In the third year of our arranged marriage, I discovered my husband, Julian, was keeping a young mistress. He cut his overseas meeting short and flew back overnight. "She won't affect your status as Mrs. Sterling. "So, don't touch her." The man who was usually unflappable now couldn't hide the anxiety in his eyes. Terrified that I would hurt the person at the tip of his heart. I nodded, said nothing, and turned to leave. Julian was used to being the heir to an empire. But I still wasn't used to being a socialite wife who danced with wolves. What suited me best was still the barren land ten thousand miles away. 1 Julian came back fast. 5 AM. I leaned against the sofa, my head throbbing. Leather shoes stopped in my line of sight. "She's already moved out." His voice was calm. I nodded. "Fast." Worthy of the decisive CEO Sterling. Able to comfort and settle his lover in one night, then come home to clean up the mess. I stood up, wanting to go back to my room for a nap. As we brushed past each other. He grabbed my forearm. "This was an accident. In the future, she won't affect your position as Mrs. Sterling. "So, Leah, don't touch her." His gentle tone carried a warning that couldn't be ignored. I looked down. Julian was still wearing our wedding band on his ring finger. The plain platinum band glinted in the dim light of the floor lamp. "Julian," I heard my own voice, "what is your relationship?" Asking it, I couldn't help but laugh at myself. A man hiding a young, beautiful girl in a villa for years... what else could it be? Before he could speak, I broke free from his grip. "It doesn't matter." I thought I maintained the dignity an adult should have. But I don't know what triggered Julian. "Leah Vance, you don't need to be like this." A layer of anger coated his eyes. "From the beginning, this was a business marriage. We each take what we need. "In this circle, who doesn't have women outside?" It felt like a silver needle piercing my heart. "Are you making excuses for yourself, or do you really think that?" I looked at him calmly. "Other wives might accept it, but I can't." 2 Discovering Bella was an accident. In a vacant villa in the Hamptons. She stood on the stairs in a white dress. When our eyes met, hers were panicked. "Leah... why are you here?" When my mom was alive, she often took me to see the students she sponsored. Bella was one of them. After Mom died, I went to the Middle East and never saw Bella again. I didn't expect our reunion to be like this. 3 Back in my room, I lay in bed. Unfortunately, I didn't sleep well. Gunshots, explosions, crying filled my dreams. I asked the Chief of Surgery to fill my schedule with operations, leaving no time to think about anything else. Just after finishing a night shift, I walked out of the hospital. I saw Julian's driver trotting over. "Ma'am, Mr. Sterling asked me to pick you up for the Old Master's birthday banquet." I remembered then. It was Julian's grandfather's birthday. I took a deep breath and sat in the back seat. No one else was inside, only two exquisitely wrapped gift boxes. Julian had prepared the gift and the dress I was to wear. I didn't take them. I asked the driver to detour, and I bought a gift myself. In my three years at the Sterling house, Old Master Sterling had always treated me sincerely. Before we parted ways, I should go see him. 4 The historic Sterling estate was brilliantly lit tonight. When I walked in, Julian's friends greeted me. "Sister-in-law, you're finally here. Our Julian is turning into a stone waiting for his wife tonight." In the past, they always joked like this. Making me think Julian was just cold by nature and bad at expressing himself, but had me in his heart. Until I saw Bella yesterday, I realized being loved was just my hallucination. Trust in his character was just my naivety. "If you don't want your mouth, sew it up." Julian's voice came from behind. Max laughed roguishly: "Clearly loves his wife to death but acts tough. Bro, be careful or you'll be chasing your wife in the crematorium later." Julian glanced at him, then at me, opening his mouth. I stepped away. Ignoring his changing expression. I didn't come to see him anyway. After seeing Old Master Sterling and giving my blessings. As I was leaving, I accidentally bumped into a waiter carrying red wine. I went upstairs to change. When I came out, voices came from the next room. "Leah knows about Bella? No wonder she looked bad just now." I stopped. "Did she make a scene?" "No." "Julian, what if Leah makes you cut ties with Bella?" Silence for a few seconds, then Julian's voice sounded. "Bella never asked for status. If Leah is smart, she should know her boundaries." Someone chimed in: "Tsk tsk, Julian, watching you care so much about Leah these past few years, I thought you really fell for her." Through the crack in the door, Julian's face was grim. "Just a marriage alliance." Someone agreed: "Bella went to war zones as a volunteer exchange student. Our Julian was a war correspondent there too. Someone like Leah, born with a silver spoon, can't resonate with Julian's soul like Bella can." "Exactly. With Leah's cold, aloof personality, I wouldn't want to get close even if she's beautiful. Bella is sweet and sensible." Max snorted coldly: "Ungrateful bastards. Last month when your mom was sick, Leah did the surgery herself." "She's a doctor, isn't that her job? Why are you defending her so much? If Julian divorces her, you marry her then." "Damn it!" Max raised his voice and grabbed the guy's collar. "Enough!" Julian shouted low. "Even if I don't love Leah Vance, she is still my wife. It's not your place to joke about her." I didn't want to listen anymore. I left the banquet. Those years rooted in the Middle East, the Vance family claimed I was studying abroad. So few knew about that experience. After all these years, I still disliked this glitzy vanity fair. I guess it's because Julian and I were never compatible to begin with. Separating now isn't a bad thing. Back home, I opened the back of a drawer. I took out the divorce agreement prepared before the marriage. I signed my name stroke by stroke, then put it back on top. On my phone video, Syria was engulfed in war, starving bodies everywhere. A little boy smiled bitterly at the camera: "Children here don't grow up." Julian was right. Who in this circle didn't have women outside? It's just that. He is used to being a wealthy heir now. But I'm not used to being a socialite wife. What suits me best is still the barren land ten thousand miles away.
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