2

It was already noon by the time we woke up. Julian Sterling carried me to the bathroom for a shower, but we ended up fooling around in the bathtub for ages.

I leaned lazily against him, feeling completely drained.

His stamina was incredible, even more vigorous than when we first got married.

That evening, he took me out for dinner.

When I got out of the car, my legs felt weak. Luckily, he caught me just in time.

Julian Sterling laughed, the amusement in his eyes impossible to hide.

He took me to dinner with his friends. There were five of them, all close buddies of his whom I'd only met once or twice.

In our two years of marriage, the place we spent the most time was in bed, with the occasional trip.

'So what's this all about today?'

I was finding him harder and harder to understand.

Less than fifteen minutes later, someone else arrived. It was Eleanor Wynne.

She was even more beautiful in person than in her photos, with a kind of fresh, clean aura about her.

Of course, I didn't feel insecure. I'm beautiful too; Julian Sterling had just complimented me last night.

'What is this, a changing of the guard?'

I hadn't realized Julian Sterling was so into formalities. It felt like he was about to hold a handover ceremony.

"Eleanor, you're back for good this time, right?" someone asked pointedly, clearly for my benefit.

I sat calmly beside Julian Sterling, opening my mouth to eat the shrimp he was feeding me.

It wasn't that I was trying to show off. It was his fault for being so relentless, leaving me without even the strength to peel a shrimp.

Eleanor Wynne looked at me, a ripple disturbing her crystal-clear eyes.

"I'm not leaving again," Eleanor Wynne said with a smile. "I'm looking for a place to live. Does anyone have any recommendations?"

"Doesn't Julian have a place in Southbay? It's still empty, isn't it?" It was the same friend again, steering the conversation toward Julian Sterling.

He continued peeling shrimp for me and replied casually, "My wife handles all my properties. I'm not too sure."

'Me???'

All eyes in the room turned to me in unison.

'This guy is a real pro at passing the buck.'

I really couldn't figure him out. Was he trying to solidify my position, or was he pushing me to back down?

He offered me another peeled shrimp. I bit down and chewed it to pieces.

'I won't have another woman sleeping by my bedside.'

But...

I glanced at Julian Sterling, diligently peeling shrimp for me. He really looked like the poster child for doting husbands.

The more he put on this act, the more my rebellious streak flared up.

My gaze shifted to the friend who had spoken up earlier, and I replied nonchalantly, "Sure. It's just sitting empty anyway. It could use a little life."

It was a casual remark, but it set off a firestorm.

The friend who made the suggestion choked on his drink.

Julian Sterling's hands, in the middle of peeling a shrimp, also froze.

Even Eleanor Wynne shot me a look.

'Was it really that serious?'

I rolled my eyes internally, not wanting to expose their little game.

I figured that from the moment Eleanor Wynne returned, this bunch had been eager to swap out their "sister-in-law."

Their acting was so terrible, even my kindergarten-aged nephew could do better.

I thought my magnanimity would give these hypocrites an easy way out. But the moment the words left my mouth, it was stuffed shut.

A peeled shrimp was shoved right into my mouth, silencing my "grand" offer.

"Eleanor, you should probably look for something else," he said. "My wife and I have lived in that house, after all. It wouldn't be convenient."

"..."

Before I could even react, another shrimp was stuffed into my mouth.

'Julian Sterling, you scoundrel! If you want me to step aside, just say so. Are you trying to choke me to death instead?'

: I Do What I Say

3

When the conversation fizzled out, the others just randomly changed the subject.

The rest of the dinner was just polite small talk. I couldn't be bothered to listen, so I escaped to the restroom for some peace and quiet.

Warm water rushed from the faucet. In the mirror, my own pretty face was filled with confusion.

'I've met the new girl, we've had our breakup sex... I'm supposed to be making my exit now.'

'It was supposed to be a perfect 'new-replaces-old' love-triangle drama. I even delivered my lines according to the script, but this guy is refusing to play his part.'

What on earth was Julian Sterling playing at? I was getting more and more confused.

When I sat back down, I realized Eleanor Wynne was gone.

As for Julian Sterling's friends, they had walked in with 'ready for a show' looks on their faces. But now? Now they didn't dare to even glance my way.

My mind was racing with questions, and I completely lost my appetite.

But Julian Sterling was still in character, continuing to place food on my plate and hand me napkins.

'If we're breaking up, let's just break up! Stop dragging it out!'

I had a stomach full of things I wanted to say, but I could only curse him out in my head.

...

The sky darkened, and the baffling dinner finally came to an end.

We hadn't even reached his parking spot when I couldn't hold it in any longer. I grabbed the sleeve of Julian Sterling's custom-tailored suit.

"Julian, don't you have anything to say to me?"

The man, forced to a halt, turned his head and thoughtfully considered my words.

Finally, he gave me an answer.

"Nothing I want to say, no. But there's plenty I want to do."

He smiled faintly, his narrow, upturned eyes crinkling into a handsome crescent shape.

In an instant, his large hand reversed our positions, pulling me back toward him.

And just like that, I was in the car with him again.

Fifteen minutes later, we were home.

About 100 seconds after that, things became exquisite.

"Nora, you see? I always do what I say I'm going to do."

Julian Sterling put a heavy, deliberate emphasis on the word "do."

"..."

'I'm begging you, please just shut up.'

: The Battle Robe

4

I stretched my stiff muscles, finally waking up the next afternoon.

Lying in my $688,000 luxury massage bathtub, I started to rethink things between Julian Sterling and me.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I could see the roses in our garden and, across the water, the hustle and bustle of the city.

This house used to be a seaside bed-and-breakfast, connected to the city by a large bridge.

Julian Sterling knew how much I loved the tranquility of viewing the city from across the water, so he bought it and converted it into a private residence just for me.

To live here with me, he had to cross the bridge every day to get home, even though his company was in the city center.

Even his friends started buying up ocean-view properties on this side of the bridge one after another.

Because this group of rich playboys moved in, they single-handedly drove up the prices of the old houses here. With a constant influx of new residents, restaurants and convenience stores started popping up.

And just like that, the city gained a new little commercial district. It was absurd.

It was from that moment I realized just how much profound wisdom my mother's words held.

Ever since I was little, my mom taught me never to marry some poor bastard on a whim.

"A rich ex-husband is more useful than a poor current one."

My mom had suffered because of love, so she wanted me to be a rational person who loved herself first.

The winter I got together with Julian Sterling, my mother, who had been strong her whole life, passed away.

Thanks to Julian Sterling throwing wads of cash around, my mother's final days were exceptionally carefree and comfortable.

In that respect, Julian Sterling had treated me quite well.

That's why I wasn't really that bothered by Eleanor Wynne's appearance.

But based on Julian Sterling's attitude last night, he didn't seem to be in a rush for me to step aside, either.

He could afford to have a woman on each arm; after all, he had the resources for it.

'Too bad. No matter how comfortable this bathtub is, it can't hold back a heart that wants to leave.'

After thinking it over and over, I still decided to get a divorce.

I couldn't allow a man with an old flame to keep sleeping by my side.

After my bath, I started scrolling through my contacts on WeChat.

Eleanor Wynne was truly charming; Julian Sterling wasn't the only one who liked her.

Soon enough, I found another one of her quiet "lapdogs."

Through his messages, I learned of Eleanor Wynne's current whereabouts.

An all-too-familiar silhouette against an exceptionally beautiful backdrop.

'Just as I thought. Another secret rendezvous under the guise of a reunion.'

I put on my sunglasses, picked out a lightning-fast little sports car, and headed out.

The restaurant was famous and just a turn after the bridge. It was ridiculously easy to find.

While my car was stuck in traffic on the bridge, I got a call from my SA.

"Miss Gu, your haute couture gown has arrived. Would you like us to deliver it to your home, or will you come to pick it up in person?"

'Heaven is on my side!'

Compared to Julian Sterling, whose heart I couldn't hold on to, I cared more about my haute couture gown that I'd been waiting for for almost a year.

The dress was originally ordered a year ago, but between the recurring pandemic and endless customs delays, it was eight months late.

For the past few days, I had been constantly checking for updates, just waiting for this very call from my SA.

'Well, now. It seems my battle armor and I are on the same wavelength.'

The time for goodbyes has come, and it will grant me one last, magnificent entrance.

Things were developing just as I'd hoped. All I had to do was "catch them in the act," and then I could justifiably make a huge scene.

Julian Sterling is so concerned with his public image that as long as the number I propose isn't too outrageous, he'll definitely agree.

'Tsk, I really am a clever girl.'