“Okay, I was wrong this time. I promise—it won’t happen again…”

His tone was soft, almost pleading.

“And if there’s anything you want lately, just say the word. Whatever it is, your husband will sign off on it for you.”

They’d been glued together at the company for the past six months. Everyone had seen the way they hid behind the privacy curtains of the president’s office—whispers of their intimacy spreading like wildfire through the halls.

He flaunted her on every high-end occasion, never once hiding her existence. She was his precious treasure, wrapped in silk and guarded like gold. Not even a fly was allowed near her.

And now he casually bought her a custom bag worth three hundred thousand dollars—without blinking. Yet he still had the audacity to call her “just an insignificant intern.”

In the past, I would’ve exploded. I couldn’t stand the tiniest grain of sand in my eye—much less a mistress.

But after everything in my previous life, I learned: she was Nathaniel’s reverse scale—the one thing that must not be touched.

So I swallowed my pride. I gave in.

I quietly sent my parents abroad and took over the family business.

Nathaniel, too preoccupied with the girl, never noticed my silent maneuvers.

One morning, the old housekeeper, Mrs. Watkins, gave me a kind reminder.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into the master lately. He’s always out, coming home less and less. Madam, you should keep an eye on him. Don’t let those women outside seduce him completely.”

I forced a smile.

Nathaniel had been flaunting his new love like a trophy. Lavish spending, yacht parties that lasted until sunrise, and a villa in the city that was more extravagant than a royal palace.

He even arranged a golden path for her family. Her good-for-nothing brother was now a group company manager. How convenient.

There’s no resisting a powerful, mature man who knows how to pursue what he wants.

Mrs. Watkins must have noticed the pain on my face, because she quickly changed her tone.

“Men… they’re all a little slippery. But sir has been faithful for years. Compared to most, he’s done well. As long as he’s not causing trouble at home—”

Before she could finish, Nathaniel appeared at the door, hand-in-hand with Delilah. His eyes were sharp, his voice colder than steel.

“Elena, I thought you were different from other women. I didn’t expect you to gossip behind people’s backs.”

Before I could respond, he led Delilah into the living room and settled her beside him on the sofa—like a couple claiming their home.

“I was worried about her living alone,” he said. “After thinking about it, it’s safer for her to stay here.”

Then he turned to me with a smile that felt more like a command.

“She’s still young. Look after her, would you? Make sure she doesn’t get too thin.”

I nodded, lips stretched into a polite smile. Then I turned and headed for the kitchen.

But I didn’t get far.

“No need to prep another room,” he said behind me. “She’ll be staying with me.”

I froze.

For five years of marriage, Nathaniel had never allowed anyone to sleep beside him. Even at the height of passion, he always pulled away the moment it was over—calmly wiping himself clean, tossing the towel aside, and walking away without a word.

But now, suddenly, he wanted someone next to him.

He’d fallen for her. Completely.

That night, as I passed his room, I heard the unmistakable sound of breathy moans and soft gasps.

Then her voice, sticky sweet:

“Mr. Langford, if you want… Delilah is willing…”

A pause. Then a kiss, deep and smothering.

His voice came out low, trembling with restraint:

“Silly girl. Go to sleep.”

Moments later, I heard the door to the bathroom click shut, followed by the sound of running water—loud and long.

He was holding back.

He loved her so much, he couldn’t even bring himself to touch her.

I bit down hard on my lower lip, drawing blood, and quietly slipped into his study.

In my past life, the fatal blow that destroyed my parents' company had come from a single document—a top-secret file hidden deep in his records.

The file contained highly confidential business intel—enough to crush Whitmore Holdings if it fell into the wrong hands.

This time, I wouldn’t let that happen.

I would take it first. I would be prepared.

But the moment I sat down at the desk, my breath hitched.

The wedding photo of Nathaniel and me was gone—replaced by a framed picture of Delilah, smiling with wide, innocent eyes.

It was a quiet, brutal declaration: my marriage was over.

I pushed the bitterness down and began searching through the drawers until I found the file.

Locked.

There was a password.

Panic clawed up my throat as I tried every possible code tied to Nathaniel—his birthday, mine, anniversaries, his mother’s name—but nothing worked.

Then, without thinking, my fingers tapped out a random string of numbers.

The screen flashed.

Password correct.

My heart stopped.

It was the day Nathaniel met Delilah.

Suddenly, everything blurred.

A soft voice broke the silence behind me.

“It’s late. Still awake, baby?”

I turned. He leaned against the door, half-smiling, mischief dancing in his eyes.

“Are you jealous, baby?” he asked, stepping into the room.

I took a deep breath and met his gaze coldly.

“You said she was just an insignificant intern.”

He shrugged, the look on his face strangely helpless. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Every time I see her, I feel… happy. I want to be near her all the time. It’s like I’ve been poisoned.”

Then he stepped closer, lowering his voice.

“But don’t worry. No one will ever replace you in my heart.”

He brushed against me deliberately, voice dipping even lower.

“Baby… It’s been a long time since we’ve been together. Don’t you want to?”

Disgust flashed through me.

I stepped back and pulled out a document I’d prepared earlier. “Here,” I said.

He raised an eyebrow, amused. “What’s this? Something you want? Fine, I’ll buy it for you. Anything at all.”

Without even reading it, he scrawled his signature across the page.

Goal achieved, I ducked under his arm and slipped past him, feigning fatigue.

“I’m tired. Maybe next time.”

Other women might burn themselves just to keep a man warm.

I wouldn’t be one of them.

Behind my back, I clutched the divorce agreement, a sharp thrill rising in my chest.

I was finally free.

---

A week later, Nathaniel flew abroad for a business reception. Delilah couldn’t join him—her passport application hadn’t come through yet.

So she stayed. And she made herself right at home.

She gave orders to the servants like a queen in her palace, sticking her nose in every corner of the house.

Grumbling spread like wildfire.

Mrs. Watkins came rushing to me one morning, flustered and out of breath.

“Madam, you must come quickly! Miss Vance said the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard was an eyesore and insisted on moving it. We tried to stop her, but she dragged a ladder over and climbed it herself. She says she’s ‘trimming the branches bit by bit!’”

My heart dropped.

That cherry blossom tree had been planted by my parents on our wedding day. They said it would protect me for life.

Now, Delilah was up there with garden shears, pretending to prune, but really just staking her claim.

I rushed outside and stood beneath the ladder.

“Come down,” I said calmly.

She glanced at me, defiant.

But then she spotted something behind me—a shadow moving in the distance.

She let out a sudden scream and threw herself backward.

“Ahhh!”

I watched, stunned, as she fell dramatically—straight into Nathaniel’s waiting arms.

The ladder buckled and slammed into me.

Pain exploded in my skull. Blood trickled down my forehead.

I staggered, trying to stay upright, as Nathaniel’s enraged voice pierced the air.

“Elena! Must you always make things difficult for her?”

“She fell from that height! She could’ve died!”

My voice trembled as I tried to speak.

“It… it was an accident. I didn’t—”

“Don’t play innocent!” he snapped. “I know that ladder was replaced recently. You had someone grease the steps. You wanted her to fall. You wanted her hurt!”

He looked at me with a cold, resentful glare—and all I could feel was guilt.

Delilah didn’t have so much as a scratch on her, but he rushed to scoop her into his arms and sped off to the hospital like she was made of glass.

No one noticed my legs pinned under the ladder, blood soaking through my pants.

By the time I was treated, the damage was severe. Ninety-nine stitches. The doctor said I was lucky I’d kept mobility.

I wheeled myself to the billing counter, only to spot them in the lobby—Delilah bouncing cheerfully beside him, eyes bright, skin glowing.

She spotted me too, then tilted her head with practiced innocence.

“Mr. Langford,” she said sweetly, “should we help your wife? Maybe… she didn’t mean to.”

Nathaniel glanced over.

Disgust flickered in his eyes.

He pulled her closer, shielding her as if I were the threat.

“She’s gone too far this time,” he said. “Don’t worry about her. Let her cool off.”

“For me, being with you is what matters most right now.”

They walked away, hand in hand, their backs a blur through my haze of pain.

And just like that, the last lingering shred of affection I had for Nathaniel... disappeared.

You’ve made your choice, Nathaniel.

Now it’s my turn.

And I’ve prepared a gift you won’t forget.

---

I stayed in the hospital for another two weeks before being discharged.

But I didn’t go home.

Instead, I slipped into a sleek black dress, painted my lips crimson, and headed straight for the auction house.

Nathaniel and Delilah were already seated in the front row. Their hands were linked, their expressions filled with flirtation, their body language so close they may as well have been alone.

“Delilah,” he whispered, brushing her hair behind her ear, “I’m going to win the final piece tonight—for you.”

“I want it to be my official confession.”

“But…” she bit her lip, her voice trembling just enough to sound virtuous. “Mom and Dad always taught me never to be a third party… Mr. Langford, I know you care about me, but I—I can’t do something so wrong…”

Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice choked with sorrow.

It was a performance worthy of an award.

Nathaniel fell for it completely.

“I’ll take care of everything,” he said. “You’re not a mistress. After tonight, I’ll speak to Elena about the divorce.”

Even though I had expected it—even though I had planned for this—I still felt my chest tighten at the word divorce spoken so casually from his lips.

I lowered my head and adjusted the brim of my hat, determined not to draw attention.

But he noticed me anyway.

His brow furrowed.

“What, now you’re stalking me too?” he hissed under his breath, his tone sharp.

He had forgotten. Forgotten that three months ago, I told him I wanted to bid for this specific jewelry piece—for our fifth anniversary.

I didn’t bother to remind him.

Instead, I smiled faintly. “The auction’s starting.”

He scowled. “We’ll deal with this when we get home.”

Beside him, Delilah smirked at me, triumphant. Her posture relaxed, her eyes gleaming with victory.

The final item was wheeled onto the stage beneath a velvet cloth.

When the auctioneer revealed it, Delilah’s eyes lit up. Diamonds caught the light and exploded into brilliance. She gasped, stunned by its radiance.

For the first time, Nathaniel saw wonder in her eyes. And it softened him completely.

He began raising his number paddle again and again—faster, more determined, outbidding every competitor without hesitation.

The price soared—1 billion, 2 billion, 3 billion…

Until the entire room fell into shocked silence.

“Seven hundred thousand dollars,” the auctioneer declared, his professional smile still intact though visibly strained. “Do I hear any higher?”

No one moved.

All eyes turned to Nathaniel, sitting tall and proud, drinking in the awe from the crowd and the adoration from the girl clinging to his arm.

“Mr. Langford is truly remarkable. Five billion without a blink!”

“He must be serious about Miss Vance—look at how deeply he dotes on her!”

“Mrs. Langford’s wedding jewelry only cost tens of millions. This? This is a real love confession.”

“If I were Mrs. Langford, I’d be crawling with embarrassment. What a fall from grace…”

The auctioneer lifted his gavel.

“If there are no further bids, this stunning set will go to Mr. Langford. Congratulations—”