I’d been in love with Liam Hayes for seven years. Three years after our wedding, the one I’d wished for more than anything, I wanted a divorce. On our anniversary, Liam ditched me to be with his first love. My heart utterly crushed, I prepared the divorce papers the very next day and handed them to him. He didn’t even hesitate before signing. But when it truly came down to it, Liam’s eyes turned red, and he begged me not to leave. It was the third year of my marriage to Liam Hayes, and I wanted out. “Mrs. Hayes, this is the third-anniversary gift Mr. Hayes prepared for you.” Three years married, and Liam barely came home. Even on our third wedding anniversary, he just had his assistant send a gift. I barely glanced at the exquisite jewelry box sitting in front of me, not bothering to pick it up. “Where is he?” “Mr. Hayes is away on a business trip.” I pursed my lips, a bitter ache twisting in my chest. Looking back, I’d seen Liam’s assistant more times than I’d seen Liam himself over these past three years. I casually took the jewelry, just about to call my besties to blow off some steam, when suddenly, rows of pop-up comments flashed before my eyes. 【Chloe, you’re so clueless! Your husband’s never home, but you have unlimited spending money every month, and you still want a divorce?!】 【OMG, girl, the male lead loves you SO much! He just doesn’t know how to say it. He’s too shy!】 【Exactly! He just loves you too much, that’s why he’s scared to see you!】 【Baby girl, Liam really is busy! If it weren’t for the branch office crisis, he would’ve been back already! You know, the male lead started preparing for your third anniversary a month ago!】 【The male lead became an orphan when he was young, he used all sorts of schemes to get his company back. It’s natural for him to feel insecure facing a girl he loves so much. If only the female lead could be more understanding!】 I was skeptical. Liam loved me? That’s a joke! Liam and I were in a strategic alliance between our families. But what Liam didn’t know was that, even before we got married, I had silently loved him for seven years. The first time I saw Liam was at the freshman orientation for high school. Liam was giving a speech as an outstanding senior student representative. While all the other guys around him were pimply and loud, Liam’s cool, detached demeanor was like a splash of cool green on a scorching summer day. What’s more, Liam’s looks were top-tier, perfectly fitting my aesthetic. Liam was a big deal at school, not just for his incredible looks, but also for his off-the-charts intelligence. He was the academic powerhouse everyone talked about. Falling for Liam was almost inevitable. It’s just that the distance between us felt too vast, something I couldn’t bridge no matter how fast I ran. So, when I heard Liam was to be my husband in a business marriage, I was practically ecstatic. In the early days of our marriage, I was full of passion, eager to make things work with Liam. I’d never lifted a finger in the kitchen before, but after we got married, I worked tirelessly honing my cooking skills. After cutting three fingers and enduring countless oil burns, I finally cooked my first dish. Full of excitement, I rushed to Liam’s office, hoping he could have my special homemade lunch early. But the moment I arrived, his secretary blocked me. “I’m sorry, Ms. Chen, Mr. Hayes is busy. You can’t go in without an appointment.” I called Liam again and again, but he didn’t pick up. I waited for over an hour in the busy lobby, standing there as people bustled around. I could even hear the whispers of those nearby. Eventually, Liam’s assistant came downstairs to deliver some documents, saw me, and finally led me to Liam’s office. But the moment I saw Liam, all my sadness vanished. I joyfully arranged the dishes I’d cooked in front of him. “Taste it! I made it especially for you!” Compared to my excitement, Liam was merely indifferent. He took one bite, frowned, and didn’t touch his forks again. “From now on, the housekeeper can handle these things.” “My assistant also prepares lunch for me. You don’t have to bother bringing it.”
My eager enthusiasm was instantly doused with ice water. Later, I tried various ways to get closer to Liam. But… The thoughtful gifts I painstakingly chose always ended up gathering dust in a cabinet. My messages to him went unanswered, like stones dropped into the ocean. At company galas, Liam preferred to bring his secretary instead of me. Even in bed, Liam seemed uninterested. He’d often finish in a rushed two or three minutes, even if he clearly wasn’t satisfied. Everyone outside knew that I, Mrs. Hayes, was nothing more than a title without substance, someone anyone could step on. … After a while, even an idiot would have known that Liam didn’t love me. Yet now, the pop-up comments were telling me that Liam loved me, even loved me to his core. I scoffed. As if I’d believe those comments. I immediately called Zoe and went to a bar. My best friend, Zoe, raised an eyebrow, looking quite surprised when she saw me. “Well, well, look who it is! Isn’t today your third wedding anniversary with Liam? How do you have time to come out drinking?” I gave a bitter smile, trying to hide the disappointment in my eyes. “He’s on a business trip.” “Zoe, I’m planning to divorce him.” Zoe’s eyes widened in disbelief. She knew how much I loved Liam, so hearing about the divorce, she looked stunned. She even tugged at my cheek, suspecting I’d been possessed. I slapped her hand away and smiled. “Liam, he just doesn’t love me.” “I used to think that even if he didn’t love me, as long as I was Mrs. Hayes, I could be tied to him forever.” “Even just being by his side, I felt content.” “But Zoe, people are greedy. The longer I stayed by his side, the more I wanted. But he can’t give me what I want. It just makes me more miserable.” “Instead of making us both suffer like this, it’s better to part ways amicably.” Zoe sighed, pulling me into a comforting hug. “Chloe, I’ll support you no matter what you do!” “Out with the old, in with the new! We’ll find someone way better next time!” More comments floated across my vision. 【My poor girl, Chloe! If only she could give the male lead more time!】 【If the male lead doesn’t speak up soon, he’s going to lose his wife!】 【Nooo, baby girl! No one loves you more than the male lead!】 【Don’t panic, comments! The male lead rushed over as soon as he heard his wife was at the bar! He’s quietly protecting her from behind right now!】 Liam came? I froze, instinctively turning to search for him. He was there, at a booth not far away, raising his glass and chatting happily with the woman next to him. He was definitely *not* quietly watching me, as the comments claimed. “Liam? Why is he here? Wasn’t he on a business trip?” Zoe clearly saw Liam too. Fuming, she grabbed my arm and dragged me towards him. As we got closer, I finally got a good look at the woman beside Liam. She wore a striking red dress, her features bright and captivating. At that moment, she was clinging to Liam’s arm, playfully begging him to drink for her. Their posture was intimate. I could even see her hair draped over Liam’s arm, creating an undeniable, suggestive aura that spoke volumes of their closeness. It was a closeness Liam and I had never shared.
Perhaps he didn’t notice me, or perhaps he simply didn’t care, but Liam looked at the woman, a gentle smile on his face, and took the glass from her hand, downing it in one go. 【Oh no, oh no, the female lead is definitely going to misunderstand! Male lead, hurry and look at Chloe!】 【Baby girl, Chloe, this is just a classmate of the male lead’s. His heart is only for you.】 Watching the words on the screen, I pursed my lips. The way Liam looked at her was so tender it was practically dripping with affection. Only an idiot would believe there was nothing between them. He had never looked at me that way. If I had to rely on pop-up comments to know if Liam loved me, to find evidence, then I was truly pathetic. Besides, I was more than good enough. I didn’t *need* Liam. “Liam Hayes, is this what you call a ‘business trip’?” Seeing me, a flicker of discomfort crossed Liam’s face. He cleared his throat, about to speak, when the woman beside him stood up and generously extended her hand to me. “You must be Chloe Chen, Liam’s business marriage partner! Hello, I’m Victoria, Liam’s ex-girlfriend.” Victoria stared at me intently, her eyes filled with a mix of triumph and mockery. I knew who Victoria was. She was Liam’s high school classmate, the only one who could rival him in their academic achievements. She was his “first love,” the one everyone called the perfect couple. Their passionate high school romance was always a talked-about topic until she went overseas. Liam was reportedly in a slump for a long time because of it. Rumor had it, he even underperformed on his college entrance exams and missed out on his dream university. From the looks of it now, Victoria must have reconnected with Liam the moment she returned to the country. I didn’t shake Victoria’s hand. I just stared at Liam, unblinking. Victoria, however, pouted, then turned to Liam with a look of feigned hurt. “Liam, I told you not to come so late just to see me. Look, your wife is upset.” “Chloe, don’t be mad. I just got back to the country, and I haven’t reconnected with any of my old friends except Liam… I’m sorry, but Liam and I truly have nothing going on. Please don’t be upset…” I smelled the sickly sweet act in the air and scoffed. My eyes still on Liam, my voice was devoid of any warmth. “Liam Hayes, do you have nothing to say to me?” Liam frowned, his face unreadable. “Go home early.” My nose suddenly stung, and tears threatened to spill. At that moment, the comments section exploded. 【Ahhh, baby girl, Chloe, don’t misunderstand! It’s clearly the rival female lead who’s throwing herself at him!】 【Baby girl, you HAVE to believe the male lead! He was tricked into coming here by her! And he’s fuming right now because he saw you here and worried other guys might hit on you! Go comfort him!】 【Baby girl, Chloe, just sweet-talk the male lead, call him ‘honey,’ and he’ll give you his life!】 【Can the rival female lead just get lost already?! Spreading rumors about her intense love affair with the male lead in high school wasn’t enough, now she has to interfere in the male and female lead’s relationship!】 Upset? I scoffed again. Liam told me he was on a business trip for our anniversary, but he was here with his high school first love, and *he* was upset? What about me? Was I supposed to just accept it? Perhaps before, I still felt a tiny bit reluctant about this marriage, but at this moment, my decision to divorce was rock solid. “Liam Hayes, come back tomorrow.”
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