- 11 hours ago
HOT DRAMA 2026
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TVTranscript
00:02Ryan Carter, the famous Playboy heir, openly declared that he only dated women on short-term
00:07arrangements. However, there were still lots of women eager to be his temporary girlfriend,
00:12because if he was in a good mood, he'd reward them with a villa. If he wasn't,
00:16they'd still walk away with a million-dollar breakup fee. People all laughed at me, saying
00:21I was the most miserable wealthy wife in history. They all thought I'd endure it for the rest of my
00:27life. I was going to, until Ryan brought a college student named Kelly Smith home.
00:32The girl looked ordinary, yet she was the first woman he kept longer than a month.
00:37Ryan gave me two choices, agree to an open marriage and let Kelly be on equal terms with me,
00:43or just divorce him, split the assets evenly, and go our separate ways for good.
00:48His friends were there, watching the show. They were sure I'd just keep being a pushover,
00:52putting up with everything. But to their surprise, I chose the latter without hesitation.
00:58In my previous life, I chose to endure, and what I got in return was Kelly pushing her luck further
01:04and further. She forbade Ryan from touching me or giving me any of his assets. In my later years,
01:10I couldn't help but envy Kelly, who ended up with everything—money, children, the whole package.
01:17Even after Ryan died, his will didn't grant me anything. All his inheritance was left under
01:23Kelly's control. I had been his lawful wife, but ended up with nothing at last. Reborn into this
01:29life, I finally figured everything out. This time, I just wanted to take the money and leave.
01:38I picked up the divorce agreement, read it carefully from beginning to end,
01:42and was about to sign my name. Ryan finally spoke.
01:46Anna Taylor, think this through. Once you sign, there's no turning back.
01:51I didn't stop. I quickly wrote my name down.
01:55I'll pack my things and leave right now.
01:58In my previous life, I thought bringing Kelly home was just another one of his tricks to mess with me.
02:04Naively, I believed that after all these years of marriage, he must have had at least a little
02:09affection for me. I was a fool. He and Kelly had kids one after another and grew old together in
02:15love. And I, in that house, was like an awkward outsider, mocked and ridiculed by everyone around
02:23me for my whole life. Not until my later years did I hear him talking with Kelly in a hospital
02:28room.
02:29He said that back then, the dramatic scene of catching a guy in my bed had been arranged by him
02:35personally. I was just tired of her and didn't want things to get too ugly.
02:41So I staged the whole thing. There wasn't a shred of guilt in his clouded eyes.
02:45That way, all I did later seemed completely defensible.
02:50So that was it. No wonder every time I desperately tried to explain, all I got was his cold disbelief.
02:57Because from beginning to end, he knew the truth. He didn't love me, yet he used a fabricated crime to
03:04trap me for 50 years. He could have ended it cleanly with one stroke, but instead chose to
03:10slowly torture me to death. Looking at the young yet still cold face before me, I felt nothing but hatred.
03:20He stared blankly at the signed agreement, his eyes filled with shock. Outside the door,
03:26the faint sounds of whispering abruptly stopped. The next second, my distinguished parents-in-law rushed
03:32in cheerfully. Oh my, look at her. So young and so energetic. My father-in-law, who had always treated
03:40me with hostility, was smiling kindly at this moment. Finally, we can send away that useless one.
03:48It's been so many years, but there's no kid at all. Sir, madam, please don't say that.
03:56I don't want to disrespect Anna, especially since I'm not much younger than madam Anna. Actually,
04:02I'm already one month expecting. It's just still early, so I plan to tell you about it later.
04:08As expected, still the same familiar sarcasm, the same nauseating tone. All these years,
04:14in order to be a useful wife, I worked myself to the bone at Carter Group during the day.
04:19At night, I still had to serve these two picky bastards. Just past 30,
04:24yet plenty of white hair had already crept into my temples. I did look kinda old.
04:33I turned back to my room and began packing my pitiful little bit of luggage. And I was already
04:38planning where I should go first to properly relax after getting the money. Didn't notice Ryan following
04:44me in. It's so late. There's no need to move out immediately. Leave tomorrow.
04:53Isn't the villa in the west of the city still empty?
04:56You can stay there for now. I'll visit you when I'm for you.
05:02Anna, you're just being emotional. Calm down. I know how much you love me, okay?
05:10But I really can't let you be my legal wife anymore. I can't let my child grow up being
05:16labeled as illegitimate. I didn't respond. I just picked up my suitcase,
05:20walked past him, and headed straight for the door. There's nothing left to say between us. I'm very
05:27happy we're divorced. If you really still have a conscience, hurry up and pay me what you owe.
05:34The night wind carried fine snow as it rushed toward me, biting cold yet unable to extinguish the
05:40fire burning in my heart. Ryan's efficiency was, as always, impressive. When I woke up,
05:47three billion was already in my bank account. With the money, the first thing I did was book
05:52Harbor City's most luxurious private club. Haircut, full body spa, and everything. The
05:58haggard woman with graying temples in the mirror was gone. In her place stood a sharp-eyed beauty
06:02with flamboyant red hair. Just as I finished changing, my best friend Iris Allen called,
06:08Anna Taylor! What's going on between you and Ryan? Have you lost your minds? What the hell happened?
06:15What's wrong? And you still ask what's wrong? Haven't you seen the news yourself? The headlines
06:21are full, are full of Ryan and that woman at some banquet. He said in front of all the reporters,
06:28that woman is his only wife. He even said they're holding a wedding soon. Your stuck-up in-laws were
06:36right there too, saying that girl had it coming. Are you okay? I never got such public acknowledgement,
06:42such recognition. Ryan had now given it to her. I'm fine. We're already divorced. What?
06:51Divorced? She'd watched me love Ryan for more than 10 years. She watched me bend over backward for this
06:56marriage. Give up myself like a servant begging for scraps. Begging for scraps of affection. Are you
07:13I?N who are sold? I so? I took backwards so many times. Right now she's doing that she …?
07:38So does Jan …. Oh my God just you each day. I had seen drunkurize me talk
07:39and thats back
07:39even cuz I had don't give a Lands Sin
07:39and I knew she would use it a night which time I believed the sound of it that time,
07:39my tress at the house, that engu–
07:40a been didn't start having allМיק files. I knew what it was, but I definitely did the
07:42school too. And I said hello, as you were happy with you and I didn't think it
07:42The flamboyant red hair, the perfectly tailored haute couture dress, was strange, yet familiar.
07:49Iris raised her glass and clinked it hard against mine.
07:52You look a bit like that once-in-a-century genius beauty from the finance department at Ace University.
07:58She downed a huge gulp of wine and then complained.
08:02Back then, so many venture capital firms were fighting to invest in you.
08:06If you'd started your own group, you'd have crushed Carter Group long ago.
08:10Spending over a decade being a servant for his family?
08:13And after the divorce, you only got this much money.
08:16Girl, I really think you deserve better.
08:18I had been a servant for them for more than a decade.
08:21In my previous life, Carter Group, under my control, once dominated the national rankings as the strongest enterprise.
08:28Yet in my old age, I couldn't even afford a box of painkillers.
08:32In the end, I was thrown out by Kelly's children and died of illness beside a trash heap on a
08:36winter night.
08:36The business empire I built with my entire life went to Kelly and her children.
08:42Thinking of this, I drained the wine in my glass in one go.
08:44The spicy liquid burned down my throat, yet ignited the fire deep in my heart.
08:49I swore I would get back at them.
08:52Without me, could they really live so well?
08:55The very next day, news of my group registration spread like wildfire, stirring the entire circle.
09:01Some people sensed opportunity and rushed overnight with proposals, hoping to invest.
09:06But more people mocked and waited on the sidelines, waiting for the Carter family's reaction.
09:12Someone clearly gave instructions to the media, so paparazzi articles were all belittling me for overestimating myself.
09:18I looked at the push notifications on my phone and swiped them away expressionlessly.
09:22I just didn't expect to receive a call from Ryan.
09:26Anna, can't you be a bit more understanding?
09:29I've just found true love.
09:33Besides, instead of starting some small, broken group,
09:37wouldn't it be better to stay at Carter Group, that Southern District merger you were handling before?
09:41I hung up the phone directly, as expected.
09:44He had just remembered that I was still useful.
09:47That Southern District project was a tough nut I'd been working on for over half a year.
09:51I drank until my stomach perforated for it.
09:55Without me, Carter Group wouldn't even know where to start.
09:58At Carter Group, although I was the president, my monthly salary was only $1,000.
10:04All because my distinguished father-in-law said we were family and shouldn't be so calculative.
10:08I once naively believed that was his test for me.
10:12Now it seemed I was nothing more than an exceptionally capable, yet ridiculously cheap housemaid they had recruited.
10:19The more I thought about it, the angrier I became.
10:22I made up my mind at that time, I would take over all those projects I brought to Carter Group
10:27in my previous life.
10:28Even if my new group couldn't deal with them, I would personally hand them over to Carter Group's deadliest rivals.
10:35After the call was cut off, Ryan slammed his phone to the ground in fury.
10:38All these years, he had grown used to my obedience, expecting me to show up on command and disappear at
10:44his whim.
10:45Now that I'd hung up on him so decisively, he felt really mad.
10:49At that moment, his special assistant awkwardly came in, holding a stack of documents he couldn't even understand, asking him
10:55to sign them.
10:56Days of exhaustion, plus years of unfamiliarity with group affairs, had left him truly overwhelmed lately.
11:02Kelly followed the assistant in, took Ryan's hand, and said with eyes full of concern,
11:08Ryan, don't work yourself too hard. I'm your wife now. Let me help share your burden.
11:15He hesitated, somewhat uneasy.
11:17You're still young and unfamiliar with group operation. Go rotate through the department first.
11:24Anna Taylor could be the president.
11:27Why can't I?
11:29Ryan subconsciously wanted to say that at least Anna was a top graduate from Pace University's finance department.
11:34But the moment he met Kelly's eyes, all his rationality was thrown away.
11:38His heart softened, and he just nodded.
11:41Kelly broke into a smile through her tears, hugged him, and said affectionately,
11:46I'm just worried about you.
11:48Look at you, you've lost so much weight lately.
11:51Less than half a month after my group started up, everything was already running smoothly.
11:56During this time, Kelly sent people over more than once to cause trouble.
12:00Just some petty tricks, all of which I brushed aside with ease.
12:04After all these years, the connections I'd built were far beyond what a little girl like her could compare to.
12:09Those senior employees at Carter Group whom I personally trained had long wanted to leave after hearing I'd gone solo.
12:16Especially since after Kelly started working there, she kept suppressing them, making their days suffocating.
12:22I didn't rush to bring them over.
12:24I had them stir up a little chaos before they left.
12:27A small token of allegiance to me.
12:29Kelly thought losing a few people was no big deal,
12:32even secretly rejoicing that she'd cleared out some remnants of me.
12:35But she didn't understand.
12:37Some of them were critical for the group.
12:40Projects fell through one after another, and Carter Group's stock price plunged again and again.
12:46Meanwhile, on my side, with capable team members, we unleashed astonishing power,
12:52consecutively landing several deals worth tens of millions.
12:56Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window in the conference room, looking at the jubilant team below.
13:01Tonight at O.T.K. Club, it's all on me!
13:05No one leaves sober!
13:08Amid the thunderous cheers, I led everyone out of the group building in a grand procession.
13:13At the entrance, a familiar black Rolls Royce was parked quietly by the roadside.
13:17The car door opened, and Ryan stepped out with an arrogant look, waving at me.
13:22I didn't even glance his way, leading my people straight ahead.
13:26Anna Taylor? What do you mean? Didn't you see me?
13:30You've really grown bold now.
13:33A little impatient, I looked at him coldly and said,
13:36Sir, do you need something?
13:39He seemed slightly taken aback by my attitude, but still got straight to the point, issuing an order.
13:44Shut down your group and come back to Carter Group.
13:47I was so angered by his self-righteousness that I laughed.
13:50He took my laughter as hesitation, and his tone softened a little.
13:53Anna, I've really been exhausted lately.
13:56Don't keep fighting with me, alright?
13:58He paused, as if making a huge concession.
14:01If you really mind, Kelly, I can have her move somewhere else for now.
14:06Looking at this pompous man before me, I couldn't help but question my own judgment back then.
14:10I'm not throwing a tantrum.
14:12I cut him off coldly.
14:13Mr. Ryan, we're already divorced.
14:16Please don't interfere with my life anymore.
14:20His patience ran out, his voice suddenly rising.
14:24I've already compromised.
14:27What more do you want?
14:28The group needs you right now.
14:31And you choose this moment to put on airs?
14:34I suddenly felt there was no reasoning with him at all.
14:37In his world, everyone was supposed to revolve around him.
14:42If you've got any issues, sir, why don't you go bother your precious wife?
14:47Kelly Smith, I'm just an outsider.
14:49I have no obligation to clean up your mess.
14:53You care about the status?
14:56Anna, once Kelly gives birth, I'll think about it.
15:04But you have to promise me, no going public.
15:07I don't want Kelly to be hurt.
15:09I stared at him, enunciating every word.
15:13I'll say it one last time.
15:14Get lost.
15:15Don't let me see you again.
15:20I'm never getting back together with you.
15:23Ever.
15:25Anna Taylor, don't push your luck.
15:28Don't forget this is Harbor City.
15:31If I want to crush a low-tier little group like yours, it's easy as pie.
15:36Just then, a clear, slightly lazy male voice cut in.
15:40Oh?
15:42Mr. Ryan sure has a bad temper.
15:44Not only openly harassing my fiancé, but also threatening to destroy her group.
15:51Ryan turned his head and was totally stunned.
15:53It was Alex White, another rich young man, and Ryan's nemesis.
15:58Alex strolled over lazily and naturally wrapped an arm around my waist.
16:02Leaning his head intimately against my shoulder, he whined.
16:07Darling, I've been waiting in the parking lot forever.
16:10Turns out you were here stopped by a bastard.
16:14Anna Taylor!
16:15Give me an explanation!
16:17Why did you betray me?
16:19Then, as if he suddenly figured something out, he put on a smug, all-knowing expression.
16:23I get it now.
16:25You're acting, aren't you?
16:27You deliberately found out Alex to piss me off.
16:31Alex rolled his eyes dramatically and dragged me away.
16:34Let's just not waste time with him.
16:42Stop right there!
16:44Ryan tried to chase after us, but he was too agitated.
16:47And with his recent chaotic schedule, his abdomen suddenly seized with sharp pain.
16:52Damn.
16:54He doubled over in pain, clutching his stomach, cold sweat beating on his forehead.
17:00Anna.
17:02My stomach hurts.
17:04I didn't slow down.
17:05In fact, I walked even faster, not turning my head even once.
17:09Behind me were his suppressed groans of pain, and his assistant's panicked screams.
17:15Alex didn't give me any chance to look back.
17:17He directly shoved me into the passenger seat of his flashy red Ferrari.
17:21The sports car roared out of the parking lot.
17:24Only then did he take off his sunglasses and smile at me sideways.
17:28Well, not bad acting, right?
17:31I didn't speak.
17:32Just watched the cityscape speeding past outside the window.
17:35Hey, Anna, don't be so indifferent.
17:39I helped you out, you know.
17:40Not even a thank you.
17:43I kept it brief.
17:44He pouted, clearly dissatisfied with my coldness.
17:48But he didn't say more, only turned up the volume of the car music.
17:51That very night, the headlines of Harbor City's financial and entertainment sections were all dominated by Ryan Carter.
17:58Carter Group president, chasing former love, suffers stomach spasms and is hospitalized.
18:03The accompanying photos showed him being taken into an ambulance by his assistant and bodyguards.
18:08The comment section exploded.
18:10Some mocked Ryan for bringing it on himself, saying he should have expected this day back when he flaunted his
18:15mistress.
18:15Others claimed Kelly Smith was inferior to me, which is why Ryan turned back, and that the two of us
18:21would soon remarry.
18:23In the VIP ward of Harbor City First Hospital, Kelly Smith, eyes bloodshot, grabbed the glass cup from the bedside
18:31table and smashed it viciously onto the floor, shards flying everywhere.
18:35Why did you go to find her?
18:38Why? Didn't you say having me alone was enough?
18:40The sharp, shattering sound startled Ryan, and a dull ache crept through his abdomen.
18:46He rubbed his temples tiredly, even opening his eyes, feeling like an effort.
18:50His voice was very light, heavy with irritation.
18:54What are you yelling for?
18:55I went to see her for Group Matters.
18:58Are Group Matters more important than me?
18:59I don't care!
19:01You swear right now, promise you'll never go see Anna Taylor again!
19:05Never!
19:06She was shouting too loudly, with a suffocating pressure.
19:09Shut up!
19:10He suddenly shoved her away.
19:12If you hadn't messed the group up so badly, would I need to lower myself to go beg her?
19:19Kelly still wanted to say something.
19:21I...
19:22But then the ward door was pushed open.
19:24Ryan's mother walked in, carrying a thermal food container.
19:27When she saw the mess all over the floor and her son's pale face, her anger instantly flared.
19:34Kelly Smith!
19:36You're really becoming more and more outrageous.
19:38She slammed the container heavily onto the table and pointed at Kelly's nose as she scolded.
19:43Can't you see Ryan isn't feeling well?
19:45Why are you still yelling at him?
19:47The more she spoke, the angrier she became.
19:49If Anna were here, she'd have Aldi gone home to make dinner for Ryan by now.
19:53You only know how to make a steen.
20:11Anna Taylor?
20:12You're talking about her again?
20:15Kelly instantly bristled, letting out a cold snort.
20:18I'm not her!
20:19I don't want to do that kind of servant work!
20:22she crossed her arms over her chest and stubbornly talked back what do you mean there are so many
20:28servants at home why do i have to cook myself i think you're just picking a fight on purpose
20:33deliberately using her to put me down i'm carrying your grandson you don't want him anymore
20:38how dare you talk back ryan's mother was shaking with anger what have you ever done for ryan
20:45other than spending money and causing trouble what else did you do what trouble did i cause
20:54get out both of you get a sharp roar instantly drowned out all the arguing ryan forced himself
21:01upright grabbed the pillow by the bed and hurled it at them with all the strength the lord fell into
21:07dead silence in an instant ryan's mother and kelly were both stunned ryan collapsed weakly back onto
21:13the bed burying his face into the blanket as suppressed sob seeped out muffled this was the
21:19first time he regretted it regretted divorcing anna when anna was around the group never had any
21:25problems and the household was always in perfect order anna would arrange everything properly and
21:31ryan could just enjoy his life but now because of several useless relatives kelly had stuffed into the
21:37group accidents happened again and again and several projects had already been cancelled
21:42by the time he realized something was wrong most of the capable backbones in the group had already
21:48left and his parents who once praised kelly non-stop now constantly complained and expressed
21:54dissatisfaction life seemed to have gone back to years ago when his group was on the brink of
22:00bankruptcy besieged on all sides the difference was back then when he turned around i was always there
22:09and i would gently tell him don't be afraid you've got me but now behind him there was no one
22:16at all
22:22a few days later the contract with the white group was officially signed this was the biggest deal
22:27i'd landed since leaving carter group it meant my small group had finally gained a firm foothold
22:33alex white attended in person president anna to celebrate our successful cooperation how about
22:40dinner together i looked at his handsome face and declined politely no i still have something to do
22:47tonight his smile faded he leaned forward bracing his hands on the table staring straight at anna taylor
22:53how long are you going to keep running you clearly know what i mean ever since that day in the
22:59parking
22:59lot when he helped me out alex white had launched a fierce pursuit flowers gifts and endless invitations
23:06it was impossible to ignore but i remained distant the entire time i frowned and said mr alex if you're
23:15just trying to provoke ryan there's really need combated shinone mornin alex looked at me with his big
23:21eyes he suddenly smiled i'm not that boring i really do like you his gaze was far too intense
23:29i subconsciously stepped back but he grabbed my sleeve alex's fingers were long and warm
23:35he gently shook my arm and softened his voice his tone full of coquettish pleading
23:42come on just give me a chance have dinner with me okay he winked playfully at me and lowered his
23:49voice a secret about ryan i wanted to say no but unconsciously agreed all right with a loud bang
23:57both of us were startled the receptionist then hurried in anxiously president anna i'm sorry this
24:04gentleman insisted on barging in we couldn't stop him i waved my hand signaling her to step out first
24:10the uninvited guests were right behind the receptionist the one in front sat in a wheelchair
24:15which was ryan only a few days had passed yet he looked as if all vitality had been drained from
24:21him
24:21his face sallow and his eye socket sunken anna i'm here to take you home i looked at him not
24:28feeling
24:28sorry for him but only mad at him for interrupting me i reached out and pressed the internal line on
24:34the
24:35desk security come here and take these uninvited people out ryan looked kind of stunned
24:41he probably hadn't expected me to be this ruthless his eyes instantly reddened anna taylor
24:47how can you treat me like this i've already thought it through these past few days we're the
24:53most suitable for each other i've already brought up divorce with kelly smith come back to my side
24:59okay if this were my previous life i probably would have softened after seeing this but now
25:05i only found it noisy don't have any feelings for you anymore who you marry or divorce has nothing to
25:12do with me my voice was cold as ice please don't come disturb my life again i don't want to
25:19be your
25:20servant anymore the decisiveness in my words left his face full of hurt we've been married for so
25:27many years remember you won't even give me one chance
25:33he stared at me in disbelief until he confirmed that there was only indifference left in my eyes
25:39only then did he understand i wasn't saying this out of spite he stopped faking tears and his eyes
25:45were filled with fierceness anna taylor don't forget if if i hadn't sponsored you back then you would
25:51even have been able go to go college now you're leaving me after your achievements
25:58i don't want much just help me hold carter group together for five years all right at last he pulled
26:06out this trump card the so-called debt of gratitude had weighed me down for a full 10 years i
26:11fell
26:12silent at the moment i hesitated a warm hand covered the back of my hand alex had somehow come to
26:19stand
26:19beside me ryan carter do you have no shame at all his voice was clear with undisguised contempt using
26:28my credit to black rail others how can you be so utterly shameless ryan's expression changed abruptly
26:38alex white why are you here alex laughed and said why can't i be here if i weren't i wouldn't
26:45have
26:45known that you've been taking my to my credit using my kindness to threaten the woman when i love
26:52you're talking nonsense shut up i did sponsor her is that so alex took out his phone and presented it
27:02to me anna see for yourself these are all the records of payments i made back then through an
27:10anonymous charitable organization to your accounts from high school through university the one who
27:15sponsored you was always me my mind buzzed turning completely blank on the screen rows of transfer
27:23records were displayed with crystal clarity dates and amounts every single one matched exactly the
27:29scholarships i had received back then the recipient account was my high school financial aid fund account
27:35and the designated beneficiary was anna taylor in both my past and present lives i had always believed
27:42it was ryan in my freshman year he had taken the initiative to find me and told me he was
27:48the
27:48anonymous sponsor because of that debt of gratitude i was deeply thankful to him and after graduation
27:54threw myself into his group without hesitation it was also because of that gratitude that i developed
28:00feelings for him even when he trampled my dignity time and time again i endured it because of that
28:06supposed kindness i thought it was something i owed him so from the very beginning it had all been a
28:12lie
28:12ryan looked terrible but he still wanted to make a final desperate struggle i stayed by your side
28:19for four years in college and always encouraged you
28:24doesn't that count as emotional support
28:29yeah i didn't sponsor you financially
28:32but we were husband and wife for 10 years
28:35isn't that bond enough for you to help me just once
28:40have you forgotten how much you used to love me
28:43i promise i won't care about your past affair anymore
28:46you forgive me this once too we can still live a happy life together okay
28:52i almost laughed from sheer anger at this point he was still trying to bind me with his twisted logic
28:59ryan carter do you really think i'm an idiot
29:02my voice wasn't loud but it froze the air in the entire conference room
29:06back then after i sobered up from drinking
29:10the man in my bed was sent by you
29:13even the drugged glass of water i drank
29:16was prepared by you personally
29:18ryan's face instantly turned deathly pale
29:20i shook my head in disappointment
29:22the last shred of lingering feeling in my heart turning to ashes
29:27the thing i regret most in this life
29:30is being with a man like you
29:32full of lies
29:34those words became the final straw that crushed him
29:37he slumped weakly in his wheelchair
29:39tears rolling down in big drops
29:41it's not like that
29:44how can you regret it you love me
29:45you clearly love me
29:47you clearly love me
29:49he muttered to himself looking deranged
29:51you clearly love me
29:54at that moment the security guards who had arrived late
29:57finally broke through ryan's black suited bodyguards
30:00together with the wheelchair they pushed the whole group out
30:03the world finally became quiet
30:05in the conference room only alex white and i remained
30:08and it was super awkward
30:10he didn't look at me
30:11his gaze drifting to the patterns on the carpet
30:17well i still have some things to deal with at my group
30:20i'll head out first
30:21after saying that he turned around about to slip away
30:26i grabbed his wrist
30:28didn't you say we were going to have dinner
30:30he looked a little annoyed and said
30:32i didn't use this to pressure you
30:34don't misunderstand
30:36if you don't like me
30:38you don't have to force yourself
30:40to be with me
30:42just because i sponsored you
30:44seeing his awkward yet proud demeanor
30:47i wasn't so upset anymore
30:48i couldn't help but laugh a bit
30:51i won't alex
30:52i softened my tone
30:54still holding his wrist
30:55i just really really
30:58want to have a meal with you
30:59i looked into his eyes and asked again seriously
31:03so mr alex
31:05would you like to
31:07under my gaze
31:08his cheeks grew redder and redder
31:10and then he nodded gently
31:15to prevent ryan from coming back to pester me again
31:17i threw a few obstacles into some of carter group's overseas projects
31:22i didn't intend to do anything drastic to carter group
31:24i just wanted to keep him busy
31:26keep him from bothering me
31:27but the foundation of carter group had long rotted
31:30my small move was merely the first domino to fall
31:33carter group's stock price plunged without warning
31:36several major projects under negotiation blew up one after another
31:40partners withdrew their investments
31:42and the capital chain snapped on the spot
31:44when the first domino fell
31:46the whole thing wouldn't last for long
31:48bank collection notices piled up like mountains
31:51and every day there were creditors blocking the gates of the carter family villa
31:55kelly smith
31:56the once gentlewoman who had obeyed ryan in everything
31:59realized that carter group was absolutely going down
32:02she immediately turned around and filed a lawsuit
32:05demanding a divorce and division of ryan's assets
32:08the two of them made a huge scene
32:10the former lovers faced each other in court hurling accusations
32:14all of harbor city was watching ryan make a fool of himself
32:17laughing at how he ditched his good wife only to marry that bitch
32:20i saw this news while on dates with alex
32:23through push notifications on my phone
32:24i only glanced at them before immediately locking the screen
32:28it had nothing to do with me anymore
32:30what i cared about more was alex
32:32sitting across from me
32:34our relationship slowly became better through dinners
32:37movies and visits to art exhibitions
32:41on christmas day harbor city saw its first snowfall of the winter
32:45i booked out the mountaintop revolving restaurant
32:47through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows
32:50we could overlook the dazzling lights of the entire city
32:53alex dressed in a bespoke suit sat quietly across from me the snowy glow
32:58outside reflected on his face making him look kinda unreal
33:02amid the gentle sound of violin music i knelt on one knee
33:05he froze for a moment a hint of panic in his eyes
33:10i looked up at him holding his cold hand these past few months every day i've spent with you has
33:16made me very happy i want to turn this happiness into a lifetime so would you be willing to be
33:22my boyfriend
33:23his eyes instantly turned red his lips trembling unable to utter a single word
33:29the surrounding diners had gone quiet all watching us
33:32after a long while he finally lowered his hand in disbelief and nodded hard
33:37thunderous applause erupted throughout the restaurant
33:40i put the ring on his finger and threw myself into his arms
33:45my phone vibrating on the table but i ignored it
33:48the person i was holding was my whole world
33:53only later did i find out that those notifications were the final headlines of that night
33:57carter group officially announces bankruptcy and liquidation
34:01former carter group president's lover kelly smith suspected of commercial embezzlement
34:05and leaking trade secrets now arrested by police
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