After a week apart, he still looked as tall and striking as ever, laughing and chatting with the younger women in the office.

But the moment he saw me, his face turned cold, just as always.

"Cheryl, how much did my dad give you?"

I ignored him and walked toward the door.

That move clearly stung him. He caught up to me, blocking my way, his tone hostile.

"So, who was it that put on a ‘holier-than-thou’ act, swearing you wouldn’t take a penny from the Rivers Family?”

He sneered, “Turns out your target was my dad all along. Reeling him in for the big catch, are we?”

I looked at this man I’d loved for fifteen years, unable to hide my own bitterness. “Even if you’re kicking a dog, there’s no need to humiliate it this badly.”

Thomas’s face shifted uncomfortably and he quickly backpedaled. “Fine, just as long as that’s the case.”

Just then, his secretary came over with a project contract for him to sign.

Years of business experience told me immediately that this was a deal that would cost him, not benefit him.

But when I saw that Jessica was listed as the beneficiary, I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. “For the sake of a woman’s smile, you’re willing to disregard the family’s interests? Imagine how heartbroken your father would be if he knew.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Thomas’s gaze was like a knife laced with poison, sinking deep into my chest.

“We’re divorced now, so stop trying to get close by bringing up my dad every time.”

"Jessica is my future wife. There’s no need to talk about giving her a discount. If she wanted my entire billion-dollar fortune, I’d give it to her without a second thought—handing it over with both hands, no questions asked."

After he finished speaking, he signed his name on the paper and then transferred three million to Jessica’s bank account right in front of me.

Before leaving, he threw in one last remark. “Love always feels like a debt—you wouldn’t understand.”

I stood there, frozen for a long time, as memories flooded my mind like a tidal wave.

When I first entered the Rivers Family, I was broke. At the time, my half-sister was diagnosed with a serious illness and she needed three million for treatment.

The Rivers couple, already doing more than enough by adopting me, had no obligation to do more and I couldn’t bring myself to ask for anything else.

Thomas, raised in privilege with endless pocket money, learned of my situation and nodded, agreeing to lend me the money.

But the day before my sister was scheduled for surgery, Thomas suddenly backed out.

I still remember his exact words. "Sorry, I bought a gift for a friend’s birthday, so I don’t have the money to lend you right now."

Later, I ended up selling my blood to raise part of the money for my sister's treatment. It was while I was working as a waitress at a restaurant that I ran into Thomas.

He was proudly wearing an expensive diamond watch, all smiles as he wished Jessica a happy birthday.

To Thomas, I had always been nothing more than a tool to get back at his family. My sister’s life wasn’t even worth considering.

My father-in-law and he had grown distant and whenever they tried to talk, it would end in a fight after just a few words.

Years ago, he entered my room in the middle of the night, sweet-talking me into sleeping with him and afterward, he begged me to marry him—all part of his plan to sabotage my father-in-law’s intention to adopt me as his daughter.

In the end, he succeeded.

But I was the one who became trapped, desperately struggling in his hollow, elusive love.

At least now, it was still not too late to let go.

I was about to leave for interviews with several company HR departments, looking for a new job.

Amelia arrived just in time to stop me. She said, "Why work for someone else when you could be the boss of your own company?"

I thought it over carefully. After more than a decade of being controlled, I had long forgotten what true freedom even felt like.

I immediately agreed, "I’ll do it."

I still had some savings from the years I’d worked and I quickly sold two pieces of land by the West Lake in the city, which were home to golf courses I had built.

In no time, I had enough capital to start.

Those golf courses were something I had built specifically to win Thomas’s favor. He liked playing golf.

During the entire construction period, I lived in a makeshift metal shed, overseeing the progress of the project.

When I excitedly invited Thomas to play, he casually brushed me off, saying, "If I have time, I’ll go."

But he never once went.

Later, I found out that his interest in golf was only genuine when it meant he could spend time with Jessica in the locker room, warming up together.

Three months after leaving the Rivers Family, thanks to the business experience I had accumulated over the years and Amelia’s constant encouragement, my career began to rise rapidly.

My younger sister, who had just graduated from college and started working, moved in with her mother to stay with me.

The old place was too small, so I bought a bigger house.

Coincidentally, Thomas and Jessica's new home was just two floors above mine.

The next day, I was woken by a knock at the door. When I opened it, I saw an unexpected visitor. I looked at him coldly and asked, "What is it?"

Thomas glanced at me with disdain, clearly irritated by my indifferent attitude.

"Aren’t you going to invite me in?" he asked. "Is this your way of playing hard to get?"

Part 4

"My home doesn’t welcome you."

Thomas had never been turned away from my door before and he never expected me to speak to him with such a cold attitude.

In the past, if he had taken a single step toward me, I would’ve been overjoyed, unable to sleep all night.

"Stop pretending. Even if you stayed here for the rest of your life, I wouldn’t spare you a single glance."

I frowned, confused and asked, "You didn’t actually think I moved here because of you, did you?"

"Isn’t that the reason?"

He stormed into my house with absolute certainty, smashing the potted plants I had just arranged in my room into pieces.

Out of courtesy, I stood at the door, waiting for him to vent his anger, before coldly pulling out the property contract.

"As far as I know, you and Jessica only moved into this neighborhood yesterday, while I bought this place two months ago."

Thomas took the contract and glanced at it; the date was exactly as I had said.

Who moved in first was now crystal clear.

There wasn’t the slightest hint of embarrassment on his face; if anything, he became even more relentless.

"Then you move out!"

"Why should I?"

I stood my ground, staring him down.

Thomas immediately gave me a scrutinizing look, his eyes narrowing as he sized me up.

"Living so close, are you sure you won’t go mad watching me and Jess be all happy and in love in front of you every day? Over time, you might lose your mind."

I smiled.

"Don’t flatter yourself too much. I’ll live just fine without you—and I’ll live better. The only question is, will your little lover stay loyal to you forever? Don’t be surprised if one day she sells you out and you’re there counting the money for her."

If the seemingly invincible heir Thomas had a weakness, it would definitely be Jessica.

The Brookes Family had fallen on hard times years ago and it was only through Jessica’s sacrifices to Thomas that they managed to cling to any semblance of stability.

Everyone knew Jessica was ambitious—she pretended to be devoted and faithful on the outside, but in reality, she used Thomas’s money to support a whole string of male models.

The only person who was kept in the dark was Thomas, who, year after year, remained deeply devoted to her.

"You can talk about me, but not her."

With those words, Thomas slapped me across the face without a moment’s hesitation.

The fiery pain from the slap made me see this man clearly once again—he was nothing short of a beast.

I slammed the door shut, staring at the mess in the room, a reflection of our lost marriage that could never be salvaged.

From this moment on, I promised myself I would never shed another tear for him.

But Thomas didn’t seem to agree.

Living in the same neighborhood, with nothing more than a floor separating us, the next day I got into my car, ready to head to work.

At some point, Thomas had gotten into my car without my noticing and had already been waiting. Just like countless times before, he ordered me to drive him to the gym first, then turn around and take me to the office.

I found it laughable.

Yesterday, he slapped me and today, without so much as an apology, he was ordering me around like a chauffeur.

"Get out."

I refused so firmly that Thomas was clearly taken aback, his eyes flashing with surprise.

"Do you not love me anymore?"

Once, I loved him more than I loved myself. When I wanted to be good to someone, I’d have gladly given him the world.

But Thomas had taken advantage of my love, using it as a license to hurt me without restraint.

"Yeah, just seeing you now makes me irritated."

I answered him with obvious disgust, ready to drag him out of the car.

Just then, Thomas's phone rang—it was a call from the hospital. He quickly listened to the explanation on the other end.

I didn’t catch all the details, only thinking to myself that I needed to get him out of my car so I wouldn’t be late for work.

But the next second, Thomas, eyes reddened, suddenly pulled me into his arms.