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—”

“Six billion.”

I lifted my paddle slowly, a calm smile curling on my lips.

Gasps rippled through the room. All eyes swiveled toward me.

“Elena! Are you insane? You’re bidding against me?”

Nathaniel turned in his seat, stunned and furious. “Sit down! You’re humiliating yourself!”

I met his glare without flinching.

“You can flatter your little girlfriend all you want,” I said evenly, “but if I like this piece, I’ll bid on it. Is that a problem?”

He choked on his reply. The number—one billion more than his last—made him hesitate. His jaw clenched.

But then Delilah looked at him with wide, expectant eyes, like a puppy waiting for a treat. Her fingers tightened on his sleeve, and he faltered.

“Six-point-five billion,” he growled, raising his paddle again.

“Seven billion.”

I didn’t even blink.

Nathaniel’s face darkened. His eyes blazed.

“You’re doing this on purpose. Are you trying to humiliate me in front of everyone?”

“Where did you even get seven billion? You don’t have that kind of money!”

I remained silent.

The auctioneer stepped in, his tone professional.

“Ms. Whitmore has deposited the full bidding amount prior to the event. She meets all requirements to participate.”

Whispers filled the room.

Nathaniel’s frown deepened. He clearly hadn’t expected this. After all, during our marriage, he controlled everything—every account, every asset. I had been the perfect housewife, relying on him for monthly allowances.

How could I possibly have that kind of money?

“Mr. Langford,” the auctioneer prompted, “will you continue?”

I tilted my head, giving him a sweet, taunting smile.

He didn’t answer immediately. He looked down, his brow furrowed in calculation. For a moment, it looked like he might back down.

Then Delilah tugged on his sleeve again, her voice trembling.

“You said this would be my confession gift, Mr. Langford…”

That did it.

He couldn’t stand her pitiful face.

“I’ll light the sky lantern!”

He raised his paddle defiantly.

“Whatever price she goes for, I’ll outbid it. I’m winning this tonight—no matter what.”

The crowd burst into excited murmurs. Cameras clicked. Onlookers swooned.

“Mr. Langford is incredible! So generous!”

“Five billion, six billion… Now seven? He’s madly in love with Miss Vance!”

“Mrs. Langford must be burning with shame—how pathetic.”

Delilah flung herself into his arms, her eyes glistening. She looked like the victor.

And Nathaniel? Surrounded by adoration, he looked pleased with himself—like a man standing at the very peak of his life.

I smiled quietly to myself.

Savor it, Nathaniel. This moment will be the last time you shine.

As if on cue, a staff member hurried over and whispered to the auctioneer, who quickly paled. He cleared his throat and stepped forward, face stiff with discomfort.

“I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Langford,” he said cautiously, “but there appears to be an issue with your account.”