Do Whatever It Takes For Love

On the shores of Weston Lake, my husband Caleb Thompson embraced his childhood friend, Mia Collins, dressed in a bridal gown.

A bystander playing the role of a minister shouted, "Beautiful bride, do you take this man to be your husband?"

Mia looked at him deeply, and he responded with a reassuring smile.

The crowd chanted, "Marry him! Marry him! Marry him!"

Clutching my aching heart, I turned and walked away.

1

"Honey, I'm home, and the business trip nearly killed me!"

It was the third night since Caleb had returned, and he came straight towards me as soon as he entered.

If I hadn't gone on a business trip to Hanwod three days ago and seen him embracing Mia in a wedding dress, I might have believed his love for me was confirmed as he ran towards me now.

I dodged him and sat down, expressionless.

Caleb froze for a moment, a bit displeased. "Honey, why are you giving me the cold shoulder?

"Oh, I get it. You must be mad because I've been away on a trip for too long, right?"

He reached out to hug me as he always did, but I dodged him again.

In the past, whenever he came over to me like a puppy seeking affection, I would immediately drop whatever I was doing and fuss over him.

Caleb looked up at me with a hurt expression, his eyes red and tears streaming down his face.

In our relationship, he was always domineering in public, but he knew how to play the "vulnerable" card with me.

"Why are you treating me this way, honey?"

He looked so pitiful as if I were the one hurting him.

"I'm tired. I'm going to rest."

I didn't go back to the bedroom but instead went to the study. I didn't plan to sleep with him anymore.

But as soon as I lay down, he followed me in.

He sat on the edge of the bed, shaking me and saying, "Honey, I even bought you a gift, and the first thing you do when I get back is give me the cold shoulder?"

Then he presented a beautifully wrapped box to me, shaking it and saying, "Ta-da! I bought you a watch. Open it and see if you like it!"

He opened the box.

I was all too familiar with this watch. It was a Patek Philippe 5270P, a men's watch worth around two million.

Why was I so familiar with it? Because I liked to wear men's watches, and Mia always wanted to compete with me, so she also told Caleb that she liked men's watches. Caleb even promised to give her one as a gift for her birthday.

And today, I saw a post on Mia's social media. It was a picture of her wearing this watch, with the caption: [Caleb says only this 6300A, of which there are only seven in the world, is worthy of me.]

Another picture showed a Patek Philippe 5270P in the trash can. It was the same one Caleb was giving to me.

The Patek Philippe 6300A had been auctioned off for thirty-one million dollars.

"Is it really appropriate to give me something that Mia threw in the trash?" I asked coldly.

Caleb's face paled for a moment, then he quickly said, "I've always seen Mia as a little sister. It's just a watch. You can't be that upset, can you?"

"I'm not jealous. I just want a divorce," I said expressionlessly.

Caleb was stunned, his face a mask of disbelief.

In the past, I would have been terrified at even the hint of anger from him, let alone a word like divorce.

But this time, I was the one bringing up divorce, and he seemed rattled.

"Chloe Bennett, do you know what you're talking about?

"You're going to divorce me over something so small?

"I just gave Mia a watch, and although she threw the one I gave you in the trash, it was just for her to show off on her social media. It's worth two million.

"I'm willing to spend two million for you, and you're still angry with me. You're just being unreasonable!"

Caleb was always like this, arguing illogically and, if that failed, blaming me. I would always apologize because I loved him too much to see him upset.

I just looked at him indifferently, not bothering to say more.

Because I knew him too well—his thinking was chaotic in this state, and nothing I said would make a difference.

"You better reflect on yourself. I'll come back to you tomorrow!"

He snorted coldly, hurling the watch at my head.

I sat up in bed, recalling how I first met Caleb.

That year, I was wearing a frog costume and handing out flyers on the pedestrian street when a drunk man pulled off my headgear. Seeing that I was a woman, he started to harass me.

Caleb passed by and slapped the drunk, but the drunk pulled out a knife.

When I saw this, I pulled him up and ran, and the drunk man chased after him.

He sprained his foot and fell, so I carried him on my back and ran.

I don't know how long we ran, but the police eventually apprehended the drunkard. However, the intense activity triggered angina, and I was rushed to the hospital.

He stayed with me the whole time, muttering, "Froggy, please be okay, I beg you, Froggy..."

In my eyes, he was so gentle that I couldn't help but fall in love with him. Even though I knew I was being humble, I still gathered the courage to love him secretly. Even if it was just secret love, I had to be brave.

But after that incident, my heart was left with a lingering ailment. Still, I never regretted it.

Later, when the Thompson Group came to our school to recruit, he chose me.

2

I knew he chose me only to repay a favor.

And I, in order not to let him down, worked extra hard.

On the surface, we were just boss and subordinate.

In private, he always called me Froggy and would constantly nag me to carry him on my back because he said that being taken by me that day was the moment he felt the safest.

Eventually, it was only natural that we ended up together.

But the Thompson family disapproved. He threatened to end his life, which led to our marriage.

The Thompson family's golden boy marrying a girl from a low-income family was seen as a disgrace in their eyes.

So, we had no wedding, just got our marriage certificate.

Even in public, I couldn't walk too close to him because the Thompson family feared being shamed.

With my work capabilities and achievements, I should have been promoted to design director long ago. Still, the Thompson family wouldn't have it and insisted I remain a low-level employee.

For Caleb, I endured it all.

He was very sympathetic, saying he could be a dominating boss outside but even play the little wife at home for me.

I thought we would be happy forever.

Three months ago, Mia returned to the country.

Caleb took me to pick her up at the airport, and when they saw each other, he lifted her into the air and spun her around.

It looked like lovers reuniting after a long separation.

Caleb worried I might be jealous, so he explained that they grew up together and that he saw Mia as a younger sister.

Mia was also lovely, calling me Coco all the time and even bringing me gifts.

At the time, I didn't see through her scheming nature, so I didn't think much of it.

Then Mia joined the company and, despite having no design experience, begged Caleb to make her the design director.

Caleb knew that position meant a lot to me, but he still doted on Mia and gave it to her.

From then on, they were inseparable at the company, flirting in front of everyone and fooling around behind closed doors.

Even though I felt uncomfortable, as long as Caleb explained himself, I believed him.

But he even embraced Mia in her wedding dress, and when people shouted, "Marry her," he didn't refuse. How could I tolerate this any longer?

Of course not. I loved him, but I couldn't love him without dignity.

So, I decided to divorce him because my heart was dead.

Once I made up my mind, I stopped dwelling on it and soon fell asleep.

Once I made up my mind, I didn't dwell on it any longer and fell asleep soon after lying down.

"Honey... I'm hungry, can you make breakfast for me?"

Caleb rubbed his chin against my face.

I pushed his face away. The face I once adored now only brought disgust.

Caleb nearly fell, staggering before frowning and saying, "Aren't you over this yet? I came to make things right today, giving you a way out, and you dare to push me?"

His authoritarianism and arrogance were fully displayed at that moment.

3

I simply gave him a detached glance and got up to wash up.

But he followed me, frowning and saying, "Chloe, you're disappointing me. I can forgive you this time, but if you keep this up, I might..."

I put down my toothbrush and looked at him, asking, "What will you do? Divorce? Fine, let's go to the courthouse right now."

"Are you insane?

"When did I ever say I wanted a divorce?

"Chloe, what on earth has gotten into you?"

Caleb exploded.

I looked at her indifferently and said, "When you and Mia embraced by Weston Lake, weren't you already prepared to divorce me?"

Caleb panicked, her words becoming a jumbled mess. "You couldn't have known. I had the PR team delete the video from that day. You..."

"I was at Weston Lake that day, scouting for a new project."

"So, you saw everything?"

"Yes, I saw her in a wedding dress, embracing you. I saw people shouting for her to marry you, and she shyly lowered her head as you smiled back. I saw it all."

"No, it's not like that!

"Listen to me, Honey, it can all be explained!

"We used to play house when we were kids, and Mia always played the younger sister. She always wanted to play the role of my wife. That day, she said she just wanted to fulfill a childhood wish."

Caleb shouted his explanations.

"Enough, Caleb. You don't need to explain. If you truly cared for me, or if I were more important than Mia, how could you have agreed to such an absurd request?"

I shook my head, smiling sadly.

Caleb's expression turned cold, too. "I don't need to explain because in my eyes, Mia is just a sister, and I swear, I have never betrayed you!"

"Is emotional infidelity any different from physical? Isn't it all cuckolded?"

I calmly said, "Alright, Caleb, let's get a divorce. That's my stance, you should prepare yourself too."

After that, I changed my clothes and left.

Upon arriving at the office, I immediately immersed myself in work.

The entire design department revolved around me, yet I only had a tiny workstation.

Bound by a dedication contract, I couldn't resign until my current projects were completed, or else I would have left immediately.

Just then, a flirtatious woman in a black silk miniskirt approached. She was Mia's secretary, Sophia Reed.

Sophia casually tossed a folder onto my desk and commanded, "Chloe, your draft was rejected. You claim to earn a decent salary, yet you can't even design properly. I really don't know why the company bothers paying someone so useless like you."

She was one of Mia's cronies, and almost daily, she would criticize me. Mia would then step in to play the good cop, later claiming credit with Caleb for helping me.

I ignored her completely, not even glancing at her.

After all, the drafts I submitted for Mia's approval were just random sketches, as my main projects were of great importance to the company, and they were to be approved by the board of directors. Mia really had no say in them.

Then...

Sophia then grabbed my teacup and poured the water over my head. "Didn't you hear me talking?"

Even with my usually good temper, I couldn't help but feel angry. But just as I stood up, a sharp pain gripped my heart.

The stress from the situation with Caleb had been affecting my heart, and Sophia's provocation had triggered an episode.

I fumbled in my pocket for my medication but couldn't find it.

"What's with that look? Are you playing sick because I called you out? You're truly disgusting!" Sophia sneered.

In the design department, no one dared to speak up for me because Sophia was known for making life difficult for others.

Just then, Mia walked out, and Sophia immediately approached, saying, "Ms. Collins, look, I just said a few words to Chloe and she splashed water on herself and then pretended to be sick."

Mia said with a laugh, "Chloe, even though you're a key technician, you should be professional. Faking sickness isn't right."

Then she leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "Having a heart attack, are you? Chloe, why don't you just die from anger? Then I can marry Caleb, haha."

"You..."

My heart ached even more, and I slumped weakly in the chair.

A male colleague, Troy Anderson, saw how much pain I was in and immediately came over to help me find my medicine.

He poured out the pills and bent down to feed them to me.

But suddenly, Sophia grabbed Troy by the back of his head, making him kiss me on the face, then pushed him into my arms.

"What are you doing?"

Caleb's voice rang out, filled with rage, as if he were a husband catching his wife in the act.