At my welcome-back dinner, I pushed open the door to the VIP lounge, only to see Ethan Carter with a young girl sitting on his lap. Her sparkling eyes met my cold glare. She immediately looked down, but one of her hands remained wrapped tightly around Ethan’s neck. "Ethan, is this the legendary goddess you always talk about?" "Wow, even her wrinkles look so... distinguished! She looks great for her age." The moment the words left her mouth, the room went dead silent. I was the first to break the silence. "So, Ethan. You're getting up there in age, and now you’re starting to keep a sugar baby?" I walked straight over and sat down. The girl immediately snapped back, "That’s not the same! Ethan is mature!" "And—and I’m not some sugar baby. Ethan and I are in a real relationship!" I let out a cold laugh and sat directly across from Ethan. Our friends at the table quickly tried to diffuse the tension. "Hey, Vivian is finally back! Let’s get the drinks rolling!" "I heard Vivian absolutely crushed it overseas this time. You bagged the contract with the Preston Group! That’s insane, Vivian!" The atmosphere was finally warming up, but of course, the girl had to open her mouth again. "Wow, Vivian, you're so amazing. Unlike me... I’m so clueless. I’ve never even been out of the country." "I’ve heard that powerful career women who dominate boardroom negotiations always have their... special methods." "Your methods must be so advanced." As she spoke, she leaned closer into Ethan’s chest, her eyes turning red. "Unlike me. I'm so stupid. I even lost that major client for you last time, Ethan." Hearing this, everyone at the table exchanged awkward glances, their eyes darting between Ethan and me. I frowned. "What client?" While I was abroad, my assistant mentioned that one of Ethan’s long-term clients had abruptly ended their contract. At the time, I was too busy with my own negotiations to ask. Now, the red flags were waving. Ethan held her hand and looked at me. "Just an old client. It’s fine." "Vivian, Chloe is just a newbie. Don't take it personally." With that, he stroked Chloe’s hair, stood up, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "You want to see the world? That’s easy. I’ll take you abroad. We’ll leave right now!" Ignoring my reaction completely, Ethan pulled Chloe toward the door. Chloe’s face flushed with excitement. But when she looked back at me, her face held a smug, mocking smirk. "But... forget it. Vivian will be angry." "I won't be angry," I interrupted, staring directly at Ethan. "We’re getting a divorce. You can play with her for as long as you want, wherever you want!" Ethan scoffed. "Vivian, this dramatic act doesn't suit you." "Divorce me? You signed a prenup. You’ll walk away with absolutely nothing. Are you really willing to lose all this?" He let out a cold grunt, pulled Chloe, and walked out. Seeing them leave, the rest of the guests made quick excuses to slip away one by one. The celebration dinner meant for me was suddenly completely empty. I looked at the food on the table and forced myself to take bite after bite. Until finally, my stomach turned. I rushed to the restroom and threw up everything. Wiping my mouth, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I pulled out my phone and texted my lawyer, telling him to draft the divorce papers immediately. When Ethan and I got married, his mother looked down on my middle-class background and forced me to sign a strict prenuptial agreement. If we divorced, I would get nothing. How hilarious. Did Ethan really think I married him for his money? He was the one who proposed to me. I never cared about his family wealth. Ethan’s threat of cutting me off financially was useless from the very beginning. I walked out of the restaurant. The cold night air made my head spin, but I forced myself to drive back to the villa. I hadn't been back for three months, and the house was suddenly filled with things that didn’t belong to me. Tacky cartoon dishware in the kitchen, baby-pink curtains in the living room... every single item screamed cheap taste. The maid saw me and gasped in terror. "Mrs. Carter! You're back!" "Yes." I walked straight upstairs. The maid hesitated, looking like she wanted to say something. "Mrs. Carter..." I turned to look at her. After a few seconds of silence, she finally spoke. "Mr. Carter... he brought that girl here. They stayed in the master bedroom." My head spun instantly. Once I regained my balance, I stormed into the master bedroom. The sight made my blood run cold. My minimalist decor was completely gone. Chloe's cheap cartoon pillows lay right on the center of the bed. Her clothes were hanging inside my closet. And everything that belonged to me had vanished. No wonder she was so bold tonight. She had already moved herself in. I slid my wedding ring off my finger and packed my remaining things. There wasn't much to take anyway. I sent the draft of the divorce agreement to Ethan's Snapchat, dragged my suitcase, and left without looking back.
For five days straight, Ethan didn't reply to my messages. Finally, I couldn't wait any longer and went to look for him. With the Preston Group contract officially signed, my own company’s operations had stabilized. It was time to settle things with him. But before that, I made a quick stop at the hospital. Ethan and I had been married for five years without kids. We did annual checkups. The results had always been disappointing. Ethan was the one with fertility issues, so no matter how hard I tried, it was useless. But to protect his fragile ego, I never exposed him. He never brought it up either, always claiming his tests were perfect. Because of our lack of children, my mother-in-law had given me endless grief and dirty looks over the years. But today's test results shocked me. Ethan had actually recovered. Half an hour later, I sat on a bench outside the hospital, the doctor's words echoing in my ears. "Mr. Carter fully recovered six months ago. A month ago, he brought a young girl here for a full prenatal screening." "You're his assistant, right? You should expect some good news from them very soon." I felt a sudden wave of disgust wash over me. Ethan had gone behind my back to have a baby, making it seem like I was the barren one! For five years, he stood by and watched his mother humiliate me, and when he finally got cured, he didn't tell me. Instead, he found someone else to knock up! My decision to leave him was the best choice I had ever made. I crumpled the test results into a ball, threw them into the trash can, and headed to his company dressed in my best power suit. When I arrived at the office, I could hear loud laughter coming from the open workspace from down the hall. Someone even mentioned my name. I slowed my pace and listened. "Mr. Carter is so generous! He took you all the way to Hokkaido, and he even got you that massive diamond ring! Vivian never got a rock that big!" "Really? I don't know much about those things," Chloe giggled, her voice dripping with fake innocence. "I just know Ethan said I deserve the absolute best, and he’ll give me whatever I want!" Chloe was admiring the diamond ring on her finger, a smug grin plastered across her face. The staff members were crowded around her, kissing her ass. In the months I was away, she had clearly made herself the queen of the office. Everyone was so busy flattering her that no one noticed me walking in. It wasn't until I stood right in front of her that Chloe’s smile froze. But she quickly recovered, flashing me a triumphant smirk. "Vivian! You're here. Look what Ethan got me. Isn't it gorgeous?" She held her hand up, flaunting the massive diamond right in my face. I raised an eyebrow. "It’s nice. I saw this design when I was in Paris. It’s worth about $400,000. But you owe me $200,000." "What do you mean?" "You're a side chick spending marital assets. Legally, half of that belongs to me. Pay up." "Vivian, you must have forgotten," Chloe mocked, looking at me condescendingly. "You signed a prenup. None of Ethan's money is considered marital assets!" She laughed in my face. I remained calm. "Ah, thank you for reminding me. It really isn't marital property. However..." "However what?" She sneered. "Stop bluffing, Vivian. Ethan told me he's sick of an old woman like you. You couldn't even give him a child in five years. He’s been done with you!" "He said looking at your crow's feet every day makes him want to throw up. But I'm different. I can give him—" "Slap!" I delivered a hard slap right across her face, leaving her cheek instantly swollen and red. "You can give him a lot of things, but you will never take my place. Tell Ethan I’m waiting in the conference room. If he isn’t here in ten minutes, I’ll leak all of his company’s client databases to his competitors!" If he wanted a war, I’d give him one.
Hearing my threat, Ethan's assistant immediately rushed to find him. I gave Chloe a contemptuous look and walked straight into the conference room. Behind me, I could hear her sobbing and screaming, but none of the employees dared to help her now. A moment later, Ethan slammed the door open. His face was dark with rage. "What the hell is wrong with you, Vivian? Chloe is just a kid! It’s just a ring, why do you have to be so incredibly petty?" "I don't care about the ring, Ethan. But until our divorce is finalized, you better keep your little dog on a leash. If she barks at me again, don't blame me for what happens next!" With a sharp "clack", I tossed the divorce papers onto the table. "Sign it, or I'll make the leaks public. I don't think Carter Enterprises can survive the scandal of its CEO getting exposed like this." Ethan let out a dry laugh and sat across from me. "Vivian, trying to get my attention like this is just pathetic." I tapped my fingers on the table. "I don't have patience for this. Sign." Just then, Chloe came whimpering through the door, taking slow, dramatic steps. "Ethan... it's all my fault. I'm the reason you guys are divorcing." "Vivian, I'm so sorry. I'll leave. I'll never show my face in front of you two again." She sobbed, turning to run out. Ethan’s face fell, and he stood up to chase after her. I grabbed his arm firmly. "Ethan, sign the paper!" "Or I will post the proof of her being your side chick all over Instagram right now!" "Remember, I might not have the Carter family wealth, but you have plenty of enemies who would love to watch you fall!" Ethan gritted his teeth. Suddenly, a gasp echoed from the hallway outside. "Oh my god, Chloe!" Then came a loud scream. "Chloe just fell down the stairs!" Ethan violently shook off my hand and ran out. His precious side chick had tumbled down the stairs and was now clutching her leg, crying tears of agony. Ethan swept her up into his arms. The sheer panic and devotion on his face were clear for everyone to see. "Ethan, just let me go... everyone is calling me a homewrecker, I..." "Who dares! You are not a homewrecker. You are the love of my life!" I leaned against the conference room doorframe, holding up my phone to record their little melodrama. I smiled mockingly. "You two really are soulmates. I wonder how much the Carter Enterprises stock will drop once I post this touching video." Ethan glared at me, his veins popping. "Vivian!" "No need to yell, I can hear you perfectly." "Sign the papers, or prepare to lose everything." "You might think you're untouchable, but the life of a publicly exposed side chick won't be very fun." "I heard she goes to Trident University. Coincidentally, so did I. I have plenty of alumni contacts." I stared at Ethan. He knew me. He knew that once I decided to go all in, I wouldn't stop until I tore a piece of flesh right out of him. Chloe’s face turned deathly pale. "Vivian..." "Don't call my name. I'm an only child. My parents didn't raise a homewrecker." Chloe burst into fresh tears. "Ethan, put me down. I’ll go. I’ll just leave!" What a grade-A actress. Did Ethan really not see through her? Of course he did. He just chose to ignore it. I threw the papers onto his chest and pulled out my phone. "If you don't sign right now, I'm hitting send." Gritting his teeth, Ethan snatched the pen and violently scribbled his signature. He threw the pen at me in rage, the black ink splashing onto the hem of my white designer dress. "Vivian, you're going to regret this!" Ethan roared. Without saying a word, I picked up the signed divorce papers and walked away without looking back. Goodbye, Ethan. We are done.
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