His tone was laced with humiliation and rage.

"Vera, what the hell do you want from me?"

"I've already lowered myself for you. What more could you possibly want?"

"When did you become so aggressive?"

"Vera, I'm telling you right now—I am not getting a divorce!"

I looked at Richard, his face twisted and ugly with anger, and felt a strange calm settle over me.

The old Vera would have already been in tears by now.

Back then, she loved Richard.

She couldn't bear to let him go, even when his heart had already wandered. She'd rather tear herself apart than deny him another chance.

But now, I didn't want him anymore.

"Richard, I'm leaving. That frees up the spot for your precious Brenda."

"Why are you even angry?"

"I'm doing you a favor."

Richard's fury deepened.

"Vera! Stop being so unreasonable!"

"Yesterday, I told you it was the last time I'd see her."

"I did what you asked. I fired her. We won't cross paths again."

"What else do you want me to do?"

"Besides, I never cheated in the first place!"

"What do you want?"

"I love you. Only you. No one but you!"

I laughed.

I laughed at how shameless Richard Weiss truly was.

"Richard."

"Do you honestly think I'm stupid?"

"You came home late last night with red marks on your neck and perfume on your clothes."

"And today, a sudden business trip."

"Richard, honestly? You have no shame."

The room went silent.

Richard's chest heaved, his face cycling between white and green.

I didn't spare him another glance. I walked straight out the door.

Richard had apparently forgotten something.

When he'd gotten down on his knees and begged to marry me, swearing over and over that he'd be faithful, he'd signed a divorce agreement.

If he ever betrayed me, I could walk away whenever I chose.

Now, that agreement was his reckoning.

I left the home I'd shared with Richard and went back to my parents' house.

Mom and Dad lit up the moment they saw me walk through the door.

"Vera, what brings you here today?"

They came toward me, their faces full of warmth and concern.

"Wasn't your prenatal checkup yesterday? How's the baby?"

I couldn't hold it in any longer. The tears spilled over instantly.

"Mom, Dad—the baby's gone. I want a divorce."

My parents had no idea about Richard and Brenda.

Back then, I'd been drowning in resentment, pain, and indecision.

But I could never bring myself to pull the trigger.

I'd suffered through it alone, never telling them a word.

When they heard what I said, they both went still.

My mother's eyes turned red. She pulled me into her arms.

"What happened?"

"Are you in pain?"

I cried harder.

I told them everything about Richard and Brenda.

Our family's company had a partnership with the Weiss family's firm. A divorce would mean severing that tie completely.

My father slammed his palm on the table.

"Divorce him!"

"Vera, your mother and I are getting older. We don't have grand ambitions anymore."

"No partnership? Fine. We have more than enough to take care of the three of us."

"You don't need to suffer for anyone!"

Hearing my father's words, I broke down completely.

I stayed at my parents' house after that.

Richard called constantly. I never picked up.

All I wanted was the quiet to let my body heal before dealing with the divorce.

But then one evening, my father came home with a look of pure fury on his face.

"That little bastard Richard—he's really something else!"

It was from my father that I learned the truth.

Richard had started going after our family's company.

I couldn't hold back any longer. I stormed out the door, determined to confront him. The sheer audacity of that man.

When I arrived at the house I shared with Richard, I found someone else already there. Brenda James. The woman who was supposedly long gone overseas.

The moment Richard saw me walk in, his expression darkened. Brenda flinched and tucked herself behind him.

Richard's face turned even uglier.

"Vera, you have the nerve to show up here?"

I stared at him, my expression ice-cold.

"Richard, why wouldn't I? You've moved your mistress into our home, and I'm the one who should be ashamed?" My voice didn't waver. "Even if we're getting divorced, there's no reason to go after my father's company."

Richard's eyes went dangerously dark.

"Vera, consider it a warning. A punishment."

"How dare you lay a hand on Brenda?"

"She was already leaving."

I looked at him and felt nothing but disbelief.

"I laid a hand on her?"

"Richard, I wouldn't dirty my hands."

He raised his voice, sharp and accusing.

"If not you, then who? You hired people to kidnap her. To humiliate her!" His jaw clenched. "If I hadn't gotten there in time, Brenda would've been destroyed!"

His gaze was cold, his lips curled in contempt.

"You did swear once that you'd ruin her."

He was right. Once upon a time, when I was desperately in love with Richard and half out of my mind, I'd vowed to tear Brenda apart.

But that woman was gone now.

I shifted my gaze to Brenda. She cowered behind Richard, whimpering softly, the picture of a wounded bird. But the eyes that met mine over his shoulder were bright with provocation.

And just like that, I understood everything.

Brenda had never intended to leave the country. She'd never planned to go anywhere. Her retreat was nothing more than a calculated advance. The kidnapping, the humiliation, all of it was a performance she'd staged herself.

Richard was the only one who'd bought it.

Brenda tugged gently at Richard's sleeve.

"Richard, please don't fight with Miss Sullivan." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm fine. This is all my fault. I got too close to you, and that's why she's upset." She sniffled. "Don't worry. I'll leave. I promise."

Richard cut her off.

"Brenda, don't be afraid!" His tone shifted, fierce and protective. "I won't let you leave. You'd be alone in a foreign country where you don't know anyone. Who knows what could happen to you."

After soothing Brenda, he turned back to me.

"Vera, I'm going to arrange a position for Brenda at one of the branch offices. She won't be anywhere near us." His voice was matter-of-fact, as if he were discussing a business transaction. "Consider it compensation for what you did to her."

"Drop the scheming. I told you, you'll always be Mrs. Weiss."

Then his tone softened, almost gentle.

"I'll let this one slide. I know you only acted out because you care about me. People do reckless things when they're in love."

"The partnership between Weiss Group and Sullivan Corp will continue. I'll hold a press conference to stabilize things."

"We're about to become parents, Vera. Let's just... stop fighting. Please?"

I almost laughed.

He didn't know. The baby was already gone.

Lost the moment he chose Brenda. Again.

I had no desire to argue with Richard anymore. If he had no shame, I had no reason to show mercy.

I held his gaze for a long, steady moment. Then I smiled and nodded.

This time, I was going to give Richard a gift he'd never forget.

The day of the press conference, reporters packed the venue.

My father and Richard sat side by side on the stage. I watched from below, waiting.

Not far away, Brenda's eyes found mine, burning with venom.

She began walking toward me.

"Vera, why are you so pathetically desperate?"

"Can't you see Richard has already moved on?"

"He stopped loving you a long time ago! If it weren't for the baby, he would've divorced you ages ago!"

I didn't even bother sparing Brenda a glance.

But she took my silence as an invitation to push further.

"Vera, do you have any idea how wild we were that night?"

"He knew I was leaving. He couldn't get enough of me. Lost count of how many times he took me in that bed."

"He hasn't been that passionate with you in a long time, has he?"

Brenda's voice slithered like a viper's whisper.

My fists clenched so hard my nails bit into my palms. Every fiber of me screamed to slap her across the face.

But the real show hadn't started yet. I swallowed the urge whole.

When Brenda saw I wasn't reacting, she sat down beside me with a huff of frustration.

The press conference began on schedule.

Richard was still onstage, speaking with easy confidence, painting a grand picture of the partnership with Sullivan Corp.

My father sat nearby, his smile polished and restrained.

After the latest collaboration details had been laid out and the signing was about to begin, my father stood up.

"Just a moment, Mr. Weiss."

Richard's expression shifted to confusion.

I rose from my seat and walked onto the stage.

"Today, Sullivan Corp also has an announcement to make."

I cast a brief glance at Richard.

A flicker of unease passed through him, sudden and sourceless.

He moved to stop me, but my father stepped into his path.

I let out a quiet laugh and continued.

"Sullivan Corp has sold its shares to the Farley Group."

"Going forward, the Sullivan-Weiss partnership will be managed by Farley."

The Farley Group and Weiss Corp were bitter rivals. Farley had been eyeing this project for a long time, waiting for an opening, but Weiss had kept an iron grip on it, leaving no room for anyone else to get a foot in the door.

Now, I was handing them that opening on a silver platter.

Richard lunged for the microphone, but I sidestepped him with ease.

Without a change in expression, I produced a document and cast it onto the large screen behind me.

The entire room went dead silent.