I thought Karsten would stay with Theresa for a few days, but he came home on the same night. 

“Vali, look what I got you for Valentine’s Day!” Kars was full of affection as he handed me a gift box.

I swallowed the hatred surging inside me and forced myself to act as if I hadn’t seen him with his ex. 

“Aren’t you supposed to be on a business trip? Why did you come back so soon?” 

“It’s Valentine’s Day. There’s no way I can leave you alone at home.” 

If I hadn’t witnessed it with my own eyes, I might have been fooled by the tenderness in his gaze, fooled into believing he loved me with all his heart. 

I casually took the gift and unwrapped it to hide the bitterness twisting my face. 

The gift was a set of lacy, seductive lingerie. 

“Do you like it? Size 36C—I’ve always remembered your measurements.” 

My fingers tightened around the box, my grip unconsciously firm. Among the clothes scattered across my parents’ villa’s living room today, I had seen an identical set of lingerie. 

But when I looked up again, my face was already adorned with a smile. “Mhm, I love it.” 

Karsten pulled me into his arms, his breath warm against my ear. He said, “Babe, will you wear it for me tonight?” 

I glanced at the faint red marks on his neck—traces of another woman’s kisses. My stomach twisted. A wave of nausea hit me, and I bolted to the bathroom, dry heaving over the sink.

Karsten appeared behind me moments later, his hand warm and gentle as he rubbed my back.

After rinsing my mouth, I turned to face him. His eyes sparkled with joy.

“Babe, you went to the hospital this morning, right? Were you trying to tell me… are you pregnant with our child?”

I studied his excitement, the eagerness in his voice, the light in his eyes. And I thought of his lies. His betrayal.

Slowly, I wiped the water from the corner of my mouth. “Yes,” I said. “I am.”

Karsten spun me around in excitement, his joy so genuine it didn’t seem fake at all. Then it hit me—our agreement clearly states that if we have a child, he gets 10% of Thalmann Legacy Holdings. 

I wasn’t giving birth to his child; I was giving birth to his ticket to wealth and power. No wonder he was ecstatic. 

Watching his over-excitement, I could hardly wait to see his face when all his dreams crumbled to dust.

“Vali, you should stay home and take care of yourself. Don’t worry about the company—I’ll handle everything.” His tone was light, almost cheerful.

So, he had his eyes on the company too.

A year into our marriage, my father passed away. On his deathbed, he held my hand, his grip weak but urgent.

“Vali, Thalmann Legacy Holdings is my safeguard for you. But you trust too easily. Promise me—no matter what—you’ll always keep the Thalmann Legacy firmly in your hands.” 

Losing him shattered me, but grief had to wait. After arranging his funeral, I stepped into my role without hesitation.

Over the past year, I had gradually handed over the company's management to Karsten, convinced that my failure to conceive was due to stress. The traditional medicine practitioner he found for me insisted that overwork was the culprit.

For six months, I faithfully drank the bitter herbal concoctions prescribed to me. Yet, the pregnancy I longed for never happened.

Desperate, I turned to modern medicine, subjecting myself to weekly procedures and tests. Ironically, it was through these hospital visits that my breast cancer was discovered—still less than a centimeter in size.

I exhaled slowly. “Alright then, I’ll head to the company soon and make the necessary arrangements. After that, I’ll focus on resting at home.”

Karsten’s brows furrowed for the briefest moment before his expression smoothed over. “Alright, but promise me you won’t overwork yourself. If you feel unwell, come home and rest.”

In that moment, he looked every bit the devoted husband, the expectant father.

I wondered if he would still smile at me like this after I returned to the company and laid bare all his carefully deceitful plans.

Once arriving at the company, I never expected the first person I’d run into would be Theresa.

I had to be honest—I was the one who stirred up trouble with Theresa first.

After falling for Karsten at first sight, I joined the company under the guise of an ordinary employee just to get close to him. It was only after starting work that I learned he had a girlfriend—Theresa, a recent graduate newly hired by our company. 

As fate would have it, Theresa and I went to the same university. She was famously known as the campus beauty. 

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous. So, I pestered my father to implement a strict company policy forbidding workplace relationships. The new rule led to a huge fight between them. Neither was willing to give up their high-paying job for the other, so they broke up. 

I seized the opportunity, staying by Karsten’s side, showering him with affection when he was vulnerable and heartbroken. At first, he was cold and aloof and kept his distance from me.

Until one night, he got drunk, his eyes hazy as he looked at me and asked, “Valeria, if you want to be my girlfriend, you’ll have to quit a job that most people would kill for. Are you willing to do that?” 

I was grateful for my privileged background—I never had to choose between love and my career. So, after Karsten became my boyfriend, I left the company. 

Back then, I didn’t think of myself as a homewrecker. I had simply used the power of wealth to place a small obstacle in their way.

If Theresa’s love had been real, she could have found another job. But instead, she let go of Karsten. And when she saw him with someone new, she came crawling back, hoping to reconcile.

Too bad for her—I wasn’t about to let anyone steal what was mine. 

When I returned to the company, it wasn’t as just another employee, but as the Thalmanns’ heir. Theresa didn’t have the power to compete with me, and I made sure she knew it. In the end, I had my father write her a glowing recommendation letter and sent her off to another company.

Today, as I returned to the company after receiving my diagnosis, Theresa was dressed in a slightly provocative business suit.

A gentle smile played on her lips. “Ms. Thalmann, we meet again. Surely, you’re not so petty that you can’t tolerate my presence here, right?”  

I really had been away from the company in the past year—so much so that I hadn’t even noticed Karsten bringing his ex-lover back into the firm as his secretary.  

Calling me out in front of everyone… Was Theresa trying to use the moral high ground to corner me?  

Too bad for her—I never cared much for morals.  

“I’m sorry, Ms. Grimm, but anyone my father saw fit to send away has no place in my company.”  

Theresa’s smile faltered, just for a moment, before she turned to Karsten for help.  

“Vali, Ms. Grimm was specially recruited by a headhunter. Maybe we could…”

“Mr. Schauer,” I cut in smoothly, “do I need your permission to fire one of my employees?”  

Ludwig had warned me to schedule my surgery as soon as possible—I didn’t have time for their games.  

“Process her compensation accordingly. Mr. Schauer, if Ms. Grimm needs assistance, feel free to submit the request on her behalf. I’ll personally approve it.”

Karsten’s face darkened, and Theresa trembled with anger. Other senior employees who were hoping to watch a dramatic showdown between us three were left stunned by my straightforward approach. They were exchanging uneasy glances. 

Some even cast curious glances at Karsten and Theresa. Even if nothing was going on between them, people’s imaginations would run wild with how I executed my actions. Considering how messy things actually were, it wouldn’t be long before everyone started connecting the dots. 

Once rumors spread, leaving Thalmann Legacy Holdings would make it difficult for Theresa to find another job. 

Back in my office, Karsten struggled to keep his anger in check. “Vali, why did you do that? There’s nothing going on between me and Theresa.” 

I couldn’t be bothered to entertain him, my focus locked on the documents I had prepared in advance. 

“With Theresa resigning, some personnel adjustments need to be made.” 

As I listed off the names, Karsten’s expression shifted from shock to a deep, brooding anger. After all, these were the very people he had painstakingly positioned within the company.

“Why? Vali, are you targeting me?” His voice was rough, laced with frustration. 

“Of course not. Thalmann Legacy is expanding with a new branch in Saltwater City. I want you to oversee it personally—along with your trusted team.”

Karsten opened his mouth to argue, but I cut him off. 

“All of this time, you’ve worried that the employees are mocking you behind your back, calling you a freeloader. I’m giving you the platform and the funds to prove them wrong.” 

I paused, locking eyes with him. 

“Take your team to Saltwater City and make a name for yourself. I don’t want to let our child grow up thinking their father is a spineless parasite.” 

For a split second, I saw hesitation flash across his face. I was convinced he wouldn’t dwell on Theresa any longer.

True to my thoughts, Karsten accepted my words. He was too ambitious to pass up the opportunity. “Vali, thank you. I won’t let your kindness go to waste.” 

Kindness? Hardly.

Divorce requires a one-month cooling-off period, but my surgery can’t wait. I needed to hand over the company to a professional manager to avoid any loss of control. 

As for Karsten and Theresa... I’d deal with them once after I survived the surgery. 

On my third day back to the company, Karsten left for Saltwater City with his loyal team, brimming with confidence. 

Before leaving, he held my hand, his voice tender as he said his goodbyes. “Vali, take good care of our child while I’m away. I’ll fly back every month to be with you.”

Too bad for him—I’d already discovered that Theresa was on the same flight. He planned to use my money to keep his mistress hidden away in Saltwater City. Karsten really thought he was so clever. 

I was genuinely shocked when my secretary showed me the expense reports Theresa had filed over the past year. More than 450,000 dollars a month, covering her rent, four new outfits every month, and other extravagant expenses. 

Clearly, Karsten had approved every penny himself. That would be the only reason why the finance department hadn’t dared to question it. 

“Contact the legal department and recover the improperly reimbursed funds.” 

Sam, my executive secretary, who had been with me for years, gave a knowing nod. “Ms. Thalmann, you’re finally back. The company could really use some restructuring.”

I leaned in and quietly gave Sam a few instructions before quickly organizing a meeting with the senior management. 

Three days later, once everything was in order, Ludwig personally came to take me to the hospital. 

In the car, he kept a light, cheerful demeanor. “Vali, tell me what you’re craving. After your surgery, I’ll cook it for you.” 

I knew he was trying to ease my nerves. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was seventeen. By the time they found it, it had already spread to her liver. Even though she underwent surgery, she didn’t last more than six months.

I had the same disease now. I would be lying if I wasn’t the least scared. 

“Do you think... maybe I got sick because I was so anxious about getting pregnant this past year?” I watched the scenery blur past the window, my voice soft and distant.

“It could be genetic... but extreme mental stress might also be a contributing factor.” Ludwig’s brow furrowed ever so slightly before he quickly changed the subject. 

“Where’s Karsten? Why is he not by your side when you’re about to have surgery?” 

I thought about it for a moment—there was no point in hiding it from Ludwig. “He cheated on me. Once the surgery is over, I’m divorcing him.” 

The words had barely left my mouth when Ludwig slammed on the brakes, nearly sending me headfirst into the dashboard.

“Ludwig! What the hell? If the illness doesn’t kill me, you will!” 

Luckily, the roads weren’t busy. Any other time of day, this reckless driving could’ve caused an accident. 

“He cheated on you?” It was only then that I noticed the rare, murderous glint in Ludwig’s eyes. 

“Yeah... he got back together with his ex.”

Ludwig pulled the car over to the side of the road. “So, what’s your plan?” 

“Divorce him. He’s leaving with nothing.” 

Ludwig turned to look at me, his chest rising and falling with barely contained anger. “Well, at least you’re using your head,” he said coldly. 

For a moment, he looked exactly just like he did back in high school, and I couldn’t help but stare at him, momentarily lost in thought.