Shirley Turner was obviously holding a bellyful of anger, and I happened to walk right into it, getting a good scolding. "I called Adrian Gordon, and she answered without permission. What has that got to do with me?" I was equally upset, and immediately retorted, "Don’t be so angry all the time. Be careful, or your daughter’s karma might come back on her double." "Lily Miller! You are so malicious!" Shirley Turner roared, her voice cracking with fury, "If you have the guts, don’t get sick for the rest of your life!" I really didn’t want to argue with her, so I said lightly, "I really didn’t mean it. Who knew Adrian Gordon left his phone in the hospital room..." "Adrian is your brother-in-law now, don’t you understand the need to avoid suspicion in your relationship? Why can’t you relay messages through someone else? I think you are just unwilling to give up and still trying to get involved with Adrian. Luckily, Sophie discovered it in time!" What? I explained in good faith and was misunderstood and attacked ? The anger that had just subsided surged again, and I was so furious my head spun. Taking a deep breath, I commanded through gritted teeth, "Then please convey to your son-in-law, my brother-in-law—that I’m right at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau, the appointment time has arrived, tell him to come and handle the divorce procedures! Otherwise, your daughter will die as a homewrecker!" I don’t know if my threat worked, but ten minutes later, Adrian Gordon called me back. "Lily, I didn’t deliberately break the appointment, I’m on a business trip today, out of town," Adrian Gordon explained to me. I suppressed my anger forcefully, "I notified you in advance yesterday, and you still went on a business trip today?" "It was an unexpected situation, the branch office out of town had some issues, I had to come and deal with them." His tone was sincere, but I didn’t believe it. The Gordon Family business is big, I understand. But as a group president, he doesn’t need to handle everything personally, so many vice presidents and senior executives, can’t they manage independently? During my silence, Adrian Gordon started playing the emotion card again: "Lily, there’s affection between us, can we really not sit down and talk properly instead of rushing to divorce?" Listening to these words, I felt no emotions. "Don’t say disgusting things to me, we can’t go back to the past, divorce is inevitable." Seeing my firm stance, Adrian paused for a moment and continued, "Even if we are to divorce, there are still some property division issues to discuss, we’ll talk when I return from the business trip." "What’s there to discuss, isn’t it just a villa? If you want it, I’ll give it to you, just pay me back the renovation and furniture money." The villa I live in now was bought by Adrian Gordon for 30 million in full, with both our names on the title. But the renovation and furniture were paid for by me, costing several million, depleting all my savings. The villa was bought to be a new wedding home, both contributing money and effort, working on a small home together, I felt very happy at that time. But now, thinking back, I really regret it. "If I take the villa, where will you live? Can you really go back to the Miller Family?" "Where I live is my private matter, even if I sleep on the streets, it’s none of your business." "Lily, don’t say angry words, I could never let you sleep on the streets. I don’t want the villa, you can have it, just go through the transfer procedures when you have time." I thought for a moment and said, "Giving it to me is fine, then I’ll pay you half the house price, but it will take some time." I can’t come up with over ten million cash now. Adrian Gordon’s tone revealed hurt and helplessness, "Lily... do you really have to be this meticulous with me? I said I’d give it to you without expecting a dime from you as a gift. I know you are in such a difficult situation, how could I possibly take your money." His words showed he cared, seemingly thinking about me, making my eyes suddenly tear up. Indeed, I’m in a difficult situation and have been since childhood. No matter how rich the Miller Family is, it has nothing to do with me. I’m just a nominal eldest daughter of the Miller Family. Although the clothing brand I founded is developing well, after just a few years, all the money earned was used to renovate that villa. "Let’s discuss when you return anyways, I won’t take advantage of you so that Sophie doesn’t find out and cause a scene again." Saying this, I hung up without waiting for a reply from the other end. Feeling extremely irritated, I sat in the car, turned to look at the Civil Affairs Bureau’s door and felt very unwilling. The phone dinged, I picked it up to see it was from Adrian Gordon. [Lily, rest assured, Sophie won’t know about these things. You’ve given so much to me, consider it my compensation to you.] Seeing this, my nose suddenly turned sour, eyes welled up again. This damned man at least still has some conscience. But I hate him for this belated conscience. If he had been a complete jerk, I’d be able to stay firm, fight back till the end, and sever all ties. But he acts half bad then changes his mind, suddenly making nice, this is the most draining for me. Staring at the message for a few seconds, my mind suddenly became clear, soon regaining firmness. No matter what he does, I cannot be swayed. For a scumbag who has shown his ugly side, no matter how he repents afterwards, I wouldn’t trust a single bit. Exiting the chat page with him, I canceled today’s divorce appointment request, then looked at the dates ahead. Turns out, I can only book for another afternoon half a month later! Wennie Lane asked me out for dinner, celebrating my return to singlehood and escaping from the scumbag. I said gloomily, "Didn’t get divorced." "Didn’t get divorced? Why?" Wennie Lane was surprised, "Adrian Gordon refused?" Wennie Lane was angry too, "How can he refuse? He publicly held a wedding with Sophie Miller, his affair was so blatant and flashy, and he still has the nerve not to get divorced?" I sighed and told Wennie about what happened this afternoon. After listening, Wennie Lane had the same thought as me, "He must be regretting it, comparing Sophie Miller and realizing you’re better. And he’s worried that if he gets divorced, he’ll lose you completely, and what if he falls ill again in the future and needs you?" I was stunned, staring at her in bewilderment. Honestly, I hadn’t thought of that! I could tell Adrian Gordon truly regretted it, but I hadn’t considered that his desire to keep me might be for another reason! —Treating me as a life-saving remedy! "Didn’t you see such an obvious motive?" Wennie Lane looked at me in disbelief and asked, both surprised and angry. I nodded absent-mindedly, "I see it now..." "You really are..." Wennie Lane was speechless, "You don’t understand the limits of human nature well enough!" I had nothing to say, perhaps that’s true. "However, the most direct reason he’s trying to win you back must truly be because he can’t stand Sophie Miller and wants comfort from you." After ordering from the menu and calling the waiter, Wennie Lane continued, "My aunt told me that yesterday Sophie Miller had an argument with him, scolding him harshly, and everyone in the department knows about it. With Sophie Miller’s drama queen attitude and Adrian Gordon’s spoiled temperament, how could he tolerate it?" Hearing this, I was surprised but, upon thinking, realized it was within expectation. "No wonder he went on a business trip, aside from intentionally delaying the divorce, he’s probably hiding from Sophie Miller too." I suddenly understood, thinking he had it coming. And they were newlyweds, shouldn’t they be passionately in love? Yet they loudly argued and found excuses to avoid each other. Truly, evil ones meet their match. "I think so too. But Sophie Miller, that manipulative faker, knows just how to handle men. Once her anger subsides, she can play the victim and sweet-talk him easily." Wennie Lane, an expert at identifying fakes, said confidently. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel·fire·net "Doesn’t matter, it would be best if they’re stuck together." That’s how I truly felt. Wennie Lane gave me a questioning look, "Are you sure if Adrian Gordon turns back and seeks reconciliation, you can really resist?" I immediately became serious and spoke with righteousness, "Of course! After the way he disrespected me, if I reconciled with him, I’d be laughed at by outsiders, making them think I’m desperate for a man." "And...as you said, his change of heart may not be out of love for me, but because compared to Sophie Miller, I seem to be a better deal, and can even save his life at critical moments." I’ve come to see that someone like Adrian Gordon loves no one but himself. Being with such a man is digging your own grave, like flying into the fire, turning to ash. Wennie Lane relaxed, "It’s good that your stance is firm. If you don’t have enough money for the divorce, let me know, I’ll help you figure it out." After dining with Wennie Lane, I returned to the office to work overtime. When I was ready to leave at ten in the evening, my aunt called. My aunt spoke excitedly, "Lily, the white jade bracelet your mom sold years ago finally has a lead!" "Really?" I was overjoyed, "You found my mom’s bracelet? Where is it?" "At the end of the month, Brightmoor Auction House is hosting a large charity auction in Winstel. Among the treasured auction items, there’s a white jade bracelet. I’m sending you a picture, take a close look. Both your grandma and I think it’s the one." After hanging up, my aunt sent me the picture. I opened it and, at first glance, recognized it as the family heirloom my mom sold years ago. Returning home, I meticulously researched and also reviewed expert interpretations of the charity auction, estimating that the starting bid for the bracelet would not be less than thirty million. I was thrilled and overwhelmed with joy, suddenly doused with a cold reality. Thirty million, where would I get such an amount? But this bracelet is the most important item my mom left for me, and my grandma’s long-standing concern. After searching for so many years, it’s finally found. If I can’t buy it back, not only would it be a regret for my grandma, but also become a mental burden for me. That night, I tossed and turned, contemplating ways to raise money. Two days later, Adrian Gordon returned from his business trip and called me, inviting me to dinner. "No need for dinner, just say whatever you have to on the phone." I knew his ulterior motives and didn’t want to give him a chance. "Lily, do we really have to be so distant? Even as ordinary friends, having dinner occasionally is normal." I didn’t want to entertain a single word and directly asked, "Are you going to say it or not? If not, I’ll hang up." Just as I was about to hang up, Adrian Gordon finally compromised, "Alright Lily, I’m calling regarding the villa. I’ll give it to you; we can handle the transfer proceedings tomorrow." Upon hearing this, I slightly furrowed my brow, took a moment to consider, and replied, "I don’t need the villa. You can keep it; just give me the money for renovations and furniture." I urgently needed funds, so getting a few million was far better than receiving something worth over ten million. Adrian Gordon asked puzzled, "Don’t want the villa? Where will you live?"