In the past, those words had pierced her like knives, sharp, merciless, leaving invisible wounds that festered in silence. There was even a time she’d believed them herself, convincing herself that she was lucky Zahn had chosen her, and that she had to work harder to deserve both him and the Neri name. But how did that end? "You’re right," Lianna said as she stood, her expression calm. "Madam Neri, thank you for accepting Sean and for treating him well all this time. I believe that even without me here, you’ll continue to care for him." Madam Neri froze, not just at her calm tone, which was so unlike her usual timid or absentminded self, but at the strange energy surrounding her. It was difficult to describe, but the Lianna standing before her felt... different. And she called her Madam Neri instead of Mother-in-law? "Zahn deserves someone better," Lianna continued evenly. "Someone who can stand beside him, understand his work, and share his burdens. Most importantly, someone you can proudly introduce to society. I’ve already sent the divorce papers to Zahn. He just has to sign them. As for Sean..." She paused, clearing her throat softly. "I won’t fight for custody." Madam Neri blinked, utterly caught off guard. Did this woman hit her head somewhere in the past few days? Divorce? Her son? But then she sneered, quickly regaining her usual composure. Lianna must be scheming again. A woman who had once drugged her son just to marry into the family wouldn’t suddenly let go so easily. "So the obedient and virtuous daughter-in-law act didn’t work, and now you’re showing your true colors?" Madam Neri scoffed. "Are you done pretending?" "Think whatever you want." Lianna’s voice was steady. There was no point reasoning with someone who had condemned her from the very beginning. Just then, Zahn arrived. He had overheard the word divorce and his mood instantly darkened. Yet, hearing his mother insult Lianna also unsettled him. "Lianna, let’s talk," he said as he stepped in. Madam Neri turned, startled. "Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be at work? Don’t tell me you actually came home because of her nonsense!" "Mom, not now," Zahn said tightly. "I need to talk to her." "Why do you keep letting this woman manipulate you?" Madam Neri snapped. "Hasn’t she done enough damage already? Do you really think she’ll go through with a divorce without fighting for Sean, without asking for anything? You’ve suffered long enough, Zahn. Just let her go!" Lianna crossed her arms. "Your mother is right. Just because we share a child doesn’t mean we have to stay trapped in an unhappy marriage. You’ve seen the divorce terms, haven’t you? Like I said, Sean’s custody is yours. I want nothing." That irritated Madam Neri even more. The woman she looked down on was not only leaving first but leaving with dignity. "Enough!" Zahn snapped, his patience breaking. His voice echoed through the room. He turned to his mother, his expression cold. "This matter has nothing to do with you. Please, leave." Madam Neri hesitated, glaring daggers at Lianna, but finally turned and left, slamming the door behind her. Once they were alone, Zahn’s gaze fell on the suitcase and neatly folded clothes on the bed. "What are you doing?" he asked, already knowing the answer. "Packing," Lianna said simply. "Once we finalize the divorce, I won’t be staying here anymore. Since you’re home, we can even go file it today." Her tone was calm, as though they were discussing dinner plans. The vein on Zahn’s temple pulsed. "Lianna, have you had enough? We are not getting divorced. If you’re mad, then fine, be mad. But don’t say things you’ll regret later. Have you even thought about how this will affect Sean?" Lianna’s face hardened. Like his mother, Zahn clearly believed she was just throwing a tantrum. "Yes, I’ve had enough," she said. "Enough of pretending to be your wife. Enough of living under a label of the scheming woman who drugged the great Doctor Neri. Enough of being constantly derided and looked down upon. Enough of living in your shadow." Zahn’s expression turned colder. Her words sounded exaggerated, at least to him. Lianna gave a bitter chuckle. "Let me guess, you think I’m being dramatic." Her gaze sharpened. "Tell me honestly, Zahn Neri, do you believe I was the one who drugged you?" His brow furrowed. "Does it matter? It’s all in the past, Lianna. Why are you bringing this up now? Is this what your divorce is about?" "So what if it is?" she shot back. "The past never left me, Zahn. It clings to me like a parasite. You’ll never understand, because you weren’t the one branded the villain. You were the victim and I was the woman who trapped you. That’s how everyone saw us. Do you think your proposal, your pity marriage, made it any better? You never even asked if I was okay. You never believed me capable of innocence. You never even investigated. Your solution was simple, marry me and bury the problem." Zahn’s throat tightened. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. "But you’re right," Lianna continued, her tone soft but resolute. "It’s all in the past now. Because you know what, Zahn Neri? I don’t love you anymore. I know you married me out of obligation. But I don’t need your pity. You’ll finally be free to focus on your work, remarry someone of equal status, and make your mother proud." Zahn stared at her as if he hadn’t heard correctly. The words hit him like a punch he never saw coming. Lianna’s eyes stung not because she still loved him, but for the woman she used to be. Without another word, she closed her suitcase, lifted it, and walked out of the room without looking back. Before she could reach the door, Zahn caught up and grabbed her arm gently. "Lianna, where will you even go? Your family won’t take you back, especially if you divorce me. You didn’t even finish college, what do you plan to do?" Lianna yanked her arm free, glaring at him. "I don’t need their permission. And whatever I do next is none of your business." "Just let her go, Zahn!" Madam Neri’s voice cut in from the hallway. "Before she changes her mind! Since she’s so willful and thinks she can survive without us, let her learn the hard way!" "Lianna," Zahn said quickly, pulling out a card and handing it to her. "Forget what you said earlier. You’re just upset. Take this, if you don’t want to stay in any of our properties, use this to get by. If it’s not enough, tell me." Lianna looked at the card but didn’t take it. A faint, bitter smile curved her lips. When had she ever been part of "our"? Even staying at the Sin Mille villa required Madam Neri’s approval. The servants there never called her Mrs. Neri, or recognised her as the young madam." "I don’t know anything about our properties," she said, emphasizing the last words. Then she echoed his usual cold response whenever she’d tried to reach him before. "If you’re confused, go ask your mother. Or call your assistant." "Lianna, you dare show that attitude to my son?" Madam Neri barked from behind Zahn. Lianna didn’t even look back. She simply walked out, her strides steady, confident, and resolute. Before she could step into the waiting taxi, Zahn caught up again and pressed the card into her hand. Lianna didn’t argue this time. She just slipped it into her bag without a word. After the taxi disappeared down the road, Zahn turned to his mother. "Can you please stop interfering? This has nothing to do with you." His voice was sharp, his expression hard. "And what did she mean when she said she knows nothing about our conjugal properties? You didn’t interfere with that either, did you?" Madam Neri felt a pang of unease but quickly masked it with outrage. "What are you even talking about? That woman’s playing you again! Do you really think she’ll walk away with nothing, not even Sean’s custody? Think, Zahn. Apart from being your wife, what else does she even know how to do?" Zahn fell silent. Googlᴇ search 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝓷𝓮𝓽 In the end, he left without another word and drove back to work. Sean was still at school and thankfully spared from witnessing any of it. Yet Lianna’s firm voice, telling him ’I don’t love you anymore’ echoed in his head, burrowing deep like a splinter. Zahn wasn’t the only one left unsettled. Since the day Shin Keir’s men humiliated him, Sergei couldn’t sit still. He’d already interrogated the people Calin borrowed and gathered fragments of information. And one name kept surfacing: Yeri Zhi. Sergei wasn’t a fool. Shin Keir’s involvement had to be because of her. Was she the girlfriend Tristan and Zahn once mentioned? He’d also heard rumors that the infamous underground hitman, Rogue, had tried to kill Yeri Zhi and Lucia Hera at the hospital. But Rogue didn’t work for him. So who sent him? Could it be Calin? Was she really twisted enough to go that far? Frustrated, Sergei called her. The moment the call connected she began berating him, hurling curses. "Calin, shut up for a second," he said as soon as she answered. "Did you hire someone from the mafia to kill Yeri Zhi or Lucia Hera?" "What? Why would I do that?" Calin’s voice was sharp with irritation. "Are you sure? I know you, Calin. You’ve never hesitated to remove your competition when it comes to Shin Keir." She chuckled. "And you think I’d resort to murder? Please. There are plenty of ways to make someone disappear without bloodshed." Sergei didn’t detect any lies in her tone. He sighed and hung up. If it wasn’t Calin then who was Rogue working for? And why tail Lucia Hera? Coincidence? No. Whoever it was clearly wanted it to look like he was behind it. With that thought, Sergei dialed Tristan Felan. At least he was rational, unlike the unpredictable Shin Keir.