I turned away in a hurry and went back to my room.

Yet my thoughts refused to settle.

I flipped through several pages of documents in my hands, but not a single word registered.

That one glance of infatuation in my youth had trapped me for three full years.

Only now did I finally see clearly.

To Fabian, I had only ever been a performance played for appearances.

To Thalia, he gave his genuine heart.

I stared at the documents for a long time, until my secretary Xiaoxue knocked on the door and brought in the asset inventory list.

“Madam, everything has been checked,” she said. “Aside from the portion invested in the company, a few pieces of jewelry are missing.”

I looked up sharply. “Which ones?”

My dowry from my parents had been extensive. Even I could not remember it all clearly.

Xiaoxue hesitated before answering, “A diamond necklace, and a wedding dress.”

The diamond necklace.

I suddenly remembered seeing it around Thalia’s neck just moments ago.

I stormed straight into Thalia’s room.

She was standing in front of a full length mirror, trying on the wedding dress.

It was the one my mother had personally designed for me, the only one of its kind in the world.

There were only six days left until Thalia and Fabian’s wedding.

So rushed.

Only then did I realize that Fabian had long arranged all of this in secret.

What I had not expected was that Thalia would dare to put on that dress.

Anger made my entire body tremble. I stepped forward and grabbed the hem of the gown.

The delicate lace tore apart. Pearls scattered across the floor, rolling away with crisp sounds.

I pulled hard at the skirt until the fabric gave off a harsh ripping sound.

Thalia curled up in pain, forced to bend over, her voice shaking. “I was wrong. I will take it off right now.”

I clenched the wedding dress tightly and stared at Thalia with cold eyes.

She lost her balance in front of the mirror and fell heavily to the floor.

The gown was in complete disarray. A large section of the skirt was torn open, pearls and lace strewn everywhere.

Thalia sat on the floor in a miserable state, tears filling her eyes as she looked at me, her tone aggrieved and fragile.

“Miss Jiang, if you wanted me to take it off, you could have just said so. Why did you have to use force?”

My face was cold as I nudged her lightly with the tip of my shoe.

“You stole my wedding dress and still dare to talk back?”

Thalia lowered her head and simply cried, like a little white flower wronged beyond measure.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded behind us.

Fabian rushed in, pushed me aside, and pulled Thalia into his arms.

I stumbled back two steps and instinctively grabbed the dressing table beside me, barely managing to steady myself.

The wedding dress slipped from my hands and fell to the floor, already ruined beyond repair.

Fabian looked at me, his eyes filled with disgust and unfamiliarity, as if I were someone he had never known.

“Yvette, I already told you. I only wanted to make up for past regrets. Why must you make things difficult for her?”

A ball of fire lodged in my chest, leaving me unable to speak for a long while.

Only after some time did I force out a sentence with difficulty.

“That was the wedding dress my mother designed by hand.”

Fabian’s voice was icy. “It is just a piece of clothing. What difference does it make to lend it to her for a few days?”

“You would rather tear it apart than let someone borrow it?”

“Do you still think you are the eldest daughter of the Yvette family? Know when to stop.”

I stood there, unmoving.

It was clearly the season of blooming spring, yet I felt cold all over.

Fabian always knew exactly where to strike to hurt me most.

That wedding dress could never be worn again.

Thalia leaned against Fabian, frowned slightly, and glanced at the ruined dress on the floor, a trace of disdain flashing through her eyes.

Fabian immediately softened his tone to comfort her.

“Do not worry. I will order a new one right away. It will definitely be ready in time for the wedding.”

I bent down, picked up the tattered wedding dress, and left in silence.

It felt as if someone were gripping my chest tightly, the pain so intense I could barely breathe.

Just endure a few more days. Once the procedures are done, I will leave.

I converted most of my dowry jewelry and properties into cash and stored it away properly.

Fabian ignored me the entire day and only appeared in the evening.

He told me that my father had been reassigned to an overseas branch and would be leaving in three days. My mother would accompany him.

Fabian stood at the doorway, backlit, his handsome face half hidden in shadow.

“Yvette, if you had not married me, you would already be a fallen heiress by now.”

“I have said it before. What I have with Thalia is only a formality, a way to make up for past regrets.”

“Your position as Mrs Fabian will not be shaken.”

I remained silent.

Had I not fallen for Fabian at first sight back then, had my family formed a marriage alliance with another Jiangcheng elite family instead, I would not have ended up in such a situation, forced to endure these humiliations.

Seeing that I did not speak, Fabian pulled a diamond ring from his pocket and threw it heavily onto the dressing table.

“You lied to me and secretly sold it.”

He bit down hard on the word lied, his anger unmistakable.

I replied calmly, “If I no longer want it and sold it, what is the problem?”

Fabian frowned deeply. “The secretary said you have been selling off a lot of your dowry lately.”

He stared at me, his gaze sharp and oppressive.

“You do not wear jewelry and you do not attend social events. What do you need so much money for?”

I met Fabian’s gaze steadily. “My father has been transferred. The overseas journey is long, and many things require arrangements.”

That was not entirely untrue.

Fabian threw the items I had sold onto the dressing table one by one. Jewelry clashed against each other, producing crisp sounds.

His expression darkened. “Everything I gave you, you sold it all.”

“Yvette, are you trying to spite me?”

I lowered my head and organized the necklaces, placing them into the jewelry box one by one.

With a soft click, the lid closed.

I could take them abroad and sell them later. Fabian would not be able to control things that far away.

I said softly, “No.”

I was not acting out of spite.

The things Fabian gave me had long since lost their meaning.

Fabian sneered. “Thalia is the one I was meant to spend my life with. You are not qualified to be jealous of her.”

I replied numbly, “I know. Then let us divorce.”

Fabian’s true love was Thalia. They were the ones meant for each other.

He had said this far too many times already. I was tired of hearing it.

The room fell into a deathly silence.

I continued what I was doing, folding the evening gowns one by one.

Once I went abroad, these luxurious clothes would no longer be of any use.

Seeing how unusually quiet I was today, Fabian’s tone softened slightly. “Leave these things to the servants.”

I gave a perfunctory tug at my lips and answered casually, “Alright.”

There were only two days left until Fabian and Thalia’s wedding.

The villa was filled with festive decorations. Even the area outside my secluded room had not been spared.

I could see them the moment I pushed the window open.

On the red banners were words written in Fabian’s own hand.

To hold your hand and grow old together.

To gain one true heart and never part until white hair.

Three years ago, when Fabian and I got married, there had been nothing like this.

I stood quietly by the window.

Thalia appeared at the far end of the corridor.

She looked especially happy today, her brows curved with delight, her steps light as she walked toward me.

The hem of her white wedding dress floated like clouds.

Thalia stopped at my door, her tone gentle and innocent.

“Miss Jiang, what kind of necklace do you think I should choose for the wedding day?”

Thalia was wearing the wedding dress she had just tried on. Her hair had not yet been styled, making her look like an innocent young girl.

I said calmly, “This is not your first wedding. Shouldn’t you have experience already? Why come to ask me?”

Thalia froze at once. Her face drained of all color.

Her lips moved, but not a single word came out.

Fabian appeared at the corner of the corridor at some point, his gaze cold as ice.

“Yvette, you are a woman too. Why must you use her past to provoke her?”

“It was Thalia who wanted to improve your relationship. That is why she came to ask you.”

Thalia had clearly come to show off, yet Fabian could not see it.

In Fabian’s eyes, there was only ever Thalia.

I stood at the doorway, looking down at her.

“Wear whatever necklace you like.”

“I have answered you. You can leave now.”

Thalia’s eyes reddened. She took two steps back and leaned weakly into Fabian’s arms, looking helpless and fragile.

Fabian frowned, his tone low and hard, like a warning.

“Yvette, I can make sure your family company never has a chance to recover.”

I looked at Fabian’s face, bitterness flooding my heart.

The corners of my lips stiffened. I suddenly laughed until tears came out.

Fabian, you already signed the divorce agreement.

Fabian let out a cold laugh. “If the wedding were not so close, I would go get the divorce certificate with you right now.”

Cruel words had always come easily to him. He never held back.

I leaned against the doorframe and watched them leave in silence.

Thalia held Fabian’s arm obediently, happiness impossible to hide on her face.

The crystal chandeliers in the corridor cast soft light on their profiles.

They truly looked like a perfect match.

I took a deep breath, steadied myself, then said to the servant beside me, “Prepare the car. I am going to the civil affairs office tomorrow.”

Back in my room, I took the divorce agreement out of the drawer, signed my name, and pressed my fingerprint.

The movements were swift, without the slightest hesitation.

With both signatures complete, the procedures were finished quickly.

Now that the Yvette family had fallen, it was only reasonable for Fabian to want to sever ties with me.

The staff at the civil affairs office did not ask a single unnecessary question.

I also transferred my household registration back to my parents’ family.

By the time I finished everything and returned to the villa, it was nearly noon.

Tomorrow was the wedding. The entire villa was bustling with activity.

No one had the energy to pay me any attention anymore.

I returned to my room and organized the things I would take with me.

Two suitcases were packed quickly. I had someone send them out of the villa first, then sent a message to my parents.

The flight was early tomorrow morning.

The room was cleaned spotless, as if no one had ever lived there.

That evening, Fabian’s assistant delivered a set of formal attire.

With his head lowered, the assistant said, “This was sent by President Shen. He personally selected the fabric two months ago.”

“He said Madam could wear it to the wedding tomorrow.”

The custom silk shimmered softly under the warm yellow light.

The servant took the outfit, but the assistant remained standing at the doorway.

“President Shen asked me to pass on a message,” he added. “What he said yesterday was spoken in anger. He hopes you will not take it to heart.”

The words Fabian spoke were like water already poured out.

And my wounds were still aching faintly.

I was silent for a moment, then simply nodded to show that I had heard him.