In the seventh year of marriage, I found a torn pair of black stockings under the passenger seat of my lawyer husband's car. That night I threw them in front of Lucas Sterling, he looked up from the case file, tone flat. "Don't make a scene, this is case evidence." Quarrel, slamming doors, leaving home, I thought this time could exchange for his bowing down. But during the three months of cold war, he cut off my cards, sent messages in a calm lawyer tone. [According to the law, after two years of separation, I can sue for divorce and let you leave with nothing. Stella, you have no chips.] I was forced to drag my luggage home, he sat in the old place, voice without fluctuation. "I hope this is your last time making trouble." I nodded quietly, put on an apron, walked into the kitchen. A week later, he won a sensational divorce case in the city. At the Victory Party, full of compliments. "Lucas won this case beautifully, the opponent was a housewife, didn't get a penny more." "detached from society for so long, no financial ability, the woman still delusional about child custody, ridiculous." Lucas pinched his brow center, careless. "Law stresses evidence, she said husband cheated, but couldn't produce evidence, full of lies, I can't bear child following such a mother." "Most important in marriage is, know the big picture, understand propriety, know when to advance and retreat, pity she doesn't understand." His assistant Jasmine smilingly asked me: "Sister-in-law, do you think Brother Lucas is right?" I didn't answer, just placed the fruit platter on the coffee table. Coming back this time, I am not compromising. Love will extinguish, vows will rot. But the hand collecting evidence cannot shake. Chapter 1 Jasmine wore a champagne-colored fishtail dress. This dress, I looked very familiar. It was hidden by Lucas deep in the closet, in a beautifully packaged gift box. Wedding anniversary approaching, I thought this was the commemorative gift he prepared for me, full of expectation. Now it's worn on her. By the table, Jasmine's phone screen lit up. Background photo was her and Lucas making heart signs on a Ferris wheel. If before, Jasmine's such childish and shallow provocation, enough to make me lose control, go crazy. But at this moment, my expression calm, smilingly asked her: "Just graduated and anxious to intervene in other's marriage, do you think it's right?" Her smile froze on face, hand holding champagne glass, knuckles white. Lucas took off glasses, gaze fell on me, very gentle, but like a silent warning. "Stella, cake baked, didn't you say want to celebrate for us?" He can always master the situation at critical moments, like handling with ease in court. This calmness once fascinated me, now only feel cold. Jasmine like a peacock got protection, chin slightly raised, smiling. "If marriage already exists in name only, there is no saying of intervention right?" She naturally took the cake from my hand, distributed to everyone, as if she was the hostess of this house. "Brother Lucas is right, housewife should correct position, understand propriety. After all, housewife's biggest value, is making people worry-free." Cream piping exquisite, is Lucas favorite matcha flavor, I made all afternoon. And he was wiping off cream stained on Jasmine's lip edge, movement familiar and intimate. "How old already, eating like a child." Blush flashed across her cheek, coquettishly patted off his hand. "Sister-in-law, Brother Lucas just loves to worry, don't mind ah." Lucas's gaze swept over me, seeming to wait for something. A quarrel, a loss of composure, waiting for me to rush up separate them like before, declaring my status. But I just stood quietly, like watching a play irrelevant to me. Back then to get into same university as Lucas, I chose the most unpopular major in Northwestern. To chase him, I delivered breakfast non-stop, organized notes, on call anytime. Later he broke leg due to accident, I took care of him for half a year, finally begged him if could spend New Year with me. Cold winter snow night, New Year bell long lost echo, square empty, also didn't wait his figure. I stood in wind cold trembling, aggrieved and angry. Moment phone connected, I opened mouth want scold, tears fell first. "Lucas Sterling, you really hard to chase, I don't want chase you anymore." He panted, like running: "Turn back." Deep night curtain, street lights extinguished in turn, he fell full shoulder snow. "Sorry, car broke down." Lucas wrapped my frozen hands, wiped away my tears. "Stella, you said you would be more persistent than I imagined." "Don't cry, your tears are hot." After graduation, Lucas married me. Although he dealt with laws all day, didn't understand romance, but would remember all our anniversaries, give me surprises. Also in my period, midnight boiled Hot Chocolate for me, bought heating pads and pads. Married seven years, he rational calm, life step by step. He said he didn't like feeling out of control, I believed. In the end found out, was me simply didn't see him clear. This banquet, lasted until late night. I cleaning up mess in living room, drunk Lucas suddenly hugged me from behind. "Stella, why so quiet today?" I stopped movement in hand, broke free from his arms. "Lucas, when tearing her stockings in car, was it very exciting?" Chapter 2 Three months ago, I picked up a battle-damaged stocking in the car. I had a big fight with Lucas, he finally stopped saying evidence, admitted it was Jasmine's thing. He frowned, rubbing temples. "That was just an accident, Jasmine accidentally hooked it, she was embarrassed to say, wanted stuff in bag, accidentally fell in gap." How perfect explanation, lawyers always good at weaving logic lies. I questioned hoarsely, but like a punch hitting cotton. He helplessly said, "Stella, stop making trouble, going on like this no good for you." I dragged luggage left this home, he let me back, I didn't listen. So he cut my cards, let me have no cent to use. These three months, he didn't ask where I went, nor ask how I lived. Seeing me dig up old scores, Lucas more angry. "I transferred Jasmine to other group, bank card also unfrozen for you." "Stella, what else you want me do?" Necklace on his neck fell out, simple geometric pendant, men's style. Women's style worn on Jasmine neck. I once on his birthday, saw promo picture, couple style newest design, proposed want. That time he said, too tacky childish. Turns out, tacky not necklace, was me full of expectation back then. I raised eyes, not dodging meeting his sight. "What can I do? Ask you this necklace, is also so-called evidence?" He breath hitched, hand subconsciously hid necklace. His voice sank, "Must you grab these minor details not let go?" "A gift only, represents nothing, you mature point, don't always suspicious." I almost laughed out, chest blocked painful. "Lucas Sterling, I used eleven years time, prove to you I love you, can't leave you." "Now you use a necklace, a dress, prove how ridiculous I am." His face changed, didn't expect I would bluntly tear open appearance, still quibbling. "You stay home long term, emotion sensitive, easy think wild..." I step forward, forcing his gaze. "Who let me stay at home! Why would I stay at home!" He stepped back half step, Adam's apple rolled violently, all excuses blocked throat. Second year after marriage, I received that company offer letter I expected long, but deleted secretly by him. Long later saw in deleted emails, exactly time he persuaded me be housewife. That night he hugged me, voice gentle, "Stella, family needs you, those hard work outside, don't go." Interview I spent months preparing, resume modified countless times, all longing for future. Denied by his light sentence. Quarrel came fierce and desperate, I questioned him based on what decide my life. He first silence, then irritably threw off my hand printing offer letter. "Can you be realistic? With your qualification, even go is bottom layer, what development can have?" "Helping me manage rear at home, is biggest contribution!" During pulling, I lost center of gravity, abdomen hit hard on marble coffee table sharp corner. Dull pain instantly hit, followed by surging wet heat, floor full dazzling red. Face blood lost, hand busy feet messy calling ambulance, voice shaking not shape. In ambulance harsh siren sound, he tightly hugged me, repeating again and again. "Sorry, Stella, sorry, I not intentional." Operating room light on long time, doctor came out, expression heavy. He said, impact too fierce, loss irreversible, my hope want be mother later, minimal. Lucas guarded me three days three nights by sickbed, eye sockets deep, stubble messy. He held my hand, hot tears big drops smashed on back of my hand. "Sorry, I just don't want you leave me." "I afraid you go that city, then never come back, is me wrong." "I will use lifetime compensate you." After that, I bound in this home, every cent expense need report, every point value redefined. Chapter 3 Half year ago, he lost cases consecutively, I worried his emotion, specially made big table seafood. He entered door saw, face instantly sank. "Stella, you stayed home long, think money blown by wind?" "Do you know I earn money now, pressure how big?" I stiffened on spot, face burning hot, as if stripped naked in public. That dinner, we didn't move, like a silent trial. But later, I saw him buy limited edition watch for Jasmine, eyes not blink. Reason is, permanent staff gift. Buy car is, reward outstanding performance. Buy bag is, talk client need outfit. Every time has perfect flaw-less excuse, blocked me speechless. Until I unbearable accused him double standard, he sternly interrupted me, bottom of eyes undisguised sarcasm. "This home, these years, has a cent earned back by you?" "My money, I want how spend, still need ask you instruction?" That moment, last point spark in heart, thoroughly extinguished. Early morning, Lucas suit leather shoes, expression plain organizing files, as if last night noise, confrontation, all irrelevant small matters. He glanced at cups plates not cleaned in living room, slightly unnoticeable frown. "Find a hourly worker." He while adjusting cuff, while lightly said, "Money transferred you." Phone screen lit, two thousand dollars transfer notification, concise like sending away a not quite satisfied waiter. My voice hoarse, "Thanks." Lucas movement paused, seemed want say something, gaze fell on my red eyes. But finally, he just picked up briefcase, walked to door. "I will come back early today." Door closed, I looked at wedding photo on wall dazed, Loving him, just because he once was light in my life. Senior year high school, my parents divorced, no one wanted me. I like a ball kicked here there, me haven't eaten full meal for a week, because Lucas bicycle hit me. I just shameless extorted him a meal. He watched me wolf down three bowls noodles, frowning, somewhat disgusted said, "Stella, hungry then come find me." After that, he burdened my tuition, explained key questions for me. Absorbing light and warmth behind him, gradually became my instinct deep into bone marrow. Later countless times heart cold in marriage, I also used that time comfort myself. Persist a bit more, maybe can find back that boy explaining questions till late night for me. But this moment, standing in messy living room, I finally sober. I owed him, long paid back with interest. With my career, my health, my eleven years sincerity, and that unborn child. I contacted lawyer, also Lucas deadly enemy Leo. Sent all evidences over, inside has photo of Lucas and Jasmine at hotel entrance. In luxury store, his silhouette trying necklace for her, and ambiguous dialogue in dashcam. These days I recorded his speech about housewife no value. Finally I sent a sentence, "Sue ASAP." Chapter 4 I turned walked into guest room, dragged out luggage prepared long ago from closet. Just off elevator, bumped into Lucas and Jasmine. Lucas looked at me, looked luggage again, between brows all impatience. "What you want do again? I specially early off work back, just watch you leave home again?" What can I do? I just, finally learned how to leave. Jasmine voice inserted, carrying deliberate considerateness. "Brother Lucas, sister-in-law maybe mood bad again, you coax well, don't count with her." Lucas gaze fell on my two big suitcases, gently sighed. "Went out three months, other not learned, temper grew." I clenched fist, nails deeply pinched into palm, then I met his gaze, voice very light. "Lucas Sterling, do you still remember... today is what day?" He stunned, brows habitually frowned, bottom eyes all doubt. My heart by his blankness, pierced last bit self-deceiving bubble. Back then Lucas getting license, told me. "Eleven is smallest prime number, our first meeting also 11th, our license day also November 11th." "Later every year, I will accompany you spend." Eleven once running through our love start to end, endowed countless deep meanings. He forgot all. I extremely slight smiled. "Nothing, not important anymore." He still wanted say something, phone ringtone urgent rang. He went answer phone, I also planned leave. Jasmine however blocked my way. "I seen your marriage certificate. However today, he can't accompany you." "Because also eleven months anniversary me and him knew."
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "390509", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel