There they were, in the bed again, caught red-handed. But this time, it was me lying there naked with a stranger. And for the first time, Jack Murray showed a reaction. It lasted a second. He quickly regained his composure, even tearing open a condom for me. Calm. Casual. “I said we’d have an open marriage, no strings attached. Looks like you finally listened.” Then, with a chilling smile, he handed a condom to the man on top of me. “Be careful. Don’t let her get pregnant.” As he walked away, he offered one last piece of advice. “I’m right next door. Have fun. Run out of ideas, just ask me for tips.” I watched him walk away without a glance back. This five-year marriage had to end. “Ms. Hayes, should we… continue?” The man looked at me, a hint of pity in his eyes. I stumbled from the bed, fumbling with my clothes, my heart a raw wound of humiliation and grief. I pulled out a wad of cash and handed it to him. “What happened tonight, it never leaves this room.” As I left the room, Jack was waiting in the hallway, his arm around his latest fling. He eyed me with a smirk that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Thought you finally grew a spine. Is that all you’ve got?” I froze, looking up at him. Jack chuckled. “Audrey Hayes, we have an understanding. Even if you did sleep with someone, I’d never make the pathetic scene you just did. Don’t worry. I’m the picture of understanding.” His words hit me like a physical blow, stealing my breath. He was right. He was understanding. In a situation like that, even if it was just an act, no man would react as casually as Jack had. No other man would dismiss it so lightly. He simply didn’t care. He didn’t care about me. So no matter what I did, it wouldn’t stir a single ripple in his heart. Between us, the one who always struggled with being “understanding” was me. That’s why five years ago, when I first found him in bed with someone else, my reaction was so drastically different from his. I smashed everything I could get my hands on, crying hysterically, like a total lunatic. But Jack? He remained utterly calm, just watching me quietly, before letting out a sigh. “Audrey, this is just an arranged marriage. Why are you making such a spectacle of yourself?” It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me, chilling my heart to its core. Jack would never understand how I felt then, just as he would never know how my heart soared to the heavens when I learned he was my arranged fiancé. Because of his words, I, his wife in name only, lost the right to even question his subsequent gossip and scandals. Facing one caught-in-the-act after another, I gradually transitioned from hysterical outbursts to a numb, resigned calm. Like now. I was still hurting, but I could finally accept the fact that our marriage was truly ending. I looked at Jack, gathered my composure, and, mimicking his smirk, curved my lips into a smile. “Poor acting, I know. My apologies.” Jack blinked, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. For the first time, he seemed genuinely unsure of me. But the woman beside him, Scarlett Reed, snickered. She leaned into him, her voice playful. “Jack, honey, how can you talk to Ms. Hayes like that?” “She went through all that trouble, stripping herself down and throwing herself at another man, just to get your attention, to make you jealous! You’re making her lose face!” She playfully pushed Jack toward me, poking his chest. “Go on, comfort her! Look, Ms. Hayes is about to cry.” Jack glanced at me, then offered a dismissive smile. “It’s just an arranged marriage. I have no obligation to comfort anyone.” “Everyone needs to manage their own emotions. If you don’t want to humiliate yourself further, don’t pull ridiculous stunts like this again.” He wrapped his arm around Scarlett’s slender waist once more. “I promised to spend tonight with you. I can’t go back on my word, can I?” Without another glance, he turned and led Scarlett into their room. The moment the door closed, Scarlett looked back at me, her eyes glinting with undisguised triumph and provocation. Soon after, muffled, intimate sounds began to emanate from behind the door. It was as if they were determined to make sure I heard every single sound, to break me with their forced display. They knew I hadn’t left, and I knew they were doing it on purpose. I don’t know how long I stood there, until my legs went completely numb. Then I shakily made my way home and called my lawyer. “Draft up a divorce agreement for me. Get it to me as soon as possible.” Since Jack kept insisting it was just an arranged marriage, then surely it wouldn’t matter if I just… found a new arrangement. After all, what difference did it make who I was arranged to marry?
Jack had been gone longer this time. He was a ghost for nearly half a month, but Scarlett’s Ins stories updated punctually every night. Auctions, galas, exclusive parties, even the private island where Jack and I had gone for our honeymoon-her presence was everywhere. Scarlett truly deserved her title as the one who’d been by Jack’s side the longest; she always knew exactly how to twist the knife. Everything she did felt less like showing off and more like a deliberate provocation. But unfortunately for her, she was going to be disappointed this time. Now that I’d decided to let go completely, I wasn’t going to waste any more emotion on Jack. Just as I closed my phone, ready to rest, a message from Scarlett popped up. “I’ve prepared a gift for you. Hope you like it.” Beneath it was a link to a trending story. The moment I clicked it open, it felt like I’d been stomped on. “Audrey Hayes, Heiress, Caught Cheating! Secret Rendezvous with Boy Toy!” Beneath the sensational headline were dozens of private photos from that night. I looked heartbroken, my eyes red from crying. But my suppressed grief and silent pain were completely twisted by the online mob, distorted into unspeakable filth. The comment section was a torrent of vile abuse. I scrolled through, trembling with rage. I was the victim in this marriage, yet the true betrayer walked away unscathed, while I became the slut publicly condemned by everyone. When I finally managed to calm down and contacted someone to take down the trending topic, they told me that someone had paid a high price to keep the story on the front page for an entire day and night. After hanging up, a wave of dread washed over me. Scarlett didn’t have that kind of power. The person backing her, the one who wanted to ruin my reputation, was Jack. I racked my brain but couldn’t understand why he hated me so much. Five years of marriage, even if it was just in name, the feelings I’d once held for him were real. My care and concern for him were genuine. Even if Jack had no feelings for me, he didn’t need to be this cruel, this spiteful. But soon enough, I got my answer. The next afternoon, Jack and I were both invited to a gala. Because I hadn’t slept all night, I had a minor incident on the way there, causing me to arrive a bit late. The banquet hall was loud, but I spotted Jack instantly. He was surrounded by a group of people, and draped bonelessly over him was, of course, Scarlett. I took a step forward, intending to approach, but then I overheard his conversation with his friends. “Jack, I saw the trending story. I can’t believe even you got cheated on! Your wife’s quite something!” “That’s what you get for always trying to steal my girls! Karma’s a bitch, huh?” Someone else joked, “Oh, come on! And you always boast about your conquests? You can’t even tell? Those pictures on the trending story clearly show it wasn’t the real deal! Your wife was obviously just putting on an act to win you back!” “But Jack, didn’t you go a bit too far this time? Keeping that story at number one, letting everyone insult and slander her? She’s still a woman. How’s she supposed to show her face in public after this?” Jack slowly picked up his glass, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “How else is she going to learn her lesson? I want to make sure she never dares to find another man again, not even to pretend.” The friend looked surprised. “That’s a double standard! You can play the field, but she can’t even have a fake fling? Are you saying your ‘open marriage, no interference’ rule only applies to others, not you?” Jack frowned, but said nothing. “You’re a cunning one, alright. You don’t fulfill your duties as a husband, but you demand she acts like a proper wife. And because of your ‘no interference’ rule, she can’t even get jealous or angry!” “As your buddy, I gotta say I’m jealous. Unlike me, my battle-axe of a wife went and caused a scene at my company last month. I was totally humiliated!” “Hey, how about this? I’ll go home later and make the same agreement with my wife, tell her we’re both free to do as we please, no interference. What do you think?” This time, Jack actually laughed. “No, don’t you dare say that. If you do, you’ll be signing your own divorce papers.” “My situation is different from yours. After all, Audrey… she’s in love with me.” His tone was a mix of smugness and teasing, but my blood instantly ran cold. So he knew I loved him.
Because I loved him, he felt free to demean me, to stomp all over my dignity, to let his endless string of mistresses walk all over me. Everything I had endured all these years, it was simply because he knew I loved him. How utterly ridiculous. Their conversation continued. “Holy crap! Jack, you’re an animal!” “But since your wife is so devoted to you, and you don’t intend to divorce her, why did you trick her into having an abortion when she was pregnant with your child?” At his words, I froze. He was right. I had been pregnant with Jack’s child. But at three months, there was an accident. The railing on the second-floor staircase suddenly became loose, and I fell. By the time I reached the hospital, the baby was gone. Not only that, the doctor announced on the spot that my body was damaged. Because my health was already fragile, it was highly unlikely I’d ever conceive again. Coincidentally, the person who performed the abortion was Scarlett. When I emerged from the operating room, Jack for the first time showed a glimmer of concern in his eyes. He walked over and held me, his voice unusually gentle. “It’s okay. The baby’s gone, but as long as you’re alright, that’s all that matters.” Back then, I was naive enough to think I’d finally touched his heart. Now, it was clear there was a hidden agenda. “The doctors said your wife’s condition was indeed critical, but with proper care, the baby might have been saved. But you? You kept it from her, sent her straight into surgery, and because of the forced abortion, she suffered permanent damage.” “I really don’t get you, Jack. Can you tell me why you did it?” Hearing this, Jack’s expression turned complex, a mix of annoyance and something else. He lit a cigarette, squinted, took a drag, and said irritably: “Why else? I wasn’t done living it up, I wasn’t ready to be a dad yet! “Besides, Audrey getting pregnant was just a way for her to get a hold over me. Our families only arranged this marriage for business. If a child interfered with the Murray Corp.’s crucial interests, it would be a huge loss, wouldn’t it?” “Her physical harm wasn’t my intention. I’ll compensate her later. And don’t ever bring this up again. If she finds out, she’ll probably throw a fit.” My body trembled uncontrollably. A tsunami of desperate emotions instantly consumed me. By the time I regained my senses, I had already walked directly in front of Jack. My sudden appearance silenced the entire room, leaving only the sound of breathing. Even Jack couldn’t maintain his composure. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes. He coughed, looking at me with a hint of guilt. “Since you’re here, come sit down.” I didn’t move, didn’t speak. The atmosphere became impossibly awkward. Seeing my silence, Jack’s face tightened, clearly losing face. He frowned. I knew this was his precursor to anger. I used to dread his temper, but now I simply and silently pulled the pre-drafted divorce agreement from my bag and placed it before him. “Jack, I don’t know when you’ll ever be ‘done playing,’ but I’m tired of playing along. Sign this divorce agreement, and you can play however you want. I won’t interfere, and I certainly won’t try to use a child to affect Murray Corp.’s crucial interests.” “We’re done, Jack.”
Jack stared intensely at the document, his face ashen. After a long moment, he looked at me with a cold laugh. “Are you threatening me?” I offered a bitter smile. “If that’s what you think, then yes.” He looked at me, his eyes narrowing dangerously, his voice a mix of threat and pressure. “I’m asking you one last time. Do you really want to divorce me?” I nodded without hesitation. Seeing my resolve, his friends exchanged glances, then tried to persuade me to reconsider. But my stance remained unwavering. Jack wasn’t used to being defied like this. He angrily scribbled his name on the divorce agreement, then glared at me, his voice venomous. “Audrey, you’re quite something. I dare you not to come back crying and begging me!” I ignored him, picked up the agreement, and walked away. I hadn’t gone far when their voices reached my ears again. This time, Jack’s friends were betting on how long it would take for me to return and grovel. Their chatter grew louder and more excited, until Jack finally chimed in. “Stop guessing. Three days, tops. She’ll be back, crying and begging me not to divorce her.” Hearing that, I curled my lips into a sneer. He was going to be disappointed this time. Not only would I not go back and beg him, but I was going to make sure he lost face too! My endless patience with him before was only because I loved him. But now, I had no reason to tolerate anything anymore. So, as soon as I got home, I immediately contacted the media. I extracted videos from our home surveillance showing Jack with various mistresses and uploaded them online. The most scandalous, without a doubt, was the footage of him and Scarlett. I reciprocated his methods, ensuring these stories remained trending for an entire day and night. Public opinion completely flipped. This time, the targets of ridicule and scorn were them. Jack called me incessantly during this time, but I ignored every single call. See? A knife only hurts when it cuts you. They deserved to feel the sting of public condemnation too. What I didn’t expect was a call from the hospital a few days later. “Ms. Hayes, it’s urgent! Your mother’s condition has suddenly worsened. She needs immediate surgery!” My mother had been battling illness for years. She’d just had surgery three months prior, and her health had finally started to improve. I couldn’t believe this was happening now. When I rushed to the hospital, the doctor explained the situation. “Ms. Hayes, the lesion has progressed. The procedure is extremely high-risk. Your mother’s former specialist, Dr. Henderson, left the country for a fellowship two weeks ago. At this point, only his protégé, Dr. Reed, might be able to handle it. It’s critical. You need to decide now.” Dr. Reed was Scarlett. The name hit me like a physical blow. But faced with my mother’s life, what was my pride? Before I could go looking for her, Scarlett found me first. Jack was standing beside her. Both of their faces were grim when they saw me. After I explained the situation, Scarlett said, “Ms. Hayes, that stunt you pulled online almost cost me my job. And now you’re asking for my help? Don’t you think you should apologize first?” I asked, “What do you want me to do?” Scarlett looked at me, a malicious glint in her eyes. “Unless you get down on your knees and beg me right now, I might consider it.” My eyes widened. I instinctively looked at Jack, who stood beside her. But Jack simply said, “When you ask for a favor, you need to show the right attitude. Whether your mother lives or dies is up to you.” At his words, any last shred of hope in my heart shattered. For my mother, I had no choice but to throw my pride onto the ground, to let them trample it. The moment my knees hit the floor, Scarlett’s undisguised jeers filled my ears. A while later, my mother was wheeled into surgery. After an agonizing wait, the light above the operating room finally went out. Scarlett emerged with two nurses. I rushed forward, desperate for news, but she shook her head. “I did my best, but it seems your mother’s fate was sealed. There was nothing more I could do.” But one of the nurses beside her murmured quietly, “Who says? If it weren’t for… if it weren’t for you losing focus during the surgery, the patient wouldn’t have…” She trailed off. My mind went blank. By the time I came back to myself, my palm had already connected with Scarlett’s face. “You did it on purpose! Scarlett! You did it on purpose, didn’t you!” A flicker of something like concern crossed Jack’s eyes when he saw my distress. He reached for me, ready to speak, but Scarlett’s sob made him pull back. “Audrey, no surgery is guaranteed. Scarlett is a doctor. Why are you making her out to be a villain?” “Your mother has been sick for years. This might be a relief for her. You should be thanking Scarlett, not attacking her.” In that moment, my heart turned to stone. I spent the next two weeks arranging my mother’s funeral. Then I cut all ties with that toxic place for good. As I boarded the plane, a breaking news alert flashed on my phone. “Hayes Corp and Murray Corp Alliance Terminated! Hayes and Maxwell Industries Rumored to Be Tying the Knot!” At the same time, Jack was ripped from sleep by the violent ringing of his phone!
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