In the tenth year of my secret marriage, I handled the ninety-ninth girlfriend for him. The one-hundredth was me. When I decided to divorce, I handed the signed papers to Julian Sterling. He paused, then smirked. "Nora, even you use this trick to get my attention? We are different from the others." Ten years. He had said that too many times. Until three days ago, when I dealt with his ninety-ninth fling. She didn't look at the contract. Instead, she looked at me with pity. "I didn't expect the person by his side to still be you after all these years." "If he really loved you, how could he let you clean up his mess time and time again? Mrs. Sterling, you're not a wife. You're a glorified fixer." My heart clenched. At that moment, I realized this was a decade-long scam. Just as Julian threw a lavish gala to finally introduce me as his wife... He received my divorce papers. Julian, we will never meet again in this life. Chapter 1 When Julian walked into the walk-in closet, he naturally stood beside me in front of the mirror. "Nora, this one is tricky." His voice was low as he adjusted my shawl. "You have to meet her personally." I looked at his confident reflection and said nothing. This scenario had repeated countless times over ten years. Every time, I handled it to his satisfaction. I thought this time would be no exception. But when I saw the girl, I understood what "tricky" meant. She was different. A Chanel suit hugged her curves. A diamond ring sparkled on her finger. She smiled and pushed a cup of Blue Mountain coffee toward me—my usual order. "Miss Nora, ten years, and you're still cleaning up his mess." She wasn't like Julian's previous women. She knew exactly why I was there. She didn't cry or scream about not being able to live without him. I composed myself, sat opposite her, and put on my professional face. "I won't beat around the bush. Leave Julian Sterling. Name your price." "Shares, jewelry, or that castle in Europe..." She laughed suddenly, saying something completely unexpected. "I don't want anything." I looked at her firm eyes and smiled. "Julian doesn't love you. Otherwise, you wouldn't be seeing me. I'm the one he calls to get rid of you." She smiled elegantly. "Do you think no one but you can enter his heart?" "That's why none of his women stay as long as you." My knuckles turned white. Suddenly, I felt exhausted. "Is staying by his side a good thing?" I had asked myself this question too many times. I looked out the window, remembering the first time I caught Julian cheating. I smashed every porcelain vase in his study. Amidst the shards, I cried and asked him why. Julian flicked the ash from his cigarette, calm as ever. "Nora, you are the legitimate Mrs. Sterling. How many people beg for this title?" "Since you sit in this seat, you should know your place." He spoke like he was teaching a child. "Don't act like those cheap women, throwing tantrums in front of me." The light in my eyes went out. We were different. They only needed to sign a breakup contract. I needed to sign divorce papers. From that day on, I knew he chose to marry me secretly because I was sensible. Because I could handle the private matters he didn't want to face. I couldn't delude myself into thinking I was special just because I stayed longer. I pushed the document forward, business as usual. "Sign it. It's better for everyone." She signed quickly and pushed the blank check back to me, pity in her eyes. "Keep it. But remember, even if I sign, one day, Julian will make you bring me back personally." She stood up, her skirt swaying. "Don't believe me? Wait and see." I looked at her name. Nia. So we were both named similarly to Nora. No wonder she looked familiar. She looked like me at twenty. The me who loved Julian with all my heart. A familiar black SUV pulled up outside. Julian was here. But this time, I didn't rush out. I took another document from my bag and slowly signed my name. It was printed on the same paper, from the same printer as the ninety-nine breakup contracts before. Only this time, I wasn't asking a young girl to sign. I signed it myself. Julian, I don't want to be your fixer anymore. Chapter 2 I packed everything quietly, walked out the revolving door, and got into his car. The sweet perfume in the car was identical to Nia's. I rolled down the window, letting the wind rush in. The late autumn wind felt like dull knives on my face, but I felt no pain. Julian rested his eyes in the back seat, his tone lazy and intimate. "Done? As expected, no trouble you can't solve." I laughed low. After a long time, I looked at the café seat where I had sat for ten years. Then, I spoke softly, my voice devoid of emotion. "Julian, let's get a divorce." This was the first time in ten years I called him by his full name. Usually, I called him Julian. In public, Mr. Sterling. Since we were parting ways, I should be formal. He froze, then smiled, tapping his finger on the file. "Nora, stop it. The Gala is in three days. I plan to introduce you formally." His voice was full of indulgent confidence. "Is that sincere enough? We aren't like those flings." Actually, the first time Julian said he would make me public, I believed him. The second time, I hesitated. But love pushed me to keep hoping. I lost count of when I stopped believing him. I turned and met his beautiful eyes. Eyes I drowned in for ten years. No wonder so many girls fell for them. But this time, I just smiled. "I can't wait anymore. Ten years is too long." I placed the two copies of the divorce agreement on his lap. This time, I didn't look back. Pain shot through my ankle. I stumbled. My four-inch heels twisted, and I fell onto the cold ground. My tight cashmere dress restricted me, making it hard to get up. Rip. The hem tore. I hissed and kicked off the torture devices. Ten years. Julian said he liked elegance, so I learned deportment and wore heels everywhere. He liked clean hands, so I maintained my manicure while cooking for him. He liked my hair up, so I never wore it down. Ten years. 120 months. 3650 days. I swallowed my grievances, thinking I was the exception. The miracle who made the prodigal son return. I walked barefoot, memories flooding back. It was the darkest winter of my life. My father went bankrupt. Debt collectors blocked our door. Mom was in the hospital. Medical bills crushed me. I worked days, studied nights in the hospital hallway, thin as paper. The collectors found the hospital. They pushed me, demanding money, spitting in my face. That was when I met Julian. He stood before me in a tailored coat. "How much does she owe?" His aura silenced them. They named a figure. Julian didn't bargain. He gestured to his assistant. The assistant paid them off calmly. He shielded me. In that moment, the noise and despair were muted. I looked at his back like it was the only light in the dark. So when he said, "Nora, stay with me," I grabbed him like a lifeline. I stayed for ten years. I thought I found a safe harbor. I didn't know the storms of the next decade would come from him. A familiar voice interrupted me. "I knew you were here." I turned. Julian stood under the streetlight. He didn't speak. He picked me up and grabbed my shoes. I froze, forgetting to struggle. "We are divorced." I whispered, reminding him, or myself. "I know." He put me in the car. "But you are still my employee. I need you to handle something." "Nia is pregnant. Two months. The breakup contract is void." As the engine started, he added, like ordering a secretary. "Prepare a room. Pick her up next week." I stared at the city lights blurring past. When sadness hits its peak, you lose your voice. Pressure crushed my chest. Breathing was hard. He never took anyone to the penthouse by the river. He said that was our home. My nails dug into my palm. I remembered being pregnant at twenty-five. Shaking holding the test. He glanced at it and said, "Get rid of it." He said we weren't ready. It wasn't that he didn't like kids. He just didn't like my kids. Cold wind blew in. I closed my eyes. Nia was right. I really had to bring her back personally. Chapter 3 I drove Nia to the penthouse and rolled her luggage in. She stood by the sofa, touching a cushion, and said softly to Julian: "This color is too dark. Bad for the baby's eyes." Julian looked at her with a tenderness I hadn't seen in ten years. "Whatever you want. The designer will come tomorrow. Pick that lotus pink you like, okay?" When he turned to me, his face was cold business. "Note it down. Change the living room to light colors tomorrow." Nia leaned into him, smiling at me. A smile of victory. She tugged Julian's sleeve. "Julian, I'm thirsty." Before he spoke, I went to the kitchen. When I handed her the water, her fingers slipped. Scalding water splashed on my hand. The glass shattered. Pain seared my skin. Red marks appeared instantly. "Oops, sorry Sister." Her voice was light. "Slipped." Julian rushed over, frowning. He looked at the mess, then at me, accusingly. "Nora!" He shouted my name. "You were never this clumsy. What if you burned Nia? Can you afford the consequences?" I stared at his anger, feeling strange. In ten years, he was always gentle, detached. He never spoke to me like this. My hand burned. Blisters were forming. But he turned to check Nia's shoulder, asking if she was hurt. At that moment, the pain in my hand vanished. Only a chill remained in my heart. Nia ate grapes on the sofa, smiling. Sunlight hit her face. Warm. My hand was numb. My heart was dead. I called the maid to clean up and left that suffocating place. Back at the company, HR looked troubled. "Nora, for your level, Julian must sign the resignation personally." I nodded. "Call him." She dialed nervously. "Mr. Sterling, Nora wants..." "Give her whatever she wants." Julian interrupted impatiently. Nia's laughter was audible in the background. "But sir, we need your signature. Can you come in?" "Go to my office and get the stamp!" He was annoyed. "Just do what she says. Don't bother me." HR hung up and looked at me. "Nora, the Gala is tomorrow. Julian said he'd introduce his wife. Everyone is waiting." "It's a pity you're leaving now." I smiled bleakly. "Stamp it." The CEO's wife bought the earliest flight out tomorrow. Not just you, but Julian himself, will never see her again. Chapter 4 When I returned to pack, Julian came out of the study. He saw my bandaged hand and frowned. "When did you learn this bitter meat trick?" Seeing my suitcase, he looked nervous. "Where are you going?" "Business trip." I handed him the divorce papers disguised as a project contract. "Mr. Sterling, sign this." He took it, about to flip through. He was sharp. But Nia called from the garden, voice dripping with honey. "Julian! Look! A cat! Its eyes look just like the emeralds you gave me!" He paused, signed his name quickly, and handed it back. I had fed that cat for three years. He never noticed. He walked away, adding: "Be back before the Gala tomorrow. I'll introduce you formally." Before, I would have been ecstatic. Now, I put away the papers calmly. It was the most useless promise in the world. He noticed my lack of reaction and stopped. But Nia called again. He didn't look back. I watched him walk away to another person. And I let go of everything. The night of the Gala. Lights blazing. VIPs everywhere. Julian stood on stage, confident, in control. He scanned the crowd for me. His voice was solemn. "Today, I want to introduce my wife of ten years, Nora." The crowd gasped. "Nora the assistant? Mrs. Sterling?" "No wonder he never showed her! She was right there!" Applause and whispers. The spotlight searched the crowd but found nothing. Cheers faded. Silence fell. Julian's smile vanished. He signaled his assistant. Five minutes. Ten minutes... He checked his phone constantly. Calling. Only voicemail. He loosened his tie, sweating. He lost his composure. He roared at his assistant. "Where is she?! Go find her!" Three hours later, the assistant ran on stage with a file. "We couldn't find her. Only this on her desk. The divorce papers you signed."
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "390057", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel