filled with longing, and a bitter ache rose in my heart. Who begged me to donate my kidney? And who did I ruin my health for in the first place? How could he forget all that in just a month? Tears streamed down my face. Through my tears, I said firmly, “Marcus Miller, what if I absolutely refuse?” Before Marcus could answer, Joyce, his mom, picked up a coffee mug and, with a *smash*, hurled it at my face. “You’re just a wife! When do *you* get to make decisions for *our* family? If you don’t agree, then get out! Go back to your pathetic apartment. Without the Millers, you’re *nothing*.” Relatives who had come to visit me quickly stood up, trying to mediate. “Alright, alright, Joyce, let’s talk this through calmly. Stella just got out of the hospital, no need for physical force!” “Stella, you too. Apologize to your mother-in-law. Marcus is doing this for the Miller family. Valentina can be ruthless when she’s upset, you need to think about the bigger picture.” “Exactly! He’s a man; he can’t let emotions cloud his judgment. It’s just two years, it’ll fly by. And you’ll have a child, at least in name.” I coldly watched the Miller relatives trying to persuade me. Now I finally understood why Trent had fled when things went wrong. Clearly, this family’s selfishness and coldness run deep, passed down through generations. Suppressing the sorrow in my heart, I persisted, looking at Marcus. “Marcus Miller, between Valentina and me, if you had to choose one, who would it be?” A flicker of guilt crossed Marcus’s face, then he looked at me earnestly. “Stella, we weathered eight years of storms together, building Miller Holdings from the ground up. I thought you’d understand. Having this child is crucial to solidify the alliance between our families. There’s no choice to be made.” I laughed bitterly. So, I was supposed to understand my husband’s infidelity, even support him in having a child with his sister-in-law? I stood up, slowly tearing the agreement into shreds, and scattered them into the air. “Marcus Miller, I could agree to IVF and surrogacy. That’s my absolute biggest compromise.” He looked at me, annoyance and frustration flickering in his eyes. “Stella Hayes, the child *must* be born to secure our family’s alliance. I’m *informing* you, not asking for your opinion.” I clenched my fists, finally utterly disillusioned. “Marcus Miller, let’s get a divorce.” The living room fell silent. All the relatives stared at me, dumbfounded that *I*, the supposedly meek little wife, had dared to suggest divorce. Marcus stared at me for a long time, then his voice turned hoarse, and he stopped arguing. He stood up and ushered all the relatives out. As he reached the door, he turned back to me. “Stella, I know you can’t accept this. It’s okay. You… you love me so much, just try to think about me a little more.” I sat up all night, then dialed that mysterious number. “You said you owed me a favor, didn’t you? I’m calling it in now.” “Alright, name it. I’ll make it happen.” 2 The next day, when I woke up, Marcus had already packed his suitcase. “Valentina is going to the States for a project. She just had surgery, so I’m going with her to look after her. You can keep an eye on things at Miller Holdings.” With that, he picked up his suitcase and strode out the door. He didn’t ask a single question about my health, nor did he offer any explanation for yesterday. It was as if everything was already decided. I rose indifferently, washed up, and went to the company. When the private investigator sent me the information, my hands trembled as I nervously clicked to open it. Marcus accompanied Valentina for a follow-up check-up in the States. Her indicators were normal, and Marcus happily posted about it on SnapChat. The caption read: “A new life, hand in hand with you.” Marcus accompanied Valentina to the project’s groundbreaking ceremony. They looked like a couple, arm in arm, chatting with guests. They even went to the Eiffel Tower, where they carved their initials side-by-side. He must have posted a hundred videos a day, flaunting his happiness with Valentina. Every caption was utterly ambiguous: “Happiness By Your Side,” “Fate Brought Us Together Again.” If one of the protagonists hadn’t been my husband, I might have even complimented them on being a perfect match. But that smiling face, tightly embracing her arm, stung my eyes. Looking at the endless stream of SnapChat posts, I still angrily commented under one, “If you want happiness, get a divorce first.” Almost instantly, the comment was deleted. Then came a sixty-second voice message from Marcus. “What are you commenting on my posts for? As a Vice President of Miller Holdings, can’t you think before you speak? My reputation *is* the company’s reputation. Are you only happy when you’ve ruined Miller Holdings?” Despite having completely given up hope these past few days, hearing his angry accusations, my eyes still welled up, and tears fell without me realizing it. My colleagues at work looked at me with complex emotions in their eyes. I didn’t know if it was pity or disdain. Disdain for me, the ‘little wife,’ who was willing to be a fool for money. I couldn’t understand how a person could change so much. Eight years ago, Miller Holdings was on the brink of bankruptcy, its funds completely depleted. It was I who gave up my excellent job and resolutely joined the Miller family business. I accompanied Marcus, persuading clients one by one, bringing back old customers. I camped out at the bank manager’s office for ten days straight, barely sleeping, guaranteeing the loan with my entire future. I even drank myself into a stomach hemorrhage just to secure deals, leading to a third of my stomach being removed. That day, Marcus held me, tears streaming down his face, and said, “Stella, you’ve suffered so much.” “For the rest of my life, I’ll never betray you. If I ever have a moment of disloyalty, may I be cursed by all and suffer a horrible end.” At that time, Joyce also gratefully took my hand, her eyes red, and said, “Child, you are our family’s savior. From now on, you’ll be the head of Miller Holdings. It’s yours.” Just a few years after Miller Holdings stabilized and moved into the mid-tier, Joyce’s gaze shifted. It was filled with arrogance and contempt. Especially after Trent married into the wealthy Sanchez family, Joyce completely dropped her act. She openly declared I’d married above my station, claiming that if I hadn’t ‘entangled’ him, her second son could have married a genuine heiress, even an heir to one of the most powerful families. She conveniently forgot that without my desperate, do-or-die efforts to save Miller Holdings, they’d still be scrambling for pennies. After the company’s assets were cleared, Marcus returned with Valentina. When he returned, he found me sitting by the window, drinking alone, looking defeated and lost. He put down his suitcase and walked over, frowning as he pushed open the window. He said, displeased, “Your health isn’t good, why are you drinking? You’re an adult. Why are you still so reckless and childish?” A look of triumph crossed his face, but his words landed on my heart like a thunderclap. “Valentina is pregnant. I probably won’t be coming back here. I’m moving in to take care of her.” 3 I stared at Marcus in shock. A month away and she’s pregnant? How desperate was he? Without a moment’s hesitation. In that moment, my heart surprisingly calmed down. The next steps I had to take were now free of any guilt. I smiled faintly. “Alright, I understand.” I picked up my clothes and walked to the bathroom. It was time to clean myself up, to truly wake up. I’d let myself become a wreck for a scumbag. When I came out, Marcus was gone. On my phone was a message he’d sent five minutes ago. “It’s Sanchez Industries’ anniversary these next couple of days. I’m going to help out. Make sure you’re there this Friday.” “Don’t say anything out of turn when you get there. For now, the child is publicly Trent’s. We’ll formally announce its true parentage when the time is right.” I calmly read the message. He had even considered the child’s reputation. The only thing he hadn’t considered was my reputation and dignity when that day came. I indifferently deleted the message and called Mr. Hayes, my lawyer. “How much of the assets have been transferred?” “Ms. Hayes, it’s 70% now. Transferring everything at once might be tricky; it’ll take time.” “Alright, no rush for these next two days. Keep transferring.” On Friday, I arrived at Moonlight Manor on time. Marcus, dressed in a custom-tailored dark patterned suit, stood with Valentina at the manor entrance, greeting guests. Anyone who didn’t know would think it was his wedding day. I calmly walked over and greeted them. Marcus merely said, politely and distantly, “Go inside and sit down.” He had truly adopted the air of a host. As I walked in, several partners approached me. “Ms. Hayes, congratulations! We hear Ms. Sanchez is expecting!” “Ms. Hayes, why aren’t you helping Ms. Sanchez greet guests? She’s pregnant. Why is Mr. Miller running around looking after her?” I smiled faintly. “Oh, he just loves to help out.” The others looked at Marcus, who was still arm-in-arm with Valentina, exchanged glances, and chuckled, trying to mask their awkwardness. Soon, all the guests had arrived. Valentina stepped onto the stage to give her speech, and her male companion was, conspicuously, Marcus. The spotlights shone on them, and Marcus’s face was flushed with excitement. “Friends, colleagues, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to join Sanchez Industries’ anniversary celebration.” “On behalf of Sanchez Industries, I welcome all of you.” Scattered applause broke out, but more people whispered among themselves. “Isn’t that Mr. Miller from Miller Holdings? Why is he representing Sanchez Industries?” “You haven’t heard? Miller Holdings will soon be under the Sanchez name. Haven’t you seen the posts on SnapChat?” All eyes shifted between me and Marcus and Valentina, filled with confusion, disdain, and pity. Before anyone could react, Marcus dropped another bombshell. “Today, I officially announce that Miller Holdings will merge under Sanchez Industries, and all decision-making power will be given to CEO Valentina Sanchez.” The hall fell silent. Everyone stared, mouths agape, at me and then at the stage. Everyone knew that while the company was called Miller Holdings, I was the one who had actually managed and toiled over it all these years. If Miller Holdings merged with Sanchez Industries, what would become of me, the ‘little wife’ of the Miller family? Marcus strode off the stage and quickly came to my side, whispering in my ear. “You go up there and say a few words. Just tell everyone to continue cooperating with Sanchez Industries, support them, and say you approve of this merger.” I smiled indifferently. “And what about me? How do you plan to arrange my position?” Marcus frowned, contemplating for two seconds, then quickly said, “You should go home and rest for now. Valentina is very sensitive about these things, and seeing you around might upset her. Plus, if you’re in the company, people will talk.” I let out a cold laugh. Although I had reached the depths of disappointment, I was still shocked by Marcus’s shamelessness. Not only had he shamelessly cheated on me, but he was now trying to blame *me* for it. Looking at all the eyes on me, I smiled faintly. “Marcus, you’ve made excellent arrangements. I truly do need to rest.” Hearing me say this, a satisfied smile appeared on Marcus’s face. But I had already confidently stepped onto the stage. “Distinguished guests, friends, colleagues, welcome to Sanchez Industries’ anniversary celebration. Today, I officially announce that I, Stella Hayes, am hereby resigning from all positions at Miller Holdings, effective immediately.” “All future matters will no longer concern me. You can discuss them with Mr. Miller.” With that, I bowed deeply, dropped the microphone, and strode out. The hall instantly erupted, discussions breaking out everywhere. “How could someone as capable as Ms. Hayes just walk away?” “Exactly! We all witnessed how Ms. Hayes put Miller Holdings back on track. Without her, Miller Holdings wouldn’t be where it is today.” Below, discussions buzzed. Marcus immediately grabbed the microphone and loudly declared, “Today, in front of all our colleagues, I officially transfer Miller Holdings to Ms. Sanchez’s name.” With a wave of his hand, a lawyer came up, holding the Miller Holdings equity transfer documents. Valentina’s expression was unreadable. She simply instructed her lawyer and financial team to begin their review. Moments later, the lawyer hurried over, his expression grave. “Ms. Sanchez, Miller Holdings currently has no money in its accounts. Furthermore, there’s 180 million in outstanding payments for goods and employee salaries that need to be settled.” “In other words, if we take over Miller Holdings, not only will we not make money, but we’ll also have to *pay* 180 million.”
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