"I’m pregnant."

Kenna announced, a smug smile on her face, as she tossed an ultrasound photo onto the table before Audrey. It was Audrey's wedding anniversary, and earlier she had messaged Cohen on WhatsApp to invite him to dinner at The Ritz-Carlton's penthouse, hoping to discuss something important.

But Cohen didn’t show. Instead, Kenna arrived with her "good" news.

"Congratulations," Audrey replied, maintaining a surprisingly genuine smile.

Kenna blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Audrey, are you crazy?"

Kenna was carrying the child of Audrey's husband, yet Audrey didn’t show a hint of anger. Instead, she just acknowledged the reality of her situation. Three years of a marriage in name only had drained the Howell family’s resources and indulged Cohen's infidelities. How could she not be mentally exhausted?

In the past, Audrey would have reacted very differently—perhaps tearing the ultrasound photo to shreds and demanding Kenna verify her claim with a doctor. But that was before. Audrey's battles with breast cancer, stomach cancer, and early heart disease had left her drained. There was no point in wasting energy on a cheating husband.

Her original plan was to inform Cohen about her health conditions over dinner and agree to a divorce, freeing him to live his life. It was unexpected that he wouldn’t even bother meeting her.

Audrey nudged the ultrasound picture back toward Kenna. "The first photo of your little one. Consider it a keepsake."

Kenna was left speechless, staring at the frail figure in front of her. After a moment, she managed a cold laugh. "Audrey, isn’t it too late to play the dignified wife? Do you forget your past antics? Cohen will never love you again, no matter what you do!"

"Honestly, I hope things go well for you," Audrey replied sincerely. "As a potential mistress, you hold an extra card now."

Kenna's eyes narrowed, trying to see through Audrey’s calm demeanor. Audrey appeared naive, but she had always been the one fighting fiercely for Cohen and refusing to divorce him.

"Oh, by the way," Audrey added, "I won’t be in your way with Cohen anymore."

What did she mean by that? Kenna caught a hint of something deeper and probed, "Are you actually considering a divorce?"

Audrey simply smiled, not answering directly. Instead, she remarked, "Cohen's never been serious about his flings. But since you’re having his child, Cleo Hall is your only real competition."

Cleo was Cohen’s idealized love and the reason behind much of Audrey's suffering. If Kenna could surpass Cleo, it might serve Audrey's desire for some indirect revenge.

Kenna was confused. What was Mrs. Howell up to? Encouraging her to outshine Cleo?

The table was spread with exquisite dishes, but neither woman took a bite. The meal concluded awkwardly.

Audrey climbed to the rooftop garden, gazing at the bustling streets below with a detached expression on her pale face. She was alone, gravely ill, and estranged from her family, finding no reason to linger in a world where she was unwanted. Rather than pleading with Cohen for funds to undergo endless, draining treatments, she’d prefer to end her dismal existence.

*

Kenna wandered downstairs, feeling uneasy. She called her boss.

"Mr. Howell, I did as you instructed and showed Mrs. Howell the ultrasound… No! She wasn’t angry… She even congratulated me and said Cleo Hall was my only competition now…"

Cohen was silent on the other end. Kenna felt nervous. "Mr. Howell, Mrs. Howell didn’t mention divorce… But I have a weird feeling something’s not right with her."

Cohen was about to question further when he heard a piercing scream over the line. After a while, Kenna’s trembling voice returned. "Mr. Howell, Mrs. Howell… she jumped…"

In Audrey's final moments, her eyes caught sight of a giant billboard of Cleo across the street. Even on her last journey, Cleo's shadow loomed over her. Fate was cruel.

Audrey didn’t know that Cohen was just a few floors below in the hotel. When he heard the news, he rushed toward her, heartbroken and panicked.

*

The sound of glass shattering startled Audrey. The man across the table glared angrily at her, then slammed the glass onto the floor, shattering it.

"Audrey, are you pulling the drunk act again? Once was enough! I’ve said I need to go to the office, stop being so suspicious!"

Audrey was stunned. She slowly lifted her head. This was her home with Cohen, but… why was Cohen here? Hadn't he moved out long ago? The man she’d loved for ten years stood before her, fuming and glaring.

She blinked. Hadn’t she jumped? If she’d survived, she should be in a hospital, not here. On the table were two simple breakfast plates, untouched, and a conspicuous bottle of red wine. Who drinks wine at breakfast? Well, she does.

Half a year into their marriage, Cleo had suddenly returned, and Cohen spent all his time with her, neglecting work. Out of jealousy, Audrey had spiked Cohen’s wine with sleeping pills to keep him home. But Cohen’s vigilance discovered her plan, leading to a huge argument. He stormed out and never returned.

Young and naive, Audrey had thought marriage was a woman’s protection. The Howell family had financially saved Cohen, and she believed he owed her. Ultimately, Cohen "repaid" her by consuming the Howell family assets for himself.

Cohen snapped, "Say something! Have you gone silent?"

Yes, this was just like before. Exactly the same. Audrey was dumbfounded—she had been given a second chance. She was back to when they’d been married just six months. The Howell family hadn’t been swallowed up yet, and her family was intact. There was still time to change everything!

Cohen was losing his patience. He had promised to meet Cleo at the One World Trade Center at nine, and if he didn’t leave soon, he’d be late.

"Audrey, I’ve had enough of being tied to you. You can keep the title of Mrs. Howell, but don’t expect to find me in this house anymore!"

With that, Cohen turned to leave.

"Wait!" Audrey called after him.

Under Cohen’s impatient gaze, Audrey spoke calmly, "If you’re not willing, then let’s divorce."

Cohen Howell was startled by her words. Divorce? Did Audrey Perry really mean it? He frowned, "Audrey, what kind of stunt are you pulling now?"

Audrey looked at him, her gaze steady, free from infatuation or anger. "Cohen, I’m not joking."

"You’re serious?" Cohen laughed mockingly, "You teamed up with the Howards and the Gallaghers to topple Howell Enterprises just to end up married to me? You lent me the money; Howell Enterprises is almost stable again. I don’t even like you, yet I have to treat you like some kind of goddess every day, and now you want a divorce?"

Audrey gave a rueful smile. Once, she would never have considered divorce.

"Cohen, believe it or not, this is the last time I’ll say it—it wasn’t me who sabotaged Howell Enterprises."

In her previous life, this was always a point of contention. Cohen believed she would do anything to marry him. After all, what other explanation was there when only the Perry family had the liquidity at that crucial moment? It was simply because her grandfather had the foresight to maintain ample cash flow for the company. But no matter how much she explained, Cohen wouldn’t believe her. Throwing away ten billion dollars would at least get you a dog wagging its tail in gratitude. But lending it to Cohen was like tossing it into the wind.

She was naïve in her past life, believing that persistence would melt a heart. But when a man’s heart is set on another woman, it’s impossible to sway him.

This time, she was still healthy, not yet worn down by Cohen and Cleo Hall. Having lived through a nightmare once, she had no intention of going through it again.

Cohen dismissed her explanation with a sneer. The logic in business was straightforward. Those who benefit are usually the culprits. After the entire debacle, neither the Howards nor the Gallaghers gained anything worthwhile. Only Audrey came out on top. If not her, then who else?

Explanations were pointless; there was no reason to offer more.

Audrey took a moment to bid farewell to the house she’d known for so long. She spoke suddenly, her voice calm, "I’ve had enough of being Mrs. Howell. I'm leaving. Since you say Howell Enterprises has rebounded, pay back the money and let's get divorced. I’m not bluffing."

Cohen snorted, doubting Audrey’s sincerity about wanting to leave. Did she underestimate him? Did she think he was joking about Howell Enterprises recovering? Ten billion was manageable; paying it back to the Perry family wasn’t a big deal!

Cohen stormed out, slamming the door behind him...

Audrey called Uncle Henry, the Perry family’s driver, to pick her up. Hearing his familiar voice brought tears of relief to her eyes. In her previous life, after the Perry family's fall, Cohen had forbidden anyone in Uptown from helping anyone associated with the Perrys. Soon, Audrey lost contact with Uncle Henry.

In the end, it was only after being diagnosed with cancer that she saw Uncle Henry again at her grandfather’s grave, laying flowers despite his own hardships. After the Perry family’s collapse, Uncle Henry struggled to find work. Later, Cleo Hall, on a film set, spoke up for him and got him a job delivering props. On a rainy day with slippery roads and under pressure to deliver on time, Henry had an accident.

The amputation left Uncle Henry without a livelihood. His subsequent life was unimaginably hard...

To think of sitting in a car driven by Uncle Henry again filled Audrey with gratitude and joy.

Mrs. Smith, the housekeeper, saw Audrey dragging a suitcase downstairs and rushed over. "Ma'am, are you going out?"

Audrey replied casually, "I’m going back to the Perry estate."

Mrs. Smith, ever loyal to Cohen, asked with concern, "Does Mr. Howell know?"

She had just witnessed Cohen leaving in anger; could the couple have fought again?

"He knows," Audrey replied.

Mrs. Smith helped Audrey with her suitcase, walking her to the car. She couldn’t help but advise, "Every couple has their ups and downs, Mrs. Howell. Don’t be too hard on yourself; come back soon."

Audrey knew she wouldn’t be back. "It’s more than just a quarrel. This marriage itself is a contradiction."

Facing illness and the end had taught her to let go. From now on, she wouldn’t hold onto Cohen Howell. There were many ways to live.

Mrs. Smith tried once more, "Mr. Howell’s pride often gets in the way; don’t take it to heart."

Audrey smiled but said nothing. It wasn’t just pride; she had once had genuine feelings. Now, she wouldn’t allow anyone to trample on her heart again.

Watching the car disappear into the distance, Mrs. Smith had a sinking feeling. Was Mrs. Howell really not coming back?

*

The next morning, Cohen received a divorce agreement from the Perry family's legal team. Ha! This woman was acting rashly. Howell Enterprises could indeed pull together ten billion in cash, but a bigger project was in need of some of those startup funds, and Cohen didn’t want to tap into that capital.

He tossed the agreement aside carelessly, not noticing the signed final page, which included a note. To speed up the divorce, Audrey had left a message stating they could finalize the divorce certificate before repaying the money. She would be at the county office promptly at ten in the morning.

By noon, Cohen still hadn’t shown up. Audrey found all her calls and messages blocked by Cohen, so she decided to confront him directly at Howell Enterprises.

Entering the company with the grace of a woman of wealth and style, sunglasses on, Audrey had an aura that made the staff assume she was some important business partner of the CEO, parting in deference as she walked by.

Her path was clear until...

"You can't go in!" a sharp voice declared.

Cecelia Williams, Cohen’s chief secretary, stood blocking Audrey’s way to the top floor, her stance and words assertive.

Cecelia Williams was one of Cohen Howell's admirers, but unfortunately, she never succeeded in winning his heart. To Cohen, she was just a reliable employee, appreciated solely for her professional competence. Cecelia habitually wore shirts that were a size too small, with buttons that seemed perpetually ready to pop. She was incredibly sharp in her work, yet she didn't understand the intricacies of male attention.

It was clear Cohen preferred more reserved types, like Cleo Hall and, later, Kenna Murray. Women who dressed provocatively were beneath Cohen's standards, not even meriting a second glance. Of course, Audrey Perry wasn't in any position to criticize Cecelia's lack of perception. Even though she knew Cohen's preferences, she still couldn't capture his attention. Cohen's indifference toward her was not something that could be resolved with conciliation.

Cecelia stood with her back straight, looking at Audrey with disdain. "Mr. Howell is busy and doesn't allow interruptions."

After graduating, Cecelia had joined Howell Corp and quickly gained Mr. Howell's favor. From her first days there, she was aware of Audrey Perry, Howell's eldest daughter, who often trailed after Mr. Howell. An Ivy League student who left her studies to pursue a handsome man and eventually pressured Mr. Howell into marriage, she did nothing meaningful afterward, not even returning to her education. Despite having the potential for an elite career, she opted to be a homemaker.

For a dedicated professional like Cecelia, nothing was more contemptible than a full-time homemaker. "For the family" or "for the kids"; she viewed it as an excuse for idleness! Even with her privileged background, Cecelia looked down on Audrey’s choice as a homemaker.

Audrey and her idol, Mr. Howell, had little to talk about. She excelled at keeping their home spotless and guessing Mr. Howell's culinary preferences, demonstrating her "lack of utility." Did she think outside eateries weren't clean enough, or that Michelin-starred chefs couldn't rival her, a woman unaccustomed to manual labor? Beyond her youthful looks, Audrey seemed, in Cecelia's eyes, utterly clueless!

No wonder Cohen paid her no mind!

Audrey adjusted her sunglasses, grinning broadly at Cecelia, whom she hadn't seen in a while. In truth, Cecelia's pride would soon be short-lived; Kenna Murray would soon take her place.

To handle a woman who was all talk, Audrey stepped forward, exuding more confidence. "Even if Cohen dislikes me, he still has to treat me like royalty. He wouldn't dare boss me around, so who do you think you are?"

In the past, Audrey had genuinely feared Cecelia. As Cohen's trusted aide, Cecelia's opinion mattered, and Audrey worried about alienating those close to him, fearing it might make him despise her even more. Eventually, all of Cohen's assistants acted bold enough to disregard her. Not only did Cecelia look down on her, but Audrey also resented how she wasted opportunities in the name of love.

Taken aback by Audrey's assertiveness, Cecelia furrowed her brow. Did Audrey really think marrying Cohen made her the queen of Howell Corp? Dream on! Cecelia said sternly, "I only take orders from Mr. Howell. If you try forcing your way in, go ahead and test the top-notch security."

She didn't believe an undervalued CEO's wife posed any threat. Blocking Audrey in the name of work, Mr. Howell wouldn't scold her.

Audrey arched an eyebrow. Threatening her? She didn't love Cohen anymore, so his associates held no sway over her. "Wow, Cecelia, it's impressive you can keep a wife from seeing her husband."

Audrey gave a sly smile, moving closer. Her tone was light and gentle, "I heard Howell Corp's executive assistants need a graduate degree, yet Cecelia's MBA... I heard it was bought?"

Cecelia's scalp tingled as her complexion turned pale. How... how did she know? This secret hadn't even been shared with her parents, who still flaunted their daughter's graduate degree to relatives. How had Audrey, whom she'd deemed clueless, unearthed this?

At the recruitment event, Cecelia had developed a crush on Cohen at first sight. To secure a position closest to him, she'd pulled strings to graduate early. She'd worked diligently to become the chief assistant, but if Cohen discovered her falsified degree, would he be lenient?

Cecelia dared not risk it. She retorted angrily, "Did you investigate me?"

"Ah~" Audrey smiled broadly. "So it is true."

She recalled a rumor when Kenna eventually replaced Cecelia. Kenna had allegedly found proof of Cecelia's degree forgery, but few believed it. Cecelia's job performance matched her supposed credentials. Besides, who would think a chief assistant would leave such a vulnerability? After years of work and study, surely she could have earned the degree legitimately. Why use a fake one? But Audrey believed it.

Cecelia worked tirelessly, with no time for study while juggling her job. Audrey had guessed correctly~ Cecelia now realized she'd been outsmarted by Audrey, whom she'd dismissed as naive. "Move!" Audrey bumped Cecelia's shoulder out of her way, her tone chilly as a winter day. "Block me again, and I'll spill the beans about your fake degree to Cohen. If you do my bidding, your secret stays safe."

Two can play the game of threats.

Cecelia clenched her fists, powerless against Audrey, forced to watch her head toward Cohen's office. Just before opening the door, Audrey turned to wink at Cecelia, offering a helpful reminder, "Cecelia, find time to earn that graduate degree for real. My silence won't guarantee others'. You can work tirelessly for Cohen, but he only sees you as a silent tool. Stop pandering to men; investing in yourself is the real answer."

Audrey's words were as much advice for herself as for Cecelia. Cecelia, however, took them as a threat. Returning to her desk, she resumed her relentless work. She couldn't afford to slack off; any time spent studying was a chance for the second assistant to usurp her role. She needed to keep Audrey from revealing her secret. Should she really listen to that fool like Audrey suggested? Cecelia was not convinced!

*

Hearing a noise, Cohen assumed it was his assistant. "Just take the signed documents out."

"It's me."

Cohen paused, his eyes lifting from the paperwork to Audrey, displeasure evident as he asked with disdain, "Who let you in?"