On the day of our seventh wedding anniversary, my husband was kissing the young girl I had sponsored… inside his car.
He lost control of the steering wheel.
The accident sent both of them straight to the hospital.
The doctor said the airbags had deployed just in time. Ethan wasn’t seriously injured.
Aside from the girl being frightened and his brand-new Cullinan being completely wrecked, there were no major consequences.
But when Ethan woke up and saw me standing by his bedside, he hesitated for a moment before asking—
“...Are you the new caregiver?”
I refused to believe it.
How could he remember everyone else… and forget only me?
Clutching his medical report, I went to demand answers from the doctor.
But when I returned, I found Ethan chatting casually with his friend inside the ward.
His friend teased him, half-joking—
“You’ve got some nerve. Be careful, or you’ll end up chasing your wife into a crematorium-level regret.”
Ethan’s expression turned serious.
“Even if I’ve lost my memory, I’m certain of one thing— I would never fall for a woman as scheming as her.”
“If I really married her, it must’ve been for convenience.”
“My ideal type has never changed. I love women who are pure and kind.”
Standing outside the door, I stared at the dashcam photo sent over by the insurance company— him kissing that girl.
A faint smile curved my lips. I dialed my lawyer immediately.
An hour later, I pushed open the door.
“This is the divorce agreement. Sign it.”
My sudden entrance froze the room.
His friend coughed awkwardly and tried to smooth things over.
“Lydia, don’t take it to heart. Ethan just got into an accident—his mind’s still foggy. You know him. Everyone in River City knows he’s hopelessly devoted to you.”
Lydia—that was me.
If I hadn’t heard what Ethan said just moments ago, I might have believed it too.
I let out a soft laugh.
But Ethan cut in coldly— “I don’t know why I loved you all those years. But right now, I don’t remember loving you.”
“I want to correct that mistake.”
His brows furrowed, his tone firm.
“What’s between us shouldn’t drag innocent people into it. They have nothing to do with this.”
The wary look in his eyes… as if I were some kind of monster.
I gave a cold laugh and tossed the agreement onto him.
“Of course.”
“Sign it. We’ll finalize the divorce tomorrow.”
Ethan didn’t even bother looking up.
After flipping through two pages, he signed his name without hesitation.
“Interesting. Someone like you didn’t even try to squeeze money out of me.”
Someone like me?
What kind of person did he think I was?
Before I could ask, his friend quickly stepped in— “Hey, both of you, calm down! This divorce agreement is way too rushed!”
“And tomorrow? Do you two even have a marriage certificate to divorce with?”
He meant to stop us.
But instead, he reminded us.
Ethan and I both froze.
Our eyes met.
For just a second.
Then he quickly turned away— disgust flickering unmistakably in his gaze.
We had grown up together. Childhood sweethearts. Young love turned marriage.
The moment we reached legal age, we got married.
I still remember that day clearly.
It was April 1st—April Fool’s Day.
I told him it wasn’t an auspicious date. I wanted to wait for a better one.
But Ethan pouted, looking almost aggrieved—
“We agreed we’d get married the day after your birthday. I can’t wait even one more day.”
He coaxed me gently—
“Your birthday and our anniversary back-to-back—how is that not a lucky date? It’s practically heaven’s blessing.”
And just like that, he even wiped away imaginary tears.
After we got our marriage certificate, he took photos of it from every possible angle— eight shots in total— and posted all of them online.
His friends flooded his feed, laughing at how smug he was, joking—
“Getting married on April Fool’s Day? Careful, your marriage might be fake.”
It was clearly a joke.
But Ethan panicked.
He snatched the certificate from my hands, his face turning serious—
“It’s not fake.
”
And then—
he tore it to pieces.
Grabbing my shoulders, he said with absolute conviction—
“Without a certificate, you won’t be able to divorce me.”
The memory replayed vividly in my mind.
I could almost still see his youthful, boyish smile.
But in the next second,
that smile was replaced by the impatient expression of the man before me.
Faint lines had appeared at the corners of his eyes.
He was still handsome.
But no longer the Ethan I remembered.
I took a deep breath.
Then walked toward him, head held high.
Under his wary, suspicious gaze,
I picked up the divorce agreement.
Smiling faintly, I said—
“We were too young and foolish. Now it’s just come back to bite us.”
Then I turned and left.
The moment I opened the door—
I ran straight into Sophie.
She was holding a thermal lunchbox.
Her fitted dancewear outlined her youthful, delicate figure.
Sweat glistened on her forehead.
The moment she saw me, she shrank back slightly and bowed.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Cole.”
That timid, fragile look—
reminded me of the day she first accepted my sponsorship.
Like a frightened little rabbit.
But I knew better.
This was no harmless rabbit.
“Go on in,” I said coldly.
“He’s been waiting for you.”
Sophie flinched, her shoulders trembling even more.
From inside the room, Ethan’s voice snapped sharply—
“Lydia! Watch your words!”
The tension in the room, which had just begun to ease,
instantly tightened again.
I let out a laugh of disbelief and turned to meet Ethan’s furious gaze.
“Sophie is still in school.
She’s sensitive to begin with.
What you said just now—were you trying to ruin her?!”
He was livid.
Even with his body still recovering from the accident, his breathing uneven,
he still raised his voice—
“Can’t you see she’s about to cry?”
“Why are you still so vicious?”
The Grant family had always been complicated.
Years ago, I fought tooth and nail with my father’s illegitimate son—
a battle where only one of us could survive.
Through it all, Ethan stayed by my side, helping me reclaim everything that was rightfully mine.
Back then, I was still young.
I didn’t understand love, but I had my girlish dreams.
I longed for someone—
someone who had seen all my darkness,
yet would still love me the same.
I once asked Ethan if he thought I was a scheming, ruthless woman.
He smiled and said—
“Our Lydia is just smart. Besides, I’m always here for you, aren’t I?”
That one promise——
carried us through seven years of marriage.
Seven years.
And yet, because of my fragile health,
we never had a child of our own.
He knew how much I wanted one.
So he suggested sponsorship.
That was how Sophie came into our lives.
On paper, it was a charitable act by both of us.
But over the years,
I was the one who truly cared for her.
What I never expected…
was that after getting into university and coming here—
she would end up in Ethan’s bed.
“Mrs. Cole, I’m sorry!”
Sophie suddenly dropped to her knees, interrupting my thoughts.
“It was my fault… I argued with my roommate. I shouldn’t have called Mr. Cole to pick me up. If I hadn’t, he wouldn’t have gotten into the accident…”
“It’s all my fault. I didn’t know my place. I thought… I had a home to return to…”
As she spoke,
she slapped herself—once, then again.
Ethan, still lying in bed, was instantly distressed.
“Lydia! Stop this nonsense. Sophie has a performance in a few days—help her up!”
He struggled to get out of bed.
Sophie hurried over to support him, tears streaming down her face.
“I’m sorry, sir…”
Their hands clasped tightly.
Ethan’s eyes even seemed to glisten.
“Sophie, don’t cry.”
But when he turned to look at me,
all the tenderness in his gaze vanished—replaced by pure disgust.
“The accident has nothing to do with her.”
“Instead of handling the aftermath, you come here just to make things difficult for her?”
“No sense of the bigger picture. Petty and narrow-minded.”
I had already seen the surveillance footage and dashcam recording from the accident.
In the video—
Sophie sat in the passenger seat, crying as she grabbed Ethan’s hand
and pressed it toward her chest.
“I… my chest hurts, sir…”
When the police reviewed the footage with me,
even they awkwardly scratched their heads.
One of them muttered under his breath—
“Looks like those manipulative drama tropes have come to life.”
So when Ethan spoke of “handling the aftermath”…
did he expect me to play the fool?
I let out a cold laugh.
“Clearly, Mr. Cole’s little angel has far more grace than I do.”
With that, I pulled the door open—
and kicked aside the lunchbox Sophie had dropped on the floor.
As the door slammed shut behind me,
Ethan’s furious shout followed—
“Lydia!”
I had barely stepped out of the hospital
when my phone buzzed.
It was a voice recording—from Sophie.
Ethan’s low, gentle voice came through the speaker—
“Sophie’s birthday is coming up. How about I buy you a house? Then you’ll have a place of your own.”
“Can I choose it myself?”
A soft laugh.
“Of course. Anything you like.”
“I like the villa in the west district… the place where I first met you.”
There was a brief silence.
Then—
hurried breathing.
A woman’s soft, ambiguous moan.
I shut off my phone instantly.
Ethan must truly adore her.
So much so…
that he had forgotten—
there was already someone living in that villa in the west district.
That house—
was the first home we ever bought together.
The home we still lived in.
After I took control of the Grant family,
I could have bought countless properties.
But I never moved out of that villa.
Ethan once asked me why.
I told him—
“Because this place holds our memories.”
At the time,
his eyes had reddened.
He swore he would treat me well for the rest of his life.
And now—
another woman had set her sights on that same house.
And all he remembered…
was that it was where he first met Sophie.
My assistant spoke cautiously beside me—
“Ms. Grant… Mr. Cole is like this because of the memory loss…”
I raised my hand, cutting her off.
How amusing.
Ethan remembered everything.
Everything—
except the fact that he once loved me.
Chapter 3
Soon, it was the day Ethan was discharged from the hospital.
When Sophie wheeled him in, the two chatting and laughing,
I was brushing Nian Nian’s fur.
Sophie suddenly let out a sharp scream,
startling both me and the cat.
“Lydia, put the cat away. Sophie is allergic to cat hair.”
Ethan awkwardly maneuvered his wheelchair,
shielding Sophie—whose face had gone pale—behind him.
I didn’t even look up.
“If she’s allergic, she can leave. No one’s forcing her to stay.”
The next second, Sophie’s tearful voice rang out—
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Cole… I just saw that you didn’t come to pick Mr. Cole up, so I took the liberty to bring him home. I overstepped…”
“I’ll leave right now.”
Ethan grabbed her wrist, his expression dark.
“You failed in your duties as a wife. Sophie helped you, and you still blame her?”
“And from today on, Sophie will be living here.
”
“Keep your cat under control. Otherwise, don’t blame me for what happens.”
My hand froze mid-motion.
I looked up at him.
“Don’t blame you? What exactly are you going to do?”
Nian Nian had been my coming-of-age gift from him.
Back then, I was nothing more than a nominal heiress in the Grant family—
my life worse than that of an illegitimate child.
No one remembered my birthday.
Even the household staff bullied me at will.
Ethan gave me Nian Nian.
He said—
At the time, I couldn’t take care of the cat myself.
So he raised her for me until we got married.
By all rights,
he should have been the one more attached to her.
But now—
the way he looked at Nian Nian was almost cold.
Like she was nothing more than an annoying animal.
Ethan didn’t answer my question.
And I thought it was just an empty threat.
Until one week later,
when I returned from a business trip—
and couldn’t find Nian Nian anywhere.
Hearing my voice, Sophie came out of the kitchen.
She leaned in close to my ear, smiling sweetly—
“Looking for that cat?”
“Too bad… it’s dead~”
Her voice was light.
But the smile on her face grew wider and wider.
Then she played a recording.
Nian Nian’s agonized cries filled the living room.
Sharp, piercing screams—
making my skin crawl.
Cold seeped into my bones.
“What did you do to her?”
“What did you do?!”
I grabbed Sophie by the throat,
my voice rising with each question.
Then—
Ethan’s cold voice came from the second floor.
“Lydia. Let go.”
“Where is Nian Nian?”
He looked down at me from above,
his gaze indifferent.
“It’s just an animal. If it’s dead, it’s dead.
Don’t make things difficult for Sophie.”
“It made her have an allergic reaction and sent her to the hospital. It’s already lucky it died.”
He said it so casually.
As if talking about the weather.
“Today is Sophie’s birthday. Don’t ruin her mood over something like that.”
Only when he mentioned her birthday
did a hint of warmth finally appear on his face.
“I’m planning to transfer this house to Sophie. Come upstairs and sign the papers.
”
With that, he turned his wheelchair
and left— without another glance at me.
I was about to go upstairs and argue—
when Sophie’s scream, followed by the sound of a slap, stopped me in my tracks.
Ethan turned back.
What he saw—
was Sophie, her cheeks red and swollen,
covering her face as she sobbed pitifully.
“Mrs. Cole… I didn’t mean for Nian Nian to die. You’re right to hit me…”
She looked at me through tears.
“If it makes you feel better, you can hit me as much as you want…”
She lifted her chin, eyes closed—
as if ready to be punished.
I laughed.
A classic victim act.
“Lydia, there’s a limit to your nonsense!”
“Do you really think this house is yours to rule?!”
The Ethan who once looked at me with endless tenderness,
who trusted me without question—
was gone.
The man before me—
his gaze dark,
as if he wanted to tear me apart.
I met his eyes, then let out a cold laugh.
Turning around—
I slapped Sophie.
I was never someone to be bullied.
Back in the Grant family, in that viper’s nest,
I had always been the one who fought back.
Even more so now.
“That slap earlier—I don’t acknowledge it.
”
Slap!
“But this one—remember it clearly.”
Slap!
“It was Lydia Grant who hit you.”
Slap!
“This is my territory.”
“No one can protect you here.”
“Not even Ethan Cole.”
Just as I raised my hand for the third slap—
Ethan grabbed my wrist.
He shoved me hard.
Pointing at me, he warned—
“Lydia, apologize to Sophie. Or don’t blame me for forgetting our past.”
I laughed.
A loud, almost hysterical laugh.
“Forget our past?”
“And what are you going to do to me?”
“Treat me the way you treated Nian Nian?!”
Ethan merely frowned, glancing at me as if I were being unreasonable.
Then he turned—
his expression softening with concern as he checked Sophie’s face.
He blew gently on her cheek,
coaxing her like a child—
“Does it hurt? It’ll be gone soon…”
That tender look—
it reminded me of the boy he used to be.
They left hand in hand.
Ethan didn’t spare me a single glance.
Only one sentence was thrown behind him—
“The cooling-off period for the divorce is twenty days. For these twenty days, I don’t want to see you.”
Slowly, I crouched down.
My assistant rushed in to help me up—
only to find her hand covered in something sticky.
“Ms. Grant! You’re bleeding!”
On the kitchen island—
a pair of scissors had been left there.
And now—
they were embedded deep in my lower back.
My phone buzzed.
“Does it hurt?”
“This is the same pair of scissors I used to cut off that animal’s tail~”
After that, I moved out of the villa.
And I kept those scissors with me—
as a constant reminder of my hatred.
The day before the divorce cooling-off period ended,
I went to the hospital to change my dressing.
Just as I stepped out—
I saw Ethan and his friend.
“You’re not even divorced yet, and Sophie’s already two months pregnant. That’s adultery, you bastard!”
His friend cursed him.
But Ethan didn’t get angry.
Instead, he smiled gently.
“You wouldn’t understand. Lydia and I were already over.”
“I love Sophie.”
“When I met her… I finally realized how terrifying Lydia is.”
As he spoke,
the smile faded from his face.
“Her father brought his illegitimate son home and paved a perfect path for him.”
“But Lydia crippled him. She destroyed her father’s standing in the company and forced him to step down.”
“Now he’s locked away in a mental institution, never to see the light of day.”
“A woman like that—calculating and ruthless—
isn’t that terrifying?”
I had never hidden my methods.
Back then,
he knew everything.
He even praised me for being brilliant.
And now—
I was “vicious.”
As I left the hospital,
I received a prenatal report from Sophie.
“Ethan says you’re just a barren hen who can’t lay eggs~”
The next day,
after the divorce was finalized—
Ethan said,
“Lydia, I’ve regained my memory. But I’m certain now—I don’t love you anymore.”
I nodded.
“I know.
”
He frowned.
“You know?”
I smiled faintly.
“I also know… you never actually lost your memory.”
Perhaps even Ethan himself had forgotten—
that I had studied psychology in order to survive the power struggles within the Grant family.
The moment he woke up after the accident,
when he looked at me with confusion and asked why he would ever marry me—
his rapid blinking,
the unconscious curling and rubbing of his fingers—
had already given him away.
After that, every time he lied,
he would stare straight into my eyes—
too intently.
As if afraid I wouldn’t believe him.
Recalling those subtle tells,
I curved my lips into a faint smile.
As I walked past him, I patted his shoulder lightly.
“Scheming or smart—it’s still better than the fool you’ve chosen to keep by your side.
”
Ethan frowned, confused.
Beside him, Sophie—who had been clinging to his arm—
immediately took offense.
Her eyes reddened as she spoke, aggrieved—
“Ethan, look at her!”
Before he could respond,
I slowly looked Sophie up and down, then let out a soft scoff.
“Sweetheart, you’re practically the official Mrs. Cole now.”
“So why do you still carry yourself like a mistress?”
“Is it your nature… or just a habit you can’t break?”
With that, I turned and walked away—
not bothering to look back at the ridiculous scene of Sophie trembling in anger while clinging to Ethan and complaining.
On the way to the company,
my assistant called.
“Ms. Grant, the company’s stock price is dropping.”
“Your divorce with Mr. Cole wasn’t made public due to corporate considerations… but now news has leaked.
”
“And it’s… hinting that the reason for the divorce is your inability to have children.”
I took a screenshot and sent it to Ethan.
Then called him.
“You did this?”
On the other end, he sounded almost cheerful.
“No. No need to pay attention to that kind of news.”
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm.
I didn’t care what impact this would have on the company.
No matter what, I had the ability to fix it.
But the fact that I couldn’t have children—
only Ethan and I knew that.
“You told them,” I said flatly.
It wasn’t a question.
Ethan denied it again.
But soon after, he let out a cold laugh.
“Well, the report isn’t wrong, is it?”
“You really can’t have children. You’re an incomplete woman.”
“If you ask me, you shouldn’t get married again. No man would accept having no heir.”
As soon as he finished speaking,
I heard Sophie’s suppressed laughter in the background.
His words scraped against my nerves.
My foot pressed harder on the accelerator.
Only after their laughter died down—
did I slam on the brakes.
The car stopped steadily at a red light.
I spoke calmly.
“Is that so?”
“Since Mr. Cole has given me such valuable advice…”
“Why don’t I return the favor with a gift?”
I hung up.
Then immediately called my assistant.
“Release the news of my divorce.”
“Once the topic gains traction, post the photos within thirty minutes.”
“Release the audio recordings within three hours.”
“And the videos within six.”
My assistant quickly sent me the compiled materials.
From photos to videos—
the protagonists were always the same.
Ethan and Sophie.
Hugging.
Holding hands.
Kissing.
Even more intimate moments.
All of it—
thanks to Sophie.
If she hadn’t constantly sent me those disgusting provocations,
I wouldn’t have been able to gather everything so quickly.
Ethan and I were both seasoned players in the business world.
A simple divorce wouldn’t hurt either of us.
But a scandal would.
Just like how the rumor about my infertility could damage me—
his affair could just as easily destroy him.
Sure enough,
less than thirty minutes after the news broke—
my phone started ringing.
Ethan.
Over and over again.
Dozens of calls.
I didn’t answer a single one.
So he came to my house.
“Lydia! Take it down!”
He didn’t need much effort to figure out
that I was behind everything.
The reason he was so desperate—
wasn’t just the company.
It was Sophie.
I had known for a long time—
that even before our divorce,
Ethan had already begun preparing a grand proposal for her.
Everything was ready.
And now—
this scandal.
If he went ahead with the proposal,
it wouldn’t be romantic—
it would push Sophie straight into public disgrace.
All his effort—
wasted.
On the surveillance screen,
I watched as Ethan kicked my door,
his eyes bloodshot as he cursed me—
calling me a vicious woman.
Once upon a time,
we had loved each other deeply.
Now—
we hated each other just as fiercely.
Before the security guards dragged him away,
I spoke through the intercom—
“Ethan Cole… do you like this gift?”
After Ethan left,
I posted a video response addressing the divorce.
In the video,
I wore a white dress.
My makeup was deliberately pale—fragile, almost pitiful.
To make it more convincing,
I even had my assistant add faint dark circles under my eyes.
“First of all, thank you for your concern.”
“My condition has been improving recently. My sleep and appetite are getting better, so please don’t worry.
”
“When a marriage comes to an end, both parties feel regret.”
“But despite that… I wish us both happiness in the future.”
The video was short.
On the surface, it was just a polite response.
But I carefully avoided mentioning the reason for the divorce—
whether it was my fault or Ethan’s.
To gossip-hungry viewers,
this only made things more intriguing.
As expected,
the news—whose heat had been suppressed by Ethan’s money—
surged back to the top after my video.
Taking advantage of the momentum,
my assistant, posing as an anonymous netizen,
released photos of Ethan accompanying Sophie to prenatal checkups.
Soon—
Sophie’s identity and background were exposed completely.
“Pregnant out of wedlock—and with the husband of the person who funded her education? Disgusting!”
“Ms. Grant sponsored her studies, not her bed!”
“She brought a wolf into her own home.
”
“Not just rich men—trash comes in all financial classes.”
As Sophie’s identity as the “other woman” spread,
public sympathy shifted toward me.
Seizing the moment,
I organized a charity auction.
In front of the media, I smiled calmly.
“All proceeds from tonight’s auction will be donated to educational initiatives.”
“To contribute to the development of quality students.”
Soon, all my past charitable acts were brought to light.
People began calling me—
kind, generous, even foolishly so.
As a result,
the company’s stock price—previously affected by the infertility rumors—
not only recovered,
but reached a new high.
Meanwhile—
Ethan and Sophie became public targets.
Reporters crowded outside Ethan’s company every day—
so many that it affected operations.
(Of course, some of them were actors I hired.)
Sophie, on the other hand,
could barely go out without covering herself completely.
She was terrified of being recognized—
terrified of being pointed at and called a homewrecker.
And it wasn’t like she hadn’t already been cursed out before.
Just as the situation began to settle—
Sophie was spotted shopping.
The photos went viral instantly.
Alongside her name—
was the trending tag:
#EthanColeAffair
The housekeeper at the west district villa—one of my people—
told me Ethan had completely lost his temper that day.
Sophie had already been expelled from school.
All she had left—
was Ethan.
So she didn’t dare provoke him again.
She shut herself indoors.
By the time I heard this,
I had already taken three or four major projects from Ethan.
He was furious.
Calling me daily.
Even showing up at my company to block me.
My assistant asked—
“Should we have security remove him?”
I glanced at the man sitting in the conference room, his face dark as a storm—
and smiled.
“No need.”
“Spray some perfume for me. Something alluring—and long-lasting.”
“Next time he comes, spray some in the meeting room too.”
Then I walked in—
and began negotiating with him.
Three days.
We went back and forth relentlessly.
By the third day,
his condition had visibly deteriorated.
Dark circles under his eyes.
Frequent pinching of the bridge of his nose.
And every hour—
his phone would buzz nonstop.
When he stepped out to take a call,
I received a video from the housekeeper.
Sophie’s belly had grown.
Isolation had made her unstable.
Her entire world revolved around Ethan.
Recently, he had been leaving early and returning late—
and always carrying that same lingering scent of perfume.
Her mental state had collapsed.
“Why didn’t you answer my call?! Where are you?! Who are you with?!”
She screamed hysterically,
tears streaming down her face.
“Why did you hang up on me?!”
Even through the recording,
her shrill voice was unbearable.
Ethan removed his glasses,
revealing exhaustion in his eyes.
“I’m in a meeting.”
“A meeting means you can’t answer my call?! A meeting means you hang up on me?!”
Her voice grew sharper, more frantic.
Then—
a choking sob.
“Ethan… I’m scared. Can we stay on call? I won’t speak, I won’t interrupt you…”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Stay on call?
Ethan’s face darkened instantly.
He said a few curt words—
and hung up.
The moment the call ended,
a loud crash echoed through the recording.
Sophie had thrown her phone to the ground.
But her screams—
continued.
Like a trapped animal, losing its mind.
Ethan returned and took his seat again, his gaze fixed on me—deep, probing.
I smiled faintly.
“What is it, Mr. Cole?”
By now, we had both grown used to this— polite smiles masking sharp blades.
Ethan smiled as well.
“Nothing. I just think your taste has changed quite a bit after the divorce, Ms. Grant.”
“Oh?”
He leaned forward slightly, hands clasped beneath his chin,
his eyes dark and unreadable.
“This new perfume of yours… unexpectedly feminine. It doesn’t seem like you.
”
I let out a soft laugh, flipping through the contract in my hands.
“Well, I took your advice.”
“If I’m going to be a woman… I might as well act like one.”
We had both spent years navigating the business world.
He wasn’t a fool.
If he could notice the change in my perfume, he could just as easily guess the reason behind it. And yet— even knowing it was a trap, he still had no choice but to come to me.
Because I held his weakness.
Once, our relationship had been strong.
Not only did I manage my own company, I had also worked within his— holding control over key technologies, and the fate of his top talent.
After the divorce, I took both the people and the expertise with me.
Now that his project had launched,
there was no way for him to rebuild a top-tier team or replicate that technology in such a short time.
He had no choice but to come begging.
And I— named my price.
Fifteen hundred million.
I had calculated it carefully.
At best, the project would bring him two billion in profit.
After taxes,
he might not even clear the amount I was asking.
Naturally, Ethan refused.
So he came to negotiate.
To wear me down.
To play the card of old affection—
hoping I would show mercy.
As he stood to leave,
I looked at him and smiled.
“Ethan, look at you.”
“That ‘scheming woman’ you despise has reduced you to a dog… wagging its tail for scraps.”
His expression changed instantly.
He shot to his feet,
striding toward me, hand outstretched— as if to grab me.
But before he could touch me, security stepped in and restrained him.
“Mr. Cole,” I said calmly, “This is my territory. Think carefully.”
Not long after he left, my assistant asked— “What’s our next move?”
I glanced at the surveillance footage sent by the housekeeper.
On the screen— Ethan and Sophie were arguing.
I tapped lightly on the display.
“We don’t need to do anything.”
“They’re already falling apart on their own.”
In the footage, Sophie stood disheveled, hair a mess, like a madwoman.
The moment Ethan stepped through the door, she rushed toward him— sniffing at him frantically.
When she caught that familiar scent of perfume again— she finally snapped.
“Who is she?!”
Her scream was shrill, piercing.
She grabbed a teacup and smashed it to the ground— shattering it into pieces.
Gone was the timid, fragile girl she once pretended to be.
I knew Ethan all too well.
When he loved someone, he would spoil them endlessly— he would even promise them the stars.
But he would never place a woman on equal footing.
That kind of love—
was no different from how one might indulge a pet.
Back then, I didn’t understand.
I only thought— finally, someone loved me.
If I hadn’t had ambition, I might have ended up just like Sophie— a gilded bird in a cage.
Ethan would never admit he had come to see me.
His pride as a man wouldn’t allow him to acknowledge that he had lost to me.
So instead— he looked at Sophie coldly, his voice detached.
“Look at yourself right now.” Beneath his long lashes, his gaze was icy.
“If you keep this up, I’ll move out for a few days. We both need time to calm down.”
Sophie froze.
Panic flashed across her face.
She rushed forward, grabbing his arm as he turned to leave.
“No… don’t go.”
“Ethan, I’m sorry…”
“It’s just the pregnancy… the hormones…”
“I won’t be like this anymore. I’ll fix it.”
“I promise.”
Ethan lifted his gaze slightly.
“This is your last chance.”
She nodded frantically.
I smiled and turned off the video.
The next day, while Ethan was out— I went to the west district villa.
Sophie asked through the door why I had come.
I smiled.
“To retrieve something I left behind.”
Without giving her the chance to refuse, I entered the passcode and walked in.
Her voice rose sharply behind me—
“How do you know the password to my house?!”
I didn’t answer.
I simply walked further inside.
Suddenly— she grabbed my arm.
Her eyes widened, her expression filled with shock.
“What is that smell on you?”
She leaned in— like a dog, sniffing.
I pushed her away immediately.
“Are you insane?”
My rejection only provoked her further.
She tightened her grip on my arm, her voice rising into a shout—
“You’ve seen Ethan!”
“Why are you still trying to cling to him?!”
“He’s mine!”
The girl I had once raised— who had always spoken softly in front of me— was now completely unrecognizable.
I couldn’t help but wonder— was this because of love?
Or jealousy?
My arm turned red from her grip.
It took all my strength to shake her off.
I glared at her, my voice cold.
“You think I collect trash like you do?”
“If you’re looking for answers, go ask Ethan— is he the one coming to me, or the other way around?”
“How ridiculous.”
With that, I shot her one last glare and walked out.
“Disgusting.”
The moment I stepped outside, the housekeeper sent me a message—
[She’s making a call.]
Chapter 8 (Final)
That night, Sophie and Ethan had a massive argument. She moved into a hotel.
Unable to find him, she showed up at my company the next day— blocking my way.
“What do you want?” I asked calmly.
She stood there, one hand on her swollen belly, staring at me with burning hatred.
“Give Ethan back to me!”
I sighed lightly.
“I truly don’t know where he is.
”
Then I got into my car and left—heading straight for the Cole family estate. It was family dinner night.
Ethan’s parents had personally invited me.
Even though we were already divorced, they had watched me grow up.
Beyond the title of daughter-in-law, I was almost like half a daughter to them.
So my presence— was only natural.
As I greeted them and stepped inside, I caught a glimpse in the rearview mirror— of a taxi pulling up behind me.
I instructed the driver to slow down earlier on purpose.
After all— there was a pregnant woman inside.
If anything happened, I didn’t want the responsibility.
Not long after I entered, Sophie barged in.
The moment Ethan saw her,
he strode forward and grabbed her arm—
trying to drag her out.
His expression was impatient. His movements rough.
“Why are you here?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Who told you to come?”
Three questions in a row— left her stunned.
“Why can’t I come?”
She turned her head— and saw me standing beside his parents.
The timidity in her expression vanished instantly.
She pointed at me. “If she can come, why can’t I?!”
She tried to push past him— but Ethan grabbed her again.
“This isn’t a place you should be right now.”
That single sentence— snapped something inside her.
She flung his hand away, screaming— “I’m carrying your child! Why can’t I enter your family?!”
“You said Lydia is just a barren woman—someone your family would never respect!”
Then she turned— shouting toward Ethan’s parents—
“I’m pregnant with his child! Your family has to take responsibility!”
From the moment she entered, Ethan’s parents had been frowning— shaking their heads.
But after hearing her words— their anger surged.
Yet Sophie only escalated further.
“You have to let Ethan marry me properly— or I’ll go public and say he forced me!”
“I have photos!”
She was truly foolish.
When Ethan said it wasn’t the right time,
she assumed it meant he looked down on her—
that he didn’t want to marry her.
She completely forgot— the scandal of her seducing a married man
and their affair being exposed.
Ethan had planned everything.
He wanted to wait until the child was safely born— then use it as leverage against his parents.
But now— everything was ruined.
Worse still— when his parents heard she had photos, their eyes rolled back— and they collapsed on the spot.
Outside the ICU, Sophie stood frozen.
She reached for Ethan’s hand, trying to beg for forgiveness— but he shook her off.
She fell to the ground— bleeding heavily.
The child was gone.
When Ethan heard the news, his legs gave out.
“How is that possible…?”
“I calculated the dates… Even if I hurt her just now, the baby should’ve just been premature…”
The doctor frowned.
“The fetus was only five months along. It’s unfortunate… it was twins.”
Ethan’s fingers trembled. He pulled up the prenatal report on his phone— showing it to the doctor.
“But the dates… it clearly says…” The doctor shook his head.
“There’s no doctor with that surname in our department.”
Ethan’s pupils shook violently.
He staggered toward Sophie’s hospital room— pushing the door open.
Empty.
No one there.
Good news— his parents survived the surgery.
Bad news— Sophie had deceived him.
The child wasn’t his.
And she had disappeared.
Worse news— Sophie uploaded all their private photos online
and sent Ethan a message demanding fifty million.
The images were so explicit— the public couldn’t even stomach them.
Ethan’s company stock plummeted again and again.
The board of directors— citing the damage he had caused— proposed removing him as chairman.
In both business and love— he had lost everything.
And so—
he came to me.
“Lydia… you must have a way, right?”
The project he had once begged me to cooperate on was now nearing delivery.
But he had nothing.
No product.
No position.
He had reached the end of the road. His eyes filled with desperate hope.
“You’re so smart… you can definitely find a solution.
”
I stepped back slightly, smiling. “Ethan, don’t come to me for help.”
“A woman as vicious as me— I devour people whole.”
“But I do have a question.”
His eyes lit up instantly.
“Ask.”
He thought— he had found a lifeline.
I smiled.
“What made you so confident that you couldn’t have children with me…”
“But could have them with Sophie?”
“Did you ever consider— that the problem… wasn’t me?”
After the divorce, I went to another hospital for a check-up.
The doctor told me— I only had a hormonal imbalance. It wouldn’t cause seven years of infertility.
Then he looked at Ethan’s old report— tapped the paper lightly— and said,
“This is clearly azoospermia. What kind of quack doctor told you otherwise?”
That was when I realized— the hospital we had always gone to was owned by Ethan’s company.
The doctor had falsified the report to avoid offending his employer.
And I— had carried the blame for seven years.
Ethan was struck silent. His shoulders slumped.
And he walked away— defeated.
One week later— Sophie was arrested.
Half a month later— Ethan followed.
Ethan had embezzled company funds to give Sophie fifty million.
Then— he reported her.
Sophie was sentenced for extortion and distributing obscene materials.
Ethan’s embezzlement soon came to light as well.
Before being taken away— he asked to see me.
The moment he saw me— he dropped to his knees.
“Lydia… I know I’ve wronged you. I don’t deserve to ask anything of you…”
“But… please, for the sake of my parents… take care of them.”
I didn’t say yes. I didn’t say no.
I simply turned— and left.
In truth, even without his request— I would have done it.
His parents had always treated me well. Even when I had nothing.
After acquiring his company,
I donated thirty percent of its annual profits to educational charities.
Not as a publicity stunt— but as a promise fulfilled.
Sophie was a failed case.
But that was because— she chose the wrong path.
It had nothing to do with my intentions.
Sometimes, when outstanding students send in their report cards— I forward them to Ethan’s parents.
After all, they were the ones who had once supported me in doing this.
One day, after seeing the results, they suddenly asked— “Do you regret it?”
I paused. Then smiled softly.
“This… is exactly where I want to be.”
I didn’t elaborate.
Just like no one knows— that in prison,
Sophie’s face had been slashed— by that very same pair of scissors.
And beside her— a tuft of yellow cat fur had been left behind.
Now— she had lost her mind.
Every day, she screamed that a cat had come for revenge.
At the thought, I reached down— and gently scratched the chin of the cat in my lap.
Under the sunlight, the orange cat rolled over lazily, purring softly.
Its tail— shortened.
And twitching.
I picked up my phone and sent a message to my assistant—
“Double the year-end bonus.”
She replied instantly—“Ms. Grant… what did I do wrong?!”
I smiled. “Nian Nian says thank you.”
I will never forget— that night I left the villa, crying until I could barely breathe— when my assistant appeared at my door, holding a weak, trembling little cat wearing an Elizabethan collar.
Lost— and found again.
The End
