Christina turned sharply, her eyes locking onto Lucien, who stood behind her. His face was pale as if he'd just seen a ghost.

The phone had barely clicked off before he seized her hand. "Christina, who's emigrating?"

Her expression remained composed. "Just a classmate. She's moving abroad and wanted to meet up before leaving."

Lucien stared at her, uncertain, but his arms encircled her, pulling her close. "I thought it was you. Don't scare me like that again."

Christina curled her lips faintly. "It's just emigration. Why are you acting like it's the end of the world?"

His heartbeat thudded loudly against her. "Christina, you know my family background—three generations in the military. We can't leave the country."

He hesitated for a moment before adding, "If I ever make you unhappy, you can hit me, yell at me, even abandon me, but you can't emigrate. If you leave, I'll never be able to find you. That would destroy me."

Enveloped in his arms, Christina gave a slight smile. "I understand."

Perhaps his instincts warned him, for in the following days, Lucien shadowed her like a second skin.

Even when a friend opened a new club and invited their group to celebrate, Lucien insisted she accompany him.

With his vigilance blocking her every move, Christina postponed her plans to visit the immigration office and obediently followed him to the club.

The private room buzzed with energy as they entered. Lucien's friends flocked around her.

"Christina, relax today. We know you like quiet, so we changed the music to classical piano and cleared the place for you."

"That's right! Lucien made sure everything suits your taste, even the desserts."

"Come, sit here. We washed and cut the fruits already."

Lucien frowned at their enthusiasm. "Since when did you all become so attentive?"

One of them grinned. "Who doesn't know you treat Christina like treasure? If we don't spoil her too, how can we hang out with you?"

The laughter that followed filled the room with warmth, but it shattered when a petite figure entered.

It was Vanessa.

The manager hurried to block her path. "I'm sorry, miss. We have VIP guests today."

Vanessa brushed him aside and stepped in without hesitation. "Christina, Lucien! What a coincidence! You don't mind if I join, do you?"

Without waiting for permission, she sat beside Christina. Under the dim lights, her fingers deliberately guided Lucien's hand beneath her skirt.

Christina's breath caught. She glanced at Lucien, who froze as if caught off guard. He looked ready to send Vanessa away but, in the next moment, his fingers shifted slightly.

The motion pierced Christina like a blade, yet she kept her face unreadable, pretending not to notice.

Midway through the gathering, she excused herself to the restroom.

Cold water splashed against her face, but it did little to calm the turmoil inside. Then a voice, smooth yet taunting, cut through the air. "Christina, you're so young, but why dress so dull?"

Christina turned, meeting Vanessa's reflection in the mirror. Her eyes shone with disdain.

"Look at me," Vanessa said, opening her coat to reveal daring lingerie. "Men are visual creatures, slaves to their instincts. Let's bet. If I show Lucien this, will he stay with you or leave with me?"

Christina trembled but said nothing. She dried her hands and returned to the private room.

Minutes later, Vanessa followed. Passing Lucien, she tapped his phone lightly. He glanced at the screen, and though it showed only one short message, his Adam's apple bobbed.

Slipping the phone back into his pocket, he stood abruptly. "Christina, I need to make a call. Wait here. I'll be back soon."

Before Christina could respond, he walked out. Moments later, Vanessa trailed after him.

The ache in Christina's chest grew unbearable, twisting into something sharp and cold. But her expression remained smooth.

She vowed silently: If Lucien thought he could betray her without consequence, she would drag him into an abyss even darker than the one he'd cast her into.

Night fell, yet Lucien never returned.

The atmosphere grew uneasy, and one of the friends finally spoke. "Let's take Christina home. Lucien might be tied up with something urgent."

Urgent? Christina nearly laughed. What could be more urgent than Vanessa?

She said nothing and quietly left.

On the way out, she realized she'd forgotten her bag and returned to the private room.

Voices floated through the door.

"She's finally gone. Any longer, and I would've cracked. How does Lucien keep up the act with her?"

Christina's feet felt nailed to the ground.

The voices inside continued without pause.

"Is Lucien and Vanessa still not done? It's been, what, five hours already?"

"Why rush? Lucien's a beast, and Vanessa's irresistible. They won't stop until they're completely spent."

"But doing it right next door? That's a bit much. I even heard moaning earlier. Good thing I turned up the music just in time, or his wife might've caught on. You have no idea how tense I was."

"What's there to be tense about? You'll get used to it after a few times. Lucien finally found someone who caught his eye. At least he's not glued to his wife anymore. As his bros, we've got to cover for him and let him enjoy some wildflowers. Haha!"

"Sure, his wife's pretty, but she's way too uptight. Probably a dead fish in bed. Men want excitement, you know?"

Christina couldn't make out the rest.

A buzzing filled her ears as she stumbled out. Her world spun.

So everyone knew. Everyone. And they'd all kept it from her.

These so-called friends, all smiles to her face, had been shielding Lucien while mocking her behind her back.

It felt as if an invisible hand had reached into her chest and ripped her heart apart. Pain radiated through every nerve in her body.

Outside, the rain poured down, but she didn't feel it. Like a hollow shell, she walked on.

Alone, she went to the immigration office, drenched and disheveled, and signed the papers.

Alone, she returned home and locked herself in her room.

From that day, a fever overtook her.

Lucien found her the next afternoon, burning up and barely conscious.

Panic gripped him as he rushed her to the hospital.

Thankfully, it was just the flu. After a full day and night on an IV drip, she woke up.

But Lucien was shaken. He rented out the entire building and stopped going to work, staying by her side every moment.

Until one day, his assistant entered, insisting an important client demanded to see him.

Lucien frowned, ready to refuse, but the assistant whispered something in his ear.

His expression shifted. Reluctantly, he released Christina's hand. "Christina, I…"

She cut him off, her voice calm. "Go."

Her composure unsettled him. Something in his chest tightened.

He noticed her distant demeanor but brushed it off. She had just been ill. He was overthinking it.

He left instructions for the nurse to take care of her and promised to return soon.

Three days passed, but Lucien didn't come back.

Instead, Christina's phone rang.

Vanessa's voice dripped with triumph. "Christina, guess what? I'm pregnant. I'm going to be a mom. And the father is your husband.

"He's been taking care of me non-stop these past few days. He carries me everywhere, even feeds me himself. Oh, and the doctor said it's safe to make out at three months. He was so excited, he couldn't stop. We tried dozens of positions that night. I was exhausted, but it felt amazing. I loved it.

"Oops, I might've said too much. You're not mad, are you? Don't blame Lucien. After all, his baby is more important than your fever, right?"

Vanessa's words were venomous, meant to shatter her.

But maybe Christina had already gone numb. Not a single tear fell.

She didn't speak. Didn't ask.

Quietly, she pressed the record button, thinking, 'Lucien, I can't wait for you to hear this.'

The day Christina was discharged from the hospital happened to be her birthday.

A double celebration. Lucien spared no expense, booking the most luxurious hotel in the city to throw her a grand birthday party.

The extravagance left the guests in awe. Lucien's group of friends even prepared thoughtful gifts for her. But Christina remained indifferent. After what had happened, she couldn't bring herself to like any of them.

They didn't think much of it, merely assuming she was still weak from her illness.

Soon, it was time to cut the cake and make a wish.

Lucien stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Guiding her hand to slice the cake, he asked softly, "Christina, it's your birthday today. What do you wish for?"

In the past, she would've shaken her head and said nothing. Back then, having his love had felt like enough.

But now, her desire was clear—to leave him and never see him again.

She lifted her eyes to meet his affectionate gaze. "If I make a wish, will you really make it come true?"

Lucien paused, then smiled tenderly. "Of course."

Christina smiled back, but the warmth didn't reach her eyes. "In that case, I have three wishes."

His smile deepened, full of indulgence. "Alright. Tell me what you want, and I'll give it to you."

Christina turned and pulled a blank sheet of paper from her bag.

"My first wish is for you to sign this paper."

The room fell silent. Gasps echoed among the guests.

Everyone in their circle knew that people of their status avoided signing blank documents at all costs. It could be catastrophic if someone used it against them.

Lucien was meticulous by nature. Signing this would be madness.

Yet, to everyone's astonishment, he merely smiled and signed the paper without hesitation.

"There, it's done," he said, his tone affectionate.

Christina gripped the paper tightly, her heart finally easing. With his signature, she could draft the divorce papers.

From this moment on, she would be free.

Seeing her relaxed expression, Lucien's mood lifted too. "What's your second wish, baby?"

Christina's gaze swept across the room. Some guests looked stunned, others envious. The only one who stood out was Vanessa, staring at her with jealousy etched across her face.

But Christina's eyes moved past them, as if looking into a distant future far from here.

She curved her lips slightly. "My second wish is for you to transfer all your shares in Waldorf Group to me."

The room exploded. Gasps turned to murmurs of disbelief.

The shares Lucien owned were worth hundreds of millions. No one believed he would give them up, no matter how much he loved her.

But Lucien immediately called his lawyer and instructed him to transfer every single share to Christina without delay.

Holding the signed and stamped electronic transfer papers, Christina's spirits soared. Selling these shares would guarantee her a worry-free life abroad for decades.

Lucien pulled her into his arms, his voice soft. "Baby, now I have nothing left. I'm just your employee. You can't leave me, okay?"

Christina's lips twitched, but before she could reply, a sudden cry interrupted them.

"Someone has fainted!"

Lucien turned and saw Vanessa collapse to the floor.

His face darkened, and he moved quickly toward her. But halfway there, he stopped and looked back at Christina.

"Christina, I'll take her to the hospital first. Enjoy the party, and text me your last wish later."

"No need," she said.

He frowned. "What?"

Christina shook her head. "Nothing. Go."

She watched as he carried Vanessa out hurriedly.

Christina smiled faintly.

Lucien, I don't need you to grant me my third wish.

Because my final wish is to leave you forever.

In three days, I'll make it happen.