Since I was a child, I had always believed there was nothing in this world I couldn't have. Because my parents had me when they were over forty, they spoiled me to the point where they would have plucked the stars from the sky for me if they could. At twenty, I fell head over heels for Julian Vance, a needy student funded by the Stone family, and used every means at my disposal to force him to marry me. Only after we married did I learn that he had someone he had loved in secret for years—the one who got away. Vivian Locke. His childhood sweetheart, a brilliantly talented design major who came from a poor background. I looked at the photos sent by the private investigator on my phone. They were sharing a passionate kiss in a rose garden. This tainted man... I didn't want him anymore. Sienna's POV So, I started targeting Vivian Locke. First, I reported Vivian's studio for fire hazards, forcing it to shut down. Next, I bribed members of the media to run sensationalized stories about Vivian having a child out of wedlock and having loose morals. Finally, I even paid someone to forge evidence of Vivian plagiarizing overseas works, completely ruining her reputation in the industry. Julian Vance finally reached his breaking point. That day, I was arranging flowers in the living room, my shears snipping off a white rose. When he found me, he slapped the flowers right out of my hands. "Just how far are you going to take this?" he roared, furious. "What did Vivian ever do wrong? How did she offend you to make you target her like this? If you've got a problem, come at me!" I looked up and said nonchalantly, "Vivian Locke did nothing wrong. You are the one in the wrong." His expression turned icy cold as he stared at me. "Julian Vance, let's get one thing straight: I am your wife," I said, putting down the shears, my tone lukewarm. "Yet in all the years we've been married, Vivian Locke has always been the only one in your heart. Do you even respect me as your lawful wife?" With a cold smile, I added, "So you're the one at fault, Julian. You're the one who forced my hand to target her." Julian's features tensed, his eyes dark and gloomy. "Do you have to be like this?" "Yes," I said, tilting my chin up. "Julian, don't forget that it was thanks to the Stone family that you got to where you are today. Your body, your heart, even your life belongs to me. So as long as Vivian Locke remains in your heart, I will never let her off the hook." No sooner had the words left my mouth than Julian grabbed the fruit knife off the coffee table and plunged it into his own chest without a second thought. Blood quickly soaked through his shirt. His face paled at a visible rate as he asked in a raspy voice, "Then I'll give you my life. Is that enough?" I froze in place. Seeing me remain silent, Julian pulled the knife out, preparing to stab himself a second time. Finally snapping back to reality, I lunged forward in a panic to press down on his wound, my eyes reddening as I glared at him in disbelief. "Are you insane?!" Cold sweat quickly beaded on Julian's deathly pale face. Forcing himself through the excruciating pain, he said, "Didn't you say... that without the Stone family, I wouldn't be where I am today? That everything I have, including my life, belongs to you? Then I'm giving you my life... Is this... enough now...?" Warm blood gushed through my trembling fingers. Once Julian finished speaking, his vision suddenly went black, and he collapsed backward, losing consciousness. "Julian!!" I scrambled to catch him, but his weight dragged me down with him. The moment we hit the floor, I instinctively shielded him with my own body. My back slammed against the edge of the coffee table, sending stars dancing across my vision from the pain. Yet even as I gasped in agony, I didn't push away the man lying on top of me. "Someone, help!" I screamed in sheer panic. "Call an ambulance!" The fluorescent lights in the hospital corridor were blindingly bright. The red light above the operating room had been glowing for two full hours. Julian's mother, Mary, rushed over after hearing the news and slapped me right across the face. "Sienna Stone, I know your family funded Julian in the past, but he has never left you wanting for anything material all these years! Just how much longer do you plan on torturing him like this?!" Mary's voice was so shrill it cracked. "Do you have to drive him to his grave before you'll finally stop?!" My face was whipped to the side, a burning pain spreading across my cheek. I didn't reach up to nurse it, nor did I offer any defense. Instead, I just stared down at my blood-stained hands. I couldn't understand. How did things turn out like this? In the beginning, all I wanted was for him to spare me a glance, to care about me just a little bit more. Throughout our seven years of marriage, whenever I fell ill with a fever, he would bring in the best specialists in the city for a consultation, yet he never set foot in my room from start to finish. For every anniversary, the gifts he had his assistant deliver were always the latest designer jewelry, but not a single one had ever passed through his own hands. When we sat at the same dinner table, he would not say a single word throughout the meal, getting up to leave the moment he finished eating. I used to always tell myself that it was fine. As long as I treated him well enough and loved him enough, he would fall in love with me sooner or later. I had plenty of patience and time. Yet two years ago, Vivian Locke suddenly returned from abroad with a five-or-six-year-old child. That was the first time Julian ever lost his composure. He rushed out the door without even putting on his coat after receiving a call. I followed from a distance and saw with my own eyes as he held that frail woman tightly in his arms at the airport exit. After returning home that night, I smashed the entire living room in a fit of rage. When Julian returned and saw the mess all over the floor, he merely instructed the servants indifferently, "Clean it up." Without so much as a glance at my hysterical self, he went upstairs and retired to his room. Later, when Vivian wanted a studio, he funded and helped her establish one. When Vivian's child fell ill, he drove them to the hospital in the middle of the night and stayed by the bedside until morning. He even baked a cake with his own hands to deliver to her on her birthday. I saw all of this with my own eyes, which was why I started targeting Vivian Locke. I couldn't comprehend it. I had the money, the looks, and I loved him deeply. In what way could I possibly be inferior to a woman like Vivian Locke, who had a child out of wedlock? Why could he be so incredibly good to Vivian, yet be so stingy that he wouldn't even spare me a second glance? Until today— Seeing him go as far as stabbing himself with a knife, I suddenly understood. Perhaps I had been wrong from the very beginning. I thought feelings could be nurtured over time. I thought that as long as I was good enough, persistent enough, and loved him enough, I could eventually win over his heart. But some hearts simply can't be warmed. Love is something where your investment never guarantees a return. "Fine," I heard my own voice say, so calm that even I found it unfamiliar. "I will let him go." His mother froze, as if she hadn't heard me clearly. "What did you say?" I raised my head and repeated, "Just as you wish, I will divorce Julian Vance." This marriage was forced by me in the first place anyway. So, the ones in the wrong were never Vivian Locke or Julian Vance. It was me. Then, I shall set him free.
Sienna's POV Having said my piece, I turned and walked away without looking back to see Mary's expression. Yet just as I rounded the corner at the end of the hallway, I saw Vivian Locke walking toward me. The moment she saw me, Vivian paused mid-step, a clear look of awkwardness and anxiety flitting across her face. "Ms. Stone... I heard Julian was hurt and is in surgery..." Vivian said cautiously. "I only wanted to come and check on him. If you mind, I'll go back right now." In the past, I would have told her to get lost and banned her from taking a single step near Julian. But now, I simply brushed past Vivian, my voice as faint as a breeze. "There's no need. You stay and take good care of him." Vivian stood frozen on the spot, seemingly unable to believe her own ears. By the time I stepped out of the hospital entrance, the sky outside had turned pitch black. I didn't call the driver to pick me up, nor did I hail a taxi. I just walked aimlessly along the street. I recalled the summer I first met Julian Vance. Back then, I had just turned twenty. I went with my dad to attend the commendation ceremony for needy students funded by the Stone family. The youth on the stage wore a faded white shirt. His posture was as straight as a pine tree, his features cold and aloof like the snow atop a mountain peak. With just one look, I was hopelessly smitten. I began to pursue him like crazy. Yet when I sent him gifts, he returned them; when I invited him to dinner, he declined; when I blocked his path downstairs at his dorm to confess, he took a detour. Since childhood, I had believed there was nothing in this world I couldn't have. So I was never discouraged. I used my connections to find out that his mother was sick and urgently needed a massive sum of money for surgery. And so, I had my father step in to tell him that if he married me, the Stone family would cover all medical expenses, fund his remaining studies, and provide him with the best platform for his career. He remained silent for three whole days. On the fourth day, he showed up in the living room of the Stone residence and said to me, "I agree to the marriage." There was no proposal, no ring, and not a single word of affection. Yet back then, I was happy as a fool, believing that as long as we were married, everything would turn out fine. Over all these years, I truly did love him. I loved him so much that I couldn't extricate myself, loved him so much that I forgot who I was, and loved him so much that I turned my own life into a laughingstock. But no matter how much I loved him, it was time to let go. I didn't know how long I had been walking, but by the time I snapped out of it, I was standing before the gates of the Stone family villa. The lights in the living room were still on. I pushed the door open and walked in. My parents were talking, and when they saw me standing at the door looking such a disheveled mess, both of them stood up in shock. "Sienna? What on earth happened to you..." My mother quickly approached, and the moment she spotted the slap mark on my face, her voice cracked. "Who hit you? Where is Julian? Why isn't he looking after you?" My father also stood up with a dark expression. "I'll call him right now!" "There's no need," I stopped my father. "Dad, Mom, I'm getting a divorce." The living room fell into sudden silence. My mother was the first to react, her eyes instantly turning red. "Your father and I have seen all the grievances you've suffered in the Vance family these past years. We wanted to ask you to come home, but we were afraid you wouldn't be able to let Julian go, and that you wouldn't be happy even if you did return..." My father remained silent for a long time before he finally asked, "Have you truly made up your mind?" "Yes." "Then divorce him," my father said, patting my shoulder. "My precious girl deserves the absolute best in this world. Since Julian is too blind to see your worth, let him regret it in the future!" My nose stung, and tears nearly spilled from my eyes. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted documents spread out on the coffee table. I bent down to pick them up and flipped through them. They were the company's quarterly reports and several cooperation agreements. The further down I read, the colder my fingers grew. Several core projects had been snatched away, the cash flow was visibly strained, and one of the agreements was a letter of intent for cooperation with the Vance Group, with terms so harsh they bordered on extortion. I said in disbelief, "Julian is deliberately making things difficult for the Stone family's company?" "It's nothing," my father smiled, feigning a lighthearted tone. "It's just a small matter. Your dad can handle it." But those dense rows of numbers and clauses pricked at my eyes like needles. When we got married, Julian was still a penniless, needy student. Everyone said he was marrying above his station. Later, when he graduated, instead of utilizing the platform the Stone family had paved for him, he chose to start from scratch and build his own business. Fearing they would hurt his pride, my parents had spent all these years quietly aiding his business behind the scenes. Now that the Vance Group was flourishing and his wings had grown strong, he had turned around to devour the Stone family's businesses. Yet my parents hadn't breathed a single word of this to me. I didn't need to think twice to know why. My parents didn't want to put me in a difficult position in the middle. After all, everyone knew how deeply infatuated I was with Julian. Looking at the gray hair at my father's temples and the fine lines around my mother's eyes, I could see they silently spoke of all the storms they had weathered on my behalf over the years. My eyes burned with tears, and my throat tightened with emotion. "Dad, Mom, I'm sorry. I was too foolish and immature in the past." My mother embraced me. "It's fine. None of that matters. The only wish your father and I have is for you to be happy and healthy forever." My eyes grew even redder. "Dad, Mom, once I divorce Julian, let's move to a different city." This city with Julian is just too awful. I don't want to stay here anymore. My father hesitated for less than three seconds before nodding with determination. "Alright! Once you get divorced, wherever you want to go, the three of us will go!" Two days later, news came that Julian had been transferred to a general ward. I took the drafted divorce agreement and headed to the hospital.
Sienna's POV Walking to the door of the ward, I peered through the cracked opening. Vivian Locke was sitting by the bedside, holding sliced apples and feeding them to Julian piece by piece. He leaned against the headboard, and though his face was still a bit pale, he showed no resistance whatsoever, even slightly leaning forward to cooperate whenever she offered a slice. My fingers clenched instinctively. I remembered how every single time I tried to get close to him—even if it was just to adjust his collar—he would subtly shift away to avoid me. As it turned out, it wasn't that he disliked being touched; he just disliked being touched by me. Whether someone loves you or not is truly painfully obvious. Just as I was about to knock, Vivian spotted me first and stood up in a flurry. "Ms. Stone, you're here..." Vivian said, looking rather awkward. "I'll let you two talk. I'll go ask the doctor about Julian's condition." Vivian turned to leave, but Julian reached out and caught her by the wrist. "Didn't the doctor just make his rounds not too long ago?" he said in a flat tone. "There's no need to make up excuses to avoid anyone. This is a hospital, not the Stone family's territory." Vivian cast a hesitant look at me. "But..." "No buts," Julian interrupted. "Just sit down." Vivian hesitated for a moment but ultimately sat back down. "Okay." My eyes fell upon Julian's hand holding Vivian's wrist. Those distinct knuckles and long, powerful fingers had never once held me that way. In the past, I probably would have rushed in, flung that hand away, and slapped Vivian Locke across the face. But this time, I didn't. I didn't even make a scene. "What are you doing here?" Julian finally cast his cold gaze toward me, his tone indifferent. "If you think I'm not hurt badly enough, I can do it again." Stung by his words, I couldn't help but ask, "Would you really rather harm yourself like that than spare me a proper glance?" Julian's reply was heartless and cold. "I thought you were well aware before we got married that I didn't love you." He paused, then added, "I didn't love you then, I don't love you now, and I never will. So, how do you expect me to spare you a glance?" I clenched my fingers. "Since you believed you could never fall in love with me, why did you marry me in the first place?" Julian laughed, his chuckle exceptionally cold. "My mother was critically ill back then and urgently needed a massive sum of money for surgery. You used that moment to force me into marriage. Did I have a choice?" Just as I was about to speak, he continued. "Besides, on the eve of our wedding, it wasn't as if I didn't try to have a proper talk with you. "Back then, I told you I didn't love you. I told you that you wouldn't be happy marrying me, and that it wasn't too late to back out if you regretted it. I said I'd treat that surgery money as a loan and pay you back with interest later." His gaze was as cold as frost. "But how did you answer me then? You said if I dared to back out, you'd immediately withdraw the funds and stop the surgery. You used my mother's life to threaten me. Did I have a choice back then?" I was left speechless. I did indeed say those words. At the time, I was so swept up in the joy of marrying him, terrified that he would back out and that the grand wedding I had meticulously planned would fall through, which was why I said it. I never imagined that those words would remain carved into his heart for seven years. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, pulled a document out of my bag, and placed it on the nightstand beside his hospital bed. "Then please do me a favor and sign this divorce agreement." Catching sight of the document, a flash of poorly concealed joy lit up Vivian's eyes. As for Julian Vance, he froze. He glanced at the agreement, then looked up at me. "You want a divorce?" "Yes." Julian scoffed instinctively. "Do you think I was injured so badly this time that I've lost my mind? Or are you being foolish enough to think I'd believe such nonsense about you wanting a divorce?" He stared at me with sharp eyes. "We've been married for seven years, and you couldn't bring yourself to divorce me. Just because I stabbed myself twice, you're suddenly willing to let me go?" For the past seven years, he had used the cold shoulder and silent treatment to push me away, hoping I would reach my breaking point and ask for a divorce first. Yet I had stubbornly endured it all, never bringing it up once. Now that he had resorted to self-harm and stabbed himself twice, I was suddenly willing to walk away. It was only natural that he didn't believe me. "I'm willing to divorce because I realize you were right," I said calmly. "A forced marriage won't bring happiness." Hearing this, Julian suddenly went still. I smiled bitterly to myself. When he had said those words all those years ago, how had I responded? I had arrogantly declared, "Who cares about happiness? Let's get married first and figure that out later." I had also said, "Even death won't tear us apart. Don't even dream of divorcing me or shaking me off in this lifetime." But now, I knew a forced marriage wouldn't bring happiness. And I was going to divorce him. I saw a flicker of a strange emotion pass through Julian's eyes.
Sienna Stone's POV Julian quickly snapped out of it. He grabbed the divorce agreement and, without even glancing at the contents, flipped straight to the last page and signed his name in a sweeping scrawl. He then tossed the agreement in front of me, a mocking curl on his lips. "Ms. Stone has always been a woman of her word. You'd better actually go through with this divorce, unless you want people to look down on you." I bent down to pick up the paper. My fingertips lingered over his signature for a brief second before I smiled bitterly. "Don't worry. I always mean what I say." Yes, I always meant what I said. Julian sneered. He probably thought I was just putting on an act. "Get some rest and recover from your injuries." Without another look at him, I turned and left the hospital room. By the time Vivian ran out after me, I was already waiting for the elevator. "Ms. Stone," Vivian called out, catching up with quick, graceful steps. Her voice was gentle and polite. "Please don't worry. I've already spoken with the doctor. Julian's injuries aren't serious. He just needs some time to recover." I stared at her in silence, saying nothing. Seeming a bit unsettled by my gaze, Vivian continued, "Julian... he was just acting on impulse when he did something so extreme. Please don't be angry with him. Getting a divorce over a minor disagreement like this really isn't worth it." I suddenly smiled. "Did you really run out here just to convince me not to divorce him?" Vivian froze. "In reality, you just wanted to make sure if I'm actually divorcing him, or if I'm just playing another trick, right?" I looked at her with a half-smile. Vivian's face stiffened slightly, and she forced a smile. "Ms. Stone, I don't know what you're talking about... I truly don't want you two to get a divorce out of anger, only for you to regret it later." "It's just the two of us here, so why keep playing pretend?" I scoffed. "You want me to divorce him more than anyone else, just so he can be the step-father and play dad to your child." Vivian's face froze completely, too embarrassed to utter a word. I didn't feel like listening to any more of it. The elevator doors opened, and I walked right in, pressing the close button. Vivian stood where she was, watching the elevator doors slowly close as her gentle expression crumbled bit by bit. After handing the divorce agreement over to my lawyer, I spent the next few days finalizing the immigration paperwork for myself and my parents. I didn't visit Julian in the hospital again, nor did I make a single phone call or send a single text. A week later, Mary sent me a message. "Julian is being discharged today. As his wife, you didn't even bother to show up. How does that look?" I glanced at it but didn't reply. Over the years of our marriage, I had heard far too many accusations like this. "You've been married for so long, yet there's still no sign of a baby. What kind of wife are you?" "You can't even hold onto your own husband's heart. For a woman, you really are a failure." In the past, hearing Mary say these things would make me sad and aggrieved, tossing and turning in the middle of the night, wondering if I truly wasn't good enough. But now, I realized I didn't care at all anymore. I recalled the absurd things I had done over the years just to make Julian love me and to have a child of our own. I had worn the sexiest lingerie, parading in front of him, only for him to turn a blind eye. When he was working in the study, I would bring in a glass of red wine, pretending to accidentally fall into his lap, only to be pushed away instantly. I had sneaked into his bed in the middle of the night, only for him to pick me up and throw me out of the room. He was like an iceberg, always shutting me out with a cold face. The only two times we slept together were when he was completely drunk after business dinners, giving me an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. Afterward, he only felt I was underhanded, growing even more distant from me. We were husband and wife, yet sleeping together required him to be drunk. I closed my eyes, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of my lips. All these years, my love for him had truly humbled me to the dust. But from now on, no more.
Sienna Stone's POV The next time I saw Julian was at a business gala three days later. I hadn't originally wanted to attend. But my father was getting old, and this business gathering was hard to decline, so I had no choice but to represent the Stone family. Amid the clinking of glasses and social chatter, I mingled with the guests, a glass of wine in hand and a polite smile plastered on my face. Until the doors of the banquet hall opened once again. Julian walked in. He wore a dark suit, his complexion having returned to normal after his recovery. In his arms, he held a five or six-year-old boy, with Vivian walking by his side. The three of them stood together, looking exactly like a family of three. My fingers tightened around my wine glass. "Mr. Vance!" Someone who didn't recognize me stepped forward, clearly mistaking Vivian for Mrs. Vance, and flattered them with a smile. "This must be Mrs. Vance! Mr. and Mrs. Vance really are a perfect match. Your relationship is truly enviable." Vivian looked surprised and waved her hands in denial, but she didn't actually open her mouth to clarify. Nor did Julian correct the misunderstanding. Instead, he took the opportunity to introduce her. "This is Vivian Locke, a highly talented jewelry designer who has her own independent studio. Although her brand isn't widely known yet, her designs are quite popular among young people. If you ever have a need in the future, you can reach out to her." Understanding the hint immediately, the guest smiled and began flattering Vivian. Standing not far away, I took all of this in. I saw through it instantly. Julian had brought Vivian here to network. He was paving the way for her career. I remembered how, many years ago, when Julian's career was just starting, I had used the Stone family's name to network and build connections for him everywhere. For my sake, my parents had also helped him immensely behind the scenes. Yet in the end, once he succeeded, he turned around and imposed harsh terms on his business dealings with the Stone family, clearly giving my parents a hard time because of me. And now, he was bringing another woman to build bridges for her career. I withdrew my gaze and took a sip of my wine. I suddenly felt that the love I had desperately clung to for so many years was nothing but a joke. Refusing to look in their direction again, I turned and resumed my conversations with other guests. Halfway through the gala, having finally finished my rounds of socializing, I wanted to find a quiet corner to sit down and rest my feet. But the moment I turned around, I bumped unexpectedly into a firm chest. Julian had approached behind me at some point. I frowned, looking up at him. "Is there something you need?" My cold tone made Julian's brow furrow. He fell silent for two seconds before speaking. "Vivian's studio has just started. She needs resources and connections. Since I have the ability to give her a leg up, I brought her here. Don't target her over this." Hearing this, I understood completely. So he was afraid I would pick on Vivian again out of jealousy. I gave a faint reply. "Who you choose to network with is your business. I don't care." After all, we would be divorced soon anyway. However, Julian's frown deepened. "Though," I paused, then added, "since you've approached me, I happen to have something to ask you as well." "What is it?" "Regarding your cooperation with the Stone family, can you change the terms?" I asked solemnly and earnestly. "I won't target Vivian anymore, so can you stop giving my parents a hard time because of our personal grievances? Stone Corporation isn't what it used to be, and they are getting old. They don't have the energy to deal with unnecessary business troubles." Julian fell silent for a moment. The reason he had targeted the Stone family's company before was indeed because I had repeatedly gone after Vivian, prompting him to strike back. Since I was promising not to cause trouble for Vivian anymore, he naturally wouldn't make things difficult for the Stone family. Moreover, the Stone family had supported him in the past, and he was not an ungrateful man. "I see," Julian said. "I'll have the terms of the agreement modified and sent over to Stone Corporation." "Alright." I gave a brief nod and turned to leave. "Wait." Julian suddenly called out to stop me. I stopped and looked back at him. "Why is there such a large bruise on your back?" He frowned. "When did you get hurt?" I froze. How rare. Throughout all our years of marriage, when I once ran a high fever for days and was completely out of it, he had merely called a doctor for me and then ignored me, never offering a single word of concern. Now that I had decided on a divorce, he was miraculously showing concern over a little bruise. Was this some sort of pity care he was handing out? Just as I was about to say something, Vivian suddenly ran over in a panic. "Julian! This is bad, Ethan is gone!"
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