I pushed open the study door with the divorce papers in my bag.

Inside,Xavier had his sleeves rolled up,trimming the stems of a bouquet of white lilies.He was never a romantic.In fact,he used to mock other men for bringing flowers to their girlfriends.

“Pointless,”he’d said one Valentine’s Day.“They’re dead in a week.”

We’d been married three years and I hadn’t even received a single daisy.Besides,those lilies weren’t for me—they were Vanessa’s favorite.

A few clipped stems fell into the trash before Xavier finally glanced up.“You’re out of the hospital.How are you feeling?”he asked as he stood,arranging the bouquet in a crystal vase and fussing with the petals.Then he added,“About tonight…I didn’t mean it.”

“But I know you’ll be fine,”he laughed.“You’ve been through worse,right?Grew up with nothing.A little operation isn’t anything,is it?”

I almost laughed.

He had no idea—I was the sole heir to one of the state’s wealthiest families.The only time I’d ever suffered was the day I married him.

He crossed the room toward me with the lilies like a trophy.“Hey,don’t you think these are pretty?”

As the flowers came near,my throat tightened.I turned my head and coughed—once,twice—hard,involuntary coughs.My allergy flared,and the first thing he did was shove me aside.

My back hit the sharp corner of the desk.The stitches on my healing wound split open and blood began to soak my blouse.Pain blurred my vision,while Xavier’s worried gaze stayed fixed on the lilies.

“You nearly ruined them!”he snapped.“Do you know how rare these are?Air-freighted!Professionally grown!”

Realizing that even my health couldn’t compete with a bouquet,I forced a bitter smile and thought,Was I with him for three years for this?God,how blind I’d been to love this bastard.

I was allergic to flowers—something he never cared about.If he’d cared at all,he would have known my wound wasn’t fully healed.

I took a steadying breath,reached into my bag,and pulled out the papers.“Xavier,”I said,sliding the divorce agreement hidden inside a contract toward him,“I need your signature.”

He paused.For the first time his gaze rested on me.“You just got out of the hospital.You should rest,”he said quietly.

Still,he reached for the papers.His fingers had barely touched the page when his phone rang.The contact name flashed on the screen and I glanced:“Baby.”

He kept Vanessa’s name stored so sweetly;mine had always been formal,my full name.The contrast said everything.

Holding the bouquet in one hand,he smiled and answered as he walked toward the door.“I won’t be home for dinner.Go back after work by yourself.”

I stepped forward,flipped to the last page,and shoved a pen into his hand.“Sign first.”

My husband frowned.He was cautious—he checked every word before signing anything.But the phone rang again.Even at near-mute volume,Vanessa’s voice poured through,playful and breathy.“Xavier,I’ve been waiting forever!Hurry up…”

And so the careful man didn’t read a single line.He flicked his wrist and scrawled his name.My heart,which had been lodged in my throat,dropped—and then a flash of self-mockery passed through me.If he’d looked twice,he’d have seen he wasn’t signing a property contract at all.

“Done.Satisfied?Can I go now?”he said,sarcastic.

I nodded stiffly.“Yes.You’re free now.”

This time I did exactly as he wanted—I let him go and handed him his freedom.

As he left,he turned and said,“The study hasn’t been cleaned in months.Since you’re here—why not tidy it up?”The heavy click of the door echoed in my ears.

Xavier’s study had always been off-limits.Not a speck of dust.Only he knew where the spare key was,which drawer held the wipes,and how he liked the edges of papers perfectly aligned.

When I reached his desk,a framed photo caught my eye—Vanessa’s smile behind the glass,staring back at me.I turned and noticed my own photo in the wastebasket by the cabinet:face down,its edges crumpled like trash.

I pressed my lips together;the smile didn’t reach my eyes.It felt like a knife.

Having secured his signature,I looked around the cozy home I had built with my own hands and memories swelled.My gaze finally settled on the wedding photo in the living room—one he polished and displayed.Seeing Xavier’s strained smile in the frame felt unbearable.I took the picture down and threw it into the trash downstairs.

I spent the rest of the night clearing out our marital things.

Xavier noticed the missing photo as soon as he came back.He saw me bent over writing and,rare for him,frowned.“Where’s the wedding photo?”

“The nail was loose.I was afraid it might fall,so I took it down,”I said.

He didn’t ask more.He set the late-night takeout beside me and went back into the study.The sharp aroma stopped me.I opened the bag and saw the red,spicy Chinese food inside and felt my stomach turn.

For three years of our marriage I’d eaten blandly because of my stomach.My husband had never known.The old me would have eaten it all to please him,no matter how hot.Now I took the whole bag downstairs and threw it away.

From today on,I would throw away every grievance and every hurt from this marriage—and that included throwing him away.

The next day,I left for the office early in the morning without waiting for Xavier to wake up.

“This project is the most tedious and would require you to work overtime,do any of you want to take it?The budget allocation is higher and you will be paid a good bonus.”

“I will do it.”As soon as I agreed to work overtime my colleagues were all startled while my boss asked hesitantly.

“Mia what about your husband…also you are pregnant so we thought that you would soon go a maternity leave-”

“Unfortunately,I had a miscarriage so I would not be needing any leave.”The tense atmosphere made the meeting abruptly come to an end,my boss asked others to leave while retaining me in the conference hall.

“Mia,I am sorry if I am overstepping my bounds but is everything alright between you and your husband?”

“You are an exceptional employee and I always wished to promote you but then you would not have liked being separated from your family.I was wondering if you want to work at the main branch in the capital city.”she said,her tone careful to not offend me.

I smiled gently”Thank you for considering me.I would love to relocate.”

Surprised,she paused."Actually,my husband was at the Southwest bar last night when he heard Xavier talking to his friends.”

When I saw her hesitating I urged her to continue.

"He was discussing about your baby,saying that since you are an orphan you might not know how to raise a child,thus he asked a friend of his,uh...Vanessa,to help him around with the baby.

I am sorry Mia,I just thought that if I were at your place I would want to know if my husband talks like this about me outside."

I felt like a bucket of ice-cold water was poured over my head.

So this was what my husband really thought about me.

I gave a teary smile,shaking my head.

"Thank you."

At that moment my phone rang with Xavier's caller ID flashing across the screen.

“Mia,did you leave early today?You are working too much when you are already in your second trimester,didn't I tell you already to resign.I am not sure if you ate your breakfast because when I woke up there was none for me."At first he sounded concerned yet there were hints of displeasure in his voice.

I simply hummed as he continued.

He paused.“Even though I could not attend the anniversary dinner,I got a gift for you.”

“Did you?”I asked indifferently.

“You love diamonds in a heart shape,don't you?I bought a pendant for you...Strange,where did I keep it.”he mumbled under his breath incoherently as I heard the sounds of shuffling around.

I heard him fumble through his pockets,muttering,“Strange,it’s not here-"

The rest of the words were swallowed as he recalled that he had given the pendant to someone else.In yesterday’s photo,Vanessa was wearing a diamond heart pendant around her neck.The imagery flashed across my eyes,making me tear up.

To quickly cover up the incident Xavier made an excuse.

"I must have lost it somewhere-"

“No need;I forgot to get you anything anyway.”

“Mia you have been like this since yesterday.since you cannot do much,the least I expect from you is to take care of the household chores,cook and look good for me.Stop behaving like it was a big deal!”

"Yes,it was unimportant."Tears dribbled my eyes listening to his cruel words.

Yes he did buy me a gift,one that must be first worn by his childhood sweetheart and later given to me as a charity.

“I can never make you happy no matter how hard I try.Also,Xavier,my favorite gemstones have been sapphires since I was a child,never once in my life have I worn diamonds."With that,I hung up.

After that,I threw myself into work so completely that I rarely went home,and Xavier could tell something was wrong.

One day my mother-in-law—who had always treated me like a filthy orphan unfit for our status—called out of the blue.

“Mia,Xavier told me you were the one who started that argument and that it was mainly your fault we were delayed at the family banquet.You were born poor with no one to teach you manners;the least you can do is not drag down my son’s reputation to your level!

You’re about to give birth to our future child,so stop this nonsense.People are already spreading rumors that you and Xavier are separating.I’ve arranged a dinner tonight with Xavier’s close friends.Be there on time with him and don’t make a scene.”

From start to finish she bossed me around before hanging up.

I wanted,one last time before leaving for the capital,to see the faces of those who had betrayed me and treated me worse than an animal,so I took a taxi to my mother-in-law’s house.

Xavier’s mother sat at the head of the table when I entered.A hush fell over the room as Xavier’s friends rolled their eyes at my arrival.

“Aunty,why invite her?She’ll only spoil the mood,”one of them scoffed.

“The witch is here to intrude between the loving couple again,”they said loud enough for me to hear.

“Mia,sit here.”Xavier’s mother pointed to a seat,but I ignored her and took the place at the far end of the table.

“Hey Mia,what was your surname again?Oh—sorry,I forgot you don’t have one,since you don’t have a father,”Xavier’s best friend Theodore sneered,smirking as he waited for me to lose my composure.

“Who are you again?”I asked,looking up at him with a disinterested stare as if he were a clown performing for laughs;their smiles vanished.

Shortly after,Xavier arrived with Vanessa at his side.Seeing that I had come earlier than expected and was looking between him and Vanessa,he quickly put some distance between them.

I noticed Vanessa had taken off the pendant,and without another word she followed my mother-in-law into the kitchen.

Xavier slid into the seat beside me,smiling gently as he tucked my hair behind my ear and fastened the diamond pendant at my throat,creating a picture of a loving couple.

“This will be the first time you’ve worn real diamonds,right?Don’t worry—I’ll buy you your favorite sapphires next time.”

Shamelessly,he looked at me and lied smoothly,“I lost it at the house,and when I realized it was gone I rushed back to look for it.”

The pendant felt especially suffocating,so I took it off without another word,which shocked Xavier.

“Mia,what on earth are you doing?”

“To think she’s so greedy—no wonder Aunt doesn’t like her.”

“Mia,why did you take it off?”my mother-in-law snapped.

“It’s too tight.”I ignored the murmurs and sat quietly without speaking to Xavier.

In truth,diamonds were considered inappropriate for our family’s traditions.In older customs,outcasts were given a single diamond as the last token of value before they were banished.

And I was not banished.

I was going home.

From the kitchen I heard my mother-in-law chuckling as Vanessa clung to her arm,acting spoiled.“Auntie,how could you work so hard all these years?If I’d been here,I would never have let you—”

“This child!Of course things would have been different if it were you.

Oh Vanessa,let Mia help the servants with the dishes.You’ve probably never done such things;you’re always so considerate even toward the maids.

If only Mia were halfway as sensible as you.Since she moved into Xavier’s house,he’s let the maid go.She can do all the chores herself—mopping the floor and washing dishes are normal for her.Don’t ruin your beautiful hands;I’ll make Mia do it.”

I bit my lip as my husband agreed with his mother,seeing nothing wrong with overworking his wife.

They came out of the kitchen hand in hand,Vanessa sitting between Xavier and my mother-in-law.

“Auntie,I’ve missed you so much these past years.There hasn’t been a day I didn’t miss Xavier.”The others at the table didn’t find anything odd about Vanessa longing for another man while she was already in a relationship with someone else.

“Of course,dear.If things hadn’t gone wrong,you would have been my daughter-in-law by now.”Xavier’s mother teased,casting a quick glance in my direction before pulling Vanessa closer;Xavier said nothing,clearly annoyed that I had rejected his gift.

Turning to me,my mother-in-law added with feigned innocence,“Oh my,I must have spoken too much because of my old age.Mia,meet Vanessa,my goddaughter—she and Xavier are childhood friends and were raised together.”

“I heard that you were making a fuss at home because of her,but Vanessa is like a sister to Xavier so you should not throw a tantrum out of jealousy.

These two have always been so close,so you must trust your husband a little and stop keeping tabs on him.”

“Auntie is absolutely right,Vanessa was only doing a favor to you.”Xavier’s friend Colin spoke with a smug look on his face.He was the one who supported the‘perfect match’and secretly gave me the nickname‘homewrecker.’

“Yes,Mia,you’re always checking up on Xavier.You are just too controlling,do you think we are going to ruin Xavier’s life?Since Vanessa and Xavier are inseparable,if he wanted to leave you,he would have done that long ago.”

Besides,Xavier promised Vanessa to soon merge our two family businesses to create a larger one,so it’s better if you accommodate her.That’s the least you can do as his wife.”

My eyes widened when I realized that our Jade Moon company was going to be amalgamated with another one.As his wife I was not even aware of any such thing

Realizing he’d said too much,Colin instantly fell silent,exchanging uneasy glances with the others as the room went quiet.

“Do you even understand how serious this is?If the other company committed any crime we would be held equally responsible—”

“Mia,I know you don’t like me,but please don’t besmirch my company like that.”

I turned to look at Xavier,only for him to glare at me before saying,“Vanessa is right.You didn’t even have a proper education,so you wouldn’t know much about company affairs.How would you understand whether this is beneficial or not?”

“It’s better to leave the company responsibilities to me.Vanessa held a senior role for more than three years;I can’t be biased in your favor when you’re just an uneducated orphan.”My body trembled as my husband insulted me in front of everyone.

The dinner lost all flavor;I didn’t speak a word after that,though Xavier glanced at me from time to time.My mother-in-law seemed pleased with the exchange and grew boisterous with Vanessa.Only when I reached for an oyster did she suddenly interrupt me harshly.

“Mia,I understand you had no one to teach you manners,but are you stupid enough to eat something so spicy in your second trimester?Don’t you care about the baby at all?No wonder Xavier had to go to such lengths to protect you.”

“Like he’s protecting me right now from your relentless attacks?”The words left my mouth and the chatter fell silent;even my mother-in-law was too shocked to speak.Xavier froze,then looked at me in confusion.

“This was the oyster the nurse made for me to help digestion.I brought it because you asked me to hurry up and get food for everyone while I was at lunch.But I feel like I’ve made a mistake coming here—”

“Mia!”I stood up quickly without eating,and Xavier followed me outside cautiously.

“Mia,Mom didn’t mean it like that.Come back with me right now!”

“To tell you the truth,Xavier,my parents are very much alive.If I had listened to them at the start,I would never have chosen such a place where I’m never welcomed.”

Xavier held my shoulders,shaking his head as if I were inventing excuses to comfort myself.“Mia,let it go this once.You must be a good daughter-in-law and wife.”

“Xavier!Vanessa is having trouble breathing,you must come quickly.”Our conversation was cut short by Colin,who hesitated as he looked between us.

“Mia,come inside—it’s going to pour.I must help Vanessa;for now,please wait.”He looked at me like I was a stranger,hesitated for a moment,then squeezed my hand before rushing to Vanessa’s aid.

My mother-in-law messaged me instantly:[You can come inside now.Earlier I assumed things.][Let’s not waste this dinner party.]I smiled through my tears as I realized I had never once been welcomed in this household;it had always been about status and prestige.

Three years ago I was kidnapped by criminals,and my father and brothers had left no stone unturned to find me,though my identity was kept hidden to protect my life.In the end,it was Xavier—head of the Jade Moon firm—who helped rescue me along with others.My mother agreed to compensate him handsomely,and I told her I liked him and wanted to be his wife.

My brothers opposed the match.They argued that as the only daughter of our family I had never known hardship,and marrying someone cold like Xavier would not suit me.

How foolish I was to think love could transcend status when today my husband told me I was worthless because I had no standing.

Rain drenched me as I ignored Xavier’s mother’s insistence that I come back.In that moment I felt foolish for loving such a heartless man.I was ashamed to return home—what would I even say to my parents?Would they accept me back?

Suddenly warmth wrapped around me as Xavier embraced me.He was soaked through,but he pulled me aside.“Are you all right?I’m sorry I left you like that.Just go inside and obey.”

“See,Vanessa is terribly ill,”he continued in a softer voice.“She came because I invited her;I couldn’t leave her like that.You should learn from her.”

“Mom has been trying to call you;she even messaged you to come inside.Why can’t you stop being stubborn for a moment?”he sighed,his tone almost reproachful before he noticed my pale face.

He then took me to a nearby shop so I could change into dry clothes and avoid getting sick.

“Are you all right,Mia?I’ll call a taxi to take you home.”I shook my head and asked,“Are you not coming back with me?”

“I have work—”

“Are you going to drop Vanessa at her place now?”

“What?”Xavier looked taken aback that I saw through his excuse.

His expression shifted from indulgent to guilty and angry as he answered carefully,“I’ll be home right after that.Please understand—Vanessa is a single mother and she’s really ill.What if something happens on her way home?”

I cut him off before he could continue.“I understand.You want to take her because she’s sick and can’t take care of herself,while I can very well go home by myself.”

After saying that,I turned around and tried to walk away,but Xavier hugged me from behind.

"You just have to learn to adapt.I can't always indulge you,but from now on,I'll be by your side to take care of our children."

He leaned over and gave me a gentle kiss on the cheek.

Before I even got home,Xavier's friend Theodore sent me a message.

"Sister-in-law,Vanessa is very ill,so Xavier can't come home tomorrow."

Xavier was planning a big party tomorrow to welcome Vanessa's team,but since I don't agree with merging our teams,it seems my husband doesn't want me to come.

Reading the message,I shuddered,feeling awful.

At the same time,Vanessa's latest Facebook status came to my phone.

In the video,a moon rose slowly from between the mountains,casting a golden glow across the sky.

Exclamations echoed from all sides.The camera panned,revealing Xavier's fleeting figure,yet his face still beamed with happiness.

"I once loved you,but for some reason I had to leave you.I'm so glad I'm back with you,and that you chose me again.Love forever,Xavier."

Seeing those final words frozen on the screen,my heart tightened,a dull pain slowly growing and spreading.

A self-deprecating smile played on my face,yet a deep sadness settled within me.

Xavier,what's your expression when you see the official divorce agreement?

In the days that followed,not seeing Xavier brought a certain peace,but on the third night he returned—and Vanessa was trailing behind him.

“Several murders have happened recently near where Vanessa lives.I didn’t feel safe,so I brought her home to stay for a while.Once the police catch the killer I’ll take her back,”Xavier said calmly,as if he were merely informing me.

The marriage was already over;this wasn’t my home anymore.I didn’t have the energy to argue.“Suit yourself,”I said.

Xavier didn’t expect me to let it go so easily.Seeing the calm on my face,he frowned and was about to say more when Vanessa spoke up.

“Mia,I just got off a late shift and haven’t had dinner yet.Could you help me with it?”Vanessa smiled,but there was a look of provocation in her eyes.“Xavier says your cooking is great;I’ve never tried it.”

“Call a servant,”I replied.

She turned to leave,but Vanessa let out a petulant hum.Xavier reached out to stop her.“Mia!”

He didn’t say anything further,but the meaning was clear.

The divorce agreement would soon take effect;I didn’t want to start a scene now.I forced a smile and trudged toward the kitchen.

The soup boiled in the pot;I mechanically ladled it into bowls and set them on the table.

“Is this all we’re eating?It looks horrible,”Vanessa said,covering her nose as she stood by the table.

I had no patience left.“You don’t have to eat it,”I shot back.

At that,I saw a calculating glint cross Vanessa’s eyes.In the next instant she grabbed my wrist and shoved it into the scalding soup.

“Ah—”

A searing burn shot from my palm through my whole body and I jerked my hand back reflexively,but Vanessa held it down.In the struggle,a ceramic bowl toppled and shattered on the floor,hot soup splattering everywhere.

I yanked my hand free,but blisters were already rising and my skin reddening.

“What’s going on?”Xavier shouted as he rushed in.

Vanessa,eyes rimmed red,lifted her hand to show soup stains on her forearm.“Xavier,Mia wouldn’t make me food and,in a fit,poured the soup on me.My hand hurts….”

Xavier’s face went pale.He grabbed my wrist.

“Mia!Are you serious?Apologize to Vanessa right now!”

White with pain,I bit my lip and tore my hand from his grip,holding up the burned,blistered palm.“You want me to apologize?Look closely—who deliberately threw the soup,who put their hand on whom?”

He froze.

He turned and gave Vanessa a suspicious look.

Vanessa went pale.

Suddenly she clutched her stomach and wailed,“Ah,my stomach—it hurts so much,Xavier.There’s chicken in the food;I’m allergic to beef!”

“I just asked a question and Mia got angry and dumped the soup on me.If you don’t believe me,check the security footage—I never lie.”

“Ah,my stomach,it hurts…”she sobbed.

Suspicion in Xavier’s eyes was replaced by anger.He looked at me coldly.

Vanessa’s beef allergy—he had told me about it!

“I didn’t do it!Whoever’s lying will be caught on the footage!”I snapped.

Xavier’s temper flared.He scooped Vanessa up and barked an order.“That’s enough,Mia!”

He called the housekeeper.“Lock her in the basement.Do not let her out without my permission!”

The basement—Xavier’s pet room,a dark,windowless damp chamber where he kept hundreds of snakes—sent a shiver through me.I recoiled instinctively.

“I won’t go…!”

“Let go of me!”

I struggled with all my strength,but Xavier didn’t look back;I was thrown into that basement.

They slammed the door and the stifling heat rushed at me.The quiet room occasionally hissed;goosebumps covered my skin.Something strange brushed my feet and began to crawl up me with soft,whispering movements.

“Ah—”I screamed,flinching and trying to fling off the things crawling on me.

“Open the door!Let me out!”

“Open up!”

I pounded the door until my hands ached,but no one answered.The heat brought a rash that itched and burned;I grew dizzy and thrashed through the night until I had no strength left to call out.

I curled up in a corner,panting,my eyes filled with despair.

I don't know how long it took,but just before I lost consciousness,the door opened.

Xavier stood in the doorway,his backlit,silent for a long time.

Thinking I could finally leave,I forced myself to stand,holding onto the wall,and took a stumbling step.

"Hold her down,"Xavier's voice sullenly rang out.

Before I could react,my arms were pinned down by the bodyguards.Then,my jaw was forcibly pried open,and a cup of unknown substance was poured into my mouth.

"Cough,cough,cough!"I choked,my head swollen."What did you give me?"

Before I could answer,my body gave the answer.

A rash quickly broke out on my skin,and the intense feeling of suffocation made me feel like I was dying.

I had an allergy.

"Because you deliberately gave Vanessa the allergen,she's still in the hospital having her stomach pumped!Today,I'll make you feel her pain,so she'll learn a lesson."

Xavier's eyes were cold.Even as I writhed in agony,not a trace of heartache lingered in them.

I clutched my stomach,the intense discomfort making it extremely difficult to breathe."I said I didn't..."

No one would listen to my explanation.

Xavier stood before me,watching me writhe,wailing,and finally,losing consciousness...

At that moment,I truly gave up!

Xavier,you will pay for everything you've done to me for Vanessa!