‘Would you bring me gifts that Regina doesn’t want?’

I laughed at myself and didn’t say anything. What was the point?

I went alone to get my medical report. Almost everyone in the hospital had been reassigned to care for Regina. I waited in the hallway for a long time. Finally, an intern walked in, looking a bit nervous and sorry.

"The car accident wasn’t too serious, just some scratches,” she said gently.

“But Miss Cooke, this was your second miscarriage. If you don’t take care of yourself properly, there could be long-term problems."

The intern looked like she wanted to say more. She might want to offer comfort to me. But before she could, someone called her to go do a prenatal checkup for Regina. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but the conversation wasn't quiet either.

“Why are you acting so kind in front of her?” someone said.

“Everyone knows she’s just Mrs. Purnell in name. Miss White is the real one in Mr. Purnell’s heart.”

“Now that Miss White is pregnant, that poor woman will be kicked out soon.”

My fingers tightened around the report. Their words didn’t even hurt anymore. I was too numb.

Everywhere I went, whether at the company or outside, if someone dared to speak up for me, Regina would find a way to fire them. I didn’t want anyone to get in trouble just because of me. So, I quietly left, holding the medical report close to my chest.

On the taxi ride home, fireworks lit up the night sky. Bright and loud, as if celebrating something amazing. The driver looked out the window and smiled.

“I heard the wife of the president of Purnell Co. is pregnant,” he said.

“They're setting off fireworks for a whole month. That’s how rich people show love, huh?”

His words felt like knives. I turned away and stared at my phone to distract myself. Unfortunately for me, the news was everywhere.

[Michael Purnell donates millions to churches for them to bless his pregnant wife.]

[Mr. Purnell clears out the entire city’s baby stores as he’s preparing for his baby with his wife.]

[The CEO of Purnell Co. builds hundreds of churches to pray for his wife and child’s safety.]

Michael was doing everything he could to show the world how much he cared about Regina and their baby. I couldn’t stop the bitterness from rising in my chest. When I lost my first child, I cried through the night, unable to sleep. I begged Michael to go with me to mourn for our baby.

However, he said I was bad luck. And then he said I ruined the mood he and Regina had just created. So, he left me alone on a cold and empty mountain.

It turned out that Michael didn’t hate children. He just didn’t want mine. To be exact, he just didn’t want me.

I swallowed the pain and walked into the mansion, dragging my tired body behind me. My steps were heavy. Everything hurt.

While I was packing my things, Michael walked in. He stared at the suitcase with confusion, like he couldn’t believe I was actually leaving.

“You don’t have to move out,” he said.

“I know you can’t bear to leave me. Just move into the guest room. Regina won’t mind, she’s kind.”

My injuries still ached. I stood up straight, holding the suitcase tightly.

“We’re already divorced. There’s no reason for me to stay here.”

“I don’t want anything else. Just give me back the shares from my dowry.”

Michael looked like he still wanted me to stay, but I didn’t care anymore.

“To avoid upsetting Regina,” I added.

“It’s better if none of my things are left behind.”

That finally got him moving. He went to the safe, unlocked it and began rummaging through it. After a while, he pulled out the contract. It was a crumpled and dirty paper from under the corner of the table.

He laughed awkwardly.

“Last time, Regina and I were playing in the study … I used it to stop the table from wobbling.”

I took the contract and slowly tried to flatten it. My hands were shaking.

Tears fell before I could stop them.

“Michael … you’ve gone too far.”

We were married. I gave everything for this marriage.

Even though the Cooke Family’s business wasn’t as big as the Purnell Family’s, it was still my parents’ life’s work. My mother gave me everything she had before she died, hoping it would make my future better in the Purnell Family.

But I had wasted it all for a man who didn’t care and a marriage that never loved me back.

I was indeed a fool for choosing this man.

My hard work wasn't supposed to be treated like this.

For the first time, I showed a vulnerable side in front of Michael. He looked surprised and panicked for a moment.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said.

“Your shares aren’t worth much money anyway. Can’t I just pay you double as compensation?”

Michael pulled out his phone and started typing in the password to transfer money to me. But before he finished, his phone rang. It was Regina.

Regina said she was afraid of the dark. Another bullshit reason. Without hesitation, he put his phone away. “That girl is delicate,” he said.

“I need to sleep with her.”

Then, he looked at me and added, “It’s not safe to move out at night. Let’s talk tomorrow morning. And don’t forget to send her a sugar-free breakfast before you leave. She’s pregnant and picky.”

I didn’t say a word. I just dragged my suitcase back into the room. I was too tired to argue anymore.

The next morning, when I woke up, there were two messages on my phone.

One was from that man.

[MP: See you at the entrance of the Town Hall at 1 pm, Evelyn.]

The other message was from Michael.

[Michael: It’s going to rain and you’re still not feeling well. Don’t rush to move out. Rest at home today. And don’t bring me food. I’m taking Regina to the Bistrot at Wild Honeys for dinner.]

After nine years of marriage, that was the first time Michael had ever told me where he was going. It was also the first time he had shown me even a small amount of concern. But it was too late.

Without replying, I blocked Michael’s number.

I quietly counted my things, packed the last of my luggage and got ready to leave.

As soon as I stepped out of the door, I saw Michael getting out of a red Ferrari, his face full of anger. He looked furious.

Without warning, he slapped me.

“You bitch!” he yelled.

“You act so kind and generous in front of me, but behind my back, you went crying to Grandpa and told him to block my bank card?”

“I was going to book the entire Bistrot at Wild Honeys and propose to Regina today! You embarrassed me!”

“From today on, don’t even dream of getting back together with me! And don’t even think about entering the Purnell Family ever again!”

Even after hitting me, Michael still wasn’t satisfied. He kicked my suitcase and sent it flying into the swimming pool. I watched the dowry my parents carefully prepared for me sinking into the water. But I didn’t care about my spinning head or the burning pain.

Without further ado, I jumped into the water without thinking. The wounds on my body, which hadn’t fully healed yet, tore open again. Blood mixed with the water, turning it red.

By the time I pulled everything out, I was completely soaked. My whole body was swollen after what I had endured. My skin looked very pale, almost lifeless. Indeed, I was almost dead.

Regina walked over with some clothes. She pretended to help me, but when she touched my wounds, she twisted them cruelly with her fingers. She was indeed a very cruel woman.

“Do you think just because Mr. Purnell once cared about you, you can stay here forever?” she asked as she sneered.

“Michael loves me. And Mrs. Purnell title will always belong to me.”

“We’re getting our marriage certificate this afternoon. You can cry while hugging your divorce papers.”

I could only lie by the pool, gasping in pain. I couldn’t say a single word. My chest hurt too much.

Michael looked at me with disgust. He spat near my face and walked away, holding Regina like she was a queen. A kind stranger saw everything and rushed me to the hospital.

While I was being treated, Regina kept sending me messages filled with cruel words and pictures of her with Michael. She reminded me again and again.

Regina told me that during my car accident, Michael ignored my calls for help because he was watching a concert with her. Then, she told me that I was kicked out of the Purnell Family board for leaking documents, which was something I didn’t even do.

It was all because Michael was clearing the way for her.

Not only that, she also told me that everything from the company, the mansion, to even the Purnell and Cooke Family’s old homes were now under her name. And worst of all, that Michael had taken her to every place he had once promised to take me.

It was clear. Regina wanted me to feel broken. To give up. But what she didn’t know was that I had already stopped loving Michael. There was nothing left to give up.

I turned off my phone.

Soon enough, it was almost 1 p.m.

At 1 p.m., I went to the Town Hall alone.

The man I had been thinking about all this time was already there, waiting for me with a smile. He gently handed me the marriage certificate and carefully slipped a diamond ring on my finger. When I saw him, it felt relieving. It had been a while since I felt like this.

“I’ll drive,” he said.

“Let’s go home.”

Just as we were about to leave, Michael and Regina walked in.

Michael looked at me like I was disturbing his peace.

“Evelyn, I told you already. I won’t remarry you. Stop bothering me.”

I smiled calmly and looked straight at him.

“You misunderstood,” I said.

“I didn’t come here to bother you because of you. You’re very wrong, actually.”

I didn’t want to hear Michael’s accusations anymore.

Without a word, I lifted the marriage certificate in my hand.

“I’m here because I got married.”