I was taken aback. I wanted to divorce Andre, but in our world, going missing was a serious issue.

"How could he have gone missing?" My voice turned cold. It was a tone I only used when I felt threatened.

Maya sobbed out the words, "Andre was about to win the race, but who would've thought that the blue racing car following him would suddenly accelerate? Not only did it deliberately overtake his car, but someone also stuck their head out of the window while holding a gun…"

"To avoid the bullets, he could only turn the steering wheel sharply. He didn't follow the original track and turned into the abandoned path on the east... That car also rushed in!"

I instantly felt a headache, and my expression turned livid. "Stop crying! Instead of crying, we should think of a way to save him!"

Andre's underling stood in front of Maya, glaring at me angrily. "Why are you so harsh with Maya? No one expected such a thing to happen tonight. That path is full of thorns and gravel. Ordinary cars can't even drive two feet. We can only wait for professional help...

"Danielle, what are you trying to do?"

I was already in the car. The engine roared. I put on my gloves, my eyes as calm as still water. As I shifted gears, I said, "Waiting won't save him unless you're all planning to take Andre home in a body bag."

With that said, the racecar shot off like an arrow.

The crowd was dumbfounded for a long time.

"She doesn't seem like someone who's never driven a race car before... Could it be that we misunderstood her?"

They did not notice Maya's fingers digging into her palm as she looked at me jealously.

I quickly spotted the path hidden by weeds. It used to be an emergency route for the mafia's smuggling convoy. Now, it was a death trap for anyone unaware of its danger.

Luckily, I was familiar with it.

I slammed on the gas pedal and sped into the path, following the faint tire tracks.

Why was I trying to save Andre? The reason was simple.

First, this racetrack was in my name. If Andre were to die here, the Garcia family would cause me trouble. Secondly, it was also because I owed it to Andre.

Years ago, I was kidnapped by the Lawson family's arch-enemies not long after I returned. My biological parents were busy throwing my sister's birthday party and did not even answer the ransom call.

Andre was the one who answered. He tore down the warehouse wall to find me and was shot in the back. The bullet got close to his heart. He almost died.

This was not a small debt, and it had to be paid off.

After driving for what felt like forever, I was the first to spot the wreckage. Metal fragments surrounded a dead tree while thick smoke billowed upward.

Andre was slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious, while blood streamed down his temple.

His gas tank was on fire!

I flung open his car door, held his shoulders with my arms, and dragged him out.

His tightly shut eyes twitched slightly as he murmured, "Maya, when I get the necklace... I'll give it to you..."

A bitter smile crept onto my lips. "Andre, you'd risk your life just to please Maya?"

He did not answer.

Just then, the sound of an engine came from behind. It was the blue racecar. It had found us.

I pushed Andre into the passenger seat of my car, climbed in, and slammed into reverse. The killer's bumper slammed heavily into where we were earlier.

I fished out the gun I had prepared beforehand, pulled the trigger, and fired a bullet straight into the killer's gas tank.

With a loud bang, the hood of the blue racecar exploded, billowing thick smoke.

However, the bastard was not done. A bullet pierced our windshield, going straight for Andre's chest.

I did not think with my head; I just moved and shielded Andre with my body like I was a human shield. The bullet struck my shoulder, and excruciating pain erupted instantly. I gasped, raised my gun again, and fired the remaining bullets from the magazine at the killer until he collapsed to the ground, motionless.

Only when the chaos subsided did I realize blood was streaming down my arm. My vision began to blur. However, Andre was alive.

Just as he had saved me, I had saved him.

With my good hand, I gripped the steering wheel tightly, sped off, and tried my best to bring him back to the racetrack.

When everyone saw me covered in blood, they were speechless with astonishment.

With all my might, I pushed Andre toward Maya, my voice so weak that it was almost inaudible. "Tell Andre I've repaid the debt I owe him..."

After saying that, everything went black, and I passed out.

...

When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed. My gunshot wound to the shoulder had been treated.

I instinctively asked, "Where's the man who was brought in with me?"

A nurse directed me to his ward.

Just as I reached the door, I heard Andre's underling say, "Andre, Maya risked her life to save you. You must repay her properly!"

My heart stopped.

Who were they to give Maya credit for saving Andre? It was clearly my blood that spilled on the road!

In the ward, Maya's voice trembled with just the right amount of guilt and feigned vulnerability. "Andre... It's all my fault. If you weren't trying to win me a prize, you wouldn't have fallen into their trap. It was my duty to save you."

She paused for a second before adding with a voice full of hurt and innocence, "You don't have to leave Heart of the Ocean to me as compensation. I know you care about Danielle the most. She was kidnapped back then, but you risked your own life to save her..."

Andre's underling retorted agitatedly. "It's not like that. That was a trap deliberately set up by boss."

Maya froze in place. "What?"

The underling continued casually, "Boss had someone kidnap her to make it clear to your parents that you were the most important to them! It was also to scare her off and make her go back to her adoptive parents."

A bloody taste welled up in my throat.

The underling added at great length, "As for marrying her? Boss's parents forced him to ally with the Lawson family, so he married Danielle, who has the Lawson family's blood. Don't worry. When you successfully become the heiress of the Lawson family, Andre will divorce her and hold a grand wedding to marry you. Right, boss?"

A brief silence fell over the ward.

Andre's voice broke the silence. It was deep, steady, and ruthless. "Yes."

I stumbled back a step. For so long, I believed that the bullet he took for me meant something. I believed that his post-marital indifference was merely estrangement, not deception. I believed... Gosh, I was such a fool!

My phone in my pocket suddenly vibrated, interrupting my near-breakdown. It was Chiara, her voice still loving. "Darling, the ship I arranged will arrive at the port tomorrow. I can't wait to see you."

"Okay, Mom." My voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

After ending the call, I looked up at the ward door with a bitter yet resolute smile.

Fine! This way, we were completely even.

I had saved Andre, repaying the debt of that fake kidnapping years ago. All this while, he had been scheming against me. I had finally seen through this marriage that only existed in name.

We would never have anything to do with each other again for the rest of our lives.

…

The following day, I was exceptionally busy.

First, I contacted a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement and placed the signed papers in Andre's study. Then, I drove to a private club to meet a friend who was an excellent asset strategist.

When I first arrived here, my adoptive parents prepared a vast fortune for me as a safety net.

Many of the arms dealers who partnered with the Lawson and Garcia families were their subordinates, and they were always at my beck and call.

Despite possessing immense wealth, I had always kept a low profile and never told anyone about it. Now that I was leaving, these assets should be entrusted to someone I trust.

I pushed a folder across the table, saying, "I'm leaving. You're in charge of everything."

My friend quickly glanced at the file before staring at me. "You're terminating all contracts with the Garcia and Lawson families?"

I nodded. "Effective immediately."

He whistled. "They rely on your resources to survive. Without you, they'll collapse."

"That's no longer my problem."

"They'll regret it once they know your true identity." He gave a meaningful smile.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, I bade goodbye. When I went downstairs, I accidentally tugged on my wound. The pain almost made me fall.

My friend instinctively reached out to support my waist. "Be careful. You're still injured."

I thanked him softly and tried to steady myself. However, I saw Andre and his underlings coming out of the neighboring private room the moment I looked up.

One of his underlings noticed me first. He glanced at Andre beside me and showed a malicious smile.

"Hey, look who's here. Don Garcia, isn't this your wife? She found herself a lover right after leaving the hospital?

"Even if Don Garcia can't satisfy you, you shouldn't be this desperate, right? Where does that leave Don Garcia's pride?"

Andre stood behind the group, his expression terrifyingly gloomy. His cold, murderous eyes were fixed on something—my friend's hand placed on my waist.

However, his underlings failed to notice his anger and continued to fan the flames.

"This guy? He looks like he could faint from carrying groceries. Do you really think he can satisfy you?"

"If you're really that desperate, just ask us, sweetheart. Why do you have to sneak around with a weak and incompetent guy?"

Their shrill laughter resounded throughout the corridor until Andre moved.

He cut through the crowd like a blade and walked straight up to me. His voice was deep, his emotion indiscernible. "Danielle, explain."

I did not even blink. "Make way."

We were about to get divorced. What right did he have to question me?

My nonchalance made his anger surface to the top. He seized my hand, and the laughter around him came to an abrupt halt. "Danielle, what do you mean by this?"

He exerted so much strength that he almost crushed my bones. He added with a sneer, "Are you really that horny? Will any man do?"

This insult should have broken my heart, but my heart was already numb.

My friend tried to interject, "Danielle and I aren't—"

I interrupted him. I stood on tiptoe, leaned close to Andre's ear, and said with a smile, "That's right. You can't even satisfy your own wife. Of course, I had to find someone else."

The entire corridor fell silent instantly.

Everyone's jaw dropped. They all knew Andre had never touched me, but they also knew I was devoted to him. Their insults were just a joke. No one believed I would actually cheat.

The last trace of warmth vanished from Andre's face, leaving only hostility. Without warning, he hoisted me onto his shoulder.

"Andre! Put me down." My fists pounded on his back, but to no avail.

He threw me roughly into the back seat of his car, and the driver immediately got out.

In the confined space, Andre leaned down, trapping me firmly between the seat and his arm. "Danielle, say that again."

I raised my voice and retorted, "I found someone else..."

Before I could finish speaking, he yanked off his tie, his eyes filled with suppressed possessiveness. "What do you want? I'll give it to you myself!"

He lowered his head and kissed me. It was a rough, punitive kiss. There was no tenderness or consideration—only anger, possessiveness, and deep frustration.

I held my breath. This was the first kiss since our wedding rings bound us together. I pushed against his shoulders as panic rose within me, but he easily subdued me.

The touch of our lips was both familiar and strange. As Andre kissed me, his eyes glazed over. He thought, 'This woman's lips are so soft.'

His hand unconsciously moved to my shoulder, and I groaned in pain. He froze.

Just then, Andre's phone vibrated violently in his pocket. Maya's name flashed on the screen. Andre hesitated for a moment before answering the call. "Maya? If it's not urgent, don't bother me..."

The person on the other end of the line said something, and his expression changed abruptly. "What did you say? Maya is in the emergency room?"