On the wedding day, my husband’s assistant concocted a reason to get me out of the venue. She donned the wedding dress and beat me to the stage, staging a wedding drama. Astonishingly, when my husband found out, he didn’t stop her; instead, he clasped hands with the assistant, gazing into her eyes with a blissful expression as they completed the wedding ceremony. As I realized what was happening and was about to confront him, my husband harshly rebuked me: “You were late and missed the auspicious time for the wedding. Why should everyone wait for you? Must you be so selfish?” “Phoebe was just trying to help us get the wedding ready. Don’t take advantage and act innocent. At worst, I’ll arrange another ceremony for you!” Our friends were all stunned, expecting an outburst from me due to my husband’s outrageous remarks. But I nodded, agreeing with him. Seeing my calm demeanor, he seemed quite pleased and promised to arrange another ceremony for me when he had time. However, he seemed to forget that we had just signed a divorce agreement yesterday. After removing the bride’s veil and handing it to my husband, Asher Thompson, I ignored the subtle expressions of him and those around us and left the wedding hotel directly. Even as I exited, Asher didn’t come after me. Behind me, thunderous applause erupted as he and Phoebe Carter were ushered onto the stage by the crowd. I knew Asher had long seen through Phoebe’s plan but chose to indulge her. Even if I investigated now, it would be useless. He probably already destroyed all evidence of Phoebe’s scheme, as he always did. In the past, I might have been angry and devastated. But now, I felt unexpectedly calm and simply went home to take a nap. Asher didn’t like hassles, so I had been the one bustling around for the wedding. To ensure everything went smoothly, I had been preparing every day after work, carefully selecting the hotel, staying up to pick the wedding invitation and party favors. Just yesterday, I rehearsed until the early hours, and my heart still aches from it. Looking back, it hardly seemed worth it. I should have just done a half-hearted job. I was dozing off when a call from Asher woke me. “Adeline Brooks, the wedding’s over. Where are you?” Hearing his cheerful voice on the other end was amusing. I had been back for quite a while, and he hadn’t even noticed. Or maybe he noticed but simply didn’t care to think about me. I yawned, “I’m at home.” There was a brief silence. “Adeline, are you still mad about the wedding?” He asked in his usual feigned ignorance. But this time, he guessed wrong. I wasn’t angry, just a little bored. “No,” I said truthfully. He didn’t believe me at all: “I know you’re upset, but this is really your fault.” “There were many important guests today, most of them our business partners. Why should they wait for just you? If they found out the bride was late, they might question our capabilities.” “I’m doing this for the company. If you don’t understand, that’s fine, but what right do you have to be jealous and angry here?” “Moreover, Phoebe was under a lot of pressure today. She came up with this backup plan in such a short time and even took on a lot of drinking on your behalf. By logic, you should thank her.” Hearing his absurd reasoning made me laugh. I even suspected someone must have stolen his brain amidst the wedding crowd. Before I could speak, Phoebe’s sweet voice chimed in, “Asher, don’t blame Adeline. She surely didn’t mean to. Besides, didn’t you already give me a raise? No need for Adeline to thank me.” “One thing is separate from another. Salary is salary, gratitude is gratitude.” “But helping Adeline is helping the company, and helping the company is helping myself, right?” Their back-and-forth made me nauseous, but I was used to it. Asher has always pampered Phoebe unconditionally. At work, everyone has to call him Mr. Thompson, but only Phoebe can call him “Asher.” Others get harshly berated for small mistakes, but no matter how big a mess Phoebe makes, Asher turns a blind eye. A month ago, Phoebe’s mistake ruined a multi-million dollar deal. The whole company was outraged, but to calm everyone down, Asher pinned the blame on me without even discussing it, docking my annual salary. I confronted him, and he was indifferent: “We’ve been together for so many years. Why are you fussing over a small matter?” “This amount is nothing to you, but Phoebe has less means. How would she live if I docked her salary?” “If it’s a big deal, I’ll compensate you, okay?” This wedding was supposed to be my compensation. Seeing me silent, Asher sighed: “Adeline, can’t you learn from Phoebe? She’s younger than you and more mature.” “When something goes wrong, she’s always quick to find solutions. She even invited her parents for the wedding to make it perfect.” “You have no parents, so they can’t come. But you can’t just refuse to communicate and leave the mess whenever you’re angry.” Hearing him mention my parents made me scoff. His house caught fire when he was a child, and he was the only one home. My dad rushed in to save him, got severely burned, and died despite rescue efforts. My mom died shortly after from grief. The night my mom passed, he held me as I cried, promising over and over he’d never leave me. But it’s only been eight years, and now their deaths became my flaw compared to Phoebe. In the past, I’d have been emotionally shattered and started a huge fight with him. But now, perhaps because I was prepared for his ridiculous actions for Phoebe, my heart was surprisingly calm. “You’re right. It’s my fault,” I said softly. Perhaps my calm tone made Asher’s attitude soften a bit. “It’s okay to be wrong. As long as you admit it and change, it’s fine. Listen to me now, apologize to Phoebe, and compensate her with a set of…” Before he could finish, I interrupted. “You misunderstood.” “What I meant was, I shouldn’t have come to you in the first place, shouldn’t have gotten a marriage certificate with you first, and shouldn’t have let my dad save an ungrateful person like you.” Asher paused, embarrassed and angry, he coldly questioned me, “Adeline, what do you mean?” Hearing his anger, I didn’t apologize like before, trying to soothe him. Instead, I spoke calmly. “Asher Thompson, let’s get a divorce.” As soon as I said it, Asher was taken aback. “What did you say?” “Adeline, don’t take advantage and act innocent. You’re divorcing me over this one small thing?” I thought he’d explode in rage and agree immediately. I even heard him calling Phoebe’s name in his sleep a few days ago. He likes her so much, wouldn’t he be happy if I divorced him and let them be together? But surprisingly, Asher took a deep breath, and his tone became unexpectedly gentle. “Adeline, I know you’re just saying this out of anger, so I won’t hold it against you.” “Stop making a scene. Divorce is a hurtful thing to say, and we’ve been together for so many years. How can we just divorce like that?” “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Don’t say it again in the future.” “By the way, we just got notified of a business trip these days. I’ll give you a month’s leave to calm down.” With that, Asher hung up the phone. As soon as the call ended, I heard him explaining to Phoebe in a low voice: “I can’t help it. Divorce is complicated, and there’s the matter of dividing assets…” I didn’t hear the rest, but I understood. He was probably afraid I’d take some of his assets if we divorced. I couldn’t help but snicker, not knowing what to say. Asher tells Phoebe everything, from what he eats to the company’s core secrets. I once warned him to be careful, but he dismissed me, saying he trusts Phoebe. He gives her so much trust but uses the darkest thoughts to speculate about me. But it doesn’t matter now. I contacted a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement. To expedite the divorce, I chose to leave with nothing. Then I texted HR to resign. HR didn’t know my relationship with Asher and quickly replied in an official manner. “Mr. Thompson and Ms. Carter are on their honeymoon. I wouldn’t dare disturb them now. Please bring this up again after a month.” I wasn’t surprised. I had already guessed that Asher’s “business trip” was a lie. His wedding was the talk of the town. How could anyone ask him to handle business now? “I can’t wait. Please accept it now and give it to him after the honeymoon. I’ll be responsible for any issues.” HR hesitated, but after my repeated assurances, he agreed to submit it. Asher and I had an eight-year contract, which expired two years ago, but he never renewed it. Whether he forgot or just didn’t care. After all, his focus has been more on Phoebe in recent years. It’s better this way. I don’t even need his approval to resign. Then I called a friend far away. Once she learned my intention, she was delighted and eager to have me join their company. HR was a bit hesitant, but after I reassured him several times about my decision to resign, he agreed to help me submit it. I had an eight-year contract with Asher Thompson, which actually expired two years ago, but he never bothered to renew it. I’m not sure if he forgot or just didn’t care. His attention has been more on Phoebe Carter these past few years. This way, I don’t even need his approval to leave the company. I immediately called a friend who was far away. When she heard about my plans, she was thrilled and insisted I join her new company. She had recently started it, but despite everything being set, she lacked a strong technical leader. She had asked me several times to join her, but I had always turned her down. The company that Asher and I started felt like my own child. We began by renting a small space to save money, just the two of us, and now it’s about to go public with an entire building. Even though Asher never gave me any shares, I never complained. Looking back, I realize I was too invested. I agreed to my friend’s offer without hesitation and bought a ticket to Hawaii. As soon as I landed, I saw her waiting in the airport lobby. She rushed over to take my luggage and asked how I was doing. I felt a bit uneasy and laughed, saying, “No need for all the formalities between friends.” She smiled and said, “It’s because we’re such good friends that I want to make sure you’re well taken care of.” Her words reminded me of when Asher asked me to leave a high-paying job to start a business with him. He just sent me an address, and I dragged my luggage, sweating and taking detours to his remote apartment. When I arrived, he was in pajamas, playing video games with someone else. He didn’t say it, but I could tell he was annoyed that I came at a bad time. After he finished the game, I joked about why he didn’t pick me up and if he wasn’t worried something might happen to me. He scoffed and said, “What could possibly happen in broad daylight? Besides, we’re like an old married couple. You could come on your own, no need for a pickup.” Thinking back, being “close” was just an excuse. The real issue was the lack of care. That afternoon, my friend took me to see a house, and after we settled on a place, she invited some friends to dinner at a fancy hotel. She went to park the car, and I went up first. As soon as I walked through the revolving door, I heard a familiar voice. “Hey, isn’t that Adeline Brooks?” I instinctively turned my head and saw Asher Thompson and Phoebe Carter holding hands at the front desk. Seeing me, Asher quickly pulled his hand away, while Phoebe’s face showed displeasure, which she quickly masked with a smile. “Adeline, I just heard from HR that you were looking for Asher. Why didn’t you just call him? Why come here in person?” Asher seemed to realize something and frowned. “Are you following me?” “What do you mean by that? Are you saying you don’t trust me?” I found it amusing and didn’t bother explaining much. “I’m not following you. I’m here to meet a friend.” Asher clearly didn’t believe me. “Come on, I know if you have any friends. If you’re following me, just admit it. Why lie?” He smirked, like he could see right through me. I was silent, unsure of what to say. He knew I was away from home with few friends, yet he still chose to leave me alone in that city to “cool off.” But I remember last year when he claimed to go home for the holidays, he was actually with Phoebe, saying she was upset and had no friends there, worried she might do something rash. “Asher, since Adeline is here, you two should talk. Oh, and can I have the room key?” Phoebe smiled and extended her hand to Asher. He naturally took out the room key and handed it to her. “I’ll wait for you upstairs,” she said. Before leaving, Phoebe gave me a smug look. It was obvious what she meant: they had booked a room together. Asher seemed to realize something, his expression briefly panicked. “The front desk said there was only one room left. Don’t overthink it. It’s a suite; I’m sleeping on the couch.” But I remembered his habit of always having the assistant book hotels in advance, whether on business trips or vacations. I couldn’t be bothered to expose him. I took out the prepared divorce agreement from my bag. I had planned to have him sign it after settling my new job, but since we met here, it was a good opportunity. “What’s this?” Asher opened it, puzzled. Just as he started to read, Phoebe’s scream echoed from upstairs. “Phoebe, what’s wrong?” Asher asked, worried. Without even looking at the document, he hastily signed it and was about to leave. “Aren’t you going to see what you just signed?” I couldn’t help but ask. Asher replied indifferently, “What else could it be besides asking for money?” Without waiting for my response, he hurried away. I chuckled to myself. His rushed departure reminded me of a few years ago when I fell seriously ill and was lying in a hospital bed without money for surgery. Asher assured me not to worry and that he’d find a way. That night, I woke up to see him exhausted, making call after call to borrow money for me. From that moment, I promised myself I would never let him down, no matter what happened. As our company grew and money was no longer an issue, Asher and I could never return to those days. I put the divorce agreement back in my bag. In a month, when the legal waiting period for divorce ends, there’ll be nothing between Asher and me anymore. By the time I took the elevator to the private room, everyone was already there. After a few drinks, my friend pulled me aside, reminiscing about the past. She asked if I had a boyfriend, considering I had turned down her entrepreneurship offers multiple times. Previously, Asher didn’t want to make our relationship public, so few people knew. Even during the wedding ceremony, he only invited business partners, excluding family and friends. He explained that we were in another city, and announcing our wedding would seem like a ploy for monetary gifts. It was better to marry quietly and arrange another ceremony later. Back then, I didn’t think much of it. But now, it seems he was creating an opportunity for Phoebe to be the bride. “I’m already divorced,” I said calmly. The room instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at me, unsure if they should offer comfort. I raised my glass first. “It’s just a jerk. Divorce is a good thing. From now on, I’ll stay here and make big money with you all!” “Yes, make big money!” The room quickly became lively again as everyone raised their glasses. The next day, I successfully signed a contract with my friend and focused on my career. The business developed smoothly, and with the latest technology, it thrived, tripling profits in just half a month. My friend was thrilled and organized a celebration at a tourist spot outside the city. I didn’t expect to run into Asher and Phoebe there again. They sat by the bonfire, Asher peeling shrimp for her. Phoebe said something, and Asher laughed, feeding her a shrimp. Then he playfully tried to smear her face with shrimp juice, and she laughed, dodging him. When he finally succeeded, she dove into his arms. Asher’s face turned red, clearly enjoying it. I remembered that Asher never liked me playing such childish games. He often complained that shrimp made hands dirty and didn’t like eating them. I used to peel them and coax him to eat. I had to admit, since being with Phoebe, he had changed a lot. “What a sweet couple,” my friend said, approaching with a teasing smile. “Jealous?” I shook my head with a faint smile. “Too messy.” My friend looked confused. I didn’t explain and turned to leave. I thought Asher wouldn’t notice me with so many people around. But as soon as I turned, Asher called out coldly, “Adeline!” He strode toward us, and I quickened my pace, not wanting to see him. I thought he’d give up, but surprisingly, he ignored others’ looks and rushed over. “Adeline, are you deaf? Didn’t you hear me calling?” Knowing his personality, I stopped and coolly asked, “What do you want?” Asher seemed puzzled by my indifferent attitude, momentarily at a loss for words. Phoebe was the first to greet me. “Adeline, what a coincidence meeting you again. I didn’t expect to run into you twice here.” Her words had an undertone. Asher picked up on it too, his gaze darkening. “Are you still following me here?” he asked. I was speechless. “I’m not following you, just a coincidence.” “Hah, once is a coincidence, twice too? I can’t believe it!” “And if you weren’t following, why run away just now?” Asher looked at me with suspicion, clearly only believing his own doubts. Phoebe, looking pitiful, said, “Asher, don’t fight with Adeline. Maybe I should go back and let her keep you company. I initially wanted her to accompany you on this business trip.” “What are you doing here? Are you tailing me?” I was momentarily at a loss for words. “I’m not tailing you; it was just a coincidence.” “Ha, a coincidence once, maybe, but twice? I don’t buy it. Things can’t be that coincidental!” “Besides, if you weren’t following me, why did you look so guilty just now? Why did you run off?” Asher Thompson gave me a cold stare, his eyes brimming with disdain. He seemed intent on trusting only his own suspicions. Just then, Phoebe Carter chimed in, sounding hurt, “Asher, please don’t argue with Adeline Brooks. Maybe I should just head back and let Adeline accompany you. I actually wanted her to join you on this business trip.” “If I’m with you, people are bound to speculate.” Asher Thompson’s face showed some hesitation initially, but hearing her, he spoke more firmly. “Who’s going to speculate?” “We’re just going on this business trip openly and honestly; only small-minded people would read into it!” As he spoke, he cast a cold glance my way, clearly implying that I was the small-minded one. I found it amusing. I expected Asher Thompson to launch into one of his typical tirades after Phoebe’s complaints. But unexpectedly, his expression softened a bit, and he sighed. “Adeline, could you stop overthinking? It’s exhausting for me.” “I promise, once we get back, I’ll organize a wedding for you. Can you just head back for now?” “Besides, we’re already legally married. What are you worried about?” Turns out, he really didn’t know he’d already signed the divorce papers. Now he wants to use a wedding to brush me off and prevent me from ruining their honeymoon? The more I thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. “Organize a wedding?” I let out a light laugh, pulled the divorce agreement from my bag, and tossed it in front of him. “Seems like you’ve really forgotten, Asher Thompson. We’re already divorced.”
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