The moment I pushed open the door, I saw my husband, Julian’s, secretary hiding right under his desk. She was clearly performing an intimate act for him, and he was struggling to suppress his excitement. I placed the document in front of him. “The company’s new project. Just sign it!” As expected, he didn’t even glance at the document, signing it directly. Before leaving, I glanced under the desk. “She can come out now.” Julian instantly panicked, fumbling to zip up his pants. He probably thought I’d make a huge scene, just like I used to. But I just sneered, “Don’t make your little plaything kneel too long. Her knees will hurt!” With that, I slammed the door shut. He had no idea that what he’d just signed was our divorce agreement. Chloe’s soft, whiny voice drifted from the office. “Mr. Hayes, you scared me to death just now.” Julian chuckled softly. His voice was husky with a hint of intimacy. “What’s there to be scared of? She wouldn’t eat you.” “But she’s your wife…” “She’s very understanding! See? She just left on her own, didn’t she?” I stood outside the door, the hallway light slanting across my feet. Chloe’s voice grew even softer. “So, tonight… are you still coming home?” “Fun is fun,” Julian said nonchalantly, “but home is still home.” Chloe giggled. “Mr. Hayes, anything she can do, I can do too! Was I not pleasing you just now?” “You’re different from her,” he replied lazily. “She’s stubborn as a mule, but she can’t leave me!” “You know how much trouble she caused with her family back then just to marry me. If I don’t go home, would any of you ‘little darlings’ out here even have a life?” He spoke of heavy past events as if whispering sweet nothings. Chloe’s voice turned syrupy. “So, do you… like her that way? Seemingly arrogant, but actually pathetic!” The air went quiet for two seconds. Then I heard Julian let out a faint laugh, retorting, “What do you think?” “I think—” Chloe didn’t finish her sentence. Because I pushed the door open. Both people in the office froze simultaneously. Chloe was half-sitting on Julian’s desk. Julian was leaning back in his chair, his shirt collar open. He paused, startled to see me, then raised an eyebrow. “Forget something?” I didn’t speak, walking straight to the coffee table. My car keys were indeed left there. I picked up the keys, turning to leave. “Elara.” Julian stood up, walking around the desk towards me. His arms were already wrapped around my waist. At the company, he was always like this. He never stinted on his favored physical gestures. I gently pulled away. After being entangled with his mistress, he reeked of a woman’s perfume. The exact same scent as the bottle on my vanity. He’d given it to me last month, claiming it was “one of a kind” and perfect for me. Now, thinking about it, he’d probably bought them in bulk. “I’ll be home for dinner tonight.” His voice carried that familiar gentleness. “What do you want to eat? I’ll cook myself, hmm?” Chloe made a small “hmph” sound beside him. “No need,” I said. “I have plans tonight.” His smile faded slightly, but the corners of his lips were still upturned. “What’s wrong? Are you mad?” He leaned closer. “Because of Chloe? I told you, she’s just a—” “I know,” I gently interrupted. “She’s an intern secretary, and she needs your hands-on guidance.” As for what kind of “guidance,” that depended on his needs. He paused, momentarily stunned. He probably hadn’t expected me to neither make a fuss nor even bother with sarcasm this time. He raised a hand to touch my face, but I had already taken a step forward. “Alright,” he shrugged, changing his grip to my arm. “Whatever it is, be home before nine.” Chloe let out a small snicker beside us. I glanced at her, and she met my gaze. Compared to the women I’d dealt with before, she was too well-protected. Her eyes held unconcealed triumph and provocation. Youth truly is wonderful. Looking at that vibrant face, I almost felt like I was back to my 20s, that summer I ran from the facility, protected in Julian’s arms.
It was the third day my dad sent me for “treatment.” Treatment for my “love-struck brain,” treatment for my “illness” of insisting on being with a poor boy. Julian waited all night, lying in the ventilation duct. At dawn, when the orderlies changed shifts, he pried open my room window. “Jump!” he called, arms outstretched below. I closed my eyes and jumped. He caught me, falling to the ground himself. His elbow cracked, but he never let go. Once we reached safety, he leaned against a wall, his shirt soaked with sweat. He grabbed my hand, pressing it against his chest. His heart was pounding fast and hard. “Elara,” his eyes were terrifyingly red. “Listen, if I can get you out of here today, then nothing will ever separate us again.” He pulled something from his pocket. A thin silver ring, bought from a cheap stall at the market. He’d crudely engraved an “E” on the inside. His fingers trembled as he put it on my finger. “When I have money someday, I’ll definitely replace this with the biggest diamond ring for you.” His voice choked, as if he felt I was suffering immense hardship. The sun that day was just like this, shining brightly on his young face, illuminating the light in his eyes. I thought that was forever. …… Not long after returning to my office, Mia, my assistant, knocked and came in. “Ms. Hayes, here’s the summary of the expenses you authorized during your week-long business trip.” She placed the tablet in front of me. “Among them… Ms. Chloe’s spending records require your review.” I scrolled the screen. Private Italian lingerie custom order, Royal Luxury SPA, Ritz-Carlton suite… Scrolling further, my finger stopped at the last entry: Private Maternity Hospital Medical Consultation… Mia cautiously added, “The finance department said… these expenses were all processed under ’employee benefits,’ with Mr. Hayes’ special authorization.” I put down my coffee cup and asked her, “How long has Chloe been employed?” “Three months.” I nodded, asking nothing further. “Since Mr. Hayes approved it, follow the procedure.” Mia remained standing, twisting the hem of her shirt. “Ms. Hayes… there are some things I don’t know if I should say.” “Go ahead.” “On your first day of business trip, she… she dragged Mr. Hayes to your seat and…” Mia sniffled, looking distressed. “I overheard them as I passed by. She laughed and said she wanted to take the thrill all the way.” I instinctively looked at my office chair. That chair was special; Julian had specially ordered it from Milan when we first started the company. He said, “You always have back pain, this chair is good for your spine.” Actually, I already knew about what Mia mentioned. Chloe was in her early twenties. Unlike the previous women, she wasn’t afraid to provoke Julian or lose her job. She was arrogant, audacious, practically wanting to photograph every hickey in a close-up. How could she not send such stimulating “trophies” to me immediately to show off? Last Wednesday at 2 AM. I was pulling an all-nighter, working on a proposal in my hotel room during the business trip, when my phone screen suddenly lit up. An unknown number sent a photo. The moment I opened it, I didn’t even immediately recognize what it was. Until I clearly saw – it was my office. The girl, whose face was obscured, was sitting in my chair, and Julian was leaning over, kissing her. The sender even added a caption: [It’s definitely extra comfortable in this chair…!] I didn’t see her face, but I already guessed who it was. I didn’t reply. But at that moment, a wall in my chest suddenly collapsed. So, I decided to return and deal with this urgent matter of ‘divorce’— And he still hadn’t noticed the divorce agreement hidden beneath the “West Side Project Funding Request.”
“Last Friday, the day you left, she wore your heels to work. I asked her why she was wearing your shoes, and she said…” Mia choked up. “She said Mr. Hayes told her those shoes suited her, and that Ms. Hayes wouldn’t mind.” She looked up, her eyes red. “Ms. Hayes, do you really… not mind?” I looked at the girl who was feeling wronged on my behalf. I smiled, devoid of any real emotion. “Those shoes didn’t fit me anyway. If she likes them, she can have them.” Before my business trip, I had no idea these two had already gotten together. At that time, the company was preparing to expand into new markets, and I didn’t have the mental capacity to keep an eye on Julian. Not to mention, Julian still had a steady mistress living near the company back then. Looking at Chloe’s aggressive stance, that one was probably already phased out. “Wipe your tears,” I pulled a tissue and handed it to her. “I’ll be away next week. Please keep a close eye on company matters, big and small.” She paused. “Where are you going?” I didn’t answer, just looked out the window. The sunlight was beautiful, just like that afternoon seven years ago when we got our marriage certificate. Julian went back to the old mansion alone, kneeling on the hard ground in the study for three hours, begging for my father’s approval. “Sir, I know you don’t think highly of me. But Elara believes in me, and I won’t let her lose.” Although he was eventually thrown out. But that day, my father stood by the window for a long time. Finally, he revised Julian’s flawed business plan in the study and secretly sent it to me. These old stories, bringing them up felt like cashing in on favors, tainting true feelings with calculation. But if I didn’t… If I didn’t, he would truly believe he was a sudden genius. He would think that all those data, connections, and funds were earned by his own merit. Shortly after Mia left, Julian called me from his car. “The little girl was scared by your surprise visit today,” his voice was low and laced with a smile. “It’ll take some time to soothe her. I’ll be back late tonight. Remember to leave the door unlocked for me.” I was silent for three seconds before speaking. “Didn’t we agree there’d be no kids from your games?” A moment of silence on the other end. “What kids?” His voice remained steady. “Chloe going to a maternity clinic can’t be for no reason, can it?” Two seconds later, he suddenly laughed. “You’re investigating her?” “It’s on the company’s ledger,” I replied calmly. “A half-million dollar pregnancy check-up package, processed as employee benefits. Mr. Hayes was quite generous with his approval.” He seemed genuinely unaware. Perhaps he hadn’t scrutinized the details when approving the payment. He softened his tone, his voice coaxing. “Elara, that was an accident! She’s young and foolish, she thought getting pregnant would change something.” “So?” “I’ll handle it,” he said decisively. “Don’t worry, no one will threaten your position.” “Julian,” I called his name. “Hmm?” “Do you remember,” I said slowly, “how we lost our first child?” His breathing hitched on the other end of the line. “Alright, Elara… that’s all in the past. There’s no point in bringing it up repeatedly.” “Yes,” I smiled, a touch of melancholy in my voice. “It’s all in the past.” Including the child who never got to be born. Including the vows he made on his knees. Including that matter he held a grudge about all those years ago… “Get some rest,” he said. “I’ll be home after I calm her down.” He hung up. I also raised my hand, and for the first time, and the last, I added him to my block list. Then, I replied to the message that had been waiting for me for a week: [All taken care of. I’ll be there for the wedding on time!]
By the time I left work, all my personal belongings had been handled. The elevator descended, a gentle sense of weightlessness enveloping my body. Once upon a time, in this very elevator, he had pressed me against the mirrored wall, kissing me passionately, saying, “Elara, what incredible fortune in this life and the last did I cultivate to marry you.” His eyes were so bright back then. Bright enough to seem like he truly believed his own lies. I had arranged to say goodbye to a local friend. The restaurant was by the river. Not long after I sat down, I saw Julian walk in, his arm around Chloe’s waist. He was leaning in to listen to her, a lazy smile playing on his lips. Julian saw me first. He paused for a moment, then his smile deepened. Instead of avoiding me, he walked straight over. “Your ‘plans’ were just dining alone?” He pulled out the chair opposite me and sat down. “The steak here is good,” Julian picked up the wine bottle from my table and examined it. “But the bottle you ordered is too light. I’ll have the server open a better one.” The server brought the wine he ordered. Julian personally poured two glasses, pushing one towards me and handing one to Chloe. Chloe, being pregnant, naturally didn’t drink. He asked me, “How’s the taste?” “It’s alright.” “Just ‘alright’?” His smile deepened. “I remember you used to love this wine, said it had… a bitter almond aroma.” “People’s tastes change,” I put down my glass. “What seemed good before, now, it’s just ‘whatever’.” Julian’s gaze deepened. But he quickly smiled again, turning to put an arm around Chloe’s shoulders. “Hear that?” He leaned in and smiled at her, his tone doting. “Your sister is teaching you a lesson: don’t take men too seriously.” Chloe playfully slapped his chest. “What about you? Can I take you seriously?” “Me?” Julian looked up, his gaze landing on my face, but his words were for her. “Someone like me, you should just have fun with, never take it seriously.” He said it flippantly, as if expecting me to coldly stand up and leave, as I had in the past. To leave them to their private space. But I was not so obliging. I simply picked up my wine glass and took another sip. It wasn’t until I received a message that my friend couldn’t make it that I finally stood up. “My friend was delayed,” I said, rising. “Please excuse me.” As I turned to leave. Chloe suddenly spoke. “Elara, it’s Mr. Hayes’s birthday next week. We’re having a yacht party. You should come too?” I paused. “You must come,” Chloe’s voice turned syrupy. “Mr. Hayes said the birthday gift he most wants to receive is…” She deliberately paused, looking at Julian. He reached out, pinching her cheek, scolding her playfully, “You talk too much.” I nodded. “If you’re not afraid of me crashing the party, then I can go.” I didn’t look at them as I walked out of the restaurant. Their laughter was muffled by the glass windows, gradually fading away. When I returned to the villa at seven, Mrs. Davis was in the kitchen, stewing soup. “Ms. Hayes, you’re back?” “Mr. Hayes just called to say he’ll be late. Should I save him some soup?” “No need,” I put down my bag. “He won’t be coming back.” Mrs. Davis hesitated. “Then… are you sleeping here tonight?” My hand, unbuttoning my coat, paused. “What do you mean?” “During your business trip these past few days,” Mrs. Davis’s voice grew softer, “Ms. Chloe… moved in.” The air was silent for two seconds. I continued unbuttoning my coat, one button, then another. “Which room is she sleeping in?” “The master bedroom… for four consecutive nights. Mr. Hayes… was there too.” I nodded. “Ms. Hayes,” Mrs. Davis hesitated, “It’s not that I didn’t want to tell you, but Mr. Hayes said you’d be upset if you knew, and he told me to…” “It’s alright, I don’t blame you.” I looked up, surveying the living room. Every piece of furniture here I picked, every painting I hung. He was very satisfied. He always said, “Elara, this house only feels like a home with you in it.” Now, this house was no different from a hotel. Anyone could come and spend a few nights. With that, I went upstairs. Pushing open the master bedroom door, a strange, sweet scent wafted over me. The bedsheets had been changed, and my skincare products on the vanity were pushed into a corner. For these four years, I had checked his SnapChat message logs, tracked which apartment his assistant sent flowers to… Now, as I tossed my wedding ring, I suddenly felt a wave of lightness. My phone received a flight alert: “Ms. Hayes, your urgent flight coordination is confirmed and will depart at midnight.”
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