After we'd made love for the 99th time, my husband brought up that meek intern. I laughed and teased, "Don't tell me you like her?" A flicker of panic crossed his eyes before he met my gaze. "That girl? She could never be as good in bed as you." But later, I walked in on them tangled together on our marriage bed. The intern's clothes were half-undone as she leaned against my husband. I didn't cry, didn't make a scene, didn't demand answers. I calmly burned the 99 ticket stubs from the international flights he'd taken for me. Then I flew to London and married my stepbrother, who had been secretly in love with me for years. Serena's POV Adrian Thorne pursued me for five whole years. From our home country all the way abroad, taking 99 international flights before I finally agreed to be with him. But in the fourth year of our marriage, Adrian suddenly became obsessed with an intern. The intern had an innocent look. Though her family was poor, her personality was extremely proud. Not only did she throw the roses he had air-shipped to her into the trash, she also publicly tore up the astronomically expensive check he handed her, declaring, "No matter how poor I am, I'll never be anyone's mistress!" If anyone else had made such a scene, Adrian would have turned cold long ago. But this time, not only was he not angry, he became even more obsessed, even more unable to control himself. He pursued that intern so openly that everyone knew about it, as if he'd forgotten he had a wife at home whom he'd worked so hard to marry. I once cried until my eyes were red and swollen, demanding to know. If he was so infatuated with Gianna Carson, what did all his promises to me mean? And he said carelessly, "Serena, she's different from all other women." "I've never seen a woman who doesn't cling to power or care about money. She's fresh and interesting." "I just want to see what it takes to make her let go of her pride and willingly let me conquer her." "Serena, I do love you. But life is long. It's normal for me to occasionally be interested in someone else. You need to give me some space." Adrian hurt me so deeply I wanted to die, yet I couldn't easily let go. So from then on, I stopped fighting and making scenes. Instead, I found the plane tickets he'd saved from when he pursued me. He once won my heart with 99 tickets. So I decided that every time he hurt me, I would burn one. When all 99 tickets were completely burned, that would be the day I left him for good. The second ticket burned on our wedding anniversary. He left me alone at the restaurant. He spent the whole night at the office, just to help that girl revise her proposal. The thirty-third ticket burned the day he left me curled up alone in the emergency room with stomach pain. He rushed off to pick up the girl who'd worked late. Just because she said, "It's raining and I can't get a ride." The seventy-ninth ticket burned the day he pulled my art exhibition from the gallery. I'd prepared it for half a year. He made room for that girl's project. He replaced my work with the intern's immature design sketches. The ninety-sixth ticket burned at our mutual friend's birthday party. Adrian and I attended the party together, but as soon as we arrived, we ran into Gianna Carson, who was working there as a server. Just because Gianna glanced at the ruby necklace around my neck, Adrian reached out, yanked it from my neck, and held it out to Gianna. "You seem to really like it. It's yours now." His voice was gentle. "This necklace would go perfectly with that black dress of yours." Everyone's eyes turned to me. Before I could react, Gianna pushed his hand away. "Mr. Thorne, I've told you. I will never accept pursuit from a married man, and I don't need your charity or gifts. Please respect me and return the necklace to Miss Wells." She turned her gaze to me. "Miss Wells, please control your husband and stop him from interfering with my work." With that, she took her tray and turned to leave. "Such a temper." Not only was Adrian not angry, he actually chuckled softly. "Since she doesn't want it, Serena, you keep it." He casually shoved the necklace at me. Before I could catch it, he abandoned the guests at the party and hurried after her. The necklace slipped through my fingers. The ruby worth hundreds of millions clattered to the floor. No one at the scene spoke. To ease the awkward atmosphere, someone came forward to pick up the ruby necklace and carefully handed it to me. "Serena, don't be upset. Adrian just wants some novelty." "Exactly. Men are all like that. They just want something new. Once the novelty wears off, he'll come back to the family." The others all agreed. I looked at that ruby necklace, my heart throbbing with sharp pain. This one-of-a-kind ruby necklace was a birthday gift Adrian had bought for me at auction for hundreds of millions the year we got married. At the time, I thought the necklace was too valuable, but he said, "As long as you like it, even if it's the stars in the sky, I'll pluck them down for you." And now, he'd so brazenly tried to give it to someone else, and when she refused, he tossed it back to me like some cheap trinket. Most ironic of all, the woman he couldn't have had the audacity to tell me, the legitimate wife, to control my own husband. My entire heart felt like it was being pierced by a thousand needles, over and over again. My face pale, I forced a smile at the person in front of me. "I don't want this necklace anymore. If you like it, keep it. If not, sell it or donate it." After that, I gave the prepared gift to tonight's guest of honor, wished them a happy birthday, and soon left the party under everyone's pitying or mocking gazes. Back at the villa, I opened the box on my vanity, took out a yellowed ticket stub, and lit it with my lighter. The ninety-sixth ticket was consumed by flames, becoming ash that would scatter with a breath. The light in my eyes also gradually extinguished. I thought that he only had three chances left. Three more times, and I would completely let go of him and leave him forever.
Serena's POV The next day, I woke to find Twitter flooded with news about Adrian and Gianna Carson. Someone had captured last night at the party. The image of him chasing closely after Gianna's retreating figure. Someone had photographed him. He was usually so high and mighty. Now he was half-crouching, half-kneeling before Gianna. He was personally changing her out of her high heels. And someone had posted a video. In the video, Gianna's foot seemed to be sprained. Adrian wanted to take her home, but she limped away, stubbornly refusing to get in his car. Adrian threw away his cigarette, strode over and scooped her up in his arms, ignoring her struggles and protests as he forcibly put her in his Maybach. Under this video, mutual friends of Adrian and mine were all sighing. "Looks like Adrian's serious this time. Pursuing an intern so publicly, willing to humble himself before her. I've never seen him like this." "I heard that for this intern, he now stays at the company all day, just circling around her. He didn't even pursue Serena like this, did he?" "Hey, you probably don't know yet. Last night he not only tried to give the necklace meant for Serena to this intern, he also chased after the intern right in front of Serena. If I were Serena, I'd be so embarrassed I'd want to crawl into a hole." "Damn, Adrian pursued Serena from our home country all the way abroad for five whole years! If he doesn't even care about Serena anymore, he must really be in love with this intern." Reading this, my fingers trembled, my heart constricted as if tightly bound by fine thread. Because of my own family background, I once never believed there was a man in this world who wouldn't change his heart. Until I met Adrian Thorne. Adrian fell in love with me at first sight and pursued me fiercely. Even when I rejected him again and again, he never gave up. Later, when I went abroad to study, he flew 99 times, crossing 12 time zones. For five whole years, from home to abroad, he proved his sincerity with time and action before I finally believed in his love and agreed to be with him. We went from campus to wedding. After marriage, we were very happy. Everyone said Adrian loved me deeply. Until the fourth year of marriage, when a new batch of interns joined the company. At a project presentation, Gianna Carson nervously gave wrong data. When questioned by executives, she blushed but still tried hard to explain. That look made him freeze. Later, he promoted her, wanting to transfer her to work beside him. But Gianna righteously refused. "Mr. Thorne, I hope to be recognized for my own abilities and efforts, not by relying on someone to take shortcuts." There was even a time at the company when Gianna said to me in front of Adrian, "Miss Wells, please remind Mr. Thorne not to give me special treatment anymore. It makes me very uncomfortable." That was the first time I experienced what humiliation felt like. And from then on, Adrian seemed to have discovered something novel, finding her extremely interesting. No matter how much I fought or made scenes, he never cared about my feelings again. He pursued Gianna openly and passionately, with an air of determination to win her. To this day, I still remember how happy he was when I finally agreed to be with him. On the day of our grand wedding, he solemnly promised me. "Serena, I swear I will only love you in this life. I will never betray you, never change my heart, and love you forever." At the time, I truly believed him. In the end, five years of pursuit, four years of marriage. His forever lasted only nine years combined. Outside, I suddenly heard a car pulling into the villa. I knew Adrian was home. I got up and left the bedroom, standing at the second-floor stairway landing. I saw Adrian carrying Gianna Carson into the villa. "Put me down! Let me go!" Gianna protested in his arms. "I can walk by myself!" Adrian looked down at her. "Your foot is injured. How can you walk yourself?" "That's my business. You don't need to worry about it!" "If I don't worry about you, who will? You're so stubborn." Though his words expressed dissatisfaction, Gianna wasn't struggling violently in his arms, and Adrian certainly wasn't going to put her down. Adrian instructed the housekeeper to prepare the guest bedroom while carrying Gianna upstairs. Looking up, his eyes met mine on the stairs.
Serena's POV Adrian's steps paused slightly. Gianna seemed to notice something too. She turned her head in his arms and saw me standing quietly at the top of the stairs. Her expression showed a hint of awkwardness, but she quickly resumed that cold, distant look and tried to struggle. "Mr. Thorne, put me down. I can walk myself." "Don't move." Adrian tightened his arms and continued walking up with her, stopping in front of me. He looked at me, his tone as calm as if stating the most ordinary matter. "Serena, Gianna's foot is injured. The hospital conditions aren't as good as home, so I brought her back. It's also more convenient to take care of her here. During this time, she'll stay here to recover." Gianna immediately chimed in, looking reluctant and proud. "Miss Wells, please don't misunderstand. I didn't want to come. He insisted on forcibly bringing me from the hospital. I'm being forced too." Adrian glanced down at her, a helpless yet indulgent smile appearing on his handsome face. "Yes, I forced you. Happy now?" Then he looked up at me. "Serena, Gianna is just temporarily staying here to recover. Don't hurt her." My gaze moved from Adrian's smiling face to Gianna Carson's innocent yet stubborn face in his arms, then slowly swept over the subtle atmosphere between them that outsiders couldn't penetrate. The place in my chest seemed to have gone numb from pain, or perhaps I'd long grown accustomed to this dull knife grinding into flesh. "I understand." I calmly withdrew my gaze, turned around, and walked back to the master bedroom. The door closed behind me, shutting out everything outside. I walked to the vanity, pulled open that delicate jewelry box, and took out a plane ticket and lighter. The lighter's flame leaped up, igniting the paper's corner, slowly burning another ticket to ash. The ninety-seventh. Two left. I looked at those ashes, my eyes empty, as if what burned along with them was what remained of my feelings for Adrian. Gianna was arranged to stay in the guest bedroom next door. I sat in the wicker chair on the master bedroom balcony, looking at the newly bloomed magnolias in the courtyard below. Suddenly, I saw several luxury shopping delivery vehicles pull into the villa one after another. Staff members got out carrying large and small shopping bags printed with various luxury brand logos. Those expensive clothes, bags, and shoes were continuously delivered to the guest bedroom. But before long, the sound of various items being thrown out came from the guest bedroom. I walked out the door and quietly watched the farce they were creating. "Adrian Thorne!" Gianna's voice carried obvious anger and the humiliation of being offended. "I told you I won't accept anything from you! Take all of this away!" "Alright, alright." I heard Adrian's voice. He was so patient. "Your foot is injured. Don't move around. These are all prepared for you. If you don't like these styles, I'll have them bring different ones." "I don't need them! Adrian Thorne, even though you forcibly brought me here, that doesn't mean I've accepted you, and it certainly doesn't mean I'll accept your gifts!" Adrian's voice held hidden helplessness. "You're staying here. You can't not have a change of clothes and daily necessities." "If you insist I stay here to recover, then please have someone bring my things over. I only want my own clothes and daily necessities. Otherwise, I'm leaving right now. Even if I have to crawl, I'll crawl back!" Her voice was stubborn and unyielding. If it were anyone else making such a fuss, Adrian would have been furious long ago. But facing Gianna, the indulgence in his eyes nearly overflowed as he compromised. "Fine. I'll personally go get your things. Satisfied? Rest well in your room. Don't wander around. If you need anything, call the servants in the villa." Only then did Gianna's expression soften, though her face remained cold. "Thank you for the trouble, Mr. Thorne." Adrian quickly went downstairs, actually going personally to fetch Gianna's things. I returned to the balcony and watched the Maybach drive away from the villa. I suddenly felt like laughing. Before, Adrian used to dote on me this extremely too. He could even drive 20 kilometers to a Michelin restaurant just because I had no appetite, personally buying my favorite cupcakes to coax me. Back then, I thought I would be his only one, the person for whom he could abandon all pride and status to love. But now, the person he abandoned his status to love had become another woman. I forcibly suppressed the emotions in my heart, then picked up my phone and dialed a number. "Attorney Hunter, please help me prepare a divorce agreement."
Serena's POV Putting away my phone, I pulled open the bedroom door and walked out. Passing by the guest bedroom, that half-open door was suddenly pulled open. Gianna, leaning on crutches and standing by the door, called out to me. "Miss Wells." I stopped. "Yes?" Gianna looked me over, her gaze sweeping across my plain yet haggard face. The corner of her mouth curved slightly, but quickly returned to a straight line. She lifted her chin. "Doesn't Mr. Thorne love you very much? I heard back then he pursued you so passionately, everyone knew about it. How is it that now, you can't even keep your own husband's heart?" My fingers at my sides curled slightly. "It's all because you can't control him that he's stuck to me like chewing gum, causing me endless trouble. Now I'm not only forced to stay in your villa, I can't even go to the office or do my part-time jobs." Gianna looked accusatory and complaining, but I could hear the superiority and mockery she couldn't hide. Suddenly, I smiled. "What are you laughing at?" Gianna frowned. "What's so funny?" I raised my eyes to look directly at her, that gaze seeming able to penetrate all her pretenses. "Miss Carson, do you really... not feel anything at all for Adrian?" A flash of panic quickly crossed Gianna's eyes, but it was only for an instant. Her brows furrowed tighter, her voice suddenly rising as if insulted and angry. "What nonsense are you talking about?! Of course not! Miss Wells, please don't make assumptions! I may be poor, I may not compare to you and Mr. Thorne's backgrounds, but even if I'm poor, I have self-respect and pride! I could never be attracted to someone who's already married!" She became more and more agitated as she spoke, as if greatly insulted. "You can't keep Mr. Thorne's heart yourself. Are you trying to blame me for seducing him now? Besides, I've refused his pursuit countless times. It's Mr. Thorne who insists on pestering me! Is that my fault too?" After hearing her out, I was genuinely curious. "Since you don't want to be pestered by him, why do you still stay at his company instead of leaving?" Gianna said righteously, "I got into Thorne Group through my own abilities and efforts in the interview. Why should I give up the career and future I worked hard for because of Mr. Thorne's personal behavior?" "True." I nodded, completely agreeing with that statement. "You indeed have no reason to give up your career to avoid his pestering. However..." I suddenly changed tack. "If you truly felt nothing for him, why would you frequently take part-time jobs at his usual private clubs, high-end restaurants, and even private parties like the previous one?" Gianna's expression changed slightly, but she still insisted, "Miss Wells, those were all just coincidences. I'll say it again, I don't..." "Actually, admitting you have feelings for him isn't something shameful." I interrupted her, my tone unchanged. "After all, he's handsome, wealthy, has high status, and is willing to lower himself for you. Being attracted is understandable." Gianna opened her mouth to refute, but her throat seemed blocked by something. She was actually speechless. I smiled, though the smile didn't reach my eyes. "You really don't need to put on this proud act in front of me. I truly can't keep his heart, and I can't control him either. So if you like him, then just like him." After all, I would be leaving soon anyway. As my words fell, I turned and left without looking at Gianna's expression. I went out and picked up the drafted divorce agreement from the lawyer. I stayed out until evening before returning to the villa. Just stepping through the villa entrance, I immediately saw Adrian sitting on the living room sofa with a dark expression. I frowned and walked over, wanting to hand him the divorce agreement to sign. But he raised his cold eyes and asked me first, in an icy tone, "What did you say to Gianna?"
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