Linda carefully set the car door closed, the silence inside thick and suffocating.

Shane, back from a business trip and immediately heading to the his residence, was clearly weary. He rubbed his temples, his hand resting on the steering wheel, and said with a hint of impatience, "How long are you going to keep this up?"

His words confirmed her fears: he saw this as nothing more than a tantrum.

A chill settled in Linda's heart. Straightening her posture, she stared ahead, her voice barely a whisper, "Shane, I'm serious. I don't want to be with you anymore."

Shane turned his head sharply, his gaze piercing.

He possessed a striking handsomeness, features sharply defined. Once, Linda had been completely captivated by his face, but now, she felt nothing. Absolutely nothing.

His dark eyes locked on her as he unfastened his seatbelt with a sharp click. "Get out of the car."

The sound of the car locking echoed in the sudden silence.

Linda immediately obeyed, stepping out of the vehicle and heading towards the villa's entrance. The light illuminated her back, straight and unyielding, a reflection of her firm decision to seek a divorce.

Shane waited long enough to finish a cigarette before exiting the car and following her inside.

The separation had begun, cold and unresolved.

That night, Linda took the guest room, and Shane, consumed by anger, made no attempt to coax her back. He changed into his pajamas and lay down, but the emptiness beside him felt unsettling, unfamiliar.

He was used to Linda's presence, always seeking his warmth from behind, no matter how distant he seemed.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the bedroom.

Shane instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes, awakening fully.

Faint sounds drifted up from downstairs.

He recognized the sounds of the maid preparing the dining room. Usually, Linda would assist, personally preparing his breakfast.

A sense of hope flickered within Shane. He rose and headed to the walk-in closet to dress.

Then, he stopped dead in his tracks.

Linda's suitcase was gone.

Shane threw open the wardrobe. Sure enough, several of her usual outfits were missing.

After a silent moment, he closed the wardrobe and changed into his business attire. He quickly washed and, while fastening his watch, descended the stairs. He casually asked the maid, "Where is my wife?"

The maid answered cautiously, "The lady left early this morning with her suitcase, without even asking for the driver."

"Well, good for her!" Shane retorted.

He ignored the situation, settling at the table to consume his usual black coffee and whole-wheat toast.

His eyes were drawn to the newspaper headlines.

It was filled with gossip about him and Maria, the titles sensationally eye-catching. Shane stared at them for a long time before quietly asking the maid, "Did she read the newspaper before she left?"

The maid replied honestly, "Madam left without having breakfast."

Shane glanced up at her, then snatched his phone and dialed Secretary Esther, "Take care of those newspaper stories!"

He was about to hang up after a few brief instructions.

Shane's slender fingers loosened his tie, his voice deceptively calm, "Also, find out where Linda sold her wedding ring. I want it back by 4 p.m."

Secretary Esther was stunned.

After a long pause, she whispered, "That's impossible! Mrs. Linda loves you so much; why would she sell her wedding ring?"

Shane's only response was to disconnect the call.

He threw the phone onto the table, his appetite completely gone as he stared at the offending news.

...

Linda returned to her mother's house, where Beatrice was preparing soup to take to the hospital.

Upon seeing Linda, Beatrice's composure faltered.

She pointed at the suitcase, her tone accusatory, "What couple doesn't argue? It's normal for men to stray occasionally. That Maria looks so pathetic and has a limp... I even inquired about her; she won't affect your position at all. There's no need to get a divorce. "

"What position am I even gaining with Shane?!"

Linda gave a bitter laugh as she packed the pigeon soup into a thermos, "I'm going to the hospital to see Dad later."

Beatrice continued to stare.

Finally, Beatrice wiped her hands on a rag and said angrily, "Your father will be furious if he finds out you're getting a divorce! Linda... Maybe you should reconsider. Even if you really can't live with him, how will you survive after the divorce? This family is barely hanging on as it is. What will you use to support it?"

Linda slowly tightened the lid of the thermos.

After securing it, she softly spoke, her head bowed, "There has to be a solution! Selling the wedding rings will cover half a year of Dad's medical bills and my brother's legal fees... I'll sell the house, too, and get a job to support the family."

Tears welled up in Linda's eyes.

This house was her mother's legacy, something she had never considered selling, no matter how dire the circumstances.

Beatrice was taken aback.

She offered no more encouragement but still disagreed with the drastic measures.

After composing herself, Linda and Beatrice proceeded to the hospital.

Jacob Adams's condition had stabilized following treatment, although he remained disheartened, constantly worrying about his eldest son, Colt's future.

Linda decided to postpone mentioning the divorce for now.

That afternoon, the attending physician came for his rounds.

Harold Blake, a young and accomplished doctor of medicine, was a leading expert in neurosurgery. Tall (185cm) and handsome, he possessed a refined demeanor.

After his examination, he glanced at Linda and suggested, "Let's talk outside."

Linda looked surprised.

She immediately set down what she was holding and said softly to her father, "Dad, I'll be right back."

Soon, they were in a quiet corridor.

Sensing her nervousness, Harold offered a reassuring smile.

Then, looking down at the case file, he began, "Last night, I consulted with several surgical directors, and we unanimously recommend customized rehabilitation for Mr. Adams to maximize his recovery. However, the cost is considerable, approximately 150,000 dollars per month."

For Linda, 150,000 dollars was an exorbitant amount.

But without hesitation, she responded, "We'll proceed with the treatment."

Harold closed the file and looked at her intently.

They had actually known each other for a long time, but Linda had forgotten.

When Linda was very young, he had lived next door. He remembered the terrace outside her bedroom illuminated with small stars every summer evening, where Linda would sit, thinking of her mother.

She would ask him, "Harold, will Mom come back?"

Harold didn't know and couldn't answer. Now, looking at her, he recalled seeing her wedding three years ago when he returned to Washington. He had assumed she was marrying for love, but it seemed she was unhappy.

Shane was treating her coldly and harshly.

Harold was about to speak when a cold voice cut through the air, "Linda."

It was Shane.

Dressed in business attire – a dark gray shirt and black suit – Shane looked like he had come straight from the office. The crisp sound of his calfskin shoes echoed as he walked towards them.

Shane approached them.

Extending his hand with a hint of casualness, he said, "Harold, long time no see!"

Harold looked at the offered hand, smiled subtly, and shook it. "Mr. Shane, a rare visitor!"

Shane released his grip and glanced at Linda. "Visiting Dad?"

An unspoken tension simmered between the two men.

Linda, oblivious to the undercurrent, disliked creating a scene with Shane in front of Dr. Harold, so she simply nodded. "Dr. Harold , I'll go now."

Harold gave a slight smile.

Linda walked with Shane toward the ward in silence.

Since she was planning a divorce, she no longer felt compelled to ingratiate herself with him as she once had.

Near the ward door, Shane suddenly seized Linda's slender wrist, trapping her between himself and the wall. His eyes were a mix of emotions.

Just now, the way Harold had looked at Linda was the way a man looks at a woman.

Shane gently touched Linda's face, noticing how white and delicate it was.

His voice, slightly husky, asked, "What did you say to him?"

Linda tried to pull away, but Shane tightened his grip, pressing her back against the wall.

They were now intimately close, a stark contrast between hardness and softness.

Linda found herself at her breaking point: "Shane, we're in a hospital!"

"I'm perfectly aware of that."

Shane remained unmoved. He leaned in close, his face inches from her ear, his tone a low threat: "Do you have any idea who that is?"

Linda understood the unspoken accusation.

He was Shane's Group's president, a man of considerable standing. He wouldn't tolerate his wife being overly familiar with other men.

A bitter smile touched Linda's lips.

"Shane," she said, "I don't share your suspicious mind, nor am I in the mood for such things. Don't worry, I won't have an affair with anyone before our divorce."

With that, she pushed him away and went inside the ward.

Shane followed her in.

He frowned as he entered. It wasn't a private room.

Colt pulled out a chair for him, whispering, "Please, sit down! I'll ask Linda to peel some fruit for you... Linda, don't just stand there! You can go home with Shane later. I'll stay and look after our father!"

Shane sat and began talking with Jacob.

He might be cold towards Linda, but he was always impeccable in front of Jacob. Years in the business world had taught him how to charm, and he easily made a good impression.

Jacob had always been fond of him.

However, when Shane suggested moving him to another hospital, Jacob politely declined, "Don't bother! This place is fine, and Dr. Harold is very attentive."

Shane didn't press the issue: "Alright, Dad, if you're comfortable here, then that's what matters!"

Just then, Linda handed him a peeled apple.

Shane took it, but placed it aside. He grasped her wrist, stood up, and said to Colt and Beatrice, "I'll take Linda home now. Take care, Dad."

Jacob nodded as he watched them leave.

Beatrice began tidying up. Suddenly, Jacob spoke, "They've been having trouble lately, haven't they?"

Beatrice's hands trembled.

She quickly recovered, "It's nothing! Linda and Shane are doing just fine!"

Jacob sighed softly, "You're lying to me! Linda looks at him differently. She used to look at Shane with such light in her eyes, but now, it's gone."

Beatrice was taken aback. Softly, she said, "You should talk to her!"

Jacob leaned back against the head of the bed. After a moment, he whispered, "No, I won't. She doesn't say anything, thinking I don't notice... I don't want Linda to be trapped either."

Beatrice stopped herself from speaking.

...

Shane escorted Linda downstairs.

The setting sun cast a red glow on the black Bentley, making it look almost fiery.

Linda was guided into the car. She tried to get out, but he gripped her wrist tightly.

Shane's expression was impassive. From the outside, it was impossible to tell how much force he was using. Linda couldn't move, a clear demonstration of the difference in strength between a man and a woman.

When she stopped struggling, Shane released her.

He sat in silence, smoking.

Linda's breathing was slightly uneven. She looked at his profile. The dim light cast shadows on his face, highlighting his strong features. Combined with his status, he possessed a charm that could easily captivate women.

Linda vaguely remembered,

It was that very face that had once fascinated her and held her affection for so many years.

Shane glanced sideways at Linda.

He rarely bothered with Linda's affairs. He wasn't particularly attentive to her, but he didn't want to change his wife. Men in his position didn't readily replace their wives.

After a long pause, he extinguished his cigarette and pulled out a velvet box from his pocket.

He opened it, revealing a diamond ring.

Linda's throat tightened. This was... the wedding ring she had sold that night.

Had Shane bought it back?

Shane kept his gaze fixed on her face, watching for the slightest flicker of emotion, as if trying to understand her every thought.

Finally, he spoke, his voice flat, "Hold out your hand and put on the ring. Then come home with me. I'll pretend the other night never happened. You can still be Mrs. Linda."

Linda, rarely on the receiving end of Shane's generosity, remained steadfast.

Her slender, pale fingers subtly curled inward.

Shane's patience wore thin. "What exactly is it that you want?" he demanded.

Linda's voice was barely audible as she replied, "Divorce. I want a divorce."

Shane, consumed by work, had been further aggravated by a morning quarrel with Linda and his inability to locate his cufflinks. On the verge of an outburst, he spotted a white BMW in the parking lot where Harold was engaged in conversation with a nurse.

His mood worsened, and he was about to unleash his anger when his phone rang. It was Secretary Esther. Shane answered with a sharp tone, "What is it?"

Secretary Esther reported dutifully, "Miss Maria had a fall getting out of bed and may have damaged the nerves in her leg. She's quite upset. Mr. Shane, would you consider visiting her in California? It would greatly improve her spirits."

Shane paused, holding the phone, seemingly uncomfortable with Linda's presence.

The call wasn't muted, and Linda overheard the conversation.

A faint smile touched her lips. She opened the car door, stepped out, and walked away without a backward glance.

A chill evening breeze swept over her, and Linda felt a shiver.

*Thankfully*, she thought, *when Shane presented the wedding ring, she hadn't faltered or changed her mind. She was ready to leave behind their suffocating marriage*.

*Thankfully*, she repeated to herself.

As her figure receded into the distance, Shane, staring after her, snapped into the phone, "Get her the best doctors available!"

Secretary Esther was surprised, "So, you won't be going to California to see her?"

Shane ended the call.

After disconnecting from Secretary Esther, he tried calling Linda, but the call wouldn't go through.

He attempted to message her on WhatsApp, but the message failed to send.

Linda had blocked his number and WhatsApp account.

Shane tossed his phone aside in anger. After a moment, he picked up the diamond ring and examined it intently. He now understood the depth of Linda's desire to leave him.

*However*, he thought, *unless he agreed, she would remain Mrs. Linda .*

***

Three days later, on the top floor of the Shane Group Building, in the his office...

Shane stood before the panoramic window, speaking with his mother on his mobile phone. The old lady, thinking of Linda, urged him to bring her home for a visit.

Shane offered placating words.

A knock sounded at the door. "Mr. Shane, a special delivery for you."

Shane raised an eyebrow, already suspecting the nature of the delivery.

Moments later, Secretary Esther entered, placed an express package on the desk, and quietly said, "Madam sent this."

Shane, still by the window, observed it for a few seconds before approaching. With deliberate movements, he picked up the document and opened it. As he had anticipated, it was a divorce agreement.

He quickly scanned the document. Linda was firm, asking for nothing.

A clean break, leaving empty-handed.

His expression darkened. After a prolonged silence, he asked in a low voice, "What has she been doing lately?"

Secretary Esther responded promptly, "She appears to be selling the house. Many have viewed it, but no one has made an offer yet. Additionally, your wife is seeking employment. She received a national award in college, and a reputable institution is interested in hiring her with a good salary."

Shane sank into his leather office chair.

After a long pause, he picked up the divorce agreement and stared at it.

His voice was icy as he said, "Have someone contact the realtor and buy that house for the lowest possible price!"

He scoffed, "As for work, she won't be allowed to struggle!"

Secretary Esther was taken aback.

She had expected Shane to push the Linda family further down, but instead... No.

Didn't he despise Linda above all else?

Hesitating for only a few seconds, Shane erupted, "Are you still here?!"

Secretary Esther withdrew.

Outside the office, she wrung her hands, paused briefly, then dialed a number on her mobile phone...

Two days later, Linda completed the sale of the house.

Despite its market value of 50 million dollars, the buyer aggressively offered only 28 million. Aunt Beatrice vehemently protested, accusing them of blatant greed.

But Linda, gritting her teeth against the injustice, declared, "Sell it!"

Her brother's health was rapidly deteriorating, and time was a luxury they couldn't afford. Coupled with the mounting legal fees and the seemingly bottomless pit of debt engulfing the family, Linda found herself with absolutely no other option.

With the house sold, she managed to arrange a meeting with Colt.

Her brother, usually so handsome and composed, the object of desire for countless wealthy women, now appeared worn and weary. They spoke through the thick glass barrier.

[Find a lawyer named Brian Edward.]

[Linda, he can help me, and he can help you.]

...

Linda desperately wanted clarification, but the allotted time was up, and Colt was being led away.

His eyes held a deep reluctance as he looked at his sister. Linda, once the cherished darling of the entire family, was now forced to bear the weight of their collective burden.

Colt had been reading the news, and he was painfully aware of the predicament Linda faced.

As he was being escorted away, Linda rose and gripped the railing, her knuckles turning white. "Brother... Brother..." she choked out.

Colt, pressing his index finger to his lips, silently mouthed two words:

[Take care]

Linda watched him disappear. After a long, agonizing moment, she slowly sank back into her chair.

Brian...

Yes, she had to find Brian.

...

As Linda emerged from the detention center, her phone immediately rang. It was the training institution, the caller respectfully addressing her as Mrs. Linda and informing her that they currently had no staffing needs.

Linda quietly ended the call.

She knew this was Shane's doing – his way of coercing her back into his life.

She entertained no romantic illusions about Shane's motivations. He simply needed a wife, a presentable facade, and stability for Shane's Group's stock market.

In his eyes, Linda was utterly disposable.

Her phone buzzed again, displaying an unfamiliar number.

Moments later, Shane was on the line.

His voice, as always, was cool and aristocratic. "Linda, we need to talk."

At noon,

The September sun failed to penetrate the chill that had settled deep within Linda's bones.

Half an hour later, Linda entered the imposing Shane's Group building. Secretary Esther personally escorted her from the lobby to the president's office on the top floor.

Pushing open the door, she found Shane engrossed in documents.

Sunlight streamed through the panoramic window, illuminating him and emphasizing his almost godlike handsomeness. He was undeniably captivating, so much so that even Secretary Esther lingered a moment longer than necessary.

"Mr. Shane, Mrs. Linda has arrived."

Shane finally raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Linda.

A week apart had left her still slender and undeniably beautiful, but now tinged with a palpable weariness.

Shane was unmoved. He had always been ruthlessly pragmatic when it came to Linda.

He nodded slightly towards Secretary Esther. "You can leave. Close the door behind you."

Once Secretary Esther was gone,

Shane turned his attention back to Linda, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "It's been a week, and finally Mrs. Linda graces me with her presence! Why don't you come in and sit down? You used to love making snacks and bringing them here... Can't you remember the location of the sofa?"

"Shane, I'm not here for pleasantries."

...

Shane stared at her, his expression hardening.

After a tense moment, he sneered. "Here to beg for mercy, then?"

He picked up a cigarette case from the desk, shook out a cigarette, and lit it, his eyes never leaving hers.

Shane possessed a certain magnetic allure when he looked at a woman that way, a raw sexuality that was hard to ignore.

As the thin smoke curled upwards, he said softly, "Before you arrived, I did some calculations for you. Considering the Abels family's current predicament, you'd need to earn at least 30,000 or 40,000 dollars a month just to cover your father's medical expenses. And of course, that includes the money you got for selling your wedding ring!"

Linda's face remained impassive. "If Mr. Shane would simply extend a little grace, I'm sure I could find a way."

"Mr. Shane?"

Shane's sneer deepened. "Just last week, you were clinging to my neck in bed, purring 'Shane' like a kitten... Why, has it really only been a few days since you started calling me Mr. Shane?"

Linda knew he wouldn't make this easy for her.

She said quietly, "Shane, you have no feelings for me! I'm not asking for anything in the divorce. You won't suffer any losses, will you? You can find another young, beautiful bride..."

Shane crushed the cigarette in the ashtray, his gaze piercing.

He sneered, "And let you run around cuckolding me everywhere in the name of Mrs. Linda?"

He said it in a bad tensible.

Linda was also angered by him. She hoarsely said, "If you refuse to divorce and let me go, then I only have the last way!"

Shane's face became extremely ugly.

Before Linda could react, he had already come to her side. He pinched her delicate chin and pressed her ear bone and asked dangerously, "You mean to sell?"

Linda was trembling all over.

She didn't deny it.

Shane didn't get angry but smiled. He got close to her, like a lover's murmur: "Who can you sell to? In this place, you put on Mrs. In ur name, Let's see who dares to want you? Besides, can you stand being touched by others? Men buy women directly, just like the night we got married, how painful it was... Did you forget?"

Limda's face was pale.

Why doesn't she remember that Shane was very rude to take revenge on her on the wedding night.

That night, Linda was almost killed by him.

Shane will take it when he sees it.

He let go of her and gently touched her face: "When you come back to be Mrs. Linda, we will be the same as before."

Linda's slender neck was very tight.

Suddenly, she saw a brand-new violin in the whole bookcase opposite.

Linda remembered that it was reported that the president of Shane's pharmaceutical spent a huge price of 20 million dollars to buy a sky-high violin in order to make her smile.

It turns out that this is...

Linda's smiled, just like before?

As before, as a plaything in his bed, she waited for him to please him every day, but he didn't get a little care and respect. Even his secretary could give her a face, just like before... Do you share your husband with others?

She doesn't want to be with such a man!

Linda's's smile faded, and she said word by word, "Mr. Shane, you can find someone else to do it!"

After she finished speaking, she turned around and was ready to leave.

The next second, he was hugged.

Shane hugged her slender waist, and his straight face leaned behind her ear, with a faint aftershave of pure male body, which could easily make women fall in love.

Linda's body trembled slightly.

Shane sneered, covered her thin body with her slender palm, and attacked the city in three or two times.

Linda raised his head slightly.

The slender legs in high heels, white and slender, can't stop shaking... Shane knows her body very well. If he is in a good mood and intends to please her, Linda will be as sensitive as a pool of spring water.

Just like now!

Shane pressed against her slender back. His hands were seductive, and his mouth was not free.

"Divorce? Who will satisfy you after the divorce?"

"So much! How can ordinary men be easily satisfied... Huh?"

......

Linda was ashamed to hear it, and she struggled desperately.

People may not know, but she knows best that she has been his wife for three years.

Shane looks like a businessman outside, but he is rude in bed. He likes to make her cry and scream when he does that. Sometimes Linda feels that he has a mental illness and likes to abuse women.

Shane is getting more and more excessive.

Linda finally couldn't help raising his hand and slapping him.

The air condensed. This was the first time she had attacked him, and it was probably the first time for the reserved Mr. Shane to be slapped by a woman, and the object was his most docile wife.

Shane had a bad temper, and his face became cold at the moment.

Those hot moments were cleaned up, like the emotion just now, but it was just an illusion.

He clasped her delicate chin and approached her, his voice was so cold that it could shake ice beads.

"It's promising! Can you beat people?"

"Do you really want to divorce me?"

"Linda, three years ago, you deliberately wanted to marry me, and three years later, you deliberately want to leave me again! Do you think you can enter and exit the gate of my family at your will, or do you think that Shane has a good temper and can be easily at the mercy of others!"

Linda smoked a meal and felt cold all over.

Finally, Shane told the truth.

He hates Linda, he hates Linda's family, and he hates Colt.

He hated the accident that forced him to marry her.

Therefore, after marriage, he tossed her in bed. He rarely did foreplay. He liked to see her collapse and cry the most...

Therefore, after the collapse of the Linda family, Shane had the ability to help, but he had been standing by and watching.

Linda didn't explain what happened in the past.

She just trembled her lips and said, "Shane, I used to like you without knowing the importance!"

In the future, I won't...

After saying that, she began to tidy up the clothes that were messed up by him.

The silk shirt was torn open a few buttons, the skirt was also lifted to the base of the leg, and the flesh-colored thin stockings were taken off to the bend of the knee...

It's really overwhelming.