Chapter 1 Chapter 1

I had carefully planned my revenge so that the woman who stole my patent and the husband who betrayed me would both pay the price. After signing the contract with my new company, I went to the most exclusive, award-winning restaurant in Masonridge District. I'd made the reservation two months ago, just for tonight. It was supposed to be our tenth wedding anniversary. I'd planned to surprise Matthew Ashford after work. Instead, he surprised me first. The waiter presented my carefully prepared anniversary gift—a box of premium, handcrafted chocolates made in Sorevia, each with a surprise inside. I gazed at the gold-embossed "10th Anniversary" on the box and felt a surge of emotion. Ten years ago, we hurriedly celebrated our wedding in Lanswell. We were so financially strained that we could only afford to share a single piece of discounted chocolate for dessert. Matthew had once licked chocolate off his fingers and said, "When we hit ten years, I'll make it up to you with the grand wedding you deserve." Within this box of chocolates, I had hidden a small antique key inside one of the pieces. It was the key to the vacation cottage I purchased for us in Sorevia. It was intended as a surprise to celebrate our tenth anniversary. Yet now, that gift felt utterly meaningless. Just as I was about to ask the waiter to take it away, a video call from Matthew came through. "Emma, where did you run off to? And what's with that resignation email? Sophie just filled in the wrong name. Do you really have to blow it out of proportion and use quitting to threaten me?" I let out a bitter smile. "It's not a threat. I'm really leaving." Matthew was caught off guard. His tone softened. "Is this because I made Sophie the CTO? I just wanted to motivate the younger members of our team. "Everyone at the company knows you're my wife. Title or not, they'll still listen to you. Cool off out there and come home, alright? "I've got an important board meeting tonight. I won't be home for dinner." My heart clenched. He really was a good liar. Just five minutes ago, Sophie Bennett had texted me. "Matthew's taking me to the best Feylanese restaurant in town to celebrate my promotion. He said it cost him ten grand just to get the reservation." So, apparently, his important meeting was nothing more than a celebration with his mistress. In the first few years of our marriage, he never forgot an anniversary. Yet by our tenth, he had completely forgotten the date. I gazed at the elegantly arranged spread of Feylanese cuisine before me, then I picked up my utensils. Ten years of devotion had led to this. I chose to treat this lonely dinner as the quiet end to our marriage.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

As I was leaving the restaurant, I saw Matthew approaching. Our eyes locked, and he looked shocked. "Emma? What are you doing here?" Before I could answer, his gaze landed on the gift box sitting on the table. He slapped his forehead and let out a frustrated sigh. "God! I completely forgot today is our anniversary. The merger talks have been overwhelming. Why didn't you remind me? I would've cleared my schedule." Then his eyes narrowed. "Wait a second, Emma. You didn't do this on purpose, did you? Because of the patent? Oh, come on, it was just a clerical error. The company still owns the rights. "You're not young anymore. Why are you picking a fight with Sophie? She just graduated. Are you really going to ruin her future over an honest mistake?" I let out a quiet laugh. That algorithm had taken three years of my life. Those years had been filled with countless nights of debugging in front of a screen. Matthew once swore he'd turn the company into the next rising star of Sundale Valley, and I had poured nearly all my energy into supporting that dream. And now, he brushed it all off as "just a clerical error". I looked at him with a blank expression and replied, "It wasn't on purpose. I know your schedule's packed. I didn't want to bother you." Seeing my silence, his tone softened. "Honey, let me make it up to you tonight. Go home first. There's a surprise for you. "I've booked the Willowbend Park overlook for us tomorrow. We'll watch the sunrise together. How does that sound?" Before I could say no, a sugary voice chimed in. "Matthew! Your snugglebug's here!" Sophie strutted over in high heels, wearing a rhinestone-studded dress. It was one of the haute couture pieces from last month's Praxen Fashion Week. Noticing my gaze, Sophie twirled smugly. She let out a fake laugh and covered her mouth. "This was Matthew's promotion gift to me, Ms. Whitmore. I imagine it must feel… strange, seeing someone else in the role." Then she leaned in close to Matthew, clearly confident he'd defend her like he always did. As expected, he pretended not to catch the edge in Sophie's words and said indulgently, "Sweetheart, remember to behave yourself in public." Then he turned to me and added, "Young women love to show off. Don't take it personally." I simply clenched my jaw and said nothing. Sophie's eyes landed on the gift box, and she let out an exaggerated gasp. "Matthew! You remembered our anniversary. It's been exactly thirty days since you promoted me. Alas. The gift shop must've messed up. They engraved the date wrongly. But I don't mind." With a sultry look in her eyes, Sophie wrapped her arms around his neck. "You're just too thoughtful." Their endless flirting was nauseating. I stood up from the table at once. The moment I exited the restaurant, I opened the airline app and secured a flight to Tallisport. I would be departing in seven days. That was where the Veltara Region headquarters of my new company were located. It was precisely the fresh start I was seeking.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

I returned to the apartment and had just been there for half an hour when Matthew called. As soon as I picked up the phone, his furious roar nearly pierced my eardrums. "Emma, you're so vicious! Sophie swallowed the key that was inside the chocolate. She's in the ER right now! "You were aware that something was hidden within, yet you chose to remain silent. This was your intention all along, wasn't it? How could you be so heartless over a mere patent and a promotion?" I held my phone tightly, and my chest felt heavy. Previously, other women had also attempted to get close to Matthew. However, he consistently set boundaries. Sometimes, he even fired them immediately. Yet, everything took a turn a year ago when Sophie joined the company. Despite her clumsy tricks, he chose to overlook each one. Whenever I pointed out her inappropriate behavior, he accused me of being petty and narrow-minded. He always took her side. And now, it was the same story. She was the one who got greedy and ate it, but somehow, I was the one being accused of a deliberate setup. I took a deep breath, trying to explain. "I never meant to hurt anyone. The key was—" "That's enough, Emma! Stop making excuses. Get to the hospital and apologize to Sophie now!" Matthew cut me off harshly and barked out the order. I bit down on my lower lip, trembling from head to toe. Sophie's frail voice came through the line. "Matthew, don't blame Emma because of me. She was probably just joking. Please don't be mad at her." Matthew snorted. "It's all her fault you had to go through this. The whole celebration we planned for tonight is ruined!" Then he turned his words back to me. "I'll be staying at the hospital with Sophie for the next few days. Don't contact me unless it's important." As the call concluded, I couldn't help but let out a wry smile. During Matthew's absence over the past few days, I took the opportunity to gather and pack all my belongings from the apartment. I threw his gifts in garbage bags and removed the wedding photo from the wall. On the nightstand rested a pair of ceramic bears. They were souvenirs from our honeymoon. Matthew had chosen them in Vastrel. He once claimed they represented the eternal nature of our love. How ironic those words seemed in hindsight. I smashed one of the bears against the floor, and the pieces scattered, just like our ten-year marriage. It was shattered beyond repair. The day before I moved out, I took the divorce papers to the hospital to see Matthew. Just as I reached the door of the ward, Sophie spotted me. She gave me a smug, provocative smile and deliberately pulled Matthew close. She started acting affectionate with him on the bed. I ignored it, knocked on the door, and walked in. Without a word, I placed the documents in front of him. "Sign it. Let's both be free." Matthew's cheeks flushed as he stared at me in shock. "What do you mean? Divorce?" He snatched up the papers and tore them to shreds. "Emma, stop being ridiculous! I've told you many times that nothing is going on between me and Sophie. "And with another new product launching next month, do you have any idea what a divorce right now could do to the company's stock?" I glared at him coldly. "I don't care. I'll go through legal channels." Matthew's face twisted with rage. He was on the verge of erupting. Yet, Sophie swiftly stepped in front of him, only adding fuel to the fire. "Matthew, she's actually using the divorce to threaten you. You can't give in to her. If you do, she'll only push further next time." Seeing the smug triumph in her eyes, I finally lost control and shoved her aside. "This is our marriage. It's none of your business." Sophie hit the bed rail with a cry of pain and immediately turned to Matthew for help. I expected the usual reprimand, but to my surprise, he shouted at her instead, "How dare you talk to her like that? Apologize!" Tears filled Sophie's eyes in an instant. She whispered a quiet apology before running out of the room. Matthew didn't go after her. Instead, he came home with me.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Matthew drove me home in silence. The rain outside grew heavier, and he kept checking his phone. He looked like he wanted to say something, but held back. When he picked up his phone for the fifth time, the custom ringtone rang. He answered it immediately. His voice was laced with tension. "Sophie, where are you?" A second later, his expression changed dramatically, and his voice shook. "Don't do anything stupid. I'm coming right now!" He hung up and slammed on the brakes, pulling over to the side of the road. He said anxiously, "Sophie is on the hospital rooftop. She said she's going to jump! I have to get there now! Call a cab to get home. Don't wait for me tonight." With that, he flung the door open and urged me out of the car. I stood in the pouring rain as he drove off without a backward glance. The rain quickly soaked through my clothes, and I started shivering from the cold. Suddenly, I remembered our winter as newlyweds when I had the flu and a high fever that wouldn't break. It was also pouring outside, but Matthew rushed into the rain to buy me medicine. Now, he left me in the rain without hesitation. It seemed that love truly had an expiration date, and even the strongest promises could wither away. By the time I reached home, my fever was so high that I could barely think straight. However, I managed to take some medicine before falling into a deep sleep. In a daze, I felt someone climb into bed and wrap their arms around me. I jolted awake. It was Matthew. He had come back. I thought he'd be with Sophie all night. I didn't expect him to return so soon. He touched my forehead gently and asked, "You have a fever? Did you take your medicine?" I nodded silently. Matthew pulled me closer and said softly, "Honey, Sophie's still young. She can be a little impulsive sometimes. I've talked to her about it, so don't take it to heart. "I'll make it up to you for our tenth anniversary. I've already booked the flights and hotel for Praxen. We'll leave right after work tomorrow, okay? "Remember? You've always wanted to see Crystalhaven Falls… and make a wish down at Sunveil Ridge…" In the darkness, I couldn't see his expression. Just as I was drifting off again, his phone buzzed. Matthew quietly picked it up, and the screen lit up just enough for me to see. It was a photo from Sophie. She was wearing a red dress and standing in front of Sunveil Ridge. She was beaming. "Matthew, the night view in Praxen is stunning! Too bad you're not here yet. Didn't you promise to celebrate our one-month anniversary at that restaurant on Willowmere Lane?" He quickly left the room. A moment later, I received a text. "Honey, something urgent came up at work. I'll come get you as soon as I'm done tomorrow." I shut my eyes, allowing the tears to stream down my face. Praxen was the destination we vowed to explore on our honeymoon. It had been postponed time and again, and a decade had passed in the blink of an eye. Now, another woman had left her mark there. ... Matthew pushed open the front door. The house was pitch dark. "Emma?" he called out, flipping on the lights. "Emma, are you here?" The living room was silent, the only sound being the ticking of the clock on the wall. He rushed into the bedroom, where the bed lay perfectly made and untouched. Something was wrong. He then rushed into the walk-in closet. Emma's suitcase was gone. The wardrobe doors were flung wide open, revealing that half of the clothes were gone. On the vanity, her favorite set of makeup had vanished too. His heart clenched. It felt as if someone had grabbed it and squeezed hard. "Emma!" he shouted, frantically searching every corner of the house—the bathroom, the study, the kitchen. Yet, no one was there. He nervously pulled out his phone and called her number. The line rang for a long time, but there was no answer. He tried again, but still no response. "Damn it!" he punched the wall, and cuts bloomed across his knuckles instantly. Then he began texting frantically. "Emma, where are you?""Pick up the phone!""Are you out of your mind? Where are you going in the middle of the night?""Come back. Let's talk this through.""Is this about Sophie? There's nothing going on between us, I swear!""I'm begging you. Please don't just walk away like this!""Emma!"