When Cora Shepard's husband's first love, Kimberly Hayes, came back, her first move was to make Cora sign a wager.

The terms were simple. If George Lambert abandoned Cora nine times for her, Cora would give up her place as Mrs. Lambert.

Cora agreed.

The ninth time it happened, George Lambert abandoned Cora Shepard on the highway just because his first love called.

"Cora, something urgent came up. I need to go. You can get out here and take a cab home, right?"

Without waiting for her answer, he shoved an umbrella into her hands. He did not care that it was pouring outside or that she was on her period. His mind was already racing ahead to see Kimberly Hayes.

"Call me when you get home."

The moment Cora saw him enter Kimberly's address into the navigation, her heart clenched painfully.

The sports car roared away. The rain hit her sideways, soaking her dress in seconds. A biting night wind cut across her face. Cora trembled uncontrollably in the cold. She walked alone through the downpour. Her heels rubbed her feet raw, leaving them bloody.

Five hours later, she finally reached Clearwater Bay villa.

Her dress was stained crimson with blood. Clutching her cramping abdomen, she collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

Rain blurred her vision. Through the haze, she saw Kimberly approach with an umbrella, smiling.

"It hurts, doesn't it? Are you regretting that wager you signed with me now? Did you really think that after all these years, George would have even the slightest feelings for you?

"But you forgot something. He loves me most. Whatever small affection he had for you means nothing compared to that."

Cora stood shakily. Her pale face was expressionless.

"Nine times. You won. As you wished, I'll divorce George."

She stumbled forward, walking slowly toward the house. Memories of the past came flooding back with the rain.

Cora and Kimberly had been college roommates. Cora first met George during Kimberly's freshman year birthday party. One look at his cool, refined bearing made her heart race.

That day, Kimberly introduced her childhood friend George to everyone. Then, she publicly announced her new boyfriend, a campus troublemaker notorious for being a slacker.

Cora still remembered the shock, hurt, and loss of composure on George's face. She knew in that instant that he loved Kimberly.

However, Kimberly had always chased thrills. She liked rebellious bad boys who would skip class with her, race cars, and fool around in bathrooms. She had no interest in a proper, upright heir from a wealthy family like George.

She found him too controlling. Eventually, to shake him off completely, Kimberly discovered Cora's feelings and began creating chance encounters and dinner gatherings. She tried every method to push George and Cora together.

Cora witnessed George's entire journey from resistance to humiliation to numbness, and finally to acceptance.

In their junior year, they became a couple, just as Kimberly wanted. Then two years later, George proposed.

After three years of marriage, they treated each other with courtesy. Their days together were calm and warm.

Cora thought they could grow old together like this. Until a month ago, when Kimberly returned from abroad and asked to meet her. She made Cora sign a wager.

"Cora, I regret it. I want to take George back. You two have known each other for nine years, right? So, let's bet on it. If he abandons you nine times for me, you lose. You divorce him and give him back to me."

On some strange impulse, Cora agreed. She wanted to know if Kimberly still held a place in his heart.

Then she watched George rush to Kimberly's side without hesitation, over and over.

The first time was their third wedding anniversary. She knew he was fascinated by astronomy and had picked the perfect spot for an outdoor picnic, planning to watch a meteor shower with him.

Yet he turned back halfway because of a text from Kimberly, leaving Cora alone on the mountain to brave the wind all night.

The second time, she needed surgery for appendicitis. He disappeared for an entire week right before the operation to rescue Kimberly from some thugs who were harassing her.

Cora signed the surgical consent form herself. After the surgery, she endured the pain alone, going to checkups, changing dressings, and eating meals by herself.

The third time was when her grandmother died. He left the funeral to have dinner with Kimberly.

All of Cora's love for him was exhausted through being abandoned again and again. After all these years, not only did Kimberly still occupy his heart, but he had never forgotten her from the very beginning.

This time, she lost completely. She would accept her loss.

After returning home, she took a hot shower and changed into comfortable pajamas. She went to the kitchen and made herself a cup of tea.

After drinking it sip by sip, Cora finally felt like herself again.

She took out the divorce papers she had prepared the day of the wager, signed her name, and pushed them across to Kimberly.

"Take these to him to sign."

Kimberly raised an eyebrow, seeming somewhat surprised. "Why me?"

"I don't want to waste time explaining to him why I want a divorce. Only if it comes from you will he sign it without even looking."

Hearing that, Kimberly looked quite pleased as she accepted the papers. She offered some false comfort. "Don't be too upset. In a few days, I'll introduce you to a handsome guy."

"Sure."

Seeing her agree so readily, surprise flashed in Kimberly's eyes.

"You said yes? You're over George already? Just like that?"

Cora laughed softly, her tone bitter. "I've only ever loved one person with my whole heart in this life, and this is how it ended. I gave him nine chances, and he made me lose everything. If I still can't let go, I'd be pathetic. From now on, I'm only living for myself."

Just as she finished speaking, the door opened.

George, who had just returned, froze when he saw Kimberly. "Kimberly? Didn't I just drop you off at the hospital? How are you here?"

Kimberly did not explain that her sprained ankle had been fake. She simply smiled, picked up the papers, and walked over to him.

"I came to find you. Come on, help me sign this."

George's gaze stayed fixed on her. Without even looking, he signed his name where her finger pointed. After putting down the pen, he thought to ask what it was. Kimberly had intended to tell him directly, but something made her change her mind.

"It's a gift Cora and I prepared together, something really meaningful. You'll find out in a month. Don't worry, you'll definitely be surprised when you see it!"

As George heard that, his curiosity was piqued. He was about to take a closer look when Kimberly snatched the papers away and handed them to Cora. She stood up, preparing to leave.

"Well, that's settled, then. I'm heading back. Good night."

George's curiosity immediately faded. He said he would drive her home.

Kimberly shook her head and glanced at Cora with an unreadable expression. "No need. Keep Cora company instead. There's not much time left anyway."

Not much time left for what? George frowned, wanting to press further, but she had already opened the door. Instinctively, he grabbed his car keys and followed her out with a quick parting remark.

"Cora, I'm just going to drive Kimberly home. I'll be right back."

The door slammed shut.

From the moment he entered until he left, George never once looked at Cora.

She was used to it. Cora did not feel hurt. She put away the papers and returned to her room. After turning off the lights, she slowly drifted to sleep. Half an hour later, there was noise at the door. Soon after, the lights flickered on.

Cora opened her eyes groggily to see George opening a drawer and placing several boxes of condoms inside.

Then, he pulled her into his arms. His warm breath brushed against her ear. "Didn't you use to wait for me until midnight every night? How come you went to bed so early today? Hmm?"

That was before. It would never happen again.

Cora thought this silently and found a casual excuse. "I'm on my period. I'm not feeling well."

Remembering how he had abandoned her on the highway, George felt an inexplicable twinge of guilt. "I'm sorry. I forgot."

"Even if you'd remembered, would it have stopped you from leaving me there?"

The question left George speechless.

The room fell silent for a long moment before he finally spoke in a low voice. "I'm sorry, Cora. Kimberly sprained her ankle. She's been terrified of pain since childhood, so I was in a rush. I promise you, this kind of thing will absolutely not happen a second time."

Yet that had already been the ninth time.

A mocking smile flashed in Cora's eyes. "Right. It definitely won't happen again."

After all, they would be divorced soon.

…

The next morning, when Cora woke up, she found a cup of her usual tea on the nightstand.

George walked in carrying breakfast. "Cora, drink up and come eat breakfast."

Before Kimberly returned to the country, Cora had woken to this scene every day. Back then, she thought this was love. That was why she made that wager with Kimberly.

In the end, she lost utterly and completely.

This time, instead of accepting as usual, Cora got up and pulled out clothes from the closet.

"No thanks. I'm not hungry. I need to go out soon anyway. You can eat without me."

After washing up, she grabbed her bag and headed for the door. George picked up his jacket and said he would drive her.

Cora could not refuse and had to agree. As soon as she got in the car, she noticed the protective charm she had hung from the mirror was replaced by a doll keychain. The dashboard ornaments had also been replaced by a row of Hello Kitty figures.

George noticed where she was looking and quickly offered an explanation. "Yesterday, I parked on the side of the road and forgot to close the window. All those ornaments got soaked in the rain. My assistant cleaned them out and replaced them with new ones."

Was it really his assistant?

Cora remembered that Kimberly loved these kinds of dolls. She had an entire room full of Hello Kitty plushies at home.

She did not call him out on the lie. Instead, she asked, "What about my protective charm? I went all the way to a chapel in the mountains to get that blessed. Give it back."

George's expression froze for an instant. "My assistant threw it out without thinking. I'll have her find it right away."

Hearing him continue to lie, Cora only felt tired. "If it's been thrown out, then forget it. I don't want it anymore."

He seemed surprised. "You really don't want it back?"

Cora nodded slightly. "I don't want it."

The protective charm, this marriage, him... She did not want any of it anymore.

When they arrived at the club, Cora went straight to Room 908. The room was already full of people. Her college classmates greeted her one after another when they saw her.

"Cora, why did you come alone? Didn't you bring your husband? Is George too busy with work?"

Before she could answer, Kimberly, sitting in the center, spoke up as if casually.

"He has a meeting this morning that won't end until eleven. Then he has to go negotiate a partnership this afternoon. He definitely doesn't have time."

Seeing how well she knew George's schedule, everyone started joking around.

"Childhood friends really do understand each other better. You know his schedule inside and out."

Kimberly raised her wine glass and swirled it, her smile faint. "Not really. George told me last night when he drove me home around midnight."

"You two still keep in touch often? That childhood bond really is something special. Good thing Cora is so understanding. She knows your relationship with George inside and out and doesn't mind one bit.

"If it were anyone else, knowing how George used to chase after Kimberly all the time back then, who knows how jealous they'd be!"

"Cora is Mrs. Lambert now. She has a happy home and a good marriage. Plus, Kimberly was the one who set her up with George in the first place. Why would she be jealous?

"Besides, if Kimberly had wanted to be with George, they would've gotten together ages ago. After all, everyone knows George only listens to Kimberly and is completely devoted to her!"

Hearing this, Kimberly looked even more pleased with herself.

"True. Come to think of it, it's pretty funny. Back then, when I told him to pursue Cora, he did. Even the proposal only happened because I pushed him into it. He finally thought he should give Cora some official status.

"Anyone who knows would say he was dating Cora. Anyone who doesn't might think I forced him into it."

Hearing that, Cora's heart lurched violently.

She had originally thought George proposed because he had been moved by her devotion. It turned out that even their marriage only came to fruition because Kimberly orchestrated it. In an instant, she felt something blocking her chest. She could not breathe.

They continued chattering about these things. Unable to stand it any longer, she got up and went to the restroom.

After composing herself, she returned to find everyone had started playing a game. Kimberly had just lost and drawn a truth card.

"Please name the most devoted pursuer in your life and give examples."

The moment the card was read aloud, Cora's lashes trembled slightly. She looked away.

Kimberly smiled as she reminisced, speaking leisurely.

"That boy started pursuing me when he was seven. It's been almost 20 years now. When he was around ten, he gave me his family's heirloom, something that's only supposed to go to the family's daughter-in-law. He said he'd only ever love me in this lifetime.

"Every time he found out I was dating someone, he'd drink himself into a stupor for days on end. He even developed stomach problems from it.

"Oh, and these past few years while I was studying abroad, he flew over every week to bring me my favorite pastries and snacks, keeping me company no matter the cost."

Listening to each detail, Cora felt her heart churning like stormy waves. She remembered when she married George. His mother told him to give her the family heirloom, but he said he had lost it.

Every so often, he would come home completely drunk. When she asked, he always said it was due to work gatherings. She would even foolishly make him coffee to help him sober up.

During every major holiday, he had to go on business trips. She would help him pack his suitcase and buy lots of pastries and snacks to put inside.

While she poured her whole heart into this relationship, he was still chasing after his first love, unwilling to let go.

She had known nothing about it.

Her heart ached so badly she could barely breathe. Meanwhile, everyone in the room sighed after hearing the story and kept pressing for more details.

"Kimberly, who is this person? Do we know him? He's so devoted to you. You must have been touched, right? If you really get together with him, you have to introduce us!"

Kimberly glanced at Cora with an ambiguous smile and agreed cheerfully.

"Sure. I'll bring him next month to introduce him to everyone."

Just as she finished speaking, George pushed open the door with a smile.

"Introduce what? Why wait until next month? Kimberly, are you done? Didn't we agree to go to the concert..."

His voice cut off abruptly the moment his gaze landed on Cora. Surprise and panic flashed in his eyes.

"Cora, what are you doing here?"

Cora remembered how George had told her this morning when he dropped her off at the mall that he would be working overtime until dawn and she should not wait up for him.

It turned out that by working overtime, he meant going to a concert with Kimberly.

She smiled silently and met his gaze. "As you can see, attending a college reunion."

He nodded several times quickly and immediately changed the subject. "Perfect timing, then. I'll drive you home."

Cora picked up her phone and called a car. Her tone was calm. "No need. I'll just get a cab. You two go to the concert."