: A Life Worse Than Death

In the fifth year of our marriage, I did something foolish.

I drove Julian Valerius's most beloved golden canary out of the country, hoping he would have a change of heart.

But when he found out, he said nothing.

He simply bankrupted my family in an instant, forced my father to his knees, and caused my mother's hair to turn white overnight.

Now, his face dark, he stands before me, ready to strike.

"Elara Thorne, I suppose I was too good to you. It made you forget your place."

"Now, it's your turn to taste a fate worse than death."

...

When Julian Valerius spoke those words, I finally looked up at him.

Four years of courtship, five years of marriage.

We had spent the best years of our youth together.

'I never thought it would come to this between us.'

My hand drifted to my stomach. I was nearly three months pregnant.

But it was as if Julian Valerius didn't see. His voice was dark as he demanded:

"I'll give you one last chance. Where did she go?"

'I wanted to let out a cold laugh.'

But my one moment of defiance had already cost my family everything.

"Let my parents go, and I'll tell you."

Julian Valerius nodded.

He walked over slowly and, catching me off guard, clamped a hand around my throat, forcing me to tilt my head back to look at him.

"Elara Thorne, don't push your luck."

"It's only a matter of time before I find out where Mia is. What makes you think you're in any position to bargain with me?"

The intense suffocation made me gag instinctively. My face flushed crimson, and the veins on my neck bulged.

I gritted my teeth. A sudden terror and despair washed over me, chilling me to the bone. Even so, I managed to rasp out with all my strength:

"Does that give you the right—to make Mr. Thorne kneel to you?!"

"That's my father!"

Julian Valerius simply kept his grip on me, his face a blank mask, his strength terrifyingly immense.

Tears were forced from my eyes, but I stared fixedly into Julian Valerius's own.

Dark and filled with madness.

'I had no doubt he would kill me for another woman.'

Just as I was about to pass out, Julian Valerius let go.

I gasped for breath, my body trembling with lingering fear as I curled up on the sofa.

In that moment, everything we had been through flashed through my mind.

I suddenly burst into uncontrollable sobs.

For the past I could never get back, for this hopeless marriage.

And most of all, for the pitiful person I had become.

Julian Valerius just stood there, watching me with cold indifference, completely unmoved.

He didn't even give me a moment to catch my breath. He seized my chin again, his voice terrifyingly grim.

"I'll ask you one last time. Where did you send my Mia?"

Julian Valerius left.

Once he had the information he wanted, he rushed out of the room without hesitation.

In that instant, I clearly saw the look of joyful relief on his face.

'My husband has gone completely mad over another woman.'

I wiped my tears and immediately contacted my parents, preparing to move out that very night.

I thought my father would scold me, but he only comforted me, his weary voice choked with emotion:

"Elara, my poor girl, you've suffered. I don't blame you. We'll just leave, that's all."

After I hung up, I was completely overwhelmed by self-loathing and despair.

Julian Valerius and I fell in love in college and married right after graduation.

The Valerius family was wealthy and influential. For my father, me marrying into their family was something he had never dared to dream of.

He'd had his reservations, too, afraid I would be mistreated.

My own family had no status, and there would be no one to stand up for me.

Back then, I had sworn to my father that Julian Valerius loved me so much he would never let me be wronged.

: Divorce

He would prepare gifts for me on every holiday and generously introduce me to all his friends.

When we were apart, he would tell me he missed me countless times a day. He'd get jealous if another man so much as glanced at me, his eyes turning red with anger.

He said, "Elara, did you know? The people in the Valerius Family are all twisted monsters. You're the only one who taught me what love is."

Julian Valerius was insecure, constantly needing me to reaffirm my love for him.

My heart would ache for him, so I would just hold him until he fell asleep peacefully in my arms.

I thought we would be like this until we grew old, so when his affection suddenly plummeted, I panicked immediately.

Mia Quinn was a recent college graduate.

The first time I heard her name was from Julian Valerius's secretary.

The secretary said that girls these days have no creativity. The "accidentally spill coffee on the President" trope is so cliché, isn't it?

I listened to it like it was a joke and didn't pay it much mind.

But not long after, Mia Quinn was made Julian Valerius's personal assistant, breaking precedent.

He would take Mia Quinn horseback riding. Since she didn't know how, Julian Valerius would pull her into the saddle in front of him, and they would ride together on a single horse, meandering slowly.

Mia Quinn didn't understand the complex social etiquette of the business world.

Julian Valerius patiently guided her, even personally teaching her how to brew tea.

Some tactless business partners made jokes at Mia Quinn's expense.

The usually calm and composed Julian Valerius beat the man so badly he ended up in the hospital right then and there.

Julian Valerius seemed to have no intention of hiding anything.

Everyone knew how well he treated Mia Quinn.

By the time the rumors reached my ears, the two of them were already attending major banquets hand-in-hand, kissing amidst the teasing banter of the crowd.

I looked at the photos someone had sent me and lost my temper with Julian Valerius for the first time.

Julian Valerius just sat in his executive chair, watching me in silence.

But his eyes seemed to say I was being unreasonable.

"Elara, you're almost thirty. What are you doing, competing with a young girl?"

"When you were in your early twenties, I doted on you just the same, didn't I?"

In that moment, I felt as if I'd been plunged into an ice cellar.

I finally understood. Julian Valerius's love was very devoted.

He was devoted only to young women, and I had already passed that stage.

I had originally planned to just file for divorce, but then I unexpectedly found out I was pregnant.

I wanted to try one more time for my child and my family, so I had Mr. Thorne find some people to send Mia Quinn abroad.

The result was predictable.

After nine years together, it turned out I meant nothing to Julian Valerius.

I had lost completely.

Mr. Thorne told me to give him three days.

Now that we had offended the Valerius Family, there was no place left for us in the country.

I took the opportunity to schedule an abortion procedure for that same day.

Since the love was gone, there was no reason to keep Julian Valerius's child.

Besides, there were plenty of young girls who would bear his children.

But the doctor said my gestational sac was too large, and it could only be handled with an induced labor procedure, which required hospitalization.

But I could only stay in the city for three days. I had no choice but to postpone it.

On the way back, I found a lawyer to discuss the divorce.

When they heard the case was against Julian Valerius, they all started to back out.

"Ms. Quinn, President Valerius's company has its own professional legal team. I'm afraid we're not qualified to get involved in this matter."

I understood and didn't press him further.

After I married Julian Valerius, I became a stay-at-home wife. He said he didn't want me in the public eye, so I foolishly obeyed for five years.

Now, my entire social circle has been filtered through Julian Valerius. I can't even find anyone to help me.

No matter. Once he brings Mia Quinn back, I imagine getting a divorce will be easy.

I did a quick inventory of my things at home.

I left all the valuables behind, taking only some clothes for the season and my ID.

I've been exhausted ever since getting pregnant, and after packing all evening, I passed out right on the sofa.

The next day, the front door was opened from the outside.

I jolted upright, terrified.

To my complete shock, Julian Valerius was back.

He was holding a young woman by the hand—it was Mia Quinn.

She was exquisitely beautiful. The photos I'd seen didn't do her justice; they only captured half her beauty.

Mia Quinn was also carrying several luxury brand shopping bags, and the diamonds on her high heels were so bright they nearly blinded me.

Clearly, he had already smoothed things over with her.

My heart sank. I never expected Julian Valerius to return so soon.

My hand instinctively went to my neck.

The choking sensation seemed to return, and I found myself genuinely afraid of Julian Valerius.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to stand up from the sofa.

Julian Valerius led Mia Quinn to stand before me. Right in front of me, he smiled as he tenderly straightened her hair, then turned to me, his expression turning cold.

"Elara Thorne, apologize to Mia."

I couldn't believe my ears.

Even after we had dropped all pretenses, after he'd destroyed my family's livelihood, after he'd tried to strangle me just yesterday—I thought that was as monstrous as he could get.

'Now he wants me to apologize to his mistress?'

Seeing me frozen, Julian Valerius seized my chin, forcing me to face Mia Quinn.

"Didn't you hear me? I told you to apologize to Mia."

Julian Valerius is a businessman; he knows exactly how to crush a person's spirit.

Even if that person was the wife he'd been with for years.

Mia Quinn hadn't so much as glanced at me since she'd walked in.

With downcast eyes and slightly pursed lips, she didn't need to say a thing to look like a pitiful, deeply wronged victim.

"Mr. Valerius, you don't have to do this."

"I know my position isn't exactly proper. It's only natural for her to hate me."

That's what she said, but I clearly saw her flick her eyes upward in a brief, secret glare at me.

When I remained silent, Mia Quinn tugged at Julian Valerius's sleeve.

"Mr. Valerius, I'm a little tired. I want to go rest..."

Julian Valerius kissed Mia Quinn on the cheek, his voice gentle. "Alright, you go to the room and rest."

Mia Quinn's large eyes darted toward me as she asked with feigned doubt, "This is your home. Where am I supposed to rest?"

Julian Valerius nonchalantly led her to our bedroom. The implication was unmistakable.

I was trembling uncontrollably.

I clenched my jaw, the only thing stopping me from erupting in a mad scream.

I struggled to even my breathing as I watched Julian Valerius settle her into the room. Only then did I speak to his back, my voice hoarse.

"Julian Valerius, let's get a divorce."

"You've trampled my dignity like garbage, and you've destroyed my parents' life's work."

My eyes were red, but I forced myself to remain calm as I said, "This is all my fault. The fault was mine, for being so blind back then."

Hearing this, Julian Valerius actually raised an eyebrow.

He stood before me with his hands in his pockets, leaning in until his handsome face was inches from mine.

His expression was vicious.

And it held a profound, inscrutable meaning that I couldn't begin to understand.