- 4 hours ago
My Husband Wanted An Open Marriage
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Ryan Carter, the famous Playboy heir, openly declared that he only dated women on short-term arrangements.
00:06However, there were still lots of women eager to be his temporary girlfriend,
00:10because if he was in a good mood, he'd reward them with a villa.
00:13If he wasn't, they'd still walk away with a million-dollar breakup fee.
00:17People 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.
01:11Money, 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.
01:29This 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 was just another one of his tricks to mess with me.
02:00Naively, I believed that after all these years of marriage,
02:04he must have had at least a little affection for me.
02:06I was a fool.
02:08He and Kelly had kids one after another and grew old together in love.
02:12And I, in that house, was like an awkward outsider,
02:17mocked and ridiculed by everyone around me for my whole life.
02:21Not until my later years did 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 and didn't want things to get too ugly.
02:37So I staged the whole thing.
02:38There wasn't a shred of guilt in his clouded eyes.
02:41That way, all I did later seemed completely defensible.
02:46So that was it.
02:47No wonder every time I desperately tried to explain,
02:51all I got was his cold disbelief.
02:54Because from beginning to end, he knew the truth.
02:57He didn't love me,
02:58yet he used a fabricated crime to 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.
03:07Looking at the young, yet still cold face before me,
03:11I felt nothing but hatred.
03:13He stared blankly at the signed agreement,
03:15his eyes filled with shock.
03:17Outside the door, the faint sounds of whispering abruptly stopped.
03:21The next second, my distinguished parents-in-law rushed in cheerfully.
03:28Oh my, look at her.
03:31So young and so energetic.
03:33My father-in-law, who had always treated me with hostility,
03:36was smiling kindly at this moment.
03:38Finally, we can send away that useless one.
03:43It's been so many years, but there's no kid at all.
03:47Sir?
03:50Sir, madam, please don't say that.
03:54I don't want to disrespect.
03:56Actually, I'm already one month expecting.
03:59It's just still early, so I plan to tell you about it later.
04:02As expected, still the same familiar sarcasm,
04:05the same nauseating tone.
04:07All these years, in order to be a useful wife,
04:10I worked myself to the bone at Carter Group during the day.
04:13At night, I still had to serve these two picky bastards.
04:17Just past 30, yet plenty of white hair had already crept into my temples.
04:22I did look kinda old.
04:24I turned back to my room and began packing my pitiful little bit of luggage.
04:27And I was already planning where I should go first to properly relax after 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 still empty?
04:47You can stay there for now.
04:49I'll visit you when I'm free you.
04:52Anna, you're just being emotional.
04:55Calm down.
04:56I know how much you love me, okay?
05:00But I really can't let you be my legal wife anymore.
05:04I can't let my child grow up being 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 as it rushed toward me,
05:27biting cold, yet unable to extinguish the fire burning in my heart.
05:32Ryan's efficiency was, as always, impressive.
05:35When I woke up, three billion was already in my bank account.
05:39With the money, the first thing I did was book Harbor City's most luxurious private club.
05:44Haircut, full-body spa, and everything.
05:47The haggard woman with graying temples in the mirror was gone.
05:50In her place stood a sharp-eyed beauty with flamboyant red hair.
05:53Just as I finished changing, my best friend Iris Allen called.
05:57Anna Taylor!
05:58What's going on between 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, are full of Ryan and that woman at some banquet.
06:14He said in front of all the reporters,
06:17that woman is his only wife.
06:20He even said they're holding a wedding soon.
06:23Your stuck-up in-laws were right there too,
06:25saying that girl had it coming.
06:27Are you okay?
06:29I never got such public acknowledgement, such 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 for more than ten years.
06:43She watched me bend over backward for this marriage.
06:45Give up myself like a servant begging for scraps.
06:48Begging for scraps of affection.
06:51Are you few free tonight?
06:53Let's go get a drink.
06:55My treat.
06:56In Harbor City's most extravagant bar,
06:58the booths were piled high with the priciest wine.
07:02Several young, handsome male models surrounded me,
07:04attentively pouring drinks for me.
07:09Holy shit, I believe it now.
07:12You really have let go.
07:14You were never like this before.
07:16Back then, to prove to Ryan that I wasn't after money,
07:19I calculated cost performance for everything.
07:21I had been afraid he'd think I was wasteful
07:24or didn't care about the family.
07:25Now, sitting in this luxurious, private room,
07:28I looked at the woman reflected in the mirrored glass.
07:31The flamboyant red hair,
07:33the perfectly tailored haute couture dress,
07:35was strange, yet familiar.
07:38Iris raised her glass and clinked it hard against mine.
07:41You look a bit like that once-in-a-century genius beauty
07:45from the finance department at Ace University.
07:47She downed a huge gulp of wine and then complained.
07:51Back then, so many venture capital firms
07:54were fighting to invest in you.
07:55If you'd started your own group,
07:57you'd have crushed Carter Group long ago.
07:59Spending over a decade being a servant for his family,
08:02and after the divorce, you only got this much money.
08:05Girl, I really think you deserve better.
08:07I had been a servant for them for more than a decade.
08:10In my previous life,
08:12Carter Group, under my control,
08:14once dominated the national rankings
08:15as the strongest enterprise.
08:17Yet in my old age,
08:18I couldn't even afford a box of painkillers.
08:21In the end,
08:21I was thrown out by Kelly's children
08:23and died of illness beside a trash heap
08:24on a winter night.
08:26The business empire I built with my entire life
08:28went to Kelly and her children.
08:30Thinking of this,
08:31I drained the wine in my glass in one go.
08:33The spicy liquid burned down my throat,
08:35yet ignited the fire deep in my heart.
08:38I swore I would get back at them.
08:40Without me,
08:41could they really live so well?
08:43The very next day,
08:44news of my group registration spread like wildfire,
08:47stirring the entire circle.
08:49Some people sensed opportunity
08:50and rushed overnight with proposals,
08:52hoping to invest.
08:54But more people mocked and waited on the sidelines,
08:57waiting for the Carter family's reaction.
08:59Someone clearly gave instructions to the media,
09:01so paparazzi articles were all belittling me
09:04for overestimating myself.
09:06I looked at the push notifications on my phone
09:08and swiped them away expressionlessly.
09:10I just didn't expect to receive a call from Ryan.
09:16Anna,
09:17can't you be a bit more understanding?
09:19I've just found true love.
09:22Besides,
09:23instead of starting some small, broken group,
09:26wouldn't it be better to 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 that I was still useful.
09:37That Southern District project
09:38was a tough nut I'd been working on
09:40for over half a year.
09:41I drank until my stomach perforated for it.
09:44Without me,
09:45Carter Group wouldn't even know where to start.
09:47At Carter Group,
09:48although I was the president,
09:50my monthly salary was only $1,000.
09:53All because my distinguished father-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 I was nothing more
10:03than an exceptionally capable,
10:05yet ridiculously cheap housemaid
10:07they had recruited.
10:08The more I thought about it,
10:09the angrier I became.
10:11I made up my mind at that time,
10:13I would take over all 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 hand them over
10:21to Carter Group's deadliest rivals.
10:23After the call was cut off,
10:24Ryan slammed his phone
10:26to the ground in fury.
10:27All these years,
10:28he had grown used to my obedience,
10:30expecting me to show up on command
10:31and disappear at his whim.
10:33Now that I'd hung up on him
10:35so decisively,
10:36he felt really mad.
10:37At that moment,
10:38his special assistant awkwardly 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 truly overwhelmed lately.
10:51Kelly followed the assistant in,
10:53took Ryan's hand,
10:53and said with eyes full of concern,
10:56Ryan,
10:57don't work yourself too hard.
10:59I'm your wife now.
11:01Let me help share your burden.
11:03He hesitated,
11:04somewhat uneasy.
11:05You're still young
11:06and unfamiliar with group operation.
11:09Go rotate through the department first.
11:12Anna Taylor could be the president.
11:15Why can't I?
11:19Ryan subconsciously wanted to say
11:21that at least Anna was a top graduate
11:23from Ace University's finance department.
11:25But the moment he met Kelly's eyes,
11:27all his rationality was thrown away.
11:29His heart softened,
11:30and he just nodded.
11:32Kelly broke into a smile through her tears,
11:34hugged him,
11:35and said affectionately,
11:36I'm just worried about you.
11:39Look 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 running smoothly.
11:46During this time,
11:47Kelly sent people over
11:48more than once to cause trouble.
11:49Just some petty tricks,
11:51all of which I brushed aside with ease.
11:53After all these years,
11:54the connections I'd built
11:56were far beyond
11:56what a little girl like her
11:57could compare to.
11:59Those senior employees
12:00at Carter Group
12:01whom I personally trained
12:02had long wanted to leave
12:04after hearing I'd gone solo.
12:06Especially since after Kelly
12:07started working there,
12:08she kept suppressing them,
12:10making their days suffocating.
12:12I didn't rush to bring them over.
12:13I had them stir up a little chaos
12:15before they left.
12:16A small token of allegiance to me.
12:18Kelly thought losing a few people
12:20was 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,
12:35on 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 OTK Club,
12:51it's all on me!
12:52No one leaves sober!
12:55Amid the thunderous cheers,
12:56I led everyone out 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
13:07with an arrogant look,
13:08waving at me.
13:09I didn't even glance his way,
13:11leading my people straight 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 and said,
13:25Sir,
13:26do you need something?
13:27He seemed slightly taken aback
13:29by my attitude,
13:30but still got straight to the point,
13:31issuing an order.
13:33Shut down your group
13:33and come back to Carter Group.
13:35I was so angered
13:36by his self-righteousness
13:37that I laughed.
13:38He took my laughter as hesitation,
13:40and his tone softened a little.
13:42Anna,
13:42I've really been exhausted lately.
13:45Don't keep fighting with me,
13:46all right?
13:46He paused,
13:47as if making a huge concession.
13:49If you really mind, Kelly,
13:51I can have her move
13:52somewhere else for now.
13:54Looking at this pompous man
13:55before me,
13:56I 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,
14:09his voice suddenly rising.
14:11I've already compromised.
14:14What more do you want?
14:15The group needs you right now,
14:17and you choose this moment
14:19to 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.
14:50But 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.
14:59I'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
15:15this is 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 has
15:28a bad temper.
15:30Not only openly
15:31harassing my fiancé,
15:33but also threatening
15:34to destroy her group.
15:38Ryan turned his head
15:39and was totally stunned.
15:40It was Alex White,
15:42another rich young man,
15:43and Ryan's nemesis.
15:45Alex strolled over lazily
15:46and naturally wrapped
15:47an arm around my waist.
15:49Leaning his head
15:50intimately against
15:51my shoulder,
15:51he whined.
15:54Darling,
15:55I've been waiting
15:56in the parking lot
15:57forever.
15:57Turns out you were here
15:58stopped by a bastard.
16:01Anna Taylor!
16:02Give 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.
16:18Alex rolled his eyes
16:19dramatically
16:19and dragged me away.
16:21Let's just not
16:21waste time with him.
16:29Stop right there!
16:31Ryan tried to chase
16:32after us,
16:32but he was too agitated,
16:34and with his recent
16:35chaotic schedule,
16:36his 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.
16:47Anna,
16:48my stomach hurts.
16:50I didn't slow down.
16:51In fact,
16:52I walked even faster,
16:53not turning my head
16:54even once.
16:55Behind me
16:56were his suppressed
16:57groans of pain,
16:57and his assistant's
16:58panicked screams.
16:59Alex didn't give me
17:00any chance
17:01to look back.
17:02He directly shoved me
17:03into the passenger seat
17:04of his flashy
17:05red Ferrari.
17:06The sports car
17:07roared out of the
17:07parking lot.
17:08Only then
17:09did he take off
17:10his sunglasses
17:10and smile at me
17:11sideways.
17:12Well,
17:13not bad acting,
17:14right?
17:18I 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
17:34with 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
17:41entertainment sections
17:42were all dominated
17:43by Ryan Carter.
17:45Carter Group president,
17:46chasing former love,
17:47suffers stomach spasms
17:48and is hospitalized.
17:50The accompanying photos
17:51showed him being taken
17:52into an ambulance
17:53by his assistant
17:53and bodyguards.
17:54The comment section
17:55exploded.
17:57Some mocked Ryan
17:58for bringing it on himself,
17:59saying he should have
18:00expected this day
18:00back when he flaunted
18:01his mistress.
18:02Others claimed Kelly Smith
18:03was 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
18:10of Harbor City
18:10First Hospital,
18:12Kelly Smith,
18:13eyes bloodshot,
18:14grabbed the glass cup
18:15from the bedside table
18:16and smashed it
18:17viciously onto the floor,
18:18shards flying everywhere.
18:20Why did you go
18:21to find her?
18:22Why?
18:23Didn't you say
18:23having me alone
18:24was enough?
18:25The sharp,
18:25shattering sound
18:26startled Ryan,
18:27and a dull ache
18:28crept through his abdomen.
18:29He 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
18:44for Group Matters.
18:45Are Group Matters
18:46more 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
18:54too loudly,
18:55with a suffocating pressure.
18:56Shut up!
18:57He suddenly shoved her away.
18:59If you hadn't
19:00messed the group up
19:00so badly,
19:01would I need to lower
19:03myself to go beg her?
19:06Kelly still wanted
19:07to say something.
19:08I...
19:09But then the ward door
19:10was pushed open.
19:11Ryan's mother walked in
19:12carrying a thermal
19:13food container.
19:14When she saw the mess
19:15all over the floor
19:16and her son's pale face,
19:18her anger instantly flared.
19:21Kelly Smith,
19:21you're really becoming
19:23more and more outrageous.
19:25She 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
19:39by now.
19:40You only know
19:41how to make a steen.
19:42Anna Taylor?
19:44You're talking
19:45about her again?
19:46Kelly instantly bristled,
19:48letting 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
20:03picking a fight on purpose,
20:04deliberately using her
20:05to put me down.
20:06I'm carrying your grandson.
20:08You 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?
20:17Other than spending money
20:18and causing trouble?
20:20What else did you do?
20:22What trouble did I cause?
20:25Get out!
20:26Both of you, get out!
20:28A sharp roar
20:28instantly drowned out
20:29all the arguing.
20:31Ryan forced himself upright,
20:32grabbed the pillow
20:33by the bed,
20:34and hurled it at them
20:35with all his strength.
20:36Get 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
20:44back onto the bed,
20:45burying his face
20:46into the blanket
20:46as suppressed sobs
20:47seeped out muffled.
20:49This was the first time
20:50he regretted it.
20:51Regretted divorcing Anna.
20:56When 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
21:09Kelly had stuffed
21:10into the group,
21:11accidents happened
21:12again and again,
21:13and several projects
21:14had already been cancelled.
21:16By the time he realized
21:17something was wrong,
21:18most of the capable
21:19backbones in the group
21:20had already left.
21:22And 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,
21:31when 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
21:42tell him,
21:43Don'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?
22:09I 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 had launched
22:31a fierce pursuit.
22:33Flowers,
22:34gifts,
22:34and endless invitations.
22:35It was impossible
22:37to ignore,
22:38but I remained distant
22:39the 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
22:47combated Shin-o-nemor-neen.
22:48Alex looked at me
22:49with his big eyes.
22:50He suddenly smiled.
22:52I'm not that boring.
22:55I really do like you.
22:56His gaze was far too intense.
22:58I subconsciously stepped 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,
23:08his tone full
23:09of coquettish pleading.
23:11Come on,
23:11just give me a chance.
23:13Have dinner with me,
23:15okay?
23:15He winked playfully at me
23:16and lowered his voice.
23:18A secret about Ryan.
23:20I wanted to say no,
23:21but unconsciously agreed.
23:23All right.
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 barge
23:34and we couldn't stop him.
23:38I waved my hand,
23:40signaling her to step out first.
23:42The uninvited guests
23:43were right behind the receptionist.
23:45The one in front sat in a wheelchair,
23:47which was Ryan.
23:48Only a few days had passed,
23:49yet he looked as if all vitality
23:51had been drained from him,
23:52his face sallow
23:53and his eye socket sunken.
23:55Anna, I'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 uninvited people out.
24:10Ryan looked kind of stunned.
24:12He probably hadn't expected me
24:13to be this ruthless.
24:15His eyes instantly reddened.
24:17Anna Taylor,
24:18how can you treat me like this?
24:20I've already thought it through
24:21these past few days.
24:23We're the most suitable
24:24for each other.
24:25I've already brought up
24:26divorce with Kelly Smith.
24:28Come back to my side,
24:29okay?
24:30If this were my previous life,
24:31I probably would have softened
24:33after seeing this.
24:34But now,
24:35I only found it noisy.
24:37Don't have any feelings
24:38for you anymore.
24:40Who you marry or divorce
24:41has nothing to do with me.
24:43My voice was cold as ice.
24:46Please don't come disturb
24:47my 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, remember?
24:59You won't even give me
25:00one chance?
25:01He stared at me in disbelief
25:03until he confirmed
25:04that there was only indifference
25:05left in my eyes.
25:07Only then did he understand.
25:09I wasn't saying this
25:10out 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 you
25:18back then,
25:18you would even have been
25:19able to go to go college!
25:22Now you're leaving me
25:23after your achievements?
25:25I don't want much.
25:27Just help me hold
25:28Carter Group together
25:30for five years.
25:31Alright?
25:32At last,
25:33he pulled out
25:33this trump card.
25:34The so-called debt
25:35of gratitude
25:36had weighed me down
25:37for a full ten years.
25:38I fell silent.
25:40At the moment I hesitated,
25:42a warm hand
25:42covered the back
25:43of my hand.
25:44Alex had somehow
25:45come to stand beside me.
25:51Ryan Carter,
25:53do you have
25:54no shame at all?
25:55His voice was clear,
25:56with undisguised contempt.
25:58Using my credit
25:59to black rail others?
26:03How can you be
26:04so utterly shameless?
26:06Ryan's expression
26:07changed 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 I made back then
26:39through an anonymous
26:39charitable organization
26:41to your accounts
26:42from high school
26:42through university.
26:43The one who sponsored you
26:45was always me.
26:46My mind buzzed,
26:47turning completely blank.
26:49On 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
27:03beneficiary
27:04was Anna Taylor.
27:05In both my past
27:07and present lives,
27:08I had always believed
27:09it was Ryan.
27:11In my freshman year,
27:12he had taken the initiative
27:13to find me
27:14and told me
27:14he was the anonymous sponsor.
27:16Because of that debt
27:17of gratitude,
27:18I was deeply thankful
27:19to him and,
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
27:27feelings for him.
27:28Even when he trampled
27:29my dignity time and time again,
27:31I endured it
27:32because of that
27:32supposed kindness.
27:34I thought it was
27:35something I owed him.
27:36So from the very beginning,
27:37it had all been a lie.
27:39Ryan looked terrible,
27:41but he still wanted
27:42to make a final
27:43desperate 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, I didn't sponsor
28:00you financially.
28:02But 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
28:11to love me?
28:12I promise I won't care
28:13about your past affair
28:14anymore.
28:16You forgive me
28:17this once too.
28:18We can still live
28:18a happy life together,
28:20okay?
28:20I almost laughed
28:22from 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,
28:32but 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
28:43I drank
28:43was prepared
28:44by you personally.
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
28:53turning to ashes.
28:55The thing I regret
28:56most in this life
28:57is being with a man
28:59like you,
29:00full of lies.
29:01Those words
29:02became the final straw
29:03that crushed him.
29:04He slumped weakly
29:06in his wheelchair,
29:06tears rolling down
29:08in big drops.
29:09It's not like that.
29:11How can you regret it?
29:12You love me.
29:13You 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,
29:21the 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.
29:41Well,
29:42I still have some things
29:43to deal with at my group.
29:45I'll head out first.
29:46After saying that,
29:47he turned around,
29:48about to slip away.
29:50Wait!
29:51I grabbed his wrist.
29:53Didn't you say
29:53we were going to have dinner?
29:57He 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,
30:05you don't have to force yourself
30:06to be with me
30:09just because I sponsored you.
30:11Seeing his awkward
30:13yet 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
30:44into 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
31:08snapped 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
31:18of the Carter family villa.
31:20Kelly Smith,
31:20the once gentlewoman
31:21who had obeyed Ryan
31:22in everything,
31:23realized that Carter Group
31:24was absolutely going down.
31:26She immediately turned around
31:28and 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.
31:47I saw all this news
31:48while on dates with Alex,
31:49through 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
32:04to art exhibitions.
32:05On Christmas Day,
32:07Harbor City
32:07saw its first snowfall
32:08of the winter.
32:09I booked out
32:10the mountaintop
32:11revolving restaurant.
32:12Through 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
32:25kinda unreal.
32:26Amid the gentle sound
32:27of violin music,
32:28I knelt on one knee.
32:29He froze for a moment,
32:31a hint of panic
32:31in 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
32:39with you
32:39has made me very happy.
32:41I wanna turn this happiness
32:43into a lifetime.
32:44So,
32:45would you be willing
32:46to be my boyfriend?
32:47His eyes instantly
32:49turned red,
32:50his lips trembling,
32:51unable to utter
32:52a 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.
33:02Thunderous applause
33:02erupted throughout
33:03the restaurant.
33:04I put the ring
33:05on his finger
33:06and threw myself
33:07into his arms.
33:09My phone vibrating
33:10on the table,
33:11but I ignored it.
33:12The person I was holding
33:14was my whole world.
33:16Only later
33:17did I find out
33:17that those notifications
33:18were the final headlines
33:20of that night.
33:21Carter Group officially
33:22announces bankruptcy
33:23and liquidation.
33:25Former Carter Group
33:26president's lover
33:26Kelly Smith
33:27suspected of
33:28commercial embezzlement
33:28and leaking trade secrets,
33:30now arrested by police.
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