Anna allowed herself a rare luxury: sleeping in.

This was partly a result of her late night, but more significantly, she was no longer bound by the demanding routine of sourcing the freshest ingredients at dawn or preparing an elaborate, multi-course breakfast for Ethan.

Content with a simple bag of instant noodles, Anna satisfied her hunger. Afterward, she visited the bank and wrote a check for 1,405,537, clearly marking it for medical expenses.

Leaving the bank, Anna headed to Puma Coffee, where she arranged dinner with her close friend, Lucy Goldberg.

Since marrying, Anna had effectively severed ties with her classmates and friends, dedicating herself entirely to her role as a dutiful wife in the Smith household. It had been three years since she last saw Lucy.

Reflecting on those years, Anna felt a pang of regret for the opportunities she'd missed and the time she'd lost.

Anna settled into her reserved seat, awaiting Lucy's arrival.

Lucy currently worked as a vocal coach at a reputable training center in New York City. Anna suspected the dinner invitation was not only to reconnect but also potentially to offer job leads.

As expected, Lucy soon subtly guided the conversation toward the possibility of Anna teaching piano at the school.

"Thank you, Lucy," Anna responded with a lighthearted smile and a dismissive wave. "But I've sworn off the piano. I've already found a different path."

"Really?" Lucy inquired, her curiosity piqued. "Perhaps a jewelry design firm? It would be a natural fit!"

Anna waved her hand again. "No. I didn't even finish college, and those companies have strict requirements."

"But it's hard to find jobs without qualifications these days!" Lucy murmured, before passionately defending Anna. "Ethan Smith is such a rat! He cheated on you, and you left with next to nothing. If I hadn't extracted those millions from him, I'd feel like I let you wasted years for nothing!"

Anna stifled a laugh. Just then, her phone signaled the arrival of a new message.

"It must be from Ethan! Let me have him!"

Anna opened the message. It wasn't from Ethan.

As she replied, she said to Lucy, "I don't have concrete proof that Ethan cheated, really..."

Whether or not Ethan had been physically unfaithful, his heart had clearly betrayed her, even to the point of abandoning his own child.

Thinking of the baby who only survived for two months in her womb, before being killed by his own father, Anna's expression hardened.

"I just want to escape Ethan, and my old life."

"So?" "So?"

"So, I applied here."

Anna sent Lucy a link. Seeing Anna's excited expression, Lucy assumed it was a great job, but upon clicking the link, she found-

"A Juvenile Detention Center?"

Lucy's expression darkened, but Anna's face remained bright.

Lucy's lunch break was limited, and the two women parted ways after their short, rushed visit. Anna returned to her residence, but instead of going inside, she retrieved an envelope from the building's package locker.

At that moment, another message arrived, this time from Ethan.

It contained no text, only a photo: a picture of shredded paper scattered across the floor.

The photo was taken in the Smith Group's CEO's office.

Ethan sank into his chair, gripping the edge of his desk. The torn divorce agreement, which he had ripped apart with his own hands, lay at his feet.

"Mr. Smith, all the stomach medicine I could find is here..." Oscar stammered, only to witness Ethan sweep the medications off the desk.

"It's useless. The more I take, the worse it gets." Ethan clutched his stomach, sweat beading on his forehead.

He hadn't had his traditional medicine in days, and his stomach was rebelling. The sight of the divorce agreement Anna had sent that morning had only intensified the pain.

Oscar watched Ethan with growing concern.

The traditional medicine that Ethan needed was a special recipe from an old doctor. Only Anna knew the exact proportions, heating techniques, and brewing time, and she always prepared it herself.

"Mr. Smith, what if... I call Miss Anna?"

Oscar asked hesitantly, only to be met with a sharp glare from Ethan.

"What did you call her? Anna?"

"Miss Anna!" Oscar was confused.

Everyone around Ethan referred to Anna as "Miss Anna."

It was in that moment that Ethan realized that Anna had been "Miss Anna," and not "Mrs. Smith," for the entire three years of their marriage.

Ethan reached for his phone, curious about Anna's reaction to the shredded divorce agreement. Anna didn't call back, but Becca did.

Late in the evening, Anna arrived alone at the extravagant Violet Hall in New York City.

She had carefully chosen her outfit.

The blue Chanel-style suit was a statement piece from her pre-marriage wardrobe.

The doorman greeted Anna with a polite smile, which she returned. As she reached for her purse, she heard a voice she'd hoped to avoid.

"Miss Anna, what a surprise! What brings you here?"

Anna turned to see Becca approaching with her two closest friends.

Becca was meticulously dressed in a pink, fairytale-like dress, her pink diamond necklace catching the light.

"Becca, who is this? A friend?" Emily Giveon eyed Anna. "Is she here for the FY celebration?"

"Impossible," Priscilla Scott scoffed. "FY is a high-end luxury, international brand. They invite all the elite. Look at what she's wearing... She's probably a delivery person!"

Anna observed Becca and her friends, realizing they had been aware of her identity all along.

"Emily, Priscilla, don't be rude to Miss Anna..." Becca began, feigning generosity, "I heard from Ethan that Miss Anna married right after college and spent years as a housewife. She mostly wore an apron and rarely went anywhere besides the market, so she never had the chance. It's understandable she's unsophisticated and lacks a sense of fashion, unlike designers like us at FY."

"You work at FY?"

Seeing Anna's apparent surprise, Becca proudly presented her business card.

"Becca is a rising star in the jewelry design world. FY's HR department is really optimistic about her."

"You're just a housewife, do you even know what HR means?" Anna glanced at Becca's business card: "FY Jewelry Design Department Intern."

Amidst the taunts of Emily and Priscilla, Becca expected Anna to be humbled by the business card, but Anna simply smiled.

"Well, you're excellent."

Emily immediately rolled her eyes. "Why are you pretending to be so calm? You must be jealous of Becca!"

Seeing Anna turn to enter the building, Priscilla shouted, "Delivery people can't go that way."

Becca covered her mouth and giggled. She and her friends squeezed through, forcing Anna aside.

"See? You need an invitation to get in." Emily showed her invitation, allowing Becca to pass first.

Becca carefully lifted her pink dress and walked in like a princess, holding her head high and puffing her chest.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, your invitation only allows you to go through the employee entrance," the waiter stopped Becca.

Becca flushed with embarrassment, but Emily and Priscilla quickly spoke up, "Becca is an FY employee!"

"That's right, it's better to use the employee entrance than to not be able to get in at all."

Becca and the other two finally made way. Anna again approached the VIP entrance, withdrew an envelope from her purse, and handed it to the waiter.

The waiter's eyes widened, and his smile became even more respectful.

"Miss Anna, this way, please..."

Under the shocked gaze of Becca and her two friends, Anna entered the auditorium through the VIP passage.

Becca had been counting on Ethan's arrival. With his status, they could breeze through the VIP entrance, invitation or not. But as the party's start drew near and Ethan remained absent, she reluctantly guided Priscilla and Emily through the employee entrance.

Once inside, her eyes scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar face that wasn't there. "Anna must be working," she declared, a hint of smugness in her voice. "There's no way she got an invitation."

Emily chimed in, "Exactly! She hasn't even finished college. How could she possibly be invited to an FY event?"

Becca felt a wave of relief wash over her. Her friends were right. FY was a global luxury powerhouse. This particular celebration honored the "Piano" jewelry line, a collection launched four years prior. Its success was built on cutting-edge, patented technology, combined with an unforgettable artistic vision. The "Piano" line had dominated the luxury jewelry market for four years, earning acclaim from both industry insiders and discerning customers alike.

"I wonder if I'll get to meet the designer of the 'Piano' series tonight..." Becca murmured, her eyes sparkling with admiration and a touch of star-struck wonder.

"I heard that designer is super secretive," Emily commented. "Nobody even knows if it's a man or a woman!"

"Becca, you work for FY now, don't you have inside information?" Priscilla pressed.

Becca shook her head, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "All I know is the designer's signature is BYC. Even my boss is in the dark about everything else!"

Meanwhile, in a private room on the second floor, Anna was meeting with Peter, one of FY's founders and its current executive director.

"It's been three years since our last meeting, and you've only become more radiant," Peter said warmly, offering Anna a cup of coffee.

Anna recognized the polite flattery for what it was. After three years of marriage, dedicated to the relentless demands of domestic life, "radiant" was hardly the word she'd use. Time, she knew, had a way of eroding a woman's sparkle, especially without love.

And Anna's marriage lacked that crucial element.

A loveless marriage often leaves a woman depleted, and Anna's situation was even more painful. After years of selfless dedication, her husband had betrayed her, carrying on an affair that ultimately led to the loss of her unborn child.

Anna's grip tightened on the coffee cup, her knuckles turning white.

"So, the incredibly talented Mrs. BYC I've always admired," Peter continued, pulling her from her thoughts, "are you interested in *returning* to FY?"

The word "returning" caught her attention. She looked up at Peter, seeing the same eagerness in his eyes that she'd seen four years ago.

Anna had never officially been an employee of FY.

She had met Peter during her freshman year. He was visiting Stambridge University, searching for promising design talent. He found Anna sitting alone on campus, absorbed in sketches of jewelry inspired by the piano.

Peter was captivated by Anna's concepts. To bring her designs to life, Anna had even developed innovative gem-cutting and setting techniques.

Peter offered her a part-time position at FY, careful not to interfere with her studies.

But Anna declined.

She had no particular passion for the jewelry industry and didn't crave fame. She agreed to let FY produce her designs under the pseudonym BYC, sharing in the profits from the "Piano" line.

The series became an overnight sensation, transforming BYC into a legendary, yet enigmatic, figure in the world of jewelry design.

Peter, sensing Anna's mood, correctly surmised that her marriage was unhappy; otherwise, she wouldn't have accepted his invitation to the celebration.

"Anna, won't you reconsider? Give me a chance?" he pleaded.

Anna chuckled, amused by Peter's earnestness. "You're exaggerating. The 'Piano' series was just a fleeting inspiration. You know I don't really have a passion for jewelry design."

"You're wasting your talent!" Peter exclaimed. "Do you know how many designers at FY would give anything to have even a tiny fraction of your skill?"

Anna simply smiled, offering no response.

"Anyway," Peter continued, "the offer stands. The contract is ready whenever you are. Name your salary, the profit-sharing remains the same. FY's doors are always open to you." Peter finished, noticing Anna was looking out the window. The floor-to-ceiling windows of the second-floor private room offered a clear view of the conference hall below.

Ethan Smith's entrance had clearly caused a stir.

There were plenty of wealthy and powerful men like Ethan, but few possessed his striking looks.

Ethan was dressed in a sharp white suit, paired with a black shirt. The contrasting colors emphasized his cool, aloof aura. He'd skipped the tie, adding a touch of rebellious charm to his otherwise formal demeanor. His features were sharply defined, and his smile, though subtle, was undeniably captivating.

His presence in the conference hall immediately drew the attention of countless women.

Becca positioned herself strategically, waiting for Ethan to approach, like a princess awaiting her prince.

Envious glances rained down on her, making her the undisputed center of attention.

Becca's smile was radiant with pride.

Even as just an intern at FY, she felt like a star at this event.

Anna hadn't expected to see Ethan.

Silently, she watched as he made his way directly toward Becca, his gaze unwavering.

Throughout their three-year marriage, Ethan had never initiated contact with another woman.

Anna had naively believed that it was because he loved her, that she was special.

Now, she realized that Becca was the special one.

Together, they looked like the perfect couple.

Anna suddenly felt like an intruder.

Their last conversation had ended badly, with Ethan tearing up the divorce papers. Regardless of whether the divorce was finalized, she was still Ethan's wife, but the scene unfolding below had nothing to do with her.

"Are you leaving so soon?" Peter asked, his voice tinged with concern. He had his own agenda, and he was determined to bring Anna back to FY.

However, the scene in the conference room had clearly affected Anna. If she wanted to leave, he wouldn't try to stop her.

Anna stared intently at Ethan and Becca, observing their animated conversation and laughter. After a long silence, she turned to Peter.

"If I were to ask you for a gift right now, could you give it to me?"

Downstairs, Ethan presented Becca with a large, exquisitely wrapped bouquet of pink roses. Becca accepted them with a sweet, shy smile.

Nearby, Emily and Priscilla gushed, showering Ethan with praise.

"With a boyfriend as handsome, rich, and talented as Mr. Smith, Becca must have saved the universe in a past life!"

"The best part is how much Mr. Smith loves Becca. He even postponed important meetings just to be here with her."

"And that Elie Saab dress Becca is wearing? It cost $100,000! A gift from Mr. Smith."

Becca beamed, holding Ethan's hand tightly, basking in her friends' flattery.

"Oh, Ethan, I think I saw Miss Anna earlier..."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, understanding perfectly who Becca was referring to.

"Her clothes weren't very...appropriate. She might be delivering food here..."

Seeing Ethan's silence, Becca pressed on, "She's your wife in name only. It's sad to see her brought so low..."

"She brought it on herself," Ethan replied coldly. What good job could a woman find, after years of being a housewife with no degree?

Delivering food was exactly what he expected.

Suddenly, a buzz of excitement swept through the room again.

"Who's that beautiful woman with Director Peter? Does anyone know her?"