I knew Serena Harding’s wild reputation before our marriage of convenience. After we tied the knot, nothing changed. At the gala, she arrived arm-in-arm with another man. He even held up my wedding ring to humiliate me. “Serena bought this for you? What a loser.” My mother, Eleanor, nearly fainted. I stayed calm. “An arranged marriage isn’t about love.” Since Serena only enjoys sleeping around, then as her husband, I should take over Harding Industries. Mom stood frozen, clearly surprised by my unusual calmness. Curious gazes kept landing on me, waiting for me to punch the pretty boy and ruin the gala. I merely shifted my gaze indifferently and told my mother, “Focus on what you can control. You should go rest in the back.” Convinced at last I wasn’t unraveling, she gave a tight nod. “You know your mind. I trust you.” Turning back, Serena and Caleb Vance were already walking towards me, arm-in-arm. Caleb provocatively extended his hand, displaying the wedding ring. “Hello there, guest.” The word “guest” hung in the air, drawing everyone’s attention. Everyone at this gala was a Harding family friend or relative. Who didn’t know that Serena and I had been married for ten years, making me an undisputed Harding? A smirk touched Serena’s lips. Her gaze swung pointedly to my mother, who was about to leave. “This is my new secretary. He’s not intimidated by any occasion. Quite bold, isn’t he?” “Indeed, very bold. Daring to come to a place like this.” Mom’s face completely darkened. She never imagined Serena could be this outrageous, openly parading her boy toy in front of her mother-in-law. My eyes turned cold. “Serena, that’s enough.” I could tolerate Serena’s scandalous behavior around me because it brought me tangible benefits. But I would never allow her to involve my mother. After all, Mom had truly loved Serena like a daughter. Serena, however, scoffed, then smiled playfully at my mother. “I heard Liam’s dad used to hire a lot of secretaries, almost leading to a divorce with you. But don’t worry, I won’t be that outrageous. As long as Liam is obedient, he’ll always be the Harding family’s live-in husband.” The fact that my father, Richard Miller, nearly divorced my mother because of his affairs was a perpetual pain for Mom and a shadow over my childhood. Because I deeply loved Serena, ten years ago, when her family was on the verge of bankruptcy, I brought in billions in funding and married into the Harding family. Yet, she was now recounting my father’s scandal as if it were a joke. A profound chill superseded the pain of betrayal. Caleb suddenly stepped between my mother and me, winking playfully. “Just be a good little lapdog.” Serena affectionately stroked Caleb’s hand. “You’re so naughty.” Serena’s attitude was clear for all to see, and everyone’s gaze turned contemptuous as they looked at me. “Liam, that live-in husband gig must be so humiliating.” “Husband? More like soon to be replaced. Maybe it’ll be Caleb.” Serena ignored everyone, only looking at the person who mentioned Caleb. “Caleb is my kept man. I just happen to be particularly fond of him right now, that’s all.” The entire gala fell silent. Even though I was prepared, my heart still lurched. “Nonsense!” A thunderous, authoritative shout rang out. Mr. Harding, Serena’s grandfather, slammed his cane heavily against the floor. “Serena Harding, I think you’ve had too much to drink!” With that single sentence, he dismissed Serena’s behavior as drunken ramblings. I didn’t cause a scene as I had in the past, nor did I demand Mr. Harding intervene on my behalf. I simply calmly averted my gaze. Everyone was puzzled by my unexpected compliance until, after the gala, a contract worth ten billion dollars was placed before me. “Today’s incident was Serena’s fault. Consider this my compensation to you, and a repayment for your kindness to the Harding family ten years ago.” Ten years ago, the Harding family was manipulated and nearly went bankrupt. As the only son of Miller Enterprises, I still married into Serena’s family. But on our wedding night, I was kidnapped by Serena’s enemies. For three agonizing days, I suffered unspeakable injuries before being dumped in the busiest, most bustling street. She begged me on her knees, tears streaming down her face. “I will get revenge for you!” “My life is yours forever.” But a life is the cheapest thing; after all, she wouldn’t truly die for me. After the incident, humiliating photos of me were circulated widely online. Initially, Serena, fueled by anger, used the money I provided to rebuild her business. She not only reclaimed everything she had lost but also sent everyone who had harmed me to prison. Those shameful photos were completely deleted, and she strictly forbade anyone from ever discussing the incident. To defy her was to incur the wrath of the entire Harding family. But at some point, the story of my humiliation began to resurface within elite circles. Some even dared to ask Serena to her face if she had married a useless failure. I had just discovered the possibility of IVF using my sperm and wanted to share this joy with Serena. Though we could be intimate, my sperm couldn’t naturally fertilize her. Serena had wanted a child for many years, and I wanted to make her wish come true. Through a closed door, I overheard her coldly warning someone. “What’s there to talk about with an incompetent good-for-nothing?” She didn’t defend me as she used to, nor did she deny the “useless failure” remark. Her tone conveyed clear annoyance at being embarrassed. That seemingly casual remark was enough to make me faint from anger. Serena took me to the hospital, and the doctor on duty happened to be Caleb Vance. The moment he saw Serena, he gasped in surprise. “Is that really you!? Long time no see!”
As soon as he said that, his eyes welled up. “My sister was wrong back then. Although she’s paid the price, I still want to apologize to you on her behalf.” I looked at Serena, puzzled, but she just smiled and said, “It’s fine, it’s all in the past. You were just a kid ten years ago.” A terrifying suspicion formed in my mind. Before I could ask, Serena pushed me into the examination room. As soon as I pulled my pants back on, I heard Caleb speaking with a troubled tone to Serena. “Your husband… he has STDs, including genital warts…” Serena froze. “That’s impossible. He’s been faithful for ten years of our marriage, and I’m the only woman he’s ever been with…” “That’s not necessarily true. Men have many ways to find mistresses. You don’t have a tracking device on him, do you?” I stared at him coldly, demanding his evidence, but he just looked at Serena, aggrieved. “I’m a doctor. I have no conflict of interest with you. I’m just telling you his condition as it is. Why would I lie?” I clearly saw the name on Caleb’s ID badge pinned to his chest. I suddenly remembered the group of people who had harmed me ten years ago. Their leader was named Mara Vance. Ten years ago, her brother would have been just a teenager! So he escaped involvement. But Serena had explicitly told me she’d sent all the culprits’ families abroad to prevent me from remembering the past trauma. How could I be seeing Caleb at the hospital? I looked at Serena in disbelief, asking for her explanation. I wanted her to clarify Caleb’s identity and also to know if she believed his nonsense. But she merely smiled faintly and embraced me. “Alright, alright. No matter what illness you have, you’ll always be my husband.” Facing my shocked expression, Serena pulled me to leave. “The young boy is inexperienced and probably misdiagnosed. No big deal, don’t dwell on it.” From that moment on, my love for Serena abruptly cooled. Even my formerly strong possessiveness vanished. “Fine.” Thereafter, Serena began taking Caleb to all sorts of events. She even handed over all medical equipment deals to him. Even when it resulted in losses of hundreds of millions, she would calmly say, “He’s young and too naive. It’s normal for him to mess up.” But I discovered that all that lost money had ended up in the account of Vance Industries, the group Caleb was affiliated with. Caleb was not as naive as Serena claimed. Originally, I had no intention of dealing with Caleb, but now he was impacting my interests. In fact, he and I had the same goal. So, I couldn’t allow Caleb to stay. That was the first time I willingly cleaned up Serena’s mess, taking over the projects Caleb had botched and accepting responsibility. Serena wasn’t surprised; in fact, she seemed quite pleased. “It seems I spoiled you too much before. You’re much more agreeable now that you’re obedient and sensible.” She leaned in and kissed the tip of my nose. “I hope you’ll always be this obedient. Although you were harmed ten years ago because of me, it was truly humiliating. Losing all your manly dignity… My willingness to let you marry into my family and endure for ten years has already been a privilege.” As if realizing her words were too harsh, she pulled out an aquamarine wristwatch. “Take it. Caleb is too young for this old-fashioned color, but it suits your age perfectly, making you look more dignified and composed.” Having been in the business world for years, there was no way I couldn’t hear Serena’s subtle dig, implying I was too old and only fit for an ‘old-man’s watch.’ Yet, I accepted it with a smile. “Whatever makes you happy.” The old me would have tossed and turned for nights, anxious about whether I was truly getting old, because of Serena’s words. But now, all I cared about was whether this watch could be sold for ten million or twenty million. Let Serena play. The happier she was, the more she’d forget. And the more she’d forget, the more I would take. A wise man doesn’t chase a straying wife. He secures her assets. Serena was expendable. Harding Industries was not. After all, this was a company built on the blood and sweat of Miller Enterprises. I took the ten-billion-dollar contract Mr. Harding had given me and knocked on his office door. “Mr. Harding, since I married into the Harding family, I am a Harding. This contract is compensation for Miller Enterprises, and I don’t need it.” His eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t expected me to refuse the contract outright. “Your Miller family has been on the decline these past few years, with a market value of only a few billion last year. Are you sure you don’t want this contract?” Even though I had been married into Serena’s family for so long, Mr. Harding had never truly regarded me as a Harding, always fearing I would betray the family’s interests. I looked at him sincerely. “It would be a lie to say I’m not tempted. But as I just said, I married into Serena’s family, so I am a Harding. How could I take Harding assets to benefit Miller Enterprises? I’m not like those confused fools..” Mr. Harding’s eyes flashed with approval. “Alright, if that’s your position, then you deserve a proper stake.” “A Harding should hold Harding stock. The board convenes at month’s end. Be ready. You’ll have my vote.”
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