Wendy furrowed her brows. "What did I do?"

Stanley clenched his jaw. "Who told you to dress like this?"

'What? Like this?' she wondered. "What do you mean, Stanley?!"

Stanley glanced at her ultra-short skirt. "Your thighs are almost exposed. Do you really want people to see your legs like this?"

Wendy's skirt was a bit short, but it was Cecelia's choice.

Cecelia's exact words were, "My dearest Wendy doesn't show her legs, but look at how Jessica flaunts hers. Tonight, let everyone see who has the best legs in Hovendale."

Wendy raised her finely arched eyebrows. "Looks like Mr. Hawk noticed my legs."

Stanley paused.

Wendy leaned back against the wall, appearing languid and graceful. She slowly lifted her right leg, her crystal-high heel brushing against his ankle.

Stanley had on black trousers, showcasing his long, muscular legs, exuding an aura of coldness and restraint.

Wendy's pale foot gently grazed up his ankle, moving provocatively along his calf. It was an act of seduction and defiance.

Stanley shot her a cold glance. "What are you doing?"

Wendy curved her lips into a smile. "Mr. Hawk, which do you prefer? My legs, or Jessica's?"

Stanley stared at her small, delicate face that glowed with celestial radiance, yet she provocatively seduced him with a dazzling smile.

Last night, he had glimpsed the beauty hidden beneath her dark-rimmed glasses, but he hadn't expected her to be this beautiful.

He felt like he had seen this face somewhere before.

Wendy's clear eyes sparkled. "Mr. Hawk, has Jessica ever wrapped her legs around your waist?"

Stanley's breath hitched. His handsome face moved closer to hers, his gaze softening with a tenderness Wendy had never seen before. "Wendy, are you really this shameless? All you think about is men. You even hired eight male hosts to satisfy your needs!"

He didn't answer Wendy's question about Jessica. That was perhaps the best kind of protection a man could offer a woman.

Their love had been so passionate, full of youthful excitement. Jessica's legs had definitely wrapped around his waist, or else why would he still remember her so fondly?

Jessica was lucky to have a man like Stanley so deeply attached to her. He would never describe her as 'shameless.'

Though Wendy wore a smile, her eyes remained clear and distant. "Well, Mr. Hawk, your body isn't up to par and can't satisfy me, so of course I have to go out and find men. Let's get divorced quickly. If the first man doesn't work, the next will be better."

Did she actually say he was inadequate, and the next man would be better?

This woman was truly asking for it.

Stanley reached out, grabbing Wendy's chin. "Are you trying to provoke me? Do you really want to know if I'm up to the task?"

'What?' Wendy froze.

Stanley moved closer to her lips, teasing, but with words that carried no warmth. "Dream on. I won't touch you. The one I love is Jessica."

He loved Jessica.

He didn't even need to say it—Wendy already knew. It stung her heart, the sharp pain spreading through her, though the ache wasn't obvious.

At that moment, a sweet voice rang out. "Stanley."

Wendy looked up—Jessica had arrived.

Jessica, the Red Rose of Hovendale, was a beautiful woman with rosy lips and perfect teeth, her body delicate from years of ballet training.

Stanley immediately released Wendy and walked toward Jessica. He lowered his gaze to meet hers, his eyes filled with a tenderness Wendy had never seen. "You're here."

Jessica nodded, then turned to Wendy. "Who's this?"

Jessica didn't recognize Wendy at first.

However, Wendy would never forget Jessica.

Wendy and Jessica were stepsisters, but from completely different parents. Harry, Wendy's father, wasn't her biological father, but her stepfather.

Many years ago, Wendy had a happy family with her real father, Jerry, and her mother Lilian, who were always respectful toward each other.

Her father loved her dearly, always lifting her high. "Wendy, please be happy always."

Then, one day, her father suddenly passed away. Harry, Jerry's brother, moved in with his daughter Jessica. Wendy's mother became Jessica's mother as well.

Her mother remarried her second uncle. Her mother loved Jessica and stopped loving her.

When Jessica got an A in a test and Wendy got an A+, her mother hit her hand with a ruler. "Can't you give your sister a break? Why must you outdo her?"

When Jessica fell ill and had to undergo chemotherapy, her head had to be shaved. She cried, saying she had become ugly.

In response, Wendy's mother immediately shaved Wendy's head. "You should look the same as your sister so she won't cry."

Every night, her mother, Jessica, and Harry would sleep together, laughing and playing.

Wendy, holding the doll her late father had bought her, would stand outside their door, crying alone. "Mommy, I'm scared…"

Eventually, Jessica called her mother "Mom," which made her mother incredibly happy. But then Jessica said, "A mother can only have one daughter."

One rainy day, Wendy's mother took her to the countryside and left her there.

Wendy chased after the car, crying uncontrollably.

"Mommy, don't leave me! I'll be good, I'll always put my sister before me… Mommy, hold me… I'm scared…!"

Wendy fell heavily into the muddy water while holding her doll, watching helplessly as her mother's car disappeared from view.

Wendy would never forget Jessica.

At that moment, Benny rushed over. "Jessica, this is…your sister, Wendy!"

Jessica was stunned. "You're Wendy?"

Wendy knew that Jessica had always looked down on her.

When they were young, Jessica had always been the one to beat her. As Jessica grew up, she excelled in everything. Later, she even dated Stanley, the heir of the Hawk family. She grew up in a world of admiration and love, full of pride and arrogance.

Benny, once again, was stunned by Wendy's ethereal beauty. He whispered, "I didn't expect Wendy to be this beautiful."

Jessica's memory of their childhood was fuzzy because she had never truly paid attention to her unloved sister. But wasn't her sister the ugly duckling from the countryside?

Jessica approached Wendy, glancing at her, her brow raised in haughty pride. "Wendy, I didn't expect you to start dressing like me."

Wendy remained silent. 'Well, if you say so,' she thought.

Wendy straightened her slender back, smiling but saying nothing. The light from the corridor illuminated her delicate, otherworldly face, making it glow like a precious pearl.

She was no longer the Wendy from before.

Jessica sneered. "Wendy, I heard you're getting a divorce with Stanley. Can't you live without a man? Coming to a bar to hire male hosts to fulfill your desires? If I were you, I'd get a job."

As she spoke, Jessica glanced at Stanley. In a tone that seemed almost benevolent, she added, "Stanley, Wendy took care of you for so long. Even if she was your maid, you should at least find her a job."

Stanley's gaze landed on Wendy's face.

"Jessica, nowadays, you need a degree to get a job. What's Wendy's education?" Benny said.

Jessica seemed to recall something amusing. She lifted her chin and laughed.

"Wendy dropped out of school at 16."

Benny was stunned. '16 years old?'

The reason people in Benny's social circle held Jessica in such high regard wasn't just because of her beauty. It was also because of her exceptional academic achievements. She was a high achiever at a prestigious university, someone unmatched even among Hovendale's socialites.

She deserved to be with Stanley.

For any woman, beauty alone was a dead end. Beauty combined with education was the real trump card. The higher the social class, the more they valued a woman's education.

Benny's initial admiration for Wendy vanished instantly. His tone became dismissive. "Wendy, did you seriously drop out of school at 16?"

Wendy glanced at Jessica, who stood there with pride, and smiled faintly. "Yes, I did stop studying at 16."

Benny sneered, "Well, what a coincidence. Stanley also stopped studying at 16. But he's a true prodigy, earning dual master's degrees from Harfield at that age and making history. And you? Dropped out of high school with nothing to your name!"

His mockery echoed loudly.

Jessica stood tall, looking down at Wendy with disdain.

Stanley, with his tall and imposing figure, stood silently under the corridor lights. His handsome face remained unreadable as his gaze fell on Wendy.

For the past three years, Wendy had been just a housewife, revolving around him. It was no surprise she lacked education.

Wendy, however, didn't seem embarrassed or flustered. Instead, her clear, luminous eyes met his gaze. Then she smiled gracefully and said, "Yes, what a coincidence."

'Indeed, what a coincidence.'

For reasons he couldn't explain, Stanley felt a ripple in his heart.

He suddenly noticed how beautiful Wendy's eyes were—brimming with vitality and seemingly able to speak volumes without words.

"Wendy!" At that moment, Cecelia came rushing over. She glared at Jessica. "Jessica, are you bullying Wendy again?"

Jessica responded proudly, "We weren't bullying Wendy. We were just discussing helping her find a job."

Cecelia was stunned. "You're helping Wendy find a job?"

Jessica continued her magnanimous act. "Yes. Even though Wendy lacks education and qualifications, we'll try our best to help her secure something decent."

Cecelia laughed in disbelief. "Do you even know who Wendy is? Wendy is—"

Wendy quickly grabbed Cecelia's arm to stop her. "Cecelia, let's go."

Cecelia held back her words, but before leaving, she cast a mocking glance at Jessica. "You'll regret this someday!"

With that, she led Wendy away.

Benny fumed, "What's wrong with Wendy? She dropped out of school at 16 and still acts so arrogant! If I were her, I'd be too ashamed to show my face."

Jessica wasn't upset. She had never truly looked at Wendy as a rival—Wendy wasn't even qualified to compete with her. Getting angry at Wendy would only lower her status.

She smiled loftily at Benny. "Benny, let it go. Ignorance is bliss."

Benny turned to Stanley. "Stanley, you should hurry up and divorce Wendy. She's not worthy of you."

Stanley's expression remained calm as his gaze briefly lingered on Wendy's departing figure.

"Let's go," he said to Jessica.

Jessica nodded. "Alright."

And so, Jessica and Benny left with Stanley.

-

Later, outside the bar...

"Mr. Hawk?" a voice called out.

Stanley looked up to see a familiar face. It was Dave Suarez, the president of Harfield University.

Stanley approached him. "Mr. Suarez, what brings you to Hovendale?"

Jessica, always respectful of such prestigious figures, greeted him as well. Although she had always excelled academically, she hadn't been able to secure a spot at a top-tier institution like Harfield.

Dave smiled. "Mr. Hawk, I'm here for a seminar. What a coincidence—you have a junior alumna here in Hovendale too."

Stanley paused. "A junior alumna?"

Dave nodded. "Yes, Harfield has two legends. The first is you, Stanley. The second is your junior alumna. Like you, she earned dual master's degrees at 16. She's a high-IQ prodigy. Unfortunately, you were a few years apart, so you've never met her."

Benny's curiosity was piqued. "Wow! Stanley's junior is that amazing? Who's better between the two of them?"

Dave smiled and looked at Stanley. "They're evenly matched."

Stanley raised an eyebrow. He had never encountered a woman who could be his equal.

Jessica, who had been calm earlier, suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of jealousy. This mysterious prodigious junior made her feel threatened.

"Who is this junior?" she wondered aloud.

Dave pulled out his phone. "Mr. Hawk, I've sent you her WhatsApp contact. She's also in Hovendale. You should connect with her and look out for her since you're her senior."

Stanley nodded. "Alright."

After Dave left, Benny urged, "Stanley, add her WhatsApp now! I want to see what she looks like."

Stanley switched on his phone and found the contact. It had a profile named simply 'W,' with a plain white background.

"What does the 'W' stand for?" Benny asked excitedly.

Stanley didn't know either. He sent a friend request, adding the note, "Stanley."

The request was pending approval.

Benny was buzzing with excitement. "Stanley, once she adds you, introduce her to me! I'm in awe of her already."

Jessica, sensing the shift in attention, grew visibly unhappy.

At that moment, a Rolls-Royce pulled up. Stanley's personal secretary, Zayn Cameron, had arrived.

Jessica seized the opportunity to cut the conversation short. "Stanley, the car's here. Let's go."

"Stanley, Jessica, see you later," Benny said.

The Rolls-Royce glided smoothly through the city streets, the quiet, opulent interior filled with an air of calmness. The dazzling city lights outside refracted against the polished windows, creating a cinematic interplay of shadows on Stanley's chiseled face—elegant and enigmatic.

From the driver's seat, Zayn glanced back respectfully. "Sir, where to?"

"To the office," Stanley answered curtly.

Jessica observed him quietly, love evident in her gaze. She broke the silence with a question. "Stanley, what was that with Wendy earlier? You're not interested in her now that she's grown more beautiful, are you?"

Stanley turned his sharp gaze toward her, his voice nonchalant yet teasing. "She's my wife. If something were to happen, wouldn't that be normal? Wasn't it you who handed her to me in the first place?"

Jessica knew he still blamed her for leaving him behind to marry Wendy three years ago while he was in a state of coma.

"Stanley, it wasn't like that. Wendy insisted on marrying you—I had no choice but to let her take my place…"

Stanley's piercing gaze held hers. "Do you even believe that yourself?"

Jessica faltered.

Biting her lower lip, she feigned defiance. "Fine! Three years ago, I abandoned you—if you can't forgive me for that, then let's just break up! You can simply get rid of me if you don't want me anymore."

She turned to Zayn and ordered, "Zayn, stop the car!"

Jessica wanted to get out, but before she could leave, Stanley's long, elegant fingers reached out, grabbing her delicate wrist and yanking her firmly to his chest.

Jessica's soft body collided with his solid frame, and she froze.

Above her, Stanley's deep, exasperated voice softened into indulgence. "Jessica, you're only this bold because you know I'd spoil you rotten."

Jessica smiled, her heart filled with sweetness. She leaned into Stanley's embrace, then tilted her delicate, radiant face to look up at him.

"I knew it—you can't bear to let me go. You would never leave me."

Stanley, as Hovendale's wealthiest man, exuded an air of elegance and strength that could dictate the rise and fall of fortunes. He fulfilled every fantasy she had about what a man should be.

But three years ago, when he had been in a car accident and declared a vegetative state, with doctors pronouncing he would never wake again, how could she waste the prime of her youth on a man like that?

So, she had fled.

Who could have predicted that Wendy, who married him in her place, would somehow help Stanley wake up within three years?

Even now, Jessica didn't understand how Stanley recovered. Could Wendy's fortune be aligned perfectly with his?

Doctors called it a medical miracle.

So, Jessica returned. She knew Stanley loved her—he would never truly abandon her.

Stanley looked at Jessica's radiant face. "If it weren't for what happened back then… Would I still spoil you like this?"

At the mention of 'back then,' Jessica froze, guilt flashing through her eyes. She quickly changed the subject.

"Have you slept with Wendy?"

Stanley lowered his gaze. "Why would I sleep with her when I could sleep with you?"

She knew he hadn't been with Wendy, but she asked the question anyway, baiting him into a flirtatious response. He played along, his words dripping with teasing ambiguity.

Jessica loved this side of him—the allure of a mature man with a touch of mischief. His response made her cheeks flush.

This cold and seemingly abstinent man only made her want to strip away his layers and uncover his deeper desires.

Jessica turned, boldly straddling his lean waist. She draped her arms around his neck, bringing her lips close to his. Her breath was warm and provocative. "Do you want me?"

Zayn, who had worked as Stanley's secretary for years, tactfully raised the partition between the driver's seat and the back of the Rolls-Royce.

Stanley looked at Jessica but said nothing.

She was wearing a red dress. In her seated position, the hem had ridden up, exposing her long, flawless legs. Those famed 'best legs in Hovendale' were now sensuously wrapped around his tailored black trousers, creating an intimate and sultry scene.

Jessica tightened her legs around his waist, pulling herself closer. "Say it. Do you want me?"

If he said yes, she would give herself to him right here and now.

Stanley, of course, understood her intent.

But at that moment, an image of Wendy's legs from earlier in the evening at the bar flashed in his mind.

Wendy's legs were perfectly proportioned, balanced in their slenderness and curves.

She had asked him which legs he preferred—Jessica's or hers.

At the time, Wendy had playfully raised her foot, the delicate crystal chain on her stiletto heels glinting as it dangled from her dainty ankle. She had teased him with her toes, brushing against his leg and asking if Jessica's legs had ever wrapped around his waist.

Stanley slowly removed Jessica's hands from his neck. "I'm still married."

Jessica frowned. "So?"

"I don't intend to cheat while I'm still married," Stanley replied coolly.

Jessica was momentarily stunned.

The intimate atmosphere vanished. Stanley had put an end to it.

Disappointed, Jessica slid off his lap. She had pride, too—she would only give herself to him if he wanted her.

"When will you divorce Wendy?" she asked.

Stanley's gaze shifted to the cityscape outside the window. In truth, it was indeed better that Wendy initiated the divorce—he was planning for it anyway.

"Soon," Stanley said, his tone detached.

Wendy and Cecelia returned to their apartment. Wendy lay on her soft bed, letting out a small sigh of relief. After tonight's indulgence, it was time to return to her normal life.

She pulled out her phone and opened WhatsApp.

Wendy had two accounts. For the past three years, she had been using the account named "Mrs. Hawk." Now, that account had been officially retired.

She logged into her other WhatsApp account.

As soon as she logged in, her notification chimed repeatedly. The group chat 'One Big Happy Family' was bustling with activity.

Wendy opened it.

[Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wendy's finally online!] Daryl exclaimed.

[Welcome back, Wendy!] Ernest added.

[Big hugs to Wendy!] Samuel chimed in.

Her three seniors were tossing virtual confetti, enthusiastically celebrating her return.

[Three years ago, Wendy was all starry-eyed and insisted on leaving the mountains to experience life with a man. So, how was it, Wendy? Was the man worth it?] Daryl asked.

[Not worth it,] Wendy replied.

[Looks like Wendy had her heart broken. Haha!] Ernest wrote.

[So even Wendy can't conquer everything? Hahaha!] Samuel added.

[All right, you two, stop teasing her. Let's just say these three years were her trial by fire in the mortal world. Sorry, this is just too funny—I need to laugh it out. Hahaha!] Daryl typed.

Wendy was speechless.

She was tempted to kick all three of them out of the group.

With a swift move, she renamed the group chat from 'One Big Happy Family' to 'One Big Gossipy Family.'

Just then, Samuel brought up a serious topic. [Wendy, it's time for you to come back. Our surgery schedule is packed. I've booked you a tricky heart operation. Report to the naturopathy center tomorrow.]

Wendy replied with an 'OK' emoji.

After exiting the chat, she suddenly noticed a friend request. She tapped it open and saw that it was from Stanley.

Stanley was requesting to add her as a WhatsApp contact.

The irony wasn't lost on her. For three years, she had used her 'Mrs. Hawk' account to message him daily. Yet, he had never replied. Now, on her other account, he was the one reaching out to her.

'Once upon a time, you didn't care for me. Now, you'll find I'm out of your reach.'

Wendy's pale, delicate fingers hovered over the keyboard. After a moment of hesitation, she tapped decisively.

-

At Hawk Group…

The Hawk Group building, a landmark of Hovendale, controlled the city's economic pulse. It towered into the clouds, its grandeur even more striking against the night sky.

After dropping Jessica off at her home, Stanley arrived at his office. He sat in his black leather chair while he reviewed documents.

The sharp nib of his pen scratched across the paper as he signed his name, 'Stanley,' with bold, confident strokes. Behind him, the gleaming floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the vibrant lights of the city—a dazzling backdrop that seemed to exist solely to complement this man.

A crisp-sounding notification broke the silence. His phone buzzed with a WhatsApp alert.

Stanley picked up his phone and opened the app. His brilliant junior had responded.

Upon seeing the response, Stanley froze for a moment. Then, his thin lips curved into a smirk and he let out a soft chuckle.