Raising her gaze, Corinne spotted Jessica already standing by the car, calm and effortlessly composed.

Jessica had on a flowing skirt paired with a plain white tee, yet the silk scarf wrapped around her waist stole all the attention, highlighting her slim curves with deliberate care.

The moment Corinne saw it, recognition struck. That scarf came from a luxury brand's next season collection, something ordinary customers could not buy. Only a handful of the brand's partners were given access to pieces like that. And Ryland was the brand's most important partner.

It was obvious enough who had put that on her.

"Ryland, Corinne, you're finally here. I've been waiting for ages," Jessica greeted them with a smooth smile, her presence natural and self-assured, as if she belonged here.

Then she tilted her head slightly and added in a light tone, "Corinne, don't misunderstand. It wasn't Ryland who asked me to come. Patricia heard I was back and said she missed me, so she invited me over. Try not to put Ryland in a difficult spot, alright?"

Patricia Becker, Ryland's mother, had always been fond of Jessica and once saw her as the perfect match for her son.

Then Corinne appeared and disrupted everything.

Even after Corinne became Ryland's wife, Patricia never distanced herself from Jessica and continued treating her like one of her own.

If Corinne hadn't seen through Jessica time and time again, she might have believed that gentle, harmless front.

A faint, cold laugh escaped Corinne. She pushed the thought of divorce aside for the moment and answered without hesitation, "Oh? If Patricia invited you, then why does my husband keep coming up in your explanation? Sounds more like you're making sure I get the wrong idea."

For a brief moment, Jessica froze, clearly not expecting that response. "I only meant to keep things from getting worse between you and Ryland. I didn't want rumors stirring up trouble."

A quiet scoff nearly slipped from Corinne. Jessica surely had a talent for hiding sharp intent behind soft words.

"If you're really so concerned about how things look, then why do you still act so close to him? Patricia never stops praising you for your manners and how well you understand boundaries. Interesting, though. After two years overseas funded by Ryland, all you've improved is this fragile little performance," Corinne sneered.

That remark stripped the pleasant look right off Jessica's face.

"Corinne, you went too far." With the tension rising, Ryland stepped in at last, his brows drawn together.

Jessica turned her gaze toward Ryland, slipping into that fragile, pitiful look she wore so naturally. "Ryland, I'm fine. I'll head inside first."

She moved toward the house, biting her lip just enough to appear hurt as she walked away.

Annoyance flared through Corinne. She spun to face Ryland with a sharp glare, sneering, "So now I'm the one who went too far?"

He exhaled quietly, as if dealing with something exhausting. "Mom's always treated her like one of us. Don't make a scene..."

That was the last straw. Corinne's restraint snapped completely. "Right. Family. Close enough that boundaries disappear whenever it suits you. That's your excuse? And where exactly do I fit into any of this?"

"Corinne!" Even for him, her words crossed a line. His expression hardened at once, and when he spoke her name, it came out tight and cold, his teeth clenched.

The authority in his voice pressed down on her like a heavy weight.

A brief flicker of unease passed through Corinne, yet she held her ground and didn't back down this time. At last, she said what she had been holding in, "Forget breakfast. Let's just get divorced now."

She moved to open the car door, but before she could, his hand struck against it and held it firmly shut.

Instead of replying, he leaned in and kissed her.

"You… damn it—mmph—"

Corinne's protest was swallowed when he pushed her back against the door and kissed her with sudden force, leaving no space for resistance.

The pressure of his lips made hers ache, and the way he held her felt almost suffocating, as if he wanted to pull her completely into him. Despite herself, the intensity left her weak.

Only after she stopped struggling did Ryland ease his hold. One hand remained braced against the car as he leaned closer, his voice dropping. "Satisfied?"

There was something softer in his gaze now, a warmth that made it hard to look away.

Corinne cursed her own weakness. Even now, her heart reacted to him. Frustrated, she turned her face aside.

The color rising in her cheeks and the heat at her ears seemed to amuse him. A faint smile touched his lips, and he leaned in to press another kiss near her ear before taking her hand and pulling her inside, ignoring her resistance.

It was as if he had not heard her mention divorce at all.

No matter how many times she fought him, Corinne always ended up losing, though in her mind, she had already imagined knocking Ryland down countless times.

When they stepped inside, Ryland's grandmother, Lucy Becker, was already seated with his parents at the dining table.

As soon as Corinne appeared, Lucy's face brightened. She drew Corinne into a warm conversation and kept her close for quite some time before finally letting her go.

They had just taken their seats when Jessica emerged from the kitchen, holding a bowl of freshly made soup. She placed it carefully in front of Lucy, her smile gentle and composed. "Lucy, I made this just for you. It's light and good for your stomach. Have a taste. If you like it, I'll make more for you next time."

Without missing a beat, Patricia spoke up. "Jessica came early this morning and spent more than an hour preparing that. She's always so considerate."

Her gaze then shifted toward Corinne, sharp and deliberate. "Unlike someone who arrives late and waits to be served."

Not a single word came from Corinne. Ever since she married into the Becker family three years ago, nothing she had done managed to win Patricia's approval. To begin with, the way that marriage started had already put her at a disadvantage.

There was nothing she could say to justify herself, and at this point, she no longer cared to try.

Without hesitation, Lucy raised her hand slightly and spoke with calm authority. "That's enough. Everyone, take your seats."

With a gentle smile, Jessica complied, then settled beside Ryland as though it was the most natural thing in the world. She poured him a glass of warm water with practiced ease. "Ryland, you had quite a bit to drink last night. Start with some water."

Only then did Corinne realize something was off. The seating in the estate had always been fixed, and though the dining room leaned toward understated elegance, an extra chair had somehow appeared right next to Ryland.

Her expression remained composed, but irritation twisted inside her. If he and Jessica were truly so devoted, then why was Ryland still avoiding the divorce papers? Did he really intend to drag this sham out for another month simply because he could?

She—his wife—was still present, and they were already getting so intimate?

With that thought, she slipped her hand beneath the table and pinched his thigh hard.

"No need. Ryland came home this morning, and I took good care of him already. He's perfectly fine now." As she spoke, she lifted her chin just enough to expose the faint hickey along her neck.

Jessica's face lost its color at once.

Ryland's hand stilled for a brief second, though his expression remained unreadable. He pushed the glass back with quiet composure. "Yeah, I'm fine now."

Jessica's expression only worsened.

Then Conrad Becker, Ryland's father, stepped in to break the tension. "You were drinking last night? Was it because of the Zenith project?"

Even after stepping away from daily operations, he continued to keep a close watch on Prime Group.

Conrad added, "That project takes priority next quarter. There's no room for mistakes. Whatever technical problems you're dealing with, get them handled as soon as possible."

No sooner had he finished than Jessica spoke up. "While I was abroad, I connected with a specialist in that area. He'll be arriving in Winard soon, and we've already spoken. I can set up a meeting for Ryland and help secure the technical support he needs. Don't worry. With Ryland in charge, everything will run smoothly."

A hint of surprise crossed Conrad's face. "Ryland talked to you about the project?"

Jessica kept her composure, her smile steady and refined, though her eyes briefly shifted toward Corinne as if it were unintentional. "Ryland puts a lot on his shoulders. When things get overwhelming, he sometimes confides in me. I also share updates from overseas so he can see the bigger picture. Corinne's busy with reporting. She's always out in the field, so she doesn't really have time to focus on things like this."

Corinne gave an exasperated roll of her eyes. If Jessica wanted to show off, that was her business. Still, Jessica clearly could not resist belittling her while doing that.

After a brief pause, Corinne leaned gently against Ryland's shoulder, her tone turning sweet on purpose. "Honey, I had no idea she was this capable. In that case, why not bring her into the company and let her use those skills for us? After all, we funded her time overseas. It's only fair she gives something in return."

Then she looked at Jessica, blinking with deliberate innocence. "You wouldn't mind, right?"

Playing considerate was never something only Jessica would do.

The smile on Jessica's lips nearly faltered. She had been expecting Ryland to step in for her, yet his focus lingered instead on the way Corinne had spoken. Something unreadable passed through his eyes as he glanced at her before catching himself.

When he still didn't speak, Jessica quickly adjusted. "If Ryland's fine with it, then I'd be glad to help."

She picked up the serving utensils and placed some vegetables and mushrooms onto a plate. Then, without breaking her rhythm, she shifted the conversation and slid the plate toward Corinne. "Please, have a taste of this. It's light, nutritious, and great for breakfast. Ryland never cared for it before, but I convinced him to try it once, and now he's grown fond of it. Since then, he's made sure it's always on the table."

Corinne's eyes stilled on the plate. It had always been her favorite. Every time they returned to the estate, it was served. She used to think Ryland had it prepared because he remembered what she liked. Clearly, she had been mistaken.

How ridiculous. The realization struck harder than expected, and Corinne no longer bothered to hide it. She had a bite, placed the unfinished mushroom slice back on the plate, and then pushed the plate to Jessica.

Corinne carried on as if etiquette meant nothing. Resting her chin lightly on her hand, she met Jessica's gaze with disarming sincerity. "You've gone through so much trouble. It's only fair I return the gesture. You should try some too. You wouldn't refuse it, right?"

Jessica's face turned even paler. Her fingers curled tightly, trembling slightly as if she were forcing herself to keep her composure.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the table, thick enough to make everyone uneasy. Even the staff could see that Corinne was deliberately targeting Jessica.

Despite that, Corinne kept her smile in place, her tone soft and pleasant, leaving no room for anyone to openly criticize her.

Lucy quietly sipped her soup, a faint hint of approval flickering in her eyes, though it went unnoticed.

Patricia, on the other hand, had clearly had enough. With a sharp sound, she slammed her fork against the table. She was about to lash out at Corinne when Ryland suddenly leaned forward and took the plate Corinne had pushed to Jessica.

"Sweetheart, I'm the one doing the heavy lifting here. I think I should have that," said Ryland. Without a change in expression, he ate everything on that plate.

Every person at the table turned to look at him. Even the staff nearby stood frozen in shock. Everyone knew Ryland was particular about hygiene. His utensils were always handled separately, and each dish came with its own serving tools. If that rule wasn't followed, he wouldn't touch the food.

No one understood that better than Corinne, which made it sting even more. For Jessica, he was willing to throw all of that aside.

The rest of breakfast felt drawn out and unbearable. Once it finally ended, Corinne escorted Lucy back to Lucy's room, stayed with her for a while, and made sure she took her medicine. As soon as Corinne stepped out, Patricia, who had clearly been waiting, called her into the study.

Sitting on the black leather sofa, Patricia looked Corinne over with undisguised disdain before tossing a bank card onto the table.

Patricia began, "There's five million on that card. Consider it your compensation for the past three years. The agreement is nearly over, so be sensible and divorce Ryland. Don't fool yourself into thinking that keeping Lucy happy will secure you a permanent place in the Becker family."

Letting her words land, she added, "I allowed this marriage because it benefited both sides, and because Lucy wasn't in good health at the time. I wasn't going to let her worry herself into another episode. Now that everything's stabilized, there's no reason to continue. Your family has recovered, Lucy is well, and you should understand what happens next."

Without hesitation, Corinne picked up the card, her gaze cold as she responded, "You say that like the Beckers made no gains. Didn't you partner with my family because you wanted our machine-tool patents? You've already benefited, so don't act like this is generosity."

She already intended to end the marriage, and after everything Ryland had put her through, she had no patience left to endure any more. She had no intention of extending kindness anymore just because of him.

That defiance clearly caught Patricia off guard. Corinne had always been obedient before, so hearing her talk back made Patricia's anger explode. Her hand struck the table with a loud bang. "Corinne, do you want me to spell it out? Ryland loves Jessica. Not you. Not someone as calculating and ruthless as you! You think standing up for you in public means you mattered to him? I don't care about status or family background. I care about his happiness. If you won't agree, then I..."

"I agree," Corinne cut in sharply, shutting Patricia down before she could continue. "Calm down. I took the money, didn't I? The divorce is happening. You'll get what you want soon enough."

With that, she gave a careless wave, pushed the door open, and walked out.

Now that everything had been laid bare, she saw no reason to delay. She headed downstairs to look for Ryland and settle the divorce immediately, only to learn he had already left—with Jessica.

Standing alone in the living room, Corinne let out a short, bitter laugh. To him, she was nothing more than something temporary—kept when useful and thrown aside when she wasn't.

No matter how foul her mood had become, Corinne didn't let it interfere with her work. She went out and carried out the public opinion survey as scheduled.

After running around most of the day and spending another two hours at the station editing, she finally made it home, completely drained. She took a shower, replayed everything from that morning in her head, pulled out a suitcase, and began packing when Ellie Morrison, her coworker, called.

"Corinne, didn't you check the group chat? You're the only one who hasn't replied."

Corinne switched the call to speaker, opened the work group chat, and finally saw the notice their boss, Calvin Warren, had sent, still waiting for her response.

"Eight tonight. Eden Hotel. Formal dress required. There will be an important announcement."

After confirming her attendance, Corinne spoke up. "What's going on? Why make it such a big deal?"

Ellie responded right away, "Could it be about the host for the station's new current affairs program, Current Focus? Calvin has always appreciated your work. Don't let those shameless people from Team Three snatch it away."

That immediately caught Corinne's attention. The new program centered on social issues. If she secured the position, her entire team would finally have the chance to push forward with the stories they had been following.

It would also give their chemical plant investigation much greater exposure.

Once the call ended, she headed straight to the dressing room on the first floor.

Inside, rows of gowns and jewelry were displayed. More than half had been custom-made for her at Ryland's request.

The moment she stepped in, the housekeeper approached quickly and stopped in front of her, holding a ledger with a formal expression.

The housekeeper said, "Mrs. Becker, will you be attending an event tonight? Has Mr. Becker been informed? Which gown and jewelry would you like prepared? How long do you plan to be out? And when should everything be returned?"