Xander straightened his attire, his face calm and detached, showing no particular emotion.

"Rachael won't take it to heart," he said casually.

After all, Rachael had always been compliant. Ever since Xander lost his temper with her that one time when she complained about Milly, she never dared to voice any objections again.

But today, Rachael cast aside her habitual restraint and forbearance, her beautiful eyes slowly passing over both of them.

Her tone was composed and crisp as she replied, "Of course, I won't mind. But honestly, even if Miss Clark is an illegitimate child, I thought the Clark family at least raised her right. Yet by barging into a married couple's bedroom like this, others might assume she has a thing for married men."

There was neither dramatic shouting nor emotional sobbing. Rachael's seemingly casual remarks landed with force, ruthlessly stripping away their pretense.

Milly's smug smile stiffened on her face in an instant.

Meanwhile, Xander's face grew a shade colder.

"Rachael, what ridiculous things are you saying?" he snapped, and then turned toward Milly and lightly tapped her shoulder in reassurance. "Everyone knows we're best friends, and no one will misunderstand our friendship. Come on. I'll take you home first."

Only then did Milly's expression ease. She teasingly punched Xander's chest with her fist. "If my reputation gets ruined, I'll make sure you go down with me."

This prompted the man to laugh aloud. "Fine."

After seeing her off, Xander came back inside.

The smile disappeared from his face, and his well-defined brows knitted faintly. Sitting across from Rachael with his long legs crossed, he shed his former warmth and instead radiated the cold, commanding aura of the Spencer Group's CEO.

"Don't be narrow-minded and throw a tantrum before grasping the full picture. You spend most of your time shopping or staying at home, so you have no idea how bad the situation really is. The Spencer Group is in serious trouble, and it was Milly who used her distant ties to the Shaw family in Oniolens to get us invited to their banquet next week. That event is our only chance to build connections and keep the company from collapsing."

The Shaw family in Oniolens?

Upon hearing this, Rachael let out a silent, icy laugh inwardly.

Indeed, that banquet was meant to be the Spencer Group's lifeline.

But regrettably for Xander, things had already taken a different turn. No one expected that Rachael was the long-lost daughter the Shaw family had just found.

With the Shaw family's support, the Spencer Group wouldn't just succeed in going public—their stock would skyrocket, and Xander's wealth would multiply many times over.

However, Xander didn't deserve such fortune—not anymore.

Now, the banquet was no longer a lifeline for the Spencer Group but the first step toward its downfall.

Noticing that she remained quiet, Xander leaned in closer, his tone seemingly gentle and patient. "Rachael, this time we really owe Milly. If it weren't for my close relationship with her, things wouldn't have been settled so smoothly. In business, connections and family background are often the most valuable assets. I know you grew up as an orphan in the countryside with adoptive parents who understand nothing beyond farm work, so these things might be hard for you to grasp. But you should at least try to understand how difficult this is for me."

It sounded like an explanation, yet every sentence subtly diminished her.

In the past, words like these had easily driven her into self-blame. She would reflect on herself, thinking she was useless, that she couldn't help him, and that she shouldn't become another burden in Xander's life.

But her endless tolerance and compromise had only been met with lie after lie.

Even the marriage she had poured her heart and soul into turned out to be nothing more than an illusion.

She curved her lips slightly, her eyes calm and detached. "Yes, I know you're doing all this for the Spencer Group. Oh, by the way, dear, the bank called today. They said there's a problem with the paperwork for our joint account, something related to the marriage certificate. They suggested we go to the courthouse to verify it when we have time. When are you available?"

She fixed her gaze on Xander. The moment he heard the words "marriage certificate," his expression shifted noticeably. He awkwardly picked up the cup of water on the table. "Sweetheart, I've been extremely busy lately. Let's talk about it when I have some time. I'll have my assistant call them and deal with the document issues. You don't need to worry."

"Can an assistant really handle that? Aren't these documents supposed to be dealt with in person? Since it's still early, why don't we go now?"

Rachael toyed with him deliberately, like a cat teasing a trapped mouse, savoring the tension radiating from him.

After all, his remaining good days were already numbered.

Upon hearing that, his face darkened even more. "I said you don't need to concern yourself with this. Just focus on your own things, Rachael. Banking procedures are complicated, not something a housewife would understand. You can't just pop up without an appointment and demand service, alright?"

With his patience clearly worn thin, he leaned back against the sofa, crossing his legs once more.

Listen to him—still trying to control the narrative even as the truth pressed down on him.

Rachael could only regret how blind she had been, pouring her devotion into someone like him.

"I know I've neglected you recently. Once this busy phase passes, I'll make an effort to spend more time with you." He spoke from a position of superiority, as if he were handing out a favor.

Rachael had heard such hollow assurances too many times before, and not a single one had ever been fulfilled.

Sure enough, just as his words fell, the phone in his pocket began to ring.

Milly was the only one who had that special ringtone set just for her.

There had been a time when Milly, right in front of Rachael, snatched Xander's phone, entered his passcode without hesitation, and changed his ringtone for her.

She had grinned and subtly announced to everyone just how close the two of them were.

Xander never once protested or even tried to stop her.

The sting of those memories came rushing back, leaving Rachael barely able to stand it.

When Xander checked his phone, the screen unlocked with facial recognition, revealing a seductive photo of a woman in nothing but revealing lingerie.

From where Rachael stood, she couldn't miss the image. Her lips curled into a bitter, mocking smile.

Xander only realized Rachael had seen it too after catching her expression. He fumbled to lock his phone and murmured, "There's an emergency at work. Don't bother waiting up for me tonight."

He tried to play it off as nothing, but the tension in his eyes gave everything away.

He clearly wanted to rush out and see the woman who sent him that picture.

Moments later, the Porsche shot out of the driveway, its engine noise growing softer and softer as it sped away.

Left behind, Rachael pressed a hand to her chest, fighting back a storm of emotion. Her teeth nearly drew blood from her lower lip.

"That's it, Xander. I'm finished with you."

Looking around, the home she had poured her heart into felt cold and unforgiving, almost like it was mocking her for ever believing in it.

She refused to let this drag her down anymore.

With that, she got up and headed for her bedroom, determined to pack her bags and leave at the first chance.

Inside the walk-in closet, every piece of clothing seemed bland, all the colors washed-out and lifeless.

But Xander always insisted that she wear those dull shades. He claimed it made her look more gentle and agreeable and he liked it. But did he really?

Milly, on the other hand, favored bold colors and never hesitated to stand out. She acted fast and asked for what she wanted just as quickly.

It seemed that love, or the lack of it, was never decided by such simple things.

No matter how hard Rachael tried to fit into Xander's vision, she only managed to lose herself in the process.

As she moved around the closet gathering her belongings, a metal tin tumbled from an upper shelf.

The lid slipped off, sending a handful of perfumed cards fluttering across the floor.

She stopped for a moment and then lowered herself into a crouch.

The faint smell stirred old memories that quietly surfaced in her mind.

She remembered meeting Xander when no one in the Spencer family would claim him. He was just the family's secret, fighting to persuade Lorenzo Spencer, his own father, to let him have a shot at a failing branch of the company.

At that time, the business had nothing to show for itself. Investors stayed away, projects never took off, and the whole supply chain was bleeding money.

Xander drowned himself in work, desperate to prove he was worth something to Lorenzo.

Rachael saw his ambition and understood the ache of wanting recognition. That was why she handed him her very first original perfume formula, hoping it would help him get his break. And it did.

Thanks to her formula, the company launched a fresh perfume line that turned everything around. Overnight, Xander's small team was back in business and he suddenly found himself in the running for the Spencer Group's inheritance.

After that, every few months, she developed a new formula. Each one helped keep Xander's fragrance line profitable and ensured he had consistent results to present.

He used that momentum to gather resources and soon branched out into new ventures.

Just three months after their wedding, Xander landed a position at Spencer Group, and within half a year, he had already climbed to the top as CEO.

As Rachael sifted through the perfumed formula cards, she counted sixteen—each one the result of her hard work, not a single one paid for.

Things changed once Xander became CEO. He came to her with a share transfer contract in hand, promising her a fifth of the perfume division's shares.

But when she went to sign, he told her, "Now that I've taken over Spencer Group, cash is tight. These shares belong to both of us, so whatever profits we get will go straight back into the company for now."

Rachael had never protested. In fact, she pitied him for all the obstacles he had faced.

Yet, looking back, their marriage was a fraud, which meant any talk of shared assets was meaningless.

The truth was, this was just another trick to get her formulas for free.

Still, the contract itself was genuine, and she remembered seeing it in Xander's study.

Without wasting time, she hurried to his study and searched through drawers and folders, her patience thinning. Relief washed over her as she finally found the document tucked away.

With the signed document in hand, she had just slipped out of the room when Xander suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs, phone in hand.

Surprise shot through Rachael, and she instinctively hid the document behind her back, hugging the wall and hoping to go unnoticed.

Xander, however, spotted her immediately, a hint of suspicion knitting his brows.

Tension filled the hallway as he fixed her with a pointed look.

"You were just in my study, weren't you?" he asked.

Rachael clutched the contract tightly behind her back, her face tense as she swiftly devised a plan.

Xander took a step closer, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

"Have I not told you to stay out of my study unless invited? What were you up to?"

"I left a gift for you," Rachael said with a sudden smile, though her eyes remained chilly. "In seven days, we'll mark our fifth dating anniversary. You can look for it then."

Xander was focused on his phone and didn't press her about it. He simply raised an eyebrow, showing he understood.

It was clear Rachael was attempting to make amends.

"Now that you've reconsidered, try not to lose your cool again," he said lightly.

The anniversary gift she spoke of barely registered in his mind.

Just then, Xander's phone buzzed with a fresh message. He glanced down, a charming smile spreading across his face.

It was evident who had sent it.

A chill deepened within Rachael.

If he cared at all about their life together, he'd know that their anniversary was today, not a week later.

Still, she did have a significant surprise planned for him in seven days.

With a cold nod, she turned away to leave.

Xander wrapped up his reply and finally remembered Rachael. He looked up, ready to speak, but she was already gone.

A frown crept onto his face.

She hadn't pressed him with questions? That was unusual.

An odd unease settled over him, though he chose not to focus on it.

Hours passed in the study without Rachael bringing him his usual coffee and snacks, and Xander grew restless, struggling to concentrate on his screen.

Frustrated, he rose and made his way to the master bedroom.

Rachael had just stepped out of the shower and was now seated at the vanity, carefully going through her skincare routine.

Her damp hair fell freely over her shoulders, and she had changed from her usual modest white cotton pajamas into a delicate, lavender silk slip nightgown.

The smooth fabric highlighted her flawless skin, while her slender waist was petite enough to encircle with a single hand.

A soft night breeze drifted in from the balcony, lifting the gown's hem as it fluttered around her thighs, radiating subtle, alluring grace.

Standing at the doorway, Xander was mesmerized, his feet moving forward almost involuntarily, drawn in by the faint, intoxicating fragrance of gardenias in the air.

"Rachael," he called softly.

Gently, he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, his cool cheek resting lightly against her neck.

However, her body tensed immediately, eyes sharp and cold as she caught his fervent reflection in the mirror.

"Weren't you supposed to be sleeping in the guest room tonight?" she asked.

Throughout their two years of marriage, they had never once slept in the same bed.

Initially, Xander frequently stayed late at work, occasionally arriving home intoxicated, and eventually, he moved out of the master bedroom and retreated to the guest room, claiming he didn't want to disturb her sleep.

Later on, they'd tried a few more time, but whenever things seemed to get close, Milly's calls would pop up and totally kill the mood.

Rachael complained and even gave him the silent treatment for weeks one time. But somehow, she always ended up backing down.

All Xander had to do was furrow his brow, appearing tired and worn out, and say, "Rachael, I'm too tired. Please understand."

And just like that, she'd give in.

But tonight, when his cool lips brushed her ear, his breath felt hot and tempting. "I'm staying with you tonight."

Kisses that once stirred pleasure now only filled her with a rising sense of disgust.

The lotion bottle creaked under her tight grasp as she fought the impulse to throw it at him. Yet she understood well that this wasn't the moment to confront him.

"Honey..."

She jumped up fast, trying to back away, but her hand snagged his tie.

Xander's breath got heavier, and he reached up to loosen his tie.

Worried, Rachael said, "Haven't you been asking Milly for favors lately? She mentioned once she hated my perfume. If we're together tonight and she smells my perfume on you tomorrow, won't she get mad? If she refuses to help anymore, then the whole Spencer Group is in trouble..."

The fire in Xander's eyes instantly went out.

He stopped, pulling his tie free from her hand.

"You're right. Get some rest. There's still plenty of time ahead."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Almost right away, the sound of running water came from the guest bathroom.

Rachael tugged at her lips in bitter self-mockery.

He'd rather numb himself with a cold shower than be with her in bed.

Such devotion, indeed!

She grabbed some makeup wipes and scrubbed fiercely where he had touched her.

The sticky feeling made her want to throw up.

The rest of the night passed without anything happening.

The next morning, right after Xander left, Rachael called to have all her packed clothes donated to charity.

She threw all the couple-themed decorations she had put up straight into the trash.

After taking the trash out, her phone dinged with a new email, and she opened it eagerly to see what it was.