"Mr. Hawthorne, are you really considering a ring?"

"Not necessarily." Edward glanced at her sideways, his expression clearly implying, If I were sure, why would I need your opinion?

Alice: "."

For the sake of her paycheck, Alice kept her professional smile perfectly in place.

"To be honest, if it's a gift, I'd recommend a bracelet or a necklace instead. Rings carry a special meaning-they're more suited for significant occasions."

Edward frowned slightly, a flash of impatience in his eyes. "You decide."

"What does Mrs. Hawthorne usually like?"

"No idea. Just pick something women generally prefer."

"."

Why did Mr. Hawthorne give off such a strange mix of deep affection and total indifference? Not that it was any of her business. She just needed to do her job.

Knowing when to stop, Alice didn't ask further. With the help of the sales associate, she settled on a pearl necklace with a teardrop-shaped diamond pendant.

She showed it to Edward, and he gave a slight nod. It was settled.

While Edward relaxed in the VIP area, he glanced at Alice and handed her a sleek black shopping card.

"Thanks for your help. Pick something for yourself."

Alice blinked in surprise and quickly handed the card back with both hands. "That's really not necessary, Mr. Hawthorne. It's part of my job."

Edward lounged lazily, his sharp features unreadable, his tone as flat as ever. "Choosing a gift for my wife isn't in your job description."

His voice wasn't loud, but it left no room for argument.

Still, Alice firmly believed that rewards should be earned. Helping him pick a gift hardly felt worthy of extra compensation.

She paused, about to reply, when her phone rang-it was William.

She had no choice but to step aside, still holding the card, and answer.

"Alice, do you remember where you filed the initial trade partnership documents? I need them urgently."

"They're in the second drawer of my desk."

"Got it." William was about to hang up when Alice quickly stopped him-how should she politely decline Edward's offer?

She wouldn't have asked anyone else, for fear of gossip, but William was grounded and trustworthy. Plus, he'd worked with Edward for years.

William chuckled. "If Mr. Hawthorne gave it to you, just accept it. Consider it overtime pay. He's not short on money-what he needs is someone to help spend it."

Alice didn't miss a beat. In the same calm tone, she said, "That's what Mrs. Hawthorne is for."

"Mrs. Hawthorne doesn't spend any of his money. In fact, in the two years they've been married, she's never visited him on her own. The apartment he prepared for her? She doesn't even live there."

Alice was stunned.

In her mind, the fact that Mr. Hawthorne was personally picking out a gift spoke volumes about how much he cared.

After all, this was Edward, the president of GrandVerse Group-a man whose time was literally measured in money per second.

What she hadn't expected was that, in his own marriage, this seemingly all-powerful Mr. Hawthorne seemed to be on the losing end.

Not only did his wife not live in the luxury home he'd prepared for her, but she also didn't spend a dime of his money.

What kind of woman would turn down a man like Edward?

Alice couldn't help but feel curious about this mysterious wife of his.

William's voice came through the phone again. "Stop overthinking it. Just use the card. Mr. Hawthorne hates owing people favors."

That made everything click for Alice-rich people preferred to settle things with money rather than emotional debt.

"Thanks, Secretary Brooks."

After ending the call, she glanced at Edward. He was focused on his phone, so she quietly made her way to the third-floor menswear section to pick out a gift for Anthony Hayes.

As soon as she entered the store, the clerk, Lucas, gave her a once-over. Noting her casual outfit, his friendly smile dimmed. "Feel free to look around."

Alice seemed unfazed and began carefully examining the items. A sleek black tie caught her eye, and she reached out to take a closer look.

Lucas suddenly cut in coldly.

"Please don't touch. These items are for display only."

Alice glanced around the store. Not far away, another clerk was helping a customer try on a tie.

Her expression remained calm as she looked at Lucas. "So he gets to try them on, but I can't even touch one?"

Lucas visibly sneered. "That gentleman clearly has the means to purchase. I can't say the same for you. This tie is expensive. You likely can't afford it."

Alice let out a soft laugh, though her eyes were cold. She tapped her phone lightly.

"And how do you know I can't?"

Lucas looked down his nose with zero patience. "People who shop here are either wealthy or well-connected. Look at you-your entire outfit probably costs less than this tie. Why are you even pretending?"

As the secretary to the CEO of GrandVerse Group, Alice had worn enough designer pieces to know better. She usually dressed the part for work, but today was her day off-no need for power suits. Just something simple and comfortable.

She hadn't expected that dressing down would make her seem unworthy.

Staring at him with cool indifference, her voice soft but firm, she said, "If you work in customer service and don't even know how to treat people with basic respect, then maybe you shouldn't be surrounded by luxury goods-it might be making you forget your place."

Lucas flushed red. "Who do you think you are? You don't get to lecture me. If you've got the guts, buy the tie. If not, get out and stop wasting my time."

Alice raised an eyebrow slightly, the smirk on her lips widening.

"Interesting. I hope you still sound this confident after hearing this."

She lifted her phone and hit play. Two distinct voices echoed clearly.

"And how do you know I can't?"

"People who shop here are either loaded or important, and you-your whole outfit probably costs less than this tie."

Their entire exchange had been recorded, word for word.

Alice paused the playback and looked straight at Lucas. Her gaze was sharp, her voice calm but unwavering.

"This kind of behavior should really be reported to the Consumer Protection Agency. I'll be having a detailed discussion with them about your store's practices-let's see if this is how you usually treat customers. Don't worry, though-it's not you who should be scared. It's your boss."

She held up her phone slightly. "And I'll be posting this recording online too, so everyone knows what's happening. Don't worry-I won't edit a thing. Whatever you said, that's what goes up. I just hope you keep up that arrogance. Don't switch up now."

As soon as she finished, the smug look on Lucas's face vanished, replaced by pure panic.

"I-I'm sorry, miss! My tone was completely out of line. I apologize, really. Please don't post the audio."

If his boss found out what he'd just said, he'd be fired on the spot. And if it went viral online? The backlash would ruin him.

Alice kept watching him, a faint smile on her lips but ice in her eyes.

"I didn't quite catch that. What did you just say?"

Panic set in fully. Lucas's face crumpled. He practically choked on his words. "I'm sorry! I'm really, truly sorry!"

The sudden outburst drew the attention of nearby shoppers. Whispers broke out as people glanced over, judging.

Alice smiled again. "Sorry for what, exactly?"

"I shouldn't have judged you based on your appearance. I shouldn't have refused to let you see the items, and I definitely shouldn't have told you to leave. I was completely in the wrong. Please, give me another chance."

The crowd around them grew louder with criticism, and the floor manager hurried over. After a round of sincere apologies and disciplinary action against Lucas, Alice finally let it go.

She twirled Edward's black card between her fingers, cool and effortless. "Well, I'll let it slide this time. I hope you learn from this. I'll be buying what I need from your competitor next door."

When Lucas saw that signature black VIP card, regret hit him like a truck. That kind of card required spending millions annually to qualify. And he'd just treated its holder like dirt.

The manager looked like he was about to faint on the spot.

Alice strolled out of the store. Even several steps into the mall, she could hear the manager still yelling at Lucas in pure rage. She casually brushed her hair back and smirked toward the exit.

Honestly, Edward's card? Absolutely god-tier for moments like this. One swipe-instant karma.

--

Near the store's second entrance, a tall figure leaned quietly against the wall.

Edward had been there the whole time. He'd witnessed the entire scene-and how Alice handled it. One brow raised slightly as his deep eyes followed her departure.

In the end, Alice settled on a navy-blue tie from the store across the way. It was pricier than she'd originally planned, but considering how much Anthony Hayes had helped her over the years, she decided it was worth the splurge.

Just as she stepped out with the shopping bag in hand, she unexpectedly locked eyes with a pair of cool, unreadable ones.

"Mr. Hawthorne."

Edward glanced at her without much emotion. Then his gaze shifted to the bag in her hand. "Found a gift?"

Alice offered a polite smile and nodded. To anyone unaware, she looked warm and harmless-a stark contrast to the sharp, assertive woman she'd been moments earlier.

Edward's eyes darkened slightly. He glanced up at the store's sign and commented blandly, "Not exactly known for quality, are they?"

That took the wind out of her a bit. She maintained her flawless professional smile. "I did the best with what I had."

She was nothing like him. Sure, she earned a decent salary, but gifts costing hundreds of thousands? That was Edward's reality, not hers. Most of her paycheck still went toward supporting her grandfather every month.

Edward's tone was casual. "Didn't I give you a card?"

Hearing that, Alice pulled out the black card from her bag and held it out calmly. "This one's for a friend. It wouldn't feel right using your money."

Even though William had told her not to overthink it, the tangled history between her and Edward made everything complicated. Adding money into the mix would only make things more awkward.

Edward glanced at the card she held out, then back at her, something unreadable in his expression.

Most people never turned down free money from him-especially not cold, hard cash. He couldn't tell if she was simply principled or just an exceptionally good actress.

He didn't take the card. Instead, his tone remained light. "I need your assistance this afternoon. You'll be needing the card."

--

An upscale steakhouse in the city.

Alice was busy tying balloons in the main hall.

Edward had booked out the entire restaurant to surprise his wife with a romantic dinner. William had taken the roses Alice helped select and left to pick her up.

The place was empty except for her and Edward-not that he was lifting a finger to help.

William was recording the entire pickup process, and as Alice wrestled with balloons, Edward stood nearby, watching the live feed on his phone.

She worked nonstop, inflating each balloon and eventually shaping them into an arch leading toward the center of the restaurant.

No matter how she tried to rationalize it-calling that night a drunken mistake-the truth remained: she'd slept with someone else's husband.

That guilt made it impossible to imagine looking his wife in the eye.

All she could do was finish everything quickly and slip away before she arrived.

Just then, William's voice came through the phone: "Mr. Hawthorne, I'm at her door. About to knock."

Edward sat at the center of the oval dining table, white lights casting a stark glow over him. Under the lighting, the sharp edges of his profile gave him a regal yet distant aura.

He stared silently at the video playing on his phone.

Meanwhile, William stood in front of Room 1332, arms full of a huge bouquet of roses. He rang the doorbell and waited.

Just as he began to think no one was home, the door creaked open.

A man appeared-dressed in casual shorts and a sleeveless shirt, hair still dripping wet, a wrench in hand. Water spots dotted his skin and clothes.

William was stunned. "Who are you?"

Edward, watching the screen, narrowed his eyes. The chill in his expression deepened.

Anthony Hayes casually wiped water from his forehead. Noticing the well-dressed man holding flowers at his door, he raised an eyebrow and let out a small scoff.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking that? Who are you, and why are you knocking on my door?"

A while back, Alice had mentioned a persistent guy from work who wouldn't leave her alone.

Seeing this now? Perfect timing. He could help her shut this down for good.

William suddenly felt the phone in his hand grow heavy. He couldn't begin to imagine what Edward must be feeling.

"Do you live here?" he asked.

Anthony spread his arms. "What does it look like?"

Edward's gaze turned frigid. His grip on the phone tightened.

"Where's Emily?"

His icy voice came through the earpiece. The chill made William flinch. His expression turned serious as he glanced at the man in front of him.

"Where is she?"

Yep, definitely one of Alice's admirers, Anthony thought. She'd always had a knack for attracting trouble, even as a kid.

He clicked his tongue inwardly, then smiled faintly at William. "She's not back yet. Want me to let her know you stopped by?"

Suddenly-BANG!-a violent hiss of spraying water came from the bathroom. Anthony swore under his breath and quickly shut the door without another word.

Watching from his phone, Edward's face darkened like a brewing storm. The slammed door on screen only fueled the fury simmering inside him.

She really had the nerve to cheat on him.

He slammed his phone down.

CRASH!

Alice, busy shaping balloon decorations, jumped at the sudden sound. She spun around and saw nothing but a shattered phone on the ground-and Edward's stormy figure striding away, his entire being radiating icy rage.

Over the headset, William flinched at the loud crash echoing in his ear. He glanced at the closed door, then at the roses in his hands, and finally let out a long breath.

This time, Madam had really crossed a line. Forget that Edward was possessive and ruthless-any man would lose it seeing his wife with another guy like that.

Sure, he'd thrown himself into work and hadn't exactly nurtured their relationship, but Edward had always treated her as his wife. The best clothes, the finest house, a no-limit credit card-he never held back.

Yet she never accepted any of it. She never moved into the house, never used the card. Even the seasonal designer outfits in the villa hung untouched.

William never imagined things would spiral this far.

How could Mrs. Hawthorne do something like that? That guy just now-how could he even compare to Mr. Hawthorne?

William couldn't make sense of it.

He picked up the card tucked inside the bouquet, then quietly placed the flowers in front of Room 1332.

Just as he got back to the car, his phone rang-it was Alice. She sounded thoroughly confused.

"Secretary Brooks, what happened? Mr. Hawthorne just left-he looked furious."

William looked utterly drained. "Don't ask. Tonight's dinner is off. Just head home."

After hanging up, Alice had a gut feeling something had gone wrong on Mrs. Hawthorne's end.

She glanced at the nearly finished setup-balloons, flowers, candles. everything looked perfect, yet there was no one left to enjoy it.

She felt a little disappointed-but honestly, also relieved. At least she didn't have to face Mrs. Hawthorne tonight.

--

Edward drove back to the office, anger practically radiating off him. Once there, he grabbed his backup phone and made a call.

"Hey, Edward," came the cheerful voice of his grandfather over the line. "So? Is tonight finally the night you bring your wife home?"

Edward walked over to the window, his gaze locked on the cityscape from the 33rd floor. His voice was icy. "Grandfather, I want a divorce."

His grandfather let out a sharp sound, clearly displeased.

"Have you lost your mind? You haven't even properly started your marriage, and now you want a divorce?"

"I cheated," Edward said, his lips curling into a cold sneer. "And so did she."

"That's nonsense!" his grandfather barked. He banged his cane on the floor, his face flushed with anger. "You think slandering her is some kind of joke? After all these years I taught you, for what?"

"I know what kind of girl Emily is! She'd never cheat. Are you making this up just to avoid introducing her to me?"

Edward kept his gaze lowered, his voice flat. "They're living together. That's cheating in my book."

His grandfather wasn't having it. "There must be some misunderstanding."

"I saw it with my own eyes."

Silence fell. The sound of heavy breathing came through the phone-the old man was clearly furious.

After a long pause, he switched topics. "And what about your little 'mistake'?"

Edward didn't move, his dark eyes unreadable. "It just happened."

A drunk mistake. But still cheating. He wasn't denying that.

He admitted his fault. But what sickened him was how easily Emily seemed to live with hers-as though being married meant nothing to her.

"Seeing isn't always believing. You need to look into this properly," Mr. Hawthorne said with rare calm. The whole situation was clearly a mess.

"And as for your mistake, be a man and own up to it. Sit down with Emily and be straight with her. If she's willing to forgive you, that's her decision."

--

Alice arrived home around six, drained and dragging her feet.

Just as she was about to walk in, her eyes landed on a large, familiar bouquet of deep red roses sitting by her door.

She picked up the massive bouquet of red roses, glanced around suspiciously, but saw no one. Unlocking the door, she stepped inside-only to find Anthony Hayes mopping the floor right outside the bathroom.

"Hey Tony, did you leave these roses at my door?"

Anthony paused mid-motion, leaning his elbow on the mop handle. He looked every bit the relaxed, stay-at-home type.

"Do I look that bored to you? Clearly, someone's got a crush. You really have no idea who?"

"Who'd be sending me flowers?" Alice joked lazily, brushing it off. Since Anthony seemed just as clueless, she didn't press further. She dropped the roses on the couch and walked further in.

As soon as she noticed the puddle spreading across the floor, her expression shifted.

"What on earth happened here?" she called out. "Are you fixing the faucet or trying to recreate the Great Flood?"

Last time he'd come over for dinner, she'd mentioned the bathroom faucet was acting up-random spurts of water whenever it was turned on. Anthony had confidently promised to handle it over the weekend. She'd been skeptical of his sudden handyman enthusiasm.

Turns out, she had every reason to be.

"That mystery delivery guy messed everything up," Anthony said, still mopping. "The pipe burst while I was tightening the screws. Doorbell rang right in the middle, and. well, you see the result."

He glanced at her with a shrug. "But it's fine now. I replaced the faucet. Just cleaning up the water."

"Let me do it. You take a break," Alice said, setting the bouquet on the coffee table and taking the mop from him. As she leaned down to wipe the floor, she asked, "Any idea who sent the flowers?"

"No clue. He was dressed sharp, though. Looked like someone important." He rotated his wrist, stretching it, then grinned with curiosity. "Could it be that colleague you told me about?"

Alice paused mid-swipe, frowning. "Doubt it. I turned him down pretty clearly."

"Then who was the guy today? He asked for you by name," Anthony said, raising an eyebrow. "Don't tell me scammers are doing door-to-door deliveries now?"

Alice was just as puzzled. "What did he look like?"

His answer: "A guy's a guy. How am I supposed to tell?"

She stared at him, speechless. Well, she had no comeback for that.

Out of caution, Anthony ended up installing a smart lock with a built-in camera at her front door.

It showed who came by and saved video footage, too.

"If that creep shows up again with any shady ideas," he said, "at least the camera will make him think twice."

Alice thought that made sense.

After the lock was installed, Anthony headed out.

--

The next day, Alice accompanied Edward to Ancorum for a meeting about the new trade zone project. William came along, too.

Inside the VIP lounge, Alice quietly edged closer to William, eyeing Edward, who sat silently with a stormy expression.

"William, is it just me or does the air feel dangerously heavy today?"

William snuck a glance at Edward, then gave a very subtle nod.

Looks like the fire in Edward's gut from last night still hadn't cooled down.

Then again, being cheated on-especially for someone like him-wasn't exactly easy to swallow.

Even though Alice was dying to know what exactly had happened, she kept her mouth shut out of habit-less talk, fewer mistakes. She sat properly in her seat, quietly staring out the window, figuring it was safer not to draw any attention.

Soon, the plane landed in Ancorum, and the group headed straight to a high-end downtown club to meet their business partners.

"Mr. Hawthorne, we appreciate your investment and choosing us for this collaboration. Let me propose a toast."

Edward picked up his glass, clinked it lightly, then downed the drink in one go.

"The pleasure is mine," he said simply.

Lenny, their partner representative, broke into a wide grin. "Mr. Hawthorne, you handle your liquor well! This stuff is strong! Come on, another round!"

But Edward didn't touch his glass again. Besides that first drink, he didn't take another sip. That task fell entirely to William and Alice.

This was where having Edward's secretary came in handy-William navigated it like a pro. Alice, on the other hand, was new to the team and clearly hadn't built up her alcohol tolerance yet.

The other side had brought a whole crowd, and round after round kept coming. Before long, everything started doubling in Alice's vision.

By the end of it, her cheeks were flushed a deep rosy red, and her usually clear dark eyes had turned hazy.

She held up her glass-now looking like it had four copies-swayed slightly, then knocked it back.

Clink-

That was the final straw. Alice went limp and collapsed onto the table.

William wasn't doing much better. He leaned over, patting her lightly on the arm.

"Alice? You okay?"

No response whatsoever.

Lenny's eyes flickered as he glanced at the passed-out Alice.

"Mr. Hawthorne, I've already booked rooms upstairs. Let me have someone take you up to rest."

He shot a look to his assistant, then smiled as he placed a hand on Alice's back.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure both William and Alice get back safely."

With that, he barked orders to the staff, having William and the other passed-out colleagues carried out, leaving Alice completely alone.

Lenny was more than a little buzzed himself, swaying slightly. But what was truly disgusting was the way his fat hand started roaming across Alice's back-right there in front of Edward.

The touch made Alice frown uncomfortably in her drunken daze. She feebly swatted his hand and mumbled, "Go away. don't touch me."

Edward's gaze turned icy-his deep eyes frosty. "Lenny, I suggest you move your hand."

Lenny chuckled like he'd heard a joke. "Mr. Hawthorne, you must've been out of the country too long. You know, some of our dinner habits here can be pretty. entertaining. How about we call it a night and continue tomorrow?"

Edward remained silent, just tapping his index finger lightly on the table. A minimal gesture, but enough to show he wasn't amused.

Lenny gave a theatrical shake of his head. "Oh, right-silly me. You grew up here, totally familiar with our ways. My bad, I thought you weren't into this type of scene."

He grinned with faux sincerity. "Anyway, sorry about the mess-everyone's kinda out cold. How about this: I'll take care of Alice tonight, make sure she's looked after. Tomorrow, I'll even send over someone even prettier-my own assistant. She's only twenty, fresh as they come."

Before Edward could respond, Lenny was already reaching to scoop Alice up, eyes glinting with sleaze.

"Well, sweetheart, you really are a stunner. Tonight's gonna be."

--

Before he could lay a hand on Alice, a loud bang! echoed through the room.

Edward suddenly stood up, eyes cold as ice and glinting with menace. With a swift, forceful kick, he sent Lenny flying to the floor.

Lenny curled up, clutching his stomach and whimpering, "Mr. Hawthorne, what... what are you doing?!"

Edward's face was calm, but his gaze was deadly. He stepped forward, his expensive leather shoe pressing hard on the back of Lenny's hand.

The scream that followed could've woken the dead.

Head slightly lowered, Edward's voice was low but chilling. "Didn't I tell you not to touch her?"

With every word, his foot pressed harder. Lenny was in so much pain he was dripping sweat, his bloated body shaking uncontrollably. Only now did he realize-Edward wasn't joking.

"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Hawthorne! I didn't know she was yours, I swear! If I had any idea, I wouldn't have dared, not even with ten lives!"

"Please... have mercy, Mr. Hawthorne!"

His crying was so over-the-top it jolted Alice partly awake. She tried to figure out what was going on through her hazy vision-only managing to make out two blurry figures.

She pushed herself up, but her legs gave out immediately.

Edward's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward and scooped her up without a word, carrying her bridal-style straight past Lenny, crushing his hand under his shoe in the process.

Lenny screamed again, this time deafeningly loud.

--

Edward carried Alice all the way back to the hotel room and gently laid her on the bed. Just as he was about to leave, she suddenly grabbed his wrist.

"Don't go."

Her hands clenched tightly around his arm, eyes shut, murmuring in her sleep.

He tried to free himself, annoyed. "Let go."

"No. please don't."

"Mama, Papa. don't leave me."

In that moment, the confident, collected version of Alice was gone. Her drink-flushed face was streaked with tears, and the way she hugged his arm-like she was drowning and he was the only thing keeping her afloat-was utterly vulnerable.

She curled into herself, brows scrunched tight. Her long lashes trembled slightly against her cheeks, and her whole body looked small and fragile.

Edward stood still, surprised, staring at her delicate features.

She looked exactly like she had that night. The night he'd pushed her too far. Even then, she'd cried softly like this, begging him to stop.

After that, he'd had her background investigated.

Turns out, both her parents had passed away. She'd been raised by her grandfather, worked her way into a top university, and had relied entirely on her own strength to get where she was.

Edward's usual frigid expression softened slightly. A girl like her-persistent, hardworking, fighting her way through life-shouldn't have to go through this kind of crap. What happened tonight was on him.

He reached out and gently patted her arm. "It's okay now. It's over."

The tension on her face eased a bit. She scooted closer, her lips brushing against the back of his hand-soft and warm.

Edward's eyes darkened. He quickly pulled his hand away with a frown.

Alice suddenly panicked, grabbing for him again. "No, don't go!"

"Mama, Papa, please... don't leave Emily-she'll be good, she promises. Don't leave her all alone."