“What?” Esther stared at Hugh in shock.“I said, I found out about your involvement in the 701 incident a long time ago. But because I trusted you and valued our relationship over the years, I chose to believe you were innocent. Even with today’s engagement ceremony, my plan was only to uncover who was behind 701. I didn’t tell you so you wouldn’t be afraid. As for our relationship, I’ve been wanting to call off the engagement for a long time, and you know that.” Hugh spoke slowly, laying everything bare.Inside, I felt waves of confusion. So Hugh didn’t like Esther anymore? Today was definitely full of surprises. Based on what I knew about him, Hugh may have been messy in relationships, but his character had never been in question—he was always upfront. So this had to be the truth.Esther looked devastated, her face pale as she gazed at Hugh. “That’s impossible... You used to love me so much. This is all because of what happened today... Hugh, don’t do this…”“Let me finish, Esthe
I never thought that Esther had such a dark side. In front of me, she was always the kind, resilient woman who had saved countless lives in war zones. But now, she had turned into an executioner.Once one truth is exposed, it only leads to more. After the engagement party, Esther was taken away for a full investigation. Even though I no longer had feelings for her, I still couldn’t bring myself to pass final judgment. So, I voluntarily stepped away from her case. As for the future, I doubt we’ll ever meet again.After handing over the case, I returned to the house where Shelia and I used to live. She didn’t take many things with her when she left, so the house still looked just as it did when we lived together.I must be losing my mind. It’s like I can still hear Shelia’s voice in my ears.“Hugh, welcome home. I made your favorite steak. It’s still warm.”“Hugh, you should go to bed early. You always complain about headaches. Sleeping earlier might help.”“Hugh, even if you don’t
After sending the recording to Hugh, I felt a sense of closure. I’ve never been the type to quietly swallow my anger, so after Esther’s downfall, I had to make sure I stomped on her while she was down. Of course, I also wanted my blind ex-husband to see exactly who Esther really was.Just as I finished, I received a call from Zia.“Hey, babe! Did you hear? Your ex’s mistress, that little snake Esther, got arrested! God, it’s so satisfying. If I were you, I’d be too excited to sleep tonight!”Zia’s voice was full of energy. Every time I talked to her, it felt like getting a shot of adrenaline—I always felt more alive afterward.“You’re not wrong. And I’ve got an even better scoop. I was there when they arrested her! She looked like a crazy, venomous witch. Now everyone knows she’s no hero—she’s a murderer.”Half an hour later, Zia and I were at a bar with a table full of drinks, snacks, and a fruit platter. The bar’s lights pulsed, the atmosphere wild, and we drank, sang, and gossi
It seems that all the awkward situations in the world have a way of finding me.First, I stumbled into the wrong VIP room while drunk, only to discover that the guy inside was my childhood friend. Just as things started to get a bit ambiguous between us, my ex-husband showed up. To top it off, Zia suddenly burst in as if she had been waiting for the drama.“Whoa, what’s going on here?” Zia’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked between me, Zachary, and Hugh. She leaned in close to my ear and whispered, “Girl, tell me, isn’t it just more thrilling to hook up with a guy in front of your ex?”I rolled my eyes and wriggled out of Zachary’s arms. This time, he didn’t stop me but gently helped me find my footing.Hugh, however, immediately grabbed my wrist. “Come with me.”“And why should I? Who do you think you are?” I frowned, trying to shake him off.“Don’t test my patience, Shelia.” Hugh’s expression showed clear irritation.Before I could respond, Zachary grabbed my other a
I don't need his apology. Hugh stood frozen in place for what felt like an eternity, his eyes fixed on the brooch lying shattered on the ground. A ridiculous thought crossed my mind: Was he upset not just because of what happened to him and his wounded pride, but also because of our separation?If this had happened before our divorce - him giving me a brooch, carefully choosing a gift for me, trying to cheer me up - I would have felt like the luckiest woman in the world. But now, my heart was filled with nothing but anguish.I couldn't accept his gesture, nor could I soothe my own heart."Shelia, is this what you want too?" Hugh's voice was hoarse. "I want to hear it from you, Shelia.""I've already made myself clear," I replied. "If you're apologizing for Esther, I won't accept it. If you're apologizing for your passive-aggressive acts and misunderstanding towards me before, I don't care. We have no future together. I've fully accepted those hurts. Whether you apologize or not mak
The designer's name was Rose. We easily found out that she was hosting a private party at her villa the day after tomorrow. Unfortunately, Merlinda had to return to her university for some business, so I was left to attend the party alone.Since this was about potential collaboration, I wore a formal black dress - sexy and elegant, yet understated. My makeup was impeccable. I felt confident and in high spirits, but as soon as I walked in, I saw someone I really didn't want to see.Carol.Even more absurd was that she had come with Hugh.From what I knew about the siblings, they usually avoided appearing at the same events. Could it be that the Thornton family's bid for Ada's wedding project was a collaboration between Carol and Hugh? And Hugh had agreed to this?While I was lost in thought, I noticed Hugh's gaze fall on me. I quickly turned away, not wanting any interaction with him.I found Rose's assistant, who informed me that I'd only have a chance to meet Rose after the part
If I could have suppressed my feelings earlier, convincing myself that Hugh's defense of me was simply due to his upbringing and character, Carol's question now made my heart waver.But love?During those years together, I was his wife. Yet when other women appeared, he abandoned me without hesitation. I couldn't believe he loved me now.Or... even if he did.Esther was gone, out of the picture, and suddenly he remembered my worth.He started to love me again?This kind of love only made me feel nauseous, disgusted, and cheap!I couldn't accept it, no matter what.Hugh didn't answer, remaining silent for a moment before speaking. "Remember why we're here today. If you mess this up, I'll kick you out immediately.""Mess up? I'm insulting her for our benefit," Carol snarled, glaring at me. "This woman is deliberately working against us. Without her involvement, Ada would definitely entrust her wedding to us." She turned to me, her eyes full of venom. "You shamelessly schemed you
I found myself suddenly in the spotlight as a guest of honor for a top designer. Hand in hand, I entered Ms. Rose’s private room, and I couldn’t help but feel confused. Something wasn’t right. Why was this woman going out of her way for me?After about thirty minutes, it finally dawned on me why she seemed so invested. Back when I was still in school, there was a massive car accident. The car in front of us exploded, and the one behind us was at risk of catching fire at any moment. The situation was dire. There was a little boy trapped inside, whispering for help. I could see blood streaming from his leg, and his lips were pale—he was losing blood fast. If we didn’t stop the bleeding, he’d die, even if the car didn’t explode.No one dared to move forward, even the rescue team concluded it was too risky. But I couldn’t just watch him die there. I grabbed a medical kit and rushed in to help him. I managed to stop the bleeding, and with the help of two police officers I called over, we
Hugh’s actions made me want to laugh. Did he really think throwing money around could make up for all the hurt he caused me? What did he take me for? A cheap decoration he could put on display when it suited him and toss aside when he didn’t need me? I looked at him coldly, as if he were nothing but a pathetic clown—ridiculous and pitiful.Carol’s face turned green with jealousy when she saw Hugh "defending" me. She clung to his arm, her voice dripping with bitterness. "Hugh, why are you bidding on that worthless thing?"Before she could finish, Hugh cut her off, his voice calm but firm: "It’s just an auction, Carol. Stop talking."Carol was furious but swallowed her words, glaring at me like she wanted to tear me apart. I smirked inwardly but pretended not to notice, casually watching the next auction item on stage.Just then, Ada gracefully walked onto the platform, dressed in an elegant white gown and with flawless makeup. She took the microphone from one of the staff and began
*The charity gala began with the clinking of glasses and the buzz of polite conversation.Susanne was dressed in an elegant light blue gown, adorned with expensive jewelry worth millions, giving off an air of sophistication and grace. But I instantly recognized her necklace—it was an old piece, the same one she wore when she got married. Carol, on the other hand, was dressed in a perfectly tailored red gown, showing off half of her large chest, exuding a bold, radiant beauty. She clung to Hugh’s arm like a proud peacock, flaunting her charms for everyone to see. She whispered sweet nothings to every man who passed by, always on the hunt for new admirers.I looked at Hugh, unsure how to feel. There was a time when I used to attend events like this on his arm, foolishly believing that was what love looked like. Now, we were strangers.Carol had become the center of attention lately, thanks to all the media coverage.Zachary couldn’t come because his back injury was too severe, an
In the past, I would have apologized to him out of habit, a natural sense of submission. But things are different now.“What does it have to do with you?” I snapped back at him.Furious, Hugh threw the cake to the ground. Cream and fruit splattered across my shoes, but I barely noticed. I just stood there, staring at him in disbelief. Hugh, how could you do this?“Hugh, what’s wrong with you?” I tried to keep my anger in check, but my voice trembled despite myself.“You have the nerve to ask me that?” he growled through clenched teeth. “Shelia, how many times do you expect me to stand by and watch? Huh?”His hot breath, laced with the smell of alcohol, hit my face as he leaned closer. The rage in his eyes was like sharp knives cutting into my heart. I could feel the sting deep inside.“What did I do?” I lifted my chin stubbornly, refusing to back down. “Zachary is just a friend. He was hurt, and I helped him bandage his wound. What’s the problem?”“Friend?” He laughed bitterly,
I got breaking news from Gregory—a massive update! Garcie had collapsed in prison, and no one knows why. She’s in a coma now, lying in the ICU. What kind of drama is this?Damn it, just when we were piecing everything together, the trail goes cold! A few days ago, we discovered that Garcie wasn’t just working with Carol—there’s a big boss pulling the strings behind the scenes. Now, with her unconscious, all the evidence she could’ve provided is gone. How could this happen? Did someone try to kill her in prison? Or is she really sick?My head was spinning. I lit a cigarette, something I rarely do, but the nicotine helped calm my nerves a bit. If I could dig into these women’s connections, I’m sure I’d find links to some powerful figures.Just then, I heard a knock at the door. Zachary walked in, looking as handsome and intense as ever. Today, he was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, making him look even taller and stronger. But his deep, brooding eyes always seemed to carry
*These past few days, I’ve been on cloud nine! News about my successful deal with Ada is everywhere, headlines like “Business Genius Carol” and “The Youngest Marketing Queen” plastered all over. Every time I see those flattering articles, I can’t help but smile inside, though I keep my signature "elegant" smile on the outside.Hmph, Shelia, did you see that? The Ada deal you tried so hard to get—now she's working with me! Who do you think you are? Just a discarded woman Hugh threw away!To celebrate my victory, I arranged a get-together with Fiona. After all, we landed this project together. I wonder if Lucas will come too. He’s one of the best guys I’ve ever dated. Maybe tonight, we could rekindle some old flames. I told Fiona to bring him along.I took extra care getting ready—slipping into a red backless gown, my hair elegantly pinned up to show off my long, slender neck. My makeup was flawless, and I looked sophisticated, sexy, untouchable. Glancing at myself in the mirror, I th
"Hugh, I’ve already scheduled a meeting with Ada. How about we go to Vienna the day after tomorrow? I heard the pastry chef at that hotel has won several international awards. We could try some of their desserts while we’re there." I put on a sweet, pleading tone, even though, in my heart, I thought Hugh was a total idiot—arrogant, cold, and not very bright.Without even looking up, he coldly responded with just two words: "Not going."“What’s that supposed to mean? I can’t handle Ada alone. She likes you! You have to come with me!” I tried to hold back my anger, raising my voice. How dare this useless man refuse me!He glanced at me with disdain, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Carol, I’ll say this one more time. Figure out Ada on your own. And honestly, you should give up—this was Shelia’s project from the start.""You!" I was trembling with rage, my carefully applied makeup barely concealing the fury twisting my expression. I’d gone through so much trouble to steal this projec
I sat in the café, gripping a cup of cold latte, my gaze fixed coldly on Marcus, who was sitting across from me. He kept his head down, hands nervously twisting together, looking like a beaten dog with its tail between its legs."Marcus, I really didn’t expect this from you," I scoffed. "I treated you like one of my own, and you..." I let out a cold laugh. "You and Garcie teamed up, scheming behind my back. But your biggest mistake was thinking you could cross me, Shelia!"Marcus jerked his head up, his face pale. "It’s not Garcie’s fault! We didn’t do anything!"“Do you even hear yourself, Marcus? Still defending her? That woman has been cheating on you left and right!"“No way! Don’t slander her! Garcie loves me and only me.”"How pathetic." I sneered. "Let me show you what your precious Garcie is really up to."I called Gregory. "Proceed as planned. Come pick him up."“Got it,” Gregory replied.I hung up, standing over Marcus, my voice cold. "Marcus, I’m giving you one last
The first step was to root out the traitor. To do that, I needed to find Gregory. He had been pursuing me for a while, but he was much younger than me, and I only saw him as a younger brother. I explained the whole situation to him, and he handed me a thick envelope filled with documents, a confident glint in his eyes."Shelia, it’s all in here. Marcus Leedon and Garcie Milton are working together, betraying the company. This time, they won’t get away with it! But for now, we don’t have enough solid evidence."I took the envelope, flipping through the pages. The evidence of Marcus and Garcie’s scheming was worse than I imagined. If it hadn’t been for this incident, they would’ve continued selling company secrets, and the entire company might have been destroyed in their hands! In a way, I should thank Carol for exposing the traitor early.Gregory handed me a stack of photos. "I dug up something else. Garcie is even more complicated than we thought—she’s been involved with several se
After leaving Amanda’s room, I rubbed my temples, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me. I needed to think carefully about my next move against Carol. This was like a game of chess, and I had to plan my strategy well.I went to the bathroom and soaked in a hot bath, hoping to relax. But just as I started to unwind, the doorbell rang. I barely had time to dry my hair, so I quickly threw on my pajamas and went to answer the door.“Shelia, are you home?” It was Zachary’s voice from outside, deep and gentle.I opened the door and saw Zachary standing there in casual clothes, looking even more fit than usual. He was holding two bags, his usual warm smile on his face.“What brings you here?” I asked, surprised but touched by his visit.“I came to check on you and brought some things,” he said, stepping inside and placing the bags on the table. Inside was a box of freshly picked strawberries and a beautifully packaged raspberry pie.“Wow, raspberry pie!” I lit up with excitement. It