Chapter 2 

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I opened my mobile banking app. 

Sure enough, the “hush money” I thought I had earned had been transferred out of my account by Alex that morning, for the exact same amount. 

lex frowned, gesturing for me to quickly take the bouquet. 

I instinctively touched my abdomen, then slowly walked up to the stage. 

“Well, well! It takes Alex to handle this!” Someone in the audience started heckling. I 

spotted several familiar faces. 

“Hmph!” Nadia contemptuously threw the flowers at me. The bouquet scattered, pelting me. 

The thorns of the roses scratched my chin. 

I had heard she and Alex were childhood sweethearts. For the entire year since she’d 

returned to the country, Alex had carefully concealed her from me. I had never seen her 

face. I had always wondered if it was because he was afraid I might accidentally run into 

her and hurt her? 

Everyone thought I would cover for him and this woman as I always had, with my usual 

graciousness. 

After all, the whole world knew I loved Alex to the point of having no dignity. 

From that first glance in the hospital room seven years ago. 

Our relationship had always been based on my pursuit of him. 

Looking at the two of them nestled together, I suddenly felt so tired. 

I turned and knocked over the champagne tower. 

Amid Nadia’s shrieks, 999 champagne glasses shattered. 

Alex rushed to shield Nadia. I stared at him, struggling to hold back the tears in my eyes, 

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KIKA 

13:13 Fri, 13 Dec 0 

and yanked down the three–tiered cake. 

In the midst of the chaos, I took off my wedding ring and threw it at Alex’s face: 

“Alex, I want a divorce!” 

Alex glared at me malevolently from behind: “Divorce? Don’t forget your Carter family owes me a life debt!” 

– 

he wedding at the hillside resort – at first I thought it was novel, but now I realize it was just Nadia’s way of cutting off my escape route down the mountain. 

Her provocations had been brazen and unchecked. 

From Alex taking off our wedding rings and replacing them with couple rings I’d never seen 

before; 

The strong perfume smell on his shirt after not coming home all night; 

The unfamiliar lipstick on the passenger seat…… 

I covered my eyes, only believing the excuses I heard – those excuses Alex couldn’t even be 

bothered to make coherent. 

Even finding red long hair on our marriage bed when I returned from a business trip. 

I had pushed back my own boundaries time and time again. 

She had brazenly entered our home, my life completely exposed to her. 

Yet Alex carefully protected her – I hadn’t even seen her face until today. 

Yesterday, I stood at the hospital entrance, clutching the ultrasound report, wanting to give 

our relationship one last chance. 

Alex was still on the phone, coaxing me in a low voice, saying he was going out of town with friends to inspect a project and would be back soon. I automatically increased the limit on 

Alex’s bank card. 

Thinking about it now, I wanted to slap myself hard! 

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KIKA 

TIL 

13:13 Fri, 13 Dec M. 

I kicked a rock that was in my way, but my heel got caught in a crack and I fell straight 

down. 

As I struggled to get up again, a sharp pain shot through my right ankle. The mirror from my makeup case had fallen out. 

I frantically tried to smooth my disheveled long hair, looking at the dark circles and bags under my eyes that I couldn’t hide from the early morning. My face was pale and haggard. 

even years. I had wasted seven whole years on this man who didn’t love me. 

After the Martin family went bankrupt, to maintain his accustomed lifestyle, I worked 

desperately to make money. 

Now, he stood beside Nadia in a bespoke suit, looking dashing, while I had become a cast–off, dried–up ex–wife. 

I desperately tried to wipe the tears from my face, but my makeup just got more and more 

smeared. 

In the end, I lay on the ground, crying hysterically……