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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. His friends were
00:49there, watching the show. They were sure I'd just keep being a pushover, putting up with everything,
00:54but to their surprise, I chose the latter without hesitation. In my previous life,
00:59I chose to endure, and what I got in return was Kelly pushing her luck further and further.
01:05She 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 Kelly's
01:23control. I had been his lawful wife, but ended up with nothing at last. Reborn into this life,
01:30I finally figured everything out.
01:35This time, I just wanted to take the money and leave. I picked up the divorce agreement,
01:40read it carefully from beginning to end, and 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. I'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. So I staged the whole
02:42thing. There wasn't a shred of guilt in his clouded eyes. That way, all I did later seemed completely
02:49defensible. So that was it. No wonder every time I desperately tried to explain, all I got was his
02:56cold disbelief. Because from beginning to end, he knew the truth. He didn't love me, yet he used a
03:03fabricated crime to trap me for 50 years. He could have ended it cleanly with one stroke, but instead
03:10chose to slowly torture me to death. Looking at the young yet still cold face before me, I felt
03:16nothing but hatred. He stared blankly at the signed agreement, his eyes filled with shock. Outside the
03:26door, the faint sounds of whispering abruptly stopped. The next second, my distinguished parents-in-law
03:32rushed in cheerfully. Oh my, look at her. So young and so energetic. My father-in-law, who had always
03:40treated me with hostility, was smiling kindly at this moment. Finally, we can send away that useless
03:46one. It's been so many years, but there's no kid at all. Sir, madam, please don't say that. I don't
03:57want
03:57to disrespect Anna, especially since I'm not much younger than Madam Anna. Actually, I'm already one
04:03month expecting. It's just still early, so I plan to tell you about it later. As expected, still the
04:09same familiar sarcasm, the same nauseating tone. All these years, in order to be a useful wife, I worked
04:16myself to the bone at Carter Group during the day. At night, I still had to serve these two picky
04:21bastards. Just past 30, yet plenty of white hair had already crept into my temples. I did look kind
04:29of old. I turned back to my room and began packing my pitiful little bit of luggage. And I was
04:38already
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. Isn't the villa in the
04:54west of the city still empty? You can stay there for now. I'll visit you when I'm for you. Anna,
05:02you're just being emotional. Calm down. I know how much you love me, okay? But I really can't let you
05:11be
05:11my legal wife anymore. I can't let my child grow up being labeled as illegitimate. I didn't respond.
05:19I just picked up my suitcase, walked past him, and headed straight for the door. There's nothing
05:25left to say between us. I'm very happy we're divorced. If you really still have a conscience,
05:31hurry up and pay me what you owe. The night wind carried fine snow as it rushed toward me,
05:37biting cold yet unable to extinguish the fire burning in my heart. Ryan's efficiency was,
05:44as always, impressive. When I woke up, three billion was already in my bank account. With the
05:50money, the first thing I did was book Harbor City's most luxurious private club. Haircut,
05:55full-body spa, and everything. The haggard woman with graying temples in the mirror was gone.
06:00In her place stood a sharp-eyed beauty with flamboyant red hair. Just as I finished changing,
06:06my best friend Iris Allen called. Anna Taylor, what's going on between you and Ryan? Have you
06:12lost your minds? What the hell happened? What's wrong? And you still ask what's wrong? Haven't
06:19you seen the news yourself? The headlines are full, are full of Ryan and that woman at some banquet.
06:26He said in front of all the reporters, that woman is his only wife. He even said they're holding a
06:33wedding soon. Your stuck-up in-laws were right there too, saying that girl had it coming.
06:38Are you okay? I never got such public acknowledgement, such recognition. Ryan had
06:44now given it to her. I'm fine. We're already divorced. What? Divorced? She'd watched me love
06:52Ryan for more than 10 years. She watched me bend over backward for this marriage, give up myself
06:58like a servant begging for scraps. Begging for scraps of affection. Are you few-free tonight?
07:05Let's go get a drink. My treat.
07:09In Harbor City's most extravagant bar, the booths were piled high with the priciest wine.
07:14Several young, handsome male models surrounded me, attentively pouring drinks for me.
07:19Holy shit, I believe it now. You really have let go. You were never like this before.
07:25Back then, to prove to Ryan that I wasn't after money, I calculated cost performance for everything.
07:32I had been afraid he'd think I was wasteful or didn't care about the family. Now, sitting in this
07:37luxurious private room, I looked at the woman reflected in the mirrored glass. The flamboyant
07:43red hair, the perfectly tailored haute couture dress, was strange, yet familiar. Iris raised her
07:50glass and clinked it hard against mine. You look a bit like that once-in-a-century genius beauty from
07:55the finance department at Ace University. She downed a huge gulp of wine and then complained.
08:02Back then, so many venture capital firms were fighting to invest in you. If you'd started your
08:07own group, you'd have crushed Carter Group long ago. Spending over a decade being a servant for his
08:13family? And after the divorce, you only got this much money. Girl, I really think you deserve better.
08:18I had been a servant for them for more than a decade. In my previous life, Carter Group,
08:23under my control, once dominated the national rankings as the strongest enterprise. Yet in my
08:29old age, I couldn't even afford a box of painkillers. In the end, I was thrown out by Kelly's children
08:34and
08:34died of illness beside a trash heap on a winter night. The business empire I built with my entire life
08:39went to Kelly and her children. Thinking 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. I swore I would get
08:51back at them. Without me, could they really live so well? The very next day, news of my group
08:57registration spread like wildfire, stirring the entire circle. Some people sensed opportunity and
09:03rushed overnight with proposals, hoping to invest. But more people mocked and waited on the sidelines,
09:09waiting for the Carter family's reaction. Someone clearly gave instructions to the media,
09:14so paparazzi articles were all belittling me for overestimating myself. I looked at the push
09:19notifications on my phone and swiped them away expressionlessly. I just didn't expect to receive
09:24a call from Ryan. Anna, can't you be a bit more understanding? I've just found true love.
09:33Besides, instead of starting some small, broken group, wouldn't it be better to stay at Carter
09:39Group, that Southern District merger you were handling before? I hung up the phone directly,
09:43as expected. He had just remembered that I was still useful. That Southern District project was a
09:49tough nut I'd been working on for over half a year. I drank until my stomach perforated for it.
09:55Without me, Carter Group wouldn't even know where to start. At Carter Group, although I was the
10:00president, my monthly salary was only $1,000. All because my distinguished father-in-law said we were
10:06family and shouldn't be so calculative. I once naively believed that was his test for me. Now it
10:13seemed I was nothing more than an exceptionally capable, yet ridiculously cheap housemaid they had
10:18recruited. The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. I made up my mind at that time, I
10:24would
10:24take over all those projects I brought to Carter Group in my previous life. Even if my new group
10:30couldn'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. All these years, he had
10:40grown
10:40used to my obedience, expecting me to show up on command and disappear at his whim. Now that I'd hung
10:46up
10:46on him so decisively, he felt really mad. At that moment, his special assistant awkwardly came in,
10:52holding a stack of documents he couldn't even understand, asking him to sign them. Days of
10:57exhaustion, 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.
11:14He hesitated, somewhat uneasy. You're still young and unfamiliar with group operation.
11:21Go rotate through the department first. Anna Taylor could be the president.
11:27Why can't I? Ryan subconsciously wanted to say that at least Anna was a top graduate from
11:32Ace University's finance department. But the moment he met Kelly's eyes, all his rationality was thrown
11:38away. His heart softened, and he just nodded. Kelly broke into a smile through her tears,
11:44hugged him, and said affectionately, I'm just worried about you. Look at you, you've lost so
11:50much weight lately. Less than half a month after my group started up, everything was already running
11:55smoothly. During this time, Kelly sent people over more than once to cause trouble. Just some petty
12:01tricks. All of which I brushed aside with ease. After all these years, the connections I'd built
12:06were far beyond what a little girl like her could compare to. Those senior employees at Carter Group
12:11whom I personally trained had long wanted to leave after hearing I'd gone solo. Especially since after
12:18Kelly started working there, she kept suppressing them, making their days suffocating. I didn't rush to
12:23bring them over. I had them stir up a little chaos before they left. A small token of allegiance to
12:28me,
12:28Kelly thought losing a few people was no big deal, even secretly rejoicing that she'd cleared out some
12:34remnants of me. But she didn't understand. Some of them were critical for the group.
12:40Projects fell through one after another, and Carter Group's stock price plunged again and again.
12:47Meanwhile, on my side, with capable team members, we unleashed astonishing power, consecutively landing
12:53several deals worth tens of millions. Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window in the conference room,
12:58looking at the jubilant team below.
13:02Tonight at O.T.K. Club, it's all on me! No 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? You've really grown bold now.
13:33A little impatient, I looked at him coldly and said,
13:36Sir, do you need something?
13:38He 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.
14:09I'm not throwing a tantrum.
14:12I cut him off coldly.
14:14Mr. 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?
14:35I 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.
15:03But 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, get 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 got in.
15:41Oh?
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.
16:11Turns 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,
16:21he 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 watch the cityscape speeding past outside the window.
17:35Hey, Anna, don't be so indifferent.
17:39I helped you out, you know?
17:41Not 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.
17:52That very night, the headlines of Harbor City's financial and entertainment sections were all
17:56dominated 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
18:14when he flaunted his mistress.
18:16Others claimed Kelly Smith was inferior to me, which is why Ryan turned back, and that
18:20the two of us would soon remarry.
18:23In the VIP ward of Harbor City First Hospital, Kelly Smith, eyes bloodshot, grabbed the glass
18:30cup from the bedside table and smashed it viciously onto the floor, shards flying everywhere.
18:36Why did you go to find her?
18:38Why?
18:38Didn'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?
19:00I 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, but then the ward door was pushed open.
19:25Ryan's mother walked in, carrying a thermal food container.
19:28When she saw the mess all over the floor and her son's pale face, her anger instantly flared.
19:34Kelly Smith, you'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.
19:42Can'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.
19:50If Anna were here, she'd have Aldi gone home to make dinner for Ryan by now.
19:54You 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.
20:26What do you mean?
20:27There are so many servants at home.
20:29Why do I have to cook myself?
20:31I think you're just picking a fight on purpose, deliberately using her to put me down.
20:35I'm carrying your grandson.
20:36You don't want him anymore?
20:38How dare you talk back!
20:40Ryan's mother was shaking with anger.
20:42What have you ever done for Ryan?
20:45Other than spending money and causing trouble?
20:49What else did you do?
20:51What trouble did I cause?
20:54Get out!
20:55Both of you, get out!
20:57A sharp roar instantly drowned out all the arguing.
21:00Ryan forced himself upright, grabbed the pillow by the bed, and hurled it at them with all his strength.
21:05Get out!
21:06Now!
21:06The ward fell into dead silence in an instant.
21:09Ryan's mother and Kelly were both stunned.
21:12Ryan collapsed weakly back onto the bed, bearing his face into the blanket as suppressed sob seeped out muffled.
21:18This was the first time he regretted it.
21:21Regretted divorcing Anna.
21:22When Anna was around, the group never had any problems, and the household was always in perfect order.
21:29Anna would arrange everything properly, and Ryan could just enjoy his life.
21:33But now, because of several useless relatives Kelly had stuffed into the group, accidents happened again and again, and several
21:41projects had already been cancelled.
21:42By the time he realized something was wrong, most of the capable backbones in the group had already left, and
21:49his parents, who once praised Kelly non-stop, now constantly complained and expressed dissatisfaction.
21:56Life seemed to have gone back to years ago, when his group was on the brink of bankruptcy, besieged on
22:02all sides.
22:03The difference was, back then, when he turned around, I was always there.
22:09And I would gently tell him,
22:10Don't be afraid. You've got me.
22:21A few days later, the contract with the white group was officially signed.
22:25This was the biggest deal I'd landed since leaving Carter Group.
22:29It meant my small group had finally gained a firm foothold.
22:33Alex White attended in person.
22:36President Anna, to celebrate our successful cooperation, how about dinner together?
22:42I looked at his handsome face and declined politely.
22:45No, I still have something to do tonight.
22:48His smile faded. He leaned forward, bracing his hands on the table, staring straight at me.
22:52Anna Taylor, how long are you going to keep running? You clearly know what I mean.
22:58Ever since that day in the parking lot when he helped me out, Alex White had launched a fierce pursuit.
23:03Flowers, gifts, and endless invitations.
23:07It was impossible to ignore.
23:09But I remained distant the entire time.
23:11I frowned and said,
23:13Mr. Alex, if you're just trying to provoke Ryan, there's really need combated Shin-o-nem-or-nin.
23:19Alex looked at me with his big eyes.
23:21He suddenly smiled.
23:23I'm not that boring.
23:26I really do like you.
23:28His gaze was far too intense.
23:30I subconsciously stepped back, but he grabbed my sleeve.
23:33Alex's fingers were long and warm.
23:36He gently shook my arm and softened his voice, his tone full of coquettish pleading.
23:42Come on, just give me a chance.
23:45Have dinner with me, okay?
23:47He winked playfully at me and lowered his voice.
23:50A secret about Ryan.
23:51I wanted to say no, but unconsciously agreed.
23:55Alright.
23:56With a loud bang, both of us were startled.
24:00The receptionist then hurried in anxiously.
24:03President Anna, I'm sorry this gentleman insisted on barging in.
24:06We couldn't stop him.
24:07I waved my hand, signaling her to step out first.
24:11The uninvited guests were right behind the receptionist.
24:14The one in front sat in a wheelchair, which was Ryan.
24:17Only a few days had passed, yet he looked as if all vitality had been drained from him,
24:21his face sallow and his eye socket sunken.
24:24Anna, I'm here to take you home.
24:27I looked at him, not feeling sorry for him, but only mad at him for interrupting me.
24:32I reached out and pressed the internal line on the desk.
24:35Security?
24:36Come here and take these uninvited people out.
24:39Ryan looked kind of stunned.
24:41He probably hadn't expected me to be this ruthless.
24:44His eyes instantly reddened.
24:46Anna Taylor, how can you treat me like this?
24:50I've already thought it through these past few days.
24:52We're the most suitable for each other.
24:54I've already brought up divorce with Kelly Smith.
24:57Come back to my side, okay?
25:00If this were my previous life, I probably would have softened after seeing this.
25:04But now, I only found it noisy.
25:07Don't have any feelings for you anymore.
25:09Who you marry or divorce has nothing to do with me.
25:13My voice was cold as ice.
25:16Please don't come disturb my life again.
25:19I don't want to be your servant anymore.
25:22The decisiveness in my words left his face full of hurt.
25:25We've been married for so many years, remember?
25:29You 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.
25:41I wasn't saying this out of spite.
25:43He stopped faking tears and his eyes were filled with fierceness.
25:47Anna Taylor!
25:48Don't forget!
25:49If I hadn't sponsored you back then, you would even have been able to go to go college!
25:54Now you're leaving me after your achievements?
25:58I don't want much.
26:00Just help me hold Carter group together for five years.
26:04Alright?
26:05At last, he pulled out this trump card.
26:07The so-called debt of gratitude had weighed me down for a full ten years.
26:11I fell silent.
26:13At the moment I hesitated, a warm hand covered the back of my hand.
26:17Alex had somehow come to stand beside me.
26:21Ryan Carter, do you have no shame at all?
26:25His voice was clear, with undisguised contempt.
26:28Using my credit, to blackrail others?
26:33How can you be so utterly shameless?
26:36Ryan's expression changed abruptly.
26:38Alex White, why are you here?
26:40Alex laughed and said,
26:42Why can't I be here?
26:43If I weren't, I wouldn't have known that you've been taking my to my credit.
26:48Using my kindness to threaten the woman when I love.
26:52You're talking nonsense!
26:54Shut up!
26:55I did sponsor her!
26:58Is that so?
27:00Alex took out his phone and presented it to me.
27:04Anna, see for yourself.
27:07These are all the records of payments I made back then,
27:09through an anonymous charitable organization,
27:12to your accounts from high school through university.
27:14The one who sponsored you, was always me.
27:18My mind buzzed, turning completely blank.
27:21On the screen, rows of transfer records were displayed with crystal clarity.
27:25Dates and amounts.
27:27Every single one matched exactly the scholarships I had received back then.
27:31The recipient account was my high school financial aid fund account,
27:35and the designated beneficiary was Anna Taylor.
27:38In both my past and present lives,
27:41I had always believed it was Ryan.
27:43In my freshman year, he had taken the initiative to find me
27:47and told me he was the anonymous sponsor.
27:49Because of that debt of gratitude,
27:51I was deeply thankful to him.
27:53And, after graduation,
27:55threw myself into his group without hesitation.
27:57It was also because of that gratitude that I developed feelings for him.
28:01Even when he trampled my dignity time and time again,
28:04I endured it because of that supposed kindness.
28:07I thought it was something I owed him.
28:09So from the very beginning,
28:11it had all been a lie.
28:13Ryan looked terrible,
28:14but he still wanted to make a final, desperate struggle.
28:18I stayed by your side
28:19for four years in college
28:21and 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 ten 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.
28:48We can still live a happy life together, okay?
28:52I almost laughed from sheer anger.
28:55At this point,
28:56he was still trying to bind me with his twisted logic.
28:59Ryan Carter,
29:00do you really think I'm an idiot?
29:02My voice wasn't loud,
29:04but it froze the air in the entire conference room.
29:06Back then,
29:08after I sobered up from drinking,
29:11the man in my bed
29:12was sent by you.
29:14Even the drugged glass of water I drank
29:16was prepared by you personally.
29:18Ryan's face instantly turned deathly pale.
29:21I shook my head in disappointment,
29:23the last shred of lingering feeling
29:25in 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.
29:42It's not like that.
29:44How can you regret it?
29:45You love me.
29:46You clearly love me.
29:47You clearly love me.
29:49He muttered to himself,
29:50looking deranged.
29:51You clearly love me.
29:54At that moment,
29:55the security guards who had arrived late
29:57finally broke through Ryan's black-suited bodyguards.
30:00Together with the wheelchair,
30:02they pushed the whole group out.
30:03The world finally became quiet.
30:05In the conference room,
30:07only 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.
30:15Mm, well,
30:17I still have some things to deal with at my group.
30:20I'll head out first.
30:22After saying that,
30:23he turned around,
30:24about 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
30:39to be with me.
30:42Just because I sponsored you.
30:45Seeing 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
31:01and 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
31:17to pester me again,
31:18I threw a few obstacles
31:19into some of Carter Group's overseas projects.
31:22I didn't intend to do anything drastic
31:24to Carter Group.
31:24I just wanted to keep him busy,
31:27keep him from bothering me.
31:28But the foundation of Carter Group
31:29had long rotted.
31:31My small move was merely
31:32the first domino to fall.
31:34Carter Group's stock price
31:35plunged without warning.
31:37Several major projects
31:38under negotiation
31:39blew up one after another.
31:41Partners withdrew their investments,
31:42and the capital chain
31:43snapped on the spot.
31:45When the first domino fell,
31:47the whole thing
31:47wouldn't last for long.
31:49Bank collection notices
31:50piled up like mountains,
31:51and every day there were creditors
31:53blocking the gates
31:54of the Carter family villa.
31:55Kelly Smith,
31:57the once gentlewoman
31:57who had obeyed Ryan in everything,
31:59realized that Carter Group
32:00was absolutely going down.
32:02She immediately turned around
32:04and filed a lawsuit,
32:05demanding a divorce
32:06and division of Ryan's assets.
32:08The two of them
32:09made a huge scene.
32:10The former lovers
32:11faced each other in court,
32:13hurling accusations.
32:14All of Harbor City
32:15was watching Ryan
32:16make a fool of himself,
32:17laughing at how he ditched
32:18his good wife
32:19only to marry that bitch.
32:20I saw all this news
32:22while on dates with Alex,
32:23through push notifications
32:24on my phone.
32:25I only glanced at them
32:26before immediately
32:27locking the screen.
32:28It had nothing to do
32:29with me anymore.
32:30What I cared about more
32:32was Alex,
32:32sitting across from me.
32:34Our relationship
32:35slowly became better
32:36through dinners,
32:37movies,
32:38and visits to art exhibitions.
32:41On Christmas Day,
32:43Harbor City saw its first
32:44snowfall of the winter.
32:45I booked out
32:46the mountaintop revolving restaurant.
32:48Through the huge
32:49floor-to-ceiling windows,
32:50we could overlook
32:51the dazzling lights
32:52of the entire city.
32:53Alex,
32:54dressed in a bespoke suit,
32:56sat quietly across from me.
32:57The snowy glow outside
32:59reflected on his face,
33:00making him look
33:01kinda unreal.
33:02Amid the gentle sound
33:03of violin music,
33:04I knelt on one knee.
33:05He froze for a moment,
33:07a hint of panic
33:08in his eyes.
33:10I looked up at him,
33:11holding his cold hand.
33:13These past few months,
33:15every day I've spent with you
33:16has made me very happy.
33:18I want to turn this happiness
33:19into a lifetime.
33:20So,
33:21would you be willing
33:22to be my boyfriend?
33:24His eyes instantly turned red,
33:26his lips trembling,
33:27unable to utter
33:28a single word.
33:29The surrounding diners
33:30had gone quiet,
33:31all watching us.
33:33After a long while,
33:34he finally lowered his hand
33:36in disbelief
33:36and nodded hard.
33:38Thunderous applause
33:39erupted throughout
33:40the restaurant.
33:41I put the ring
33:42on his finger
33:43and threw myself
33:44into his arms.
33:45my phone vibrating
33:47on the table,
33:47but I ignored it.
33:49The person I was holding
33:50was my whole world.
33:53Only later
33:54did I find out
33:54that those notifications
33:55were the final headlines
33:57of that night.
33:58Carter Group officially
33:59announces bankruptcy
34:00and liquidation.
34:01Former Carter Group
34:03president's lover,
34:03Kelly Smith,
34:04suspected of commercial
34:05embezzlement
34:05and leaking trade secrets,
34:07now arrested by police.
34:08of the United States.
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