Ever since Carter had considered a divorce, he had counted his assets and drafted a divorce agreement. After that, he started to work on the business dealings between their family businesses.

Carter was the leader of the Flanagan Group, while Misty was the daughter of the Lawrence family, who ran the Lawrence Group. After their eight years of marriage, the two family businesses were tightly intertwined.

If Carter asked for a divorce, it would negatively hurt the stock prices and the ongoing partnerships. Hence, he needed to be one step ahead and prepare to face any future risks.

Besides, he also needed to inform Misty's parents about his plan. He wouldn't want both families to be blindsided.

After Misty argued with Carter over that broken bowl, she brought the newly repaired bowl to her best friend's home. Meanwhile, Misty parents were in the dark about the situation until Carter knocked on their door.

Misty's mom, Kathy Mendel, was shocked to hear that Carter was considering a divorce. "Carter, have you thought over it?"

"I want to give my marriage one last try. If Misty and I still can't push through…" He flashed a heavy smile. "...That only shows we're not meant to be."

Kathy, who was well aware of Misty's trauma, looked apologetic. She couldn't come up with any good advice and let out a deep sigh. "Gosh, Misty is such a…"

After Carter left, Leslie Lawrence and Kathy called their daughter home. That was when Misty figured out the meaning behind Carter's "eight chances".

Yet, she did not take it seriously. She even questioned incredulously, "Did Carter say he's thinking of divorce? That's impossible. He loves me too much to go through with it."

Carter's love was like Misty's love for Zach; they would give up their lives for their lover.

Therefore, she didn't think Carter would have the heart to give up on her.

Anyway, Misty admitted she had crossed a line last time. It took her a while to realize it was Carter's birthday on that day.

Feeling guilty, she ordered a mini cake online and made a lunch box in the kitchen. After picking out a necktie from a mall, she gathered all the gifts and showed up at the Flanagan Group office.

Carter returned to his office from a meeting and found his wife, who had previously left home in a fit of anger, dozing off before the table out of boredom.

When Misty heard the noises, she looked up, and her eyes lit up. "Darling, you're back!"

She jogged over, held his hand, and blabbered, "I'm sorry, darling. I was too harsh on you that day. You know I always lose my cool over anything that's related to Zach."

Tugging at his sleeve, she cooed, "I was wrong. Please forgive me."

Whenever Misty begged for forgiveness, she would stare at him like a guilty child with rosy cheeks. His anger would subside whenever she gave him that look.

Putting aside Misty's response to anything Zach-related, she was a dutiful wife to Carter. She'd cook for Carter, buy him gifts, accompany him on business trips, and occasionally plan small surprises for him.

Carter was glad that Misty never hid their marriage even though she was still in love with Zach. That was the reason he decided to hang on for a little more after eight long years.

Sighing, he pulled Misty closer. "I need a plus-one for a charity cocktail party next week. Will you go with me?"

Eager to make him happy, she agreed to everything he asked of her. "Sounds good!"

On the day of the charity cocktail party, Misty waited for the driver at home in her haute couture dress. Carter was still at work and would meet her at the entrance of the party venue later.

At 5:00 pm, Misty received a call from an unknown number.

"Misty, this is Zeke! I've landed in Weston City. Can you pick me up from the airport?"

Shocked and excited to hear Zeke's name, she gasped, "Zeke, it's you! Just wait. I'll be there soon."

She happily rushed to the airport, utterly forgetting about her promise to Carter.

"Mr. Flanagan, Mrs. Flanagan has just picked up a man from the airport. They're headed to a hotel right now."

Carter stood alone at the fringe of the party crowd and stared blankly at the photo his driver had just sent him.

Misty, who had promised to meet him at the party, had stood him up. In the photo, she was hugging a young man at the airport, whom Carter quickly recognized as Zach's younger brother, Zeke.

This was about Zach again. Carter realized he could never win against Misty's dead lover. He would always be second to the people around Zach or anything remotely related to Zach.

A bitter sensation spread through his body. Suddenly, he felt like a joke for still clinging to hopes about Misty.

It was foolish of him to expect that she'd fall in love with him after eight years of futile attempts.

Still, Carter wanted to stick to his promise of eight chances.

With a vacant expression, he texted Misty, "There goes your second chance."

Misty came home at midnight that day. The house was brightly lit, but Carter was nowhere to be seen.

She finally recalled the text he had sent. She mumbled, "Is he mad at me?"

He would stay up and wait for her, no matter what time she came home. She kicked off her shoes and softly pushed the bedroom door open. Relief washed over her when she found him reading in bed.

Then, she ran over and gave him a hug before apologizing, just like she had done many times before.

"I'm sorry, darling. Zeke asked me to pick him up from the airport because he's back in the country. We had dinner with some friends to welcome him home. That's why I missed the cocktail party." She rubbed her face on his chest. "I hope I didn't bring you trouble."

Carter had picked up on the scent of alcohol on Misty. He quietly pushed her away. "No."

Misty's absence didn't really give him much trouble, except that he had to let another couple perform the opening dance on his behalf because his plus-one was missing. People had gossiped behind him because of the sudden switch.

"About that text…" Misty was about to discuss it when she was cut off by her ringing phone. She immediately picked up when she saw the caller ID. "Hello? Zeke?"

Zeke said something to her, and her face fell. "Wait for me. I'll be there right away."

She scrambled to leave, but Carter grabbed her wrist with a frown. "Where are you going?"

Misty was in a great hurry. "Zeke found some hidden cameras in his hotel room. I'm going to check out the situation."

Although Carter was disappointed in his wife, he would never allow her to go out alone in the dead of the night for her safety. His tone took an icy turn. "Zeke should have contacted the police instead of you."

"But he's Zach's younger brother. You've met him before! How can I just leave him be?" Misty retorted, making Carter look like the unreasonable one.

He deliberated, but no words came out of his mouth, even though he was a master negotiator in business deals worth hundreds of millions.

For Misty's safety, Carter drove her over to the hotel. During the car ride, he warned her, "Misty, you've lost your third chance."

Misty totally ignored him. She fretted in the front passenger seat, urging him, "Carter, speed up."

She had blatantly expressed her worry for another man in front of her husband without guilt. Carter, who had accepted the fact he would always come after Zach and anyone related to Zach, fell silent and focused on driving.

Once they arrived at the hotel, Carter met Zeke, who bore a resemblance to Zach. The handsome young man with a strained expression was engaged in a tense discussion with the police.

When Zeke spotted them, he approached them. "Hi, Misty." He turned to Carter, asking, "Who is this?"

Misty explained absentmindedly, "Oh, he's my husband." She lifted her chin in the direction of the crowds at Zeke's room entrance. "What's going on?"

Zeke smiled wryly. "I've called the police, but the hotel refused to take responsibility. They blamed me for setting up the hidden cameras and for blackmailing them."

Misty's expression turned grim as she went up to argue with the authorities.

Meanwhile, Carter stood there, watching his wife arguing and calling up lawyers to defend another man. He let out a depressed sigh.

"I heard Misty has not once forgotten about Zach." Zeke, who stood beside him, suddenly muttered, "I look just like my brother. Do you think I stand a chance if I go after your woman?"

Zeke's bright eyes brimmed with confidence. In the past, Carter would have been triggered, but he was no longer the same man. He had since learned that a woman who could be easily wooed by others did not belong to you in the first place.

He refused to spare Zeke one look in the face of Zeke's provocation. Zeke became furious. Snickering, Zeke added, "You'd better not cry when I take Misty from you."

"Good luck," replied Carter dryly.

Although Misty did not love him, she wouldn't fall in love with the young and rash Zeke either. She only cared about Zach. Zeke had only enjoyed Misty's attention because he was Zach's little brother.

Carter helped Misty take care of the incident at the hotel and found new accommodations for Zeke before calling it a day.

An idea occurred to Misty when they headed home in Carter's car. She turned to Carter, asking, "Darling, Zeke is holding an art exhibition in two days. Do you think you could show him some support?"

Carter almost laughed at the absurdity of Misty's behavior. He could not wrap his head around her outrageous and entitled request. Not only was she going out on a limb for another man, but she had to drag her husband into it as well.

Chuckling, he felt a heavy weight on his chest. He whispered, "Misty, I'm not that kind."

She blinked in confusion. "But Zeke is Zach's younger brother…"

"And that's why I can't take it!" Carter stepped on the brakes without warning and pulled over. His eyes were colored with rage underneath the dim streetlights.

Why would Misty unabashedly show off her love to another man in front of him?

Misty couldn't speak. She knew he was angry.

A stifling silence filled the space. Carter had wanted to engage Misty in a heart-to-heart talk, but he finally realized there wasn't a need for it.

Carter started the car and drove home in disappointment.

…

Carter and Misty gave each other the silent treatment in the next few days. Misty understood that she had pissed Carter off, but at the same time, she felt wronged.

Didn't Carter know that she had never gotten over Zach? Why did he have to compete against a dead man?

Besides, she was nice to Carter in their daily life.

Feeling indignant, she ignored Carter, who did the same to her. He often hid in the study without a word when he got home. She poured all her attention and energy into setting up Zeke's art exhibition.

"Misty, won't you anger Carter? You basically spent all your time helping me out," asked Zeke worriedly when they were at the art gallery.

Misty pouted. "Nah."

She assumed Carter's anger would subside in the next few days. Carter had always made up with her within three days whenever they fought. But she failed to notice they had now gone five days without speaking.

"Mr. Flanagan, these are a few PR plans we drafted in the event of your divorce. Please have a look."

Carter opened the file before him in his office. Before he could start, his assistant barged into the room, announcing, "Mr. Flanagan, a fire broke out in the building where Mrs. Flanagan attended the art exhibition!"

Carter's expression crumpled. "What did you just say?"

When he hurried to the scene, he saw smoke billowing out of the building. The left side of the building was up in flames. It was a chaotic situation.

Carter worriedly looked for Misty in the escaping crowds, but he could not find her anyway. He spotted the disheveled-looking Zeke and grabbed him. "Where's Misty?"

Zeke averted his gaze. "Misty is still on the 4th floor."

Carter's heart sank when he learned that Misty was trapped. Without thinking, he ran into the building and into the fire.

Fighting against the flow of the crowd, he finally located Misty, who was attempting to take a painting with her.

His presence came as a surprise to Misty. "Carter, why are you here?"

"Let's go." He grabbed her. "The fire is gonna spread to this floor very soon. Hurry up."

To his dismay, Misty shook off his hand and ran further into the art gallery. "No! Zach's final painting is in there! I'll lose it forever if I don't save it!"

Carter shut his eyes. He arrived at a decision after seeing Misty running into the smoke without hesitation.

He went ahead to stop her. Then, he offered, "I'll get that painting."

When he passed her by, he said to her, "Misty, this is the fourth chance."

Alas, no one heard him in the commotion.