After discussing with my parents, we decided to act as usual and go home. For the next few days, we couldn't let others notice anything amiss with us.

Otherwise, none of us would be able to leave with Erick's methods.

I returned home drenched to the bone and began packing my belongings.

The memorabilia, gifts, and videos—once treasured by me—were all thrown into the shredder.

The crunching sound of the gears felt like it was tearing apart and grinding down those deceitful feelings.

Just after dinner, my phone rang. Recognizing the number, I stepped out into the garden to answer it.

When I returned to the living room, Erick was sitting on the sofa, with Hannah perched on his lap. She snuggled up to him and looked fragile.

I walked past them flatly and went upstairs.

Erick's voice was icy. "Stop."

I halted but didn't look at him.

"Do you know why I brought her home?" he asked.

My voice was emotionless. "I'm not interested."

"Hannah was sent to that dangerous place by you. She was on edge every day and was almost ruined." Erick's voice was filled with anger. "You, get down on your knees and apologize to her."

I finally turned to face them.

Hannah burrowed further into his arms, but when he wasn't looking at her, a fleeting look of provocation crossed her eyes.

I said with a frosty tone, "What if I refuse to kneel and apologize?"

Hannah put on a frightened act. "Erick, it's okay. I can endure the grievance. After all, Kimberly is your wife."

Erick's arm around Hannah's waist tightened instantly. "I've told you countless times. Why are you still so humble?"

He gently kissed her eyelids and said, "I dote on you. Who dares to say something else?"

I couldn't help but scoff silently. It was disgusting.

The butler came over with some soup and said that it was specially cooked for Hannah.

Just then, the company's finance manager rushed in with an urgent document.

Erick glanced at the manager and said gently to Hannah, "You always get impatient when I work. I'll step out for a bit. Have the soup."

With that, Erick stood up and left.

I froze in place, and my heart twisted in a sudden pang of pain.

Erick had never discussed business outside to ensure confidentiality. But he was now willing to take risks for Hannah.

There were only Hannah and I left in the living room.

Her timid demeanor vanished, replaced by an even more blatant provocation.

"Do you get it now?" Hannah stepped forward and gripped my hand. Her voice was sharp. "Even though you're Mrs. Blake and used your position to send me away, Erick's heart and soul are entirely mine."

I broke free from him and said coldly, "Do you want him? I give him to you."

Hannah was furious. She grabbed my hand again, and her sharp nails nearly pierced my skin. "I don't need you to give him to me. He's my man, and this house's mistress can only be me."

At that moment, Erick's footsteps were heard outside.

A glint of malice flashed in Hannah's eyes as she pushed me away and threw herself to the floor.

"Ah!" Hannah screamed, her eyes brimming with tears.

Erick rushed in to see Hannah sprawled on the floor.

Her skin immediately started bleeding.

"Kimberly!" Erick's gaze was terrifyingly cold. "You refused to apologize and even dared to hurt her?"

"I didn't." I looked at Erick calmly. "Check the surveillance, and you'll know the truth."

Erick snorted, "Check it now."

Hannah immediately grabbed his arm and shook her head desperately. "Erick, it's not Kimberly's fault. I shouldn't have hoped to stay with you forever. If only I left..."

Just as Hannah was about to leave, Erick pulled her into his arms. "I went through so much to get you back. You want to leave me again? Are you trying to take my life?"

Erick held Hannah tightly and seemed to be afraid that she'd vanish into thin air.

He suddenly turned to me, and his anger was fully unleashed. "Kimberly, have you forgotten everything I've said? Why are you still standing there? Go and get the first aid kit."

Erick was blind to my hand pierced by Hannah's sharp nails.

Without arguing, I left to fetch the first aid kit. Then I placed it beside Erick and left the living room.

Back in my room, I applied antiseptic to the wound. The pain made me break out in a cold sweat. Yet it didn't compare to the ache in my heart.

Erick knew how important my hands were to me.

I had been an outstanding surgeon, and he had witnessed my skills.

When I was in the living room, he would have known Hannah was putting on an act as long as he had looked a little bit carefully.

Hannah knew I was Erick's wife, but she dared to act so ruthlessly because she had Erick backing her.

My hands...

I hoped to leave him and continue to be a surgeon with my hands and to realize the value of my life.

Since Hannah repeatedly challenged my limits, she shouldn't blame me for a counterattack.

I looked out of the window, and my reflection in the glass showed a sense of relief.

After treating my wound, I sent a message to that number. "I've submitted the divorce papers. Everything is going smoothly."

On the first morning, I packed my luggage and placed the death notification into a gift box and left it on the table.

Then I received a video from Hannah. I clicked on it, and it showed the master bedroom of our marital home.

Erick's bare back was turned to the camera. There were visible scratch marks. The bed shook violently, and the two figures having sex were reflected on the window glass.

The video was obviously shot secretly by Hannah. She must want to provoke me.

At dawn, Erick returned to the villa. As he entered the room, the lingering scent of sex hung in the air. He looked satisfied and tossed a gift box to me. "Wear this on our anniversary."

I opened the box to find a sapphire bracelet. "Got it."

Erick loosened his tie as he stepped closer. I picked up the box from the table. "A gift in return. This is for you."

He was about to open it when I stopped him. "Open it on our anniversary. It's a surprise for you."

With that, I put the box back on the table.

Erick's arm pulled me into his embrace. His fingers had just slipped into my nightgown when Hannah's call interrupted. After ending the call, he left the villa without looking back.

The next morning, I was awakened by the ringtone at dawn.

"Kimberly, did you watch the live broadcast?" As soon as I answered the phone, a hesitant voice came through.

I clicked the live broadcast interface and saw Erick standing on the podium at the Blake Group's press conference. He was wearing the suit I had recently ironed for him. He exuded poise and confidence.

On the live stream, the host looked at him with admiration. "Mr. Blake, during the earthquake at the inspection site, at that critical, life-threatening moment, why did you instinctively shield Hannah, the secretary, first?"

Erick replied with a smile, "Every employee of the Blake Group is like family to me. It is a responsibility I must uphold to protect my family."

Applause erupted from the audience.

I scoffed and closed the interface.

The voice on the other end of the line hesitated for a few seconds. "Are you alright?"

"Don't worry. I'm fine."

After ending the call, the villa fell into an unusual silence.

The family he felt obliged to protect didn't include me, his wife, but rather Hannah, who had "collapsed" into his arms during the earthquake.

I retrieved a mini voice recorder from the safe. It contained a complete recording of Hannah stealing the company's core secrets.

It even included Erick's attempts to cover up her crime once he learned the truth.

On the third day, I went to work at the Blake Group as usual.

To avoid arousing Erick's suspicion, I planned to continue performing my duties as his assistant in the last few days.

But as soon as I reached the CEO's office door with a folder, I froze.

Intimate sounds came through the door. Hannah's hand traced Erick's charming face. She was using her alluring figure to outline his body without any reservations.

Erick's tall frame stiffened, and his hand wrapped around her waist uncontrollably as he felt the soft part of hers beneath the dress. In the next moment, he pressed his lips against hers with increasing intensity.

I pushed open the door, and both of them focused their attention on me.

Hannah clung to him coquettishly. "Is this your assistant? I left my folder in the lounge. Could you get it for me?"

She issued the order to me as if she were Erick's wife, flaunting her position.

She was afraid that others couldn't see Erick's favoritism for her.

Erick paused and was about to speak, but I unexpectedly agreed first. "Sure. Just a moment."

The divorce agreement had already taken effect. I was merely Erick's assistant now.

I stepped into the lounge to find the folder. Then I noticed a tin of Whittard chocolate powder on the bar. Then I remembered the note in his drawer. "Hannah loves Whittard chocolate powder.

Then I understood why Erick's exclusive lounge always had Whittard chocolate powder in stock.

I never cared for chocolate, but to suit his tastes, I forced myself to get used to it.

My personal preferences, dislikes, and tastes had quietly been molded to match Hannah's.

As I found the folder, I noticed the rumpled bedsheets beside me. My eyes stung, but I didn't shed tears.

My heart was numb, and my tears had long since dried.

I walked into the office with the folder. Just as I was about to hand it to Hannah, she abruptly yanked it away while Erick wasn't looking.

"Ah!" With a startled cry, the sharp edge of the folder cut into my finger.

A sharp, burning pain shot through me.

I gasped in pain and stepped back instinctively as blood dripped to the floor.

Erick immediately pulled Hannah into his arms. His face was filled with concern. "Hannah, did you hurt your hand?" Hannah's eyes welled with tears.

"It's all my fault. Kimberly was in a hurry to give it to me, and the folder accidentally brushed against her hand."

Only then did he glance at my bleeding hand and me, who was trembling in pain. "What's wrong with you? You can't even handle this small task properly."

Erick's indifferent gaze swept over me. He seemed to be blind to the deep cut on my hand. "Why are you still standing here? Clean it up."

My heart felt as though it had been cut by that sharp folder and then immediately soaked in saltwater.

I silently turned away and headed to the infirmary.

As the disinfectant stung my wound, my heartbeat faltered. But it didn't hurt as much as my heart did.

Hannah had deliberately injured me twice.

I returned to my office, took a picture of the documents with my wounded hand, and sent a message to that number. "Two days left until he receives the death notification."

The reply came instantly. "How did you hurt your hand?"

I snorted, "It's nothing. Just a paper cut while handling some files. Hannah went to Erick's company. Is there a new collaboration between the Blake Group and the Harrison Group?"

That one was quick-witted and surely understood the implication behind my words. "Not that. Hannah's personal life has been wild during her time in Whyae."

"How could that be? Doesn't she love Erick the most?"

"There's some love, but not much. She loves his looks, status, power, and wealth. But these don't stop her from having fun with other guys."

My fingers paused. I hadn't expected him to disclose Hannah's affairs so openly.

Erick always believed that she had suffered a lot in Whyae.

But even when I had to send her there, she indulged in even more outrageous escapades than she had back home.

She feigned pity because it was her way of making Erick feel even more sorry for her. While she continued to play around with other guys in Whyae, she could keep Erick as her backup.

"Oh, Erick! You treat her like the apple of your eye and remember every little thing she does. It's astonishing how she can easily manipulate you into willingly being her backup with just a bit of acting." I mocked him in my mind.

I had learned such shocking news but wasn't planning to expose Hannah just yet.

I intended to reveal everything to Erick after leaving him.

I ended the conversation and deleted the record. Then I got up as if nothing had happened and returned to the CEO's office.

Erick and Hannah had just finished their intimate activities.

He glanced at the bandage on my hand from the corner of his eye and seemed to see nothing. "Why are you taking forever? Haven't you cleaned up the stains on the floor?"

I nodded in response. "Yes, Mr. Blake."

Hannah's lips curled as she looked at me with a challenging gaze. "Kimberly, I'm sorry, but I'll handle the cleaning."

She stepped in front of me and whispered in a voice only we could hear, "Kimberly, you'd better protect your precious hands well. Otherwise, how will you perform surgeries on patients in the future?"

Hannah was fully aware that I used to be an excellent surgeon.

She understood how important my hands were to me.

That was precisely why she deliberately caused my hand to get injured twice.

I lifted my gaze and stared at her. My gaze was cold enough to make her shiver involuntarily.

Erick saw her get up to help me and thought Hannah was considerate and kind-hearted. "Hannah is always so kind and considerate of others." He said to me, "Let the janitorial staff handle it."

I scoffed inwardly. Erick was not only blind but also stupid.

...

The day before our wedding anniversary, Erick personally drove his sports car to the villa to pick me up for the rehearsal to ensure everything would go flawlessly on the very day.

I didn't get into the car immediately and instinctively glanced at the passenger seat. "Hannah isn't in the car?"

Erick narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at me. "I try to avoid having you both in the same place to prevent you from making a fuss over nothing."

My gaze turned icy instantly.

Erick wasn't worried about anything else. He was just afraid that I'd bully Hannah.

In his mind, I was nothing but a ruthless villain.

Although it was just a rehearsal, many important guests came to support us. Erick held me in his arms all the time and offered me lavish gifts like an island, rare collectibles, and even naming a star system after me.

"Are you happy now? Oh, and you haven't seen Paige in a while. I've arranged for her to be here. She's over there. So when I go to mingle, you and she can catch up."

As he finished speaking, Erick pointed to a spot not far away.

Just as I was about to speak, Hannah appeared at the entrance. She looked timid in a high-end custom dress.

Erick's expression turned gloomy. "Didn't I arrange for you to enjoy a full treatment at the villa? Why did you suddenly come here?"

Hannah's voice was choked with sobs. She looked thoroughly aggrieved as she said hesitantly, "I...I brought a gift to congratulate you..."

My voice was cold and detached. "It's not necessary. You're not welcome here."

"Watch your words." In the next instant, Erick had already instructed the security to arrange VIP seating for Hannah and whispered to me. "Since Hannah genuinely came to congratulate us, you should show the grace of Mrs. Blake. Where are your good manners? Don't embarrass us in front of the guests."

It was supposed to be the rehearsal for our wedding anniversary, yet Erick spent the entire time tenderly accompanying Hannah.

I stood in the corner and watched Erick hold Hannah affectionately. I felt utterly mocked. My blood went numb.

"Erick, I regret falling in love with you and marrying you.

You make me sick."

The phone notification suddenly chimed.

I took out my phone and turned it on. I glanced at the countdown reminder in the notes.

I would "die in a car accident" on our wedding anniversary tomorrow.

At that moment, Hannah coyly mentioned her fondness for a newly released limited edition handbag. As soon as Erick heard it, he left the scene to buy it for her.

She haughtily walked up to me and raised her eyebrows with a cold smile. "Kimberly, are you still unaware? The gifts Erick plans to give you for the anniversary are something I've rejected. Even though Erick came with you to rehearse for the anniversary, he still needed my approval. Since meeting you, his phone has been continuously connected to me..."

Hannah provocatively put her phone on speaker, and the next moment, Erick's voice came through the receiver. "Sweetheart, I got the handbag for you. After the rehearsal, I'll make it up to you tonight."

In the next instant, she ended the call.

I had given up hope on Erick already. "What do you want?"