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