As expected, like every other woman Wilson had been with, Yvette started taunting me.

She'd send intimate photos of herself and Wilson with a text. "Ms. Vance, Mr. Gunner says I'm the most special woman he's ever met."

She'd call me when Wilson was coming home and say innocently, "Ms. Vance, Mr. Gunner won't be coming back tonight. He wants to watch the stars with me."

And clearly, Wilson was wrapped around her finger.

Each time Yvette provoked me, he'd sign over another property to me, calling it compensation.

I didn't get upset. I just signed the papers quietly.

On my birthday, Yvette didn't let up.

My party was grand, with friends, family, and business partners. Wilson, as my husband, stayed by my side, accepting everyone's wishes.

But halfway through, Yvette called him. I didn't hear what was said, but his expression changed, and he urgently said, "Yvette's in trouble. I have to go."

Ignoring the curious eyes of our guests, he turned and left.

I stood frozen. The smile on my face stiffened as a flicker of loneliness crossed my eyes.

Around me, the guests began to whisper. Their gazes were a mix of pity and gossip.

Olivia wanted to storm out and confront Wilson, but I stopped her. "Forget it."

I took a deep breath and forced a smile to face the guests. "Sorry, everyone. My husband had an urgent matter. Let's continue the celebration."

I raised my glass, keeping up appearances until the last guest left.

Once the room emptied, the fleeting hurt on my expression vanished, replaced by calculation.

Olivia looked at me with concern. "Shannon, why do you let yourself suffer like this?"

"Suffer?"

Smiling, I patted her shoulder. "I'm not suffering. I'm just laying the groundwork before a big move."

She looked at me in confusion, but I didn't explain further.

Wilson returned the next day. His expression carried a mix of apology and mild irritation.

"Shannon, what was with you yesterday? Everyone was gossiping after I left. It made me look terrible. Couldn't you have been more mature and just kept up appearances?"

I didn't get defensive. Instead, I replied softly, "It's my fault. I'll handle it better next time."

His frown relaxed at my words, though for some reason, he felt unsettled.

"Why aren't you angry?" he suddenly asked after staring at me for a while.

I looked at him, puzzled.

"Why aren't you angry? After everything I do, you should be mad." Wilson grabbed my shoulders, his expression darkening slightly.

"I know you didn't mean it, and I know you care about me, so I don't mind," I replied with a smile.

I turned to the kitchen and brought him a thermos. "I made this beef bone broth for you. You've been exhausted lately. Thought you could use some nourishment."

Wilson took it. Seeing me as gentle as ever, he told himself that he had probably just overthought things.

"You're always so thoughtful. I knew you loved me the most."

I smiled faintly, not responding.

What he didn't know was that my care extended far beyond this.

…

Lately, Wilson had been acting off.

He complained of fatigue, low energy, occasional fevers, and coughs. He'd been checked at the hospital, but nothing was wrong.

He chalked it up to stress and became increasingly dependent on my bone broth.

That evening, after finishing his soup, he held me and said, "Shannon, once I help Yvette settle down, I'll be completely focused on us. She's different from the others. She's pure and innocent."

As I leaned against Wilson's chest, a cold smile curled at the corner of my lips.

Of course he thought Yvette was different.

After all, she used to be a man. She knew better how to please one.

…

Wilson's obsession with Yvette grew deeper by the day. Soon, he was doing anything she asked.

When she said she liked houses by the sea, he immediately bought her a luxury beachfront property in a coastal city.

When she mentioned wanting a designer bag, he swiped his card without blinking.

He even secretly transferred 10% of his shares in Gunner Corp into her name.

When Brendon told me about it, I was sitting in my office reviewing a surgical plan.

My pen froze in midair. Ink spread across the page, a dark blot blooming like the pain and hatred I couldn't hide.

Even at the height of our love, he had never given me 10% of the company, and yet he handed it over so easily to a mistress.

How pathetic.

I took a deep breath to force down the storm inside me and called Yvette.

When she answered, I got straight to the point. "It's time."

There was a pause on the other end. Then, her voice came through. "Okay, I got it."

After hanging up, I stared out at the busy city beyond the window with a cold gaze.

It was time for Wilson to pay for everything he owed our child and me.

That night, Wilson actually came home. He looked worse than before. His face was pale, and he had dark circles under his eyes. His coughing had gotten worse too.

"You're home late," I said, placing a bowl of freshly made soup in front of him. "Drink this to warm up."

He took a few sips and sighed tiredly. "Work's been crazy, and I need to look after Yvette. I'm exhausted."

He set the bowl down and looked at me. "Shannon, once the novelty wears off, I'll go back to becoming a good husband. We can have another child. What do you think?"

Novelty?

So even now, Yvette was just a fleeting amusement to him.

I looked at him and felt a deep sense of irony. Wasn't it a little too late to play the part of a good husband?

"Sure," I replied gently, though my gaze remained calm and empty.

Wilson seemed relieved. He leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes to rest.

The next morning, something happened to him.

When I arrived at the hospital, the emergency room light was still on.

Brendon paced anxiously outside. When he saw me, he rushed over. "Dr. Vance, thank god you're here. Mr. Gunner suddenly collapsed. The doctors say his condition is critical."

I nodded calmly. "I see. Let's wait for the doctor."

Just then, my phone vibrated with a news alert.

The headline read, "Scandal Breaking! Gunner Corp Chairman, Wilson Gunner, Steals Woman's Boyfriend for Thrills!"

The comment section had already exploded, with netizens slamming Wilson for taking things to a sick new level.

Had he actually coerced a man with a girlfriend into a gender-affirming surgery just for thrills?

Gunner Corp's stock price had already started plummeting.

Not long after, the emergency room light turned off.

A doctor stepped out and said, "The patient is temporarily out of danger, but his condition is still serious. He'll need further observation and treatment."

Wilson was wheeled out moments later. His face was ghostly pale, and his eyes were barely open.

Brendon rushed to tell him the news.

Wilson struggled to speak. "Shannon, what's with that news? What do they mean I stole someone's boyfriend?"

I put my phone away and walked to his bedside. Leaning down, I looked into his confused eyes and said slowly, "Yvette is transgender. She used to be a man."