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