At thirty, I did something incredibly stupid. I kidnapped the young mistress Caleb Vance was keeping, trying to win back his heart. When he found out, he didn't hesitate. In just a few days, he bankrupted my family’s company. My father’s life’s work was destroyed, his hair turning white overnight. My mother nearly went blind from crying. Now, Caleb was threatening to make my father kneel and beg for forgiveness, using his humiliation to force me to reveal the girl’s location. "Zoey, I spoiled you too much before. You don't know your place!" "Since you made a mistake, I'm going to teach you a lesson!" As soon as he finished speaking, his bodyguards grabbed my father’s head and slammed it hard against the floor. In that moment, my heart felt like it was being stabbed by a thousand needles. 1 "Caleb Vance! That’s my father! He’s your elder! You can’t do this!!!" The pain in my eyes was excruciating, my voice hoarse and desperate. We dated for four years, married for eight. We had been part of each other’s lives for twelve years. I never thought our hearts would drift so far apart, that our love would end like this. Caleb grabbed my chin, forcing my head up, and said with a dark expression, "Where did you hide Lily?!" I wanted to fight back, but I was surrounded by his men. I choked back a sob and closed my eyes in pain. My willfulness had already cost my parents the business they spent their lives building. I couldn't let them lose their dignity too. I bit my lower lip and met his gaze. "Let my parents go. Promise not to trouble them again, and I’ll tell you." Caleb waved his hand, signaling the bodyguards to release them. Just as I secretly breathed a sigh of relief, he suddenly grabbed my throat, slowly lifting me until my feet left the ground. Instantly, the feeling of suffocation spread through my body. I struggled instinctively, only to hear his cruel voice. "Zoey, did I give you too much respect?!" "Did you really think I’m that easy to talk to?" "I could find Lily in minutes. What right does someone like you have to negotiate with me?" "Crushing you is as simple as stepping on an ant, do you understand?" Fear and despair shrouded my heart. I stared at him intently, tears sliding unconsciously from the corners of my eyes. Even though I was terrified, I still managed to speak with difficulty: "Even so, you can't hurt my parents!" "They are my family!" Hearing this, Caleb looked triggered, his face turning completely dark. The strength in his hand increased, as if he were going to strangle me the next second. But just as I was about to black out, Caleb let go. I gasped for air, my body trembling violently from extreme fear. In that fleeting moment, all my past with him flashed through my mind. Those loving memories intertwined, finally turning into a blade that pierced my heart. I couldn't control it anymore and burst into tears. For the sudden death of love, for the hopeless marriage. And even more, for the loss of dignity in trying to save it all. Caleb stared at me coldly, radiating a violent aura. He stepped forward, roughly lifting my chin to make me look at him. "Tell me, where did you hide Lily?!" His tone was fierce, as if cruel punishment awaited me if I didn't speak in the next second. "The countryside. She's in the countryside." In an instant, his anger turned to joy, and he swiftly left with his group. I knew. From this moment on, he was no longer my husband. No matter how much I loved him, I had to root him out of my heart. Even if it cost me half my life, I wouldn't hesitate. 2 "Zoey, are you okay?" Mom hugged me tightly, her voice trembling with tears. I shook my head, sobbing and apologizing in self-reproach, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Mom, Dad. If it weren't for me, the family wouldn't be like this, you wouldn't have..." Dad held Mom and me in his arms, his aged voice choking up. "It’s not your fault. Our Zoey has suffered too." I wiped my tears, my tone filled with determination. "Mom, Dad, I want to divorce Caleb." "Okay. Nothing is more important than your happiness." ... Caleb and I fell in love in college. I fell for him at first sight. It took a long time of persistent pursuit to win him over. We got married right after graduation. Only after impulsively getting the marriage license did I learn his true identity. The eldest young master of the Vance family. He never said anything, so I always thought he was just a handsome, ordinary guy. After all, what rich young master would dress so plainly, even a bit shabbily? Later, he explained to me, "I was afraid people would date me for my money, not for me." I foolishly rejoiced that I valued his looks. But I forgot to ask him what he liked about me. Nor did I expect that when I discovered he was keeping a mistress, he would point at me and say: "Zoey, why are you making a scene?" "You're a thirty-year-old woman. How can you compare to a girl in her early twenties?" "You're not as young, not as pretty, and your body isn't as good as theirs." "If I don't play with them, should I play with you?" I felt like I was in an ice cave. He seemed to have forgotten. He was the one who begged me with red eyes to love him a little more. He was the one who said: "Zoey, my parents never taught me how to love someone." "I don't understand love. Please teach me how to love." "I want to love you properly." He also said: "Zoey, my values were ruined by my parents long ago." "Only you made me understand what love is." Because of his parents, Caleb was extremely insecure. I told him I loved him over and over again in his ear. But he still sought confirmation of my love time and time again. I was a broad-minded person, tolerating him every time. I held him in my arms with heartache until he fell asleep quietly. I thought we would grow old together without separating. But his sudden keeping of a mistress caught me off guard. Lily was 20, still a junior in college. The first time I saw her was probably six months ago. Caleb was taken to the police station for fighting. I went to bail him out. He was full of hostility, which dissipated the moment he saw me. He followed me obediently, handling everything. Before leaving, a girl in a bar uniform rushed up and thanked Caleb profusely: "Sir, if I hadn't met you today, I really don't know what would have happened. Thank you." "If I have the chance, I will definitely repay you." I was stunned and looked at Caleb with confusion in my eyes. He looked impatient. "Just get another job." The girl looked troubled. "I... I can't, this job pays more..." Caleb looked at her with a playful smile. "Is that so?" That girl was Lily. That day, I was puzzled why Caleb would suddenly help a stranger. He explained, "Seeing her reminded me of you at 20, so I helped." I didn't think much of it. Until Caleb unscrupulously took her to various banquets, openly embracing and kissing her. Only then did I suddenly understand the meaning of his playful smile at Lily that day. He had his eye on Lily back then. I cried, I fought. Finally, all I got was his sentence: "Zoey, what are you fussing about? When you were twenty, didn't I love you just as much?" In that moment, I understood Caleb's love. He only loved girls in their twenties, and I was no longer in that stage. I wanted a divorce immediately. But coincidentally, Caleb and I had been trying to conceive for years without success, yet I found out I was pregnant right after discovering his affair. I thought for the sake of the child, for our twelve years of feelings, I would give him one more chance. As long as he was willing to come back to me, I would forgive him. So, I found a few people to send Lily to the countryside to hide her. The result was clear. For her, Caleb destroyed my father's life's work. Even humiliating my parents for her. Twelve years of feelings, he showed no mercy. I lost completely. 3 Based on Lily's love for sharing, I saw her updates on Instagram. [The person I love came to save me on a white horse~~~] I added her just to try, but I didn't expect her to accept. I smiled bitterly. Taking advantage of this gap, I looked for a lawyer to negotiate the divorce. But when they heard the name Caleb Vance, no one was willing to take the case. I knew they didn't dare offend the Vance family, so naturally, they didn't dare take my case. I was once an outstanding graduate of a well-known university. But after getting married, people around me said it was surprising the Vance family allowed Caleb to marry the daughter of a small company owner. I knew Caleb put in a lot of effort for this. His back still bore the scars of the family discipline whip from when he stubbornly insisted on marrying me. The side branches of the Vance family watched hungrily. To snatch business, Caleb often worked all night until dawn back then. He also constantly ran back and forth domestically and internationally, even vomiting blood and fainting from exhaustion once. My heart ached terribly, but I was powerless. I could only restrain my temper and try hard to be a good Mrs. Vance. Spending all day socializing with wealthy wives to build relationships or listening for useful news from them. Now wanting to find help, I didn't know who to turn to. However, given how much Caleb doted on Lily, divorce should be easy. I went home and took inventory of my things. I packed some frequently worn clothes, my ID, and passport. I didn't take anything else. Wait quietly for Caleb to return. Maybe because of the pregnancy, I fell asleep while waiting. Until I woke up hungry, opening my eyes abruptly. The room was pitch black. Dazed, I heard the maid calling me for dinner. After eating and drinking my fill, I realized Caleb hadn't returned yet. I opened Lily's Instagram, and what came into view was— Caleb dragging a suitcase with one hand and holding her hand with the other. She said happily: [Going on a trip!] Knowing Caleb wouldn't be back for a while. I went to the hospital the next day to abort the child. Since the feelings were broken, there was really no need for me to keep Caleb's child. Anyway, as long as he was willing, plenty of women would give birth for him. Signing alone, undergoing the abortion surgery alone. It was done quickly. By the time I recovered, they were coming back. I specifically put on makeup and drove to pick them up. Thanks to Lily's desire to share. I got hold of her and Caleb's entire itinerary. They went bungee jumping, saw the aurora, and went skydiving. Sure enough, being with young people is different. People seem to become younger. Things he dared not do before, he did now. When Caleb came out, his expression was bland. Lily held his arm, her mouth chattering non-stop. Her steps were light, a bright smile on her face. "Caleb, let's go again next time, okay? On your birthday. This is the first time I've spent it with you since we got together..." "Caleb Vance!" I raised my right hand and waved at him, shouting loudly. Lily seemed not to hear, continuing to chatter. Caleb paused, his brows slowly furrowing. He shielded Lily behind him. In that instant, I felt like I was some kind of monster. But I should be the one afraid of him. After all, half a month ago, he almost strangled me for this woman. My memory is still fresh. Facing me, Lily was still panicked. She stood timidly behind Caleb, shrinking like an ostrich. "What are you doing here?" Caleb's tone was extremely nasty. I smiled faintly and said, "Here to pick you up!" He frowned tightly and stared at me. "What tricks are you trying to play again?" 4 I spread my hands: "What can I do?" "You bankrupted my family for her; do I dare do anything else?" Caleb didn't speak, pulling Lily to leave. He showed with his actions that he didn't believe my words. I laughed at myself. Then my voice slowly sounded. "No one will come to pick you up, and it's hard to get a taxi." Caleb gave me a fierce look, then followed me to the underground parking lot. Caleb subconsciously opened the passenger door, wanting to get in. I stopped him. "Sit in the back. Do you want to ignore your beloved mistress?" He looked at me, expression indifferent, the surrounding chill gradually rising. He sneered, slammed the car door shut, and got into the back seat. The atmosphere in the car dropped to freezing point; only the sound of our breathing remained. I broke the silence first. "Ms. Lily, I have important matters to discuss with Caleb. Will you join us, or should I drop you off at school first?" Suddenly named, Lily looked at Caleb helplessly. She gripped the corner of his clothes, "I... I..." Caleb suddenly spoke up: "What exactly do you want?" Through the rearview mirror, I glanced at him. His expression was already very impatient. He was angry. Maybe because Lily was there, he was trying hard to suppress his temper. Back when he loved me, he didn't dare lose his temper with me at all. Six months, and things have changed completely. The sadder I felt, the happier my smile became. The smile on my face gradually widened. "What is Ms. Lily's major?" "Art Appreciation!" I was a little surprised: "What a coincidence, that was my major too." "I remember a classmate of mine stayed at the school to teach. I wonder if you know her?" I said a name. Lily's face instantly went pale, her voice weak: "She is... is... my counselor." I laughed out loud: "That really is a coincidence." Lily secretly nudged Caleb, biting her lower lip, looking at him hesitantly. She looked pitiful, as if I had just bullied her. Caleb said in a deep voice: "Zoey, believe it or not, I'll make her get out of the school and never let her be a teacher again in this life?!" I retracted the smile on my face: "I believe it." "Just asking, why so scared?" He narrowed his eyes, enunciating each word: "What exactly do you want to do?!" "Disgust you guys!" He glanced at me disdainfully and stopped talking. My breath hitched, and I unconsciously gripped the steering wheel tighter. After hesitating for a while, I said in a deep voice: "I want a divorce. Let's divorce." Hearing this, Caleb raised his eyebrows. He crossed his legs, his meaningful gaze meeting mine through the rearview mirror. "Zoey, who said I want to divorce you?" "As long as you behave, don't hinder me, and don't do anything outrageous, Caleb Vance's wife will only be you." "Your status as the wealthy Mrs. Vance won't be shaken by anyone!" Hearing this, I was stunned. I braked urgently and stopped by the roadside, looking at him in disbelief. "Caleb, what do you take me for?" He shifted, changing to a comfortable position, and spat out indifferently: "Don't look at me like that. Didn't you pester me back then because you knew my identity?" "In the years you've been married to me, who hasn't given face to your family? Don't you know how much your father's business has risen?" My mind went blank. So he always thought so? Then for the past twelve years, his deep professions of love, dating me, marrying me, maintaining the marriage—was it all acting? Reason stopped me from questioning him. Because there was no need anymore. I just felt a little surprised, a little ridiculous. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, eyes like frost, tone devoid of emotion, "Get out!" Lily looked at the deserted place, saying timidly: "Ms... Ms. Zoey, Caleb is still here, you can't..." I didn't have the heart to listen to her chatter, and shouted again sternly: "Get out!" Caleb's mouth pulled into a cold sneer, "If anyone's getting out, it's you!" I don't know why, but right now I wasn't afraid of him at all. Meeting his gaze, I said, "If you don't get out, then let's die together!" I stared him down, deadlocked. Lily looked at Caleb in panic. Seeing him looking at me, she clenched her hands. Perhaps frightened by my serious expression, Caleb compromised. Before getting out of the car, he smiled coldly: "Zoey, good for you!" "You really need to be taught a lesson!" "You're dead when you get back!" Seeing them get out of the car with dark faces, I slammed on the gas and rushed out. Go back? Like hell I'm going back! I immediately drove to pick up my parents and bought the soonest flight abroad. Fortunately, I had the foresight to be ready to run at any time. I left the packed luggage at my parents' house in advance. Luckily, my dad also planned ahead, knowing that after offending the Vance family, we couldn't stay in the country and had to go abroad to survive. We left immediately, without dragging our feet. When Caleb called me, I snapped the SIM card, threw it in the trash, and boarded the plane.
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