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