"If you don’t come back, there’s nothing left to discuss!"I stared at my phone, which wouldn’t stop buzzing with notifications. Whatever patience I had left was completely drained. Without hesitation, I blocked Julian. A moment later, as if realizing he’d been blocked on WhatsApp, he started calling me instead. I didn’t even hesitate, and I blocked his number too. Finally, there was blissful silence. It felt like I could finally breathe again, a rush of relief washing over me like I’d just shed a heavy weight. I should have done this a long time ago. I, Evelyn White, was never someone to be pushed around. Why had I tolerated Julian and his childhood sweetheart stomping all over me without fighting back? The more I thought about it, the more I regretted not standing up for myself earlier. Why hadn’t I lost my temper and put him in his place when I had the chance? The door opened, and Miles walked in, bathed in the soft light of the afternoon. I quickly tucked my phone
They had no obligation to me, and the fact that Miles had done this much was more than generous. Perhaps he was only helping me out of respect for the White family and my brother. Any unrealistic thoughts I might have had vanished into thin air. The test results were promising—there were signs that the swelling in my brain was subsiding. Last night’s vomiting was just a symptom of post-concussion syndrome. As I held the report in my hands, a weight lifted from my chest. I was still young; I wasn’t ready to give up on life just yet. I didn’t understand why I’d been so impulsive to jump before losing my memory. If I ever had to do it again, I’d make sure to drag Julian, that scumbag, down with me. “Why are you still being so dramatic, Evelyn? The doctor said you’re fine.” The voice I dreaded most returned, lingering like a shadow. I frowned as Julian strode over, his presence making my scalp tingle with unease. Instinctively, I stepped behind Joseph. Joseph position
I said, "I want a divorce. Julian, if you’re truly a man, let’s end this amicably."Looking directly into his eyes, I continued, "I was young and naive before. I made mistakes. Julian, let’s set each other free."With that, I turned and left the hospital with Joseph by my side.As the elevator doors slowly closed, I caught one last glimpse of Julian’s tall, solitary figure standing in the hallway.Lowering my gaze, I refused to look at him again.I couldn’t quite describe how I felt. Relief, perhaps?At eighteen, Evelyn White had been proud and radiant, but she had loved the wrong person, clipping her own brilliant wings.At twenty-five, she was still young enough to start over.But this time, she wouldn’t fall so easily into the trap of love.I returned to the Wynn estate.Joseph continued administering the IV drip and making sure I took my medication.I complied obediently. Before leaving, he turned to me and said earnestly, "Miss White, everything will be okay."A bit surprised, I a
How could I not be angry? Even if there was no love left between Julian and me, the fact remained that he was still my husband. Yet here he was, dating another woman, showering her with flowers and a diamond ring before our divorce was even finalized. Any woman would be furious. I could vividly imagine how, before losing my memory, Chloe’s petty games had beaten me down time and time again, leaving me utterly defeated. I told Dolly, "Of course I’m angry. But getting angry only plays right into her hands. Don’t let it get to you either. Let’s just sit back and watch them dig their own grave." Dolly was silent for a while before finally saying, "Eve, my heart aches for you." Her voice quivered. "You’re so good, so kind—why can’t Julian love you? It just makes me so mad. And I’m even angrier that everyone seems blind to Chloe’s manipulative schemes." I didn’t respond, sinking into silence. Dolly kept ranting on the other end, but I felt an unusual sense of calm wash over me.
The silence stretched so long that I wondered if Julian had muted the call. Just as I was about to hang up, his voice returned. "Evelyn, it’s a misunderstanding. Today was Chloe’s birthday. I only had dinner with her to celebrate and gave her a gift I promised her a long time ago. I really…" I smiled faintly. I was sure my voice carried a light, almost casual tone when I replied, "Mr. Moore, thank you for making it abundantly clear that in this marriage, I’ve been nothing more than a complete fool. That excuse of yours—sounds like you’ve perfected it by now, haven’t you?" "It’s all a misunderstanding. It’s nothing. You’re overthinking. Don’t make a scene. Don’t act crazy. Ha... ha..."My voice dropped to a softer, colder tone. "Mr. Moore, I sincerely wish you and Miss Clarke a wonderful dinner tonight. And I hope you’ll be there to celebrate her birthday every year from now on." I ended the call and promptly blocked his number, feeling the peace settle over me once more. Pi
I offered an awkward smile. "Oh, I see. If my brother comes around, I’ll tell him how kind you’ve been to me. I’ll make sure he treats you to a great meal." Then I paused, realizing that someone like Miles probably wouldn’t care for a casual dinner invite. I quickly corrected myself. "No, I’ll have him give you one of his best projects to handle instead. I won’t compete with you for it." Miles’s gaze deepened. "Is that how you plan to thank me?" I froze for a moment. He chuckled lightly and casually patted my head, a gesture more fitting for comforting a child. "That’s unnecessary. Even if it wasn’t for your brother, I’d still help you if it were your issue." "Why?" I asked, still baffled. Miles winked at me. "Have you forgotten? I’m your Woody." I was completely lost. Miles didn’t seem inclined to explain further. After a few more pleasantries, he left the room. Lying back on the bed, I stared at the IV drip bottle, letting my mind wander aimlessly. The more I tho
I nodded. The memories in this body seemed frozen at eighteen. Back then, my brother had just begun taking over my father’s company. The brother who used to spend all his time playing and laughing with me suddenly became someone I could hardly see. I tugged on Miles’ sleeve and asked, "Did my brother say when he’s coming back to the country?" Miles’ expression turned complicated. "You’re really eager to see him, aren’t you?" I nodded immediately. He looked at me for a moment before glancing away. "Your brother said it’ll be about a month before he can return. The new company he’s setting up overseas just started operations, and he’s also negotiating a major acquisition." He added, "Mergers and acquisitions abroad are complicated and take a lot of time. You should be prepared for that." I grew anxious. "Then where is he? Once I’m better, I can go see him!" Miles smiled gently, the kind of smile anyone would use to placate a child. "Alright. Once you’re fully recovere
After I finished eating, Miles asked, "Want to go for a walk?" "Huh?" I blinked at him, feeling like an idiot. He gestured to my wrist, still wrapped with the IV port. "The doctor said you can move around a little. Just nothing too strenuous or tiring." That was when it clicked. Miles came home specifically to keep an eye on me. He wasn’t avoiding work or choosing not to check his emails upstairs—he was quietly staying by my side to help me recover. I nodded quickly. Miles motioned for someone to bring out a pair of lightweight sneakers prepared for me. "Let’s go for a walk." Just as we were about to head out, loud voices came from the front door. I heard someone say, "Miss Smith, Mr. Wynn is busy." Kira’s fiery tone followed. "I don’t care how busy he is, he has to see me! How long does he plan to keep me dumped in a hotel? I’m not staying there another night!" "Miss Smith, please..." Instinctively, I shrank back. The last thing I wanted was another confronta
As we waited, Miles sat beside us in silence, quietly handing us tissues. I didn’t know how to describe it.By the time Dolly and I had cried ourselves out, the floor in front of us was littered with crumpled tissues. Meanwhile, Miles, completely unbothered, was calmly opening a second pack—rose-scented, no less. I mumbled, “Thanks…” Dolly was speechless.Miles looked at my swollen, tear-streaked face and sighed. “Eve, rest here for a bit. I need to talk to Dolly alone in the next room, alright?” I hesitated and glanced at Dolly. She hesitated even longer but still refused to nod. Miles’ tone grew firmer. “Miss Jones, if you don’t want to talk, I can have someone investigate instead. You should know that I can find out everything.” Dolly wavered. Miles pressed on. “Rather than letting me uncover something that may not even be the full truth, wouldn’t it be better if you told me yourself?“I know how much you care about Eve. That means your version of the story is the m
In the spacious CEO’s office, Dolly was still fuming with anger. I tried several times to get her to sit down and have some water, but she couldn’t calm down. She snapped at Miles, “What position does that woman, Rachel Cross, even hold in the company? Fire her immediately. Right now!” Panicked, I quickly covered her mouth. “Stop it, Dolly. Miles wouldn’t do that. Let’s not cause more trouble.” Dolly shoved my hand away, her eyes red with frustration as she shouted, “Shut up! What do you even know? I’m protecting you, Eve! Just listen to me! "If your precious Miles can't protect you, then he's no better than Julian Moore. You'd be better off joining a convent and spending your life in solitude than ending up with a man like that."I was stunned. I had never seen Dolly like this before. In the eighteen years I had known her, she had always been hot-tempered and straightforward, never hesitating to fight or curse in front of me, but that was always directed at outsiders. S
I didn’t want to stay here for even a second longer. I grabbed her hand and pulled her outside.As we walked, Dolly asked, “Did that woman say something to you just now? You don’t look too good.”I hesitated for a moment before saying, “She recognized me as Julian’s wife and mentioned something about a business banquet three years ago… and she also said…”Dolly immediately tugged on my arm, urging me to continue. “Spit it out! What exactly did she say?”Frustrated, I replied, “I don’t even understand what she was getting at. She said that when Julian was selected as one of the ‘Top Ten Influential Figures’ and ‘Fashion Icon of the Year,’ it was all thanks to my help.”The moment I said it, Dolly’s expression changed. Her voice sharpened. “And then? What else did she say?”I recalled, “She said I was quite close with the event organizer, Mr. Warren…”“Damn it!” Dolly suddenly exploded with rage. She grabbed me, her agitation overflowing. “What else did she say?!”Startled by her reac
To be honest, the moment I was recognized, I felt nothing but awkwardness and frustration, along with a flicker of irritation at being exposed.Of all the titles in the world, Mrs. Moore was the one I despised the most.I had no memories of ever being Julian’s wife, yet people insisted on labeling me as such, dragging me through their opinions, judgments, and whispered gossip.I pressed my lips together, unwilling to acknowledge this woman any further.The moment she realized who I was, disdain flickered across her eyes before she quickly covered it with a phony smile.“Well, well, so it is Mrs. Moore,” she cooed, her tone dripping with insincerity. “Forgive me for not recognizing you sooner. What a surprise to see you here. Tell me, where’s Mr. Moore? Didn’t he come with you?”Her prying tone grated on my nerves.I didn’t know how to answer her.More importantly, I didn’t want to.All I could think about was how quickly I needed to get out of here once Dolly’s interview was over.See
Ian personally escorted Dolly to the HR department, while I was asked to wait in the adjacent guest lounge.Once alone, I took the opportunity to look around.Standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows on the 22nd floor, I gazed down at the bustling streets below. The constant stream of cars and tiny figures of pedestrians moving like ants made the city feel even grander.I couldn’t help but sigh. Even at its peak, White Corporation had never operated from a building this high up. The Wynn family was truly on another level.As I was lost in thought, the door suddenly swung open.“Who are you?”A sharp, demanding voice cut through the air.I turned around to find another tall, striking woman standing there.Seriously. Was there some kind of beauty quota for this district?She had her auburn-brown hair elegantly pinned up, stood around 5’5”, and had the kind of perfectly toned figure that came from strict self-discipline.I gave her a polite nod. “Hello, I’m… here to see Mr. Wynn.”The
Realizing she had overdone her teasing, Dolly quickly focused on preparing her resume.By the afternoon, she was all set. Without hesitation, she grabbed my arm and dragged me straight to Wynn Group’s headquarters.It had been seven years since I last walked through Riverdale’s downtown, and the transformation was staggering. The entire business district had been rebuilt, turning into a sleek, high-end CBD.The A-grade office towers gleamed under the sun, their glass exteriors reflecting the cityscape like polished mirrors. Standing beneath them, there was really only one word that came to mind—imposing.Dolly and I stopped in front of Wynn Group’s towering skyscraper, both feeling a little nervous.For her, it was about the job interview.For me, it was about seeing Miles again.The moment we stepped inside, a receptionist greeted us with a polite smile. “Good afternoon, ladies. How may I assist you?”I hesitated. “I’m here to see…”I trailed off, struggling to say his name outrigh
Some people sided with Chloe, claiming that I was the one clinging to Julian, which was the only reason I became Mrs. Moore in the first place. According to them, Chloe was deceived because I interfered in their relationship.Others supported me, arguing that since Julian chose to marry me, he should have taken responsibility. Cheating during marriage was an act of betrayal—plain and simple.Then, there were the so-called “rational” ones, saying, “Sure, Julian cheated, but does that mean Evelyn was completely blameless?”That one really made me laugh.Right. I must still be stuck in an eighteen-year-old mindset, unable to grasp why victims were expected to reflect on their own faults, as if being wronged wasn’t enough.This world had turned into something I no longer recognized.I pushed my phone aside, not wanting to see any more of it.But Dolly? She was thriving in the chaos.“Look at this! Ever since Trey exposed Julian’s dirt, people have started turning on Chloe, calling her ou
My voice came out shaky, almost stuttering. “T-Trey… what… what are you trying to do?”He gave me a lazy smile. “Not trying to do anything.”I swallowed. “Then… then what do you want to say?”Trey didn’t answer right away. He just studied me, his gaze unreadable, like he was trying to see straight through me.Then, out of nowhere, he asked, “Do you really like my brother?”Heat rushed to my face. “Uh… well, he’s a good person…”Trey chuckled. “So am I.”I felt my cheeks burn hotter. “You… you’re not the same as your brother.”He arched a perfect brow. “Oh? And how exactly are we different? Have you experienced both of us?”I choked.Was he flirting or was I just imagining things?My face was on fire, and I quickly pushed against his chest. “I… I don’t know! Just move back, I can’t breathe.”Trey didn’t budge. Instead, he leaned in even closer.My heart nearly stopped.He was too handsome, too damn charming, and way too close.This was dangerous.I stammered, “T-this isn’t okay. What
My phone buzzed twice.I quickly unlocked it and found a flood of photos and videos.A quick glance was all I needed before I grimaced and looked away."Here, there’s more where that came from," Trey said, watching me with an amused smirk. "So, tell me, do you really want to take down Julian? What happened? You finally got your head on straight? Or did you take the wrong meds recently?"Of course, someone as well-connected as him would have heard all about my black history.I hesitated. "I… I just don’t want to keep embarrassing myself."Trey chuckled, unconvinced. "Liar."His eyes narrowed, studying me with unsettling sharpness. "Tell me the truth, and I’ll give you something even juicier."I hesitated, James’ warning from earlier still fresh in my mind.Seeing my internal struggle, Trey’s smirk deepened. "No truth? Hmm?"I had no choice but to admit, "I… I lost my memory. And I don’t love Julian anymore."Trey blinked.Then, after a brief pause—he burst into laughter.Loud, unabashe