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