“Ms. Arnold, you really should sign this divorce agreement. Otherwise, I won’t be able to answer to Mr. Fisher.”
Jeremy Fisher’s personal lawyer, Cole Stewart, stood in front of Hailey Arnold with an anxious expression. In his hands were a freshly printed divorce agreement, the pages still crisp.
This was the thirty-third time Jeremy had asked to divorce her.
The first time, Hailey climbed onto the rooftop and jumped. She survived but broke one of her legs. The second time, she slashed her wrist with a small knife, and blood flooded half the bathroom. The third time, she swallowed an entire bottle of sleeping pills and spent three days in the hospital having her stomach pumped.
…
Every single time, she had used death to force Jeremy to compromise, but this time, she was tired of it.
“Ms. Arnold, you really should sign this divorce agreement. Otherwise, I won’t be able to answer to Mr. Fisher.”
Jeremy Fisher’s personal lawyer, Cole Stewart, stood in front of Hailey Arnold with an anxious expression. In his hands were a freshly printed divorce agreement, the pages still crisp.
This was the thirty-third time Jeremy had asked for a divorce from her. The first time, Hailey climbed onto the rooftop and jumped. She survived but broke one of her legs. The second time, she slashed her wrist with a small knife, and blood flooded half the bathroom. The third time, she swallowed an entire bottle of sleeping pills and spent three days in the hospital having her stomach pumped.
Every single time, she had used death to force Jeremy to compromise, but this time, she was tired of it.
Hailey stood up and walked toward the window.
Cole followed her nervously. “Ms. Arnold, please don’t do anything rash. Mr. Fisher specifically instructed me to ensure your safety…”
Hailey did not respond. She looked out the window, her gaze landing on the massive billboard across the street. On it stood Jeremy, tall and composed in a custom-tailored suit. Beside him was a glamorous woman, Whitney Addams, the heiress of the Addams Group. Everyone said they were a perfect match—a power couple made in heaven. As for her, the woman who was legally Jeremy’s wife, no one even knew she existed.
Cole glanced at the billboard outside, guilt flashing across his face.
He lowered his voice and said cautiously, “Ms. Arnold, you and Mr. Fisher will only be getting a temporary divorce. Your lifestyle and benefits will remain unchanged. As for Mr. Fisher and Miss Addams, it’s all for the company’s successful IPO. Once you sign, Mr. Fisher will transfer fifty percent of the shares to you–”
She had heard that speech so many times that she was sick of it.
“I’ll sign,” Hailey interrupted him, her voice calm and firm, without the slightest hesitation.
Cole froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard. Then, delight spread across his face. “Ms. Arnold, you’ve finally come around.”
Hailey picked up the pen and signed her name on the divorce papers, her fingers trembling slightly. The pen felt unbearably heavy in her hand, like a dull blade carving into her heart. Her signature was short, yet it felt as though she had spent an entire century writing it.
As soon as the pen lifted off the paper, Cole quickly took the divorce papers from her hands.
“Ms. Arnold, I’ll leave you to the rest of your day.”
After the door shut heavily behind, Hailey collapsed onto the sofa, limp like a fish pulled from the water.
The television was on, broadcasting breaking financial news.
“It has been confirmed that Fisher Corporation, founded by renowned entrepreneur Mr. Jeremy Fisher, has successfully passed its IPO review. The company is expected to officially go public within a month, with an estimated market value of ten billion dollars. Mr. Fisher is set to become the wealthiest man in New Vegas.”
The camera cut to Jeremy, his handsome face sharp and confident. Facing the cameras, he wore a perfectly controlled smile, the unmistakable aura of a man at the top of his game.
The host asked, “Mr. Fisher, who would you most like to thank for the company’s successful listing?”
Jeremy’s eyes instantly filled with affection. He turned slightly, his gaze locking onto Whitney beside him.
“Of course, I have to thank my most capable partner, Whitney. Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Whitney lowered her eyes shyly.
The host continued, smiling, “There’s been a lot of talk about you and Miss Addams being a match made in heaven. May I ask, do you have plans to marry her?”
Jeremy smiled at the camera. “That’s a question I can’t answer yet. That’ll depend on whether Whitney will give me the honor.”
The audience erupted into cheers.
“He sure is a CEO, confessing love so openly!”
“Is this real, or is this a dream? A love story between a wealthy heiress and a successful entrepreneur? I’m shipping this couple.”
“So the rumors are true. They are head over heels for each other.”
…
Every word was like a knife, stabbing straight into Hailey’s heart. The pain spread instantly through her entire body, and memories flooded her mind.
Ten years ago, Jeremy and Hailey had depended on each other to survive. At their poorest, one loaf of bread had to be split into four meals.
So that Jeremy could continue his studies, Hailey gave up her chance to go to college and worked three jobs on her own. She even sold her blood at the hospital just to scrape together tuition money. Already frail, she fainted right after leaving the blood bank from excessive blood loss.
Jeremy rushed over when he heard the news, holding her tightly as burning tears fell onto her body.
She wiped the tears from his eyes, holding the money in her hand and smiling brightly.
“Jeremy, you can afford to go to college now.”
The young, inexperienced boy swore to her that once he succeeded, he would give her a life every woman envied. The day Jeremy landed his first job after graduating from college, they went to city hall and registered their marriage.
“Hailey, our good days are finally here. You won’t have to work so hard anymore. Once I make money, I’ll give you the grandest wedding.”
That night, they clung to each other in the dark, holding each other tightly.
Later, Jeremy’s career soared, and Hailey never had to worry about money again. She lived in a mansion, rode in luxury cars, and had domestic help waiting for her at home. However, the one thing she never had was Jeremy publicly acknowledging her existence.
She kept waiting for the day he would fulfill his promise, but instead of the wedding she dreamed of, she received the divorce papers drafted by his own hand. Again and again, even when she threatened death, Jeremy never backed down.
“Hailey, it’s just a temporary divorce. Don’t worry, I won’t abandon you. The company needs the Addams family’s support to go public. Whitney absolutely cannot know that I’m married, and she definitely can’t know about you.”
Every time, it was the same excuse. Her struggles, her resistance, her despair—none of it mattered to him. In his eyes, they were nothing more than obstacles in the way of greater success.
On the TV screen, the camera focused on Whitney again. She smiled gently, lifting a hand to brush her hair aside, revealing a massive diamond ring on her ring finger.
“Thank you for everyone’s concern regarding Jeremy and me. If there’s good news, we’ll be sure to share it.”
The crowd erupted into cheers once more.
Hailey lowered her head and looked at the plain band on her own finger. Bitterness flooded her heart. Suddenly, she understood Jeremy had given someone else what she wanted, and what Jeremy wanted, she could no longer provide. They had long been on different paths.
There was no such thing as a fake divorce. If they were divorcing, then it would be final.
Hailey picked up her phone and dialed an overseas number.
“Aunt Iris, I’ve decided. I want to go abroad and settle down with you.”
The person on the other end was clearly surprised. “Hailey, have you thought this through? Didn’t you want to stay with that promising husband of yours?”
Hailey was silent for a long time before finally saying, “I’ve divorced him.”
“That husband of yours isn’t worth keeping anyway. He’s been dragging things out without giving you a proper status, and men like that usually have someone else. Divorce him. I can afford to support you anyway. Coincidentally, I’ll be returning home next month to audit a domestic company that’s about to go public. Once I’m done, I’ll take you with me.”
“Alright, Aunt Iris.”
Hailey’s aunt, Iris Arnold, was a senior executive at a global auditing firm, responsible for auditing the financials of major listed companies. Her work was notoriously demanding. That was also why, after her aunt found her, she never had the chance to formally meet Jeremy. Yet now, there was no longer a point.
She had just hung up when Jeremy’s call came through.
“Hailey, I knew you’d understand me,” he said. “The company is about to go public, and this is the only option I have. Don’t worry, divorce is just a piece of paper. It won’t change what we have. I’ll send my secretary to pick you up. Tonight, we’ll celebrate.”
Hailey was stunned to learn that, in his eyes, divorce was something worth celebrating. She did not refuse. After loving each other for ten years, a farewell dinner did seem appropriate.
At a high-end restaurant, Jeremy and Hailey sat across from each other. As he grew wealthier, he also grew busier, so much so that Hailey could not even remember the last time they had shared a meal like that.
“Hailey, everything I promised you back then has finally come true. Once the company goes public, I’ll be financially free,” Jeremy said, lifting his glass of wine and downing it all in one go.
The man sitting across from her was no longer the poor young man from years ago. His eyes were bright, brimming with ambition and hunger for success.
A wave of bitterness rose in her chest. Hailey raised her glass as well, forcing a smile.
“Congratulations on achieving your dream,” she said. “Here’s to your freedom.”
The taste of the wine burned its way down her throat, all the way to her heart.
She held back her tears and silently added, ‘Here’s to my freedom, too.’
Jeremy then took out a document and handed it to her.
“This is a share transfer agreement. I’m giving you fifty percent of the company’s shares. It’ll be your security.”
Hailey accepted the document, a faint, self-mocking smile tugging at her lips. What she wanted had never been the company shares.
Suddenly, the private dining room door swung open. The secretary hurried in, looking flustered.
“Mr. Fisher, Miss Addams urgently needs to see you.”
Jeremy glanced at Hailey before standing up and saying, “The food here is good. Take your time and enjoy it.”
No matter how exquisite the food was, eating alone made it tasteless. With that, Hailey got up to leave. As she passed the private room next door, Jeremy’s voice drifted out.
“Whitney, I’m sorry I’m late. Something came up. I’ve ordered everything you like.”
Hailey’s gaze froze as it fell on the dishes inside through the glass door. They were all the same as the ones on her table. As it turned out, everything had been planned for Whitney. Dinner with her had merely been a convenient afterthought. The date with Whitney was the real main course of the night.
Her fingers dug deep into her palm, yet she felt no pain.
Whitney said coyly, “I know you’re busy now, but today is our third anniversary. No matter how late you were, I would’ve waited.”
Outside the door, Hailey bit down hard on her lip as tears spilled uncontrollably. They had been together for three years, and it was exactly three years ago that Jeremy had first asked her for a divorce.
Just then, a waiter carrying a bowl of boiling stew hurried toward her. His foot slipped, and his entire body pitched forward. Scalding liquid splashed all over her.
“Ah!”
Hailey screamed as pain exploded across her body. Her delicate skin instantly turned red and swollen.
“I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to!” the waiter apologized in a panic.
Hearing the commotion, Whitney poked her head out of the room.
“What happened?”
Jeremy followed her out. The moment he saw Hailey, his brows knitted slightly.
The waiter’s face went pale as he stammered, “I slipped by accident and burned this lady…”
Jeremy instinctively stepped forward and grabbed Hailey’s arm, his voice tense. “Are you hurt? Does it hurt badly? Let me see.”
His sudden concern made Whitney pause, confusion flickering across her face as she asked, “Jeremy… do you know her?”
The question made Jeremy freeze and come to his senses. He abruptly withdrew his hand and turned to Whitney with a relaxed smile.
“How could I know her? Seeing her badly hurt made me react. You know me. I can’t stand seeing people suffer.”
Hailey’s heart skipped a beat. To him, she was nothing more than a stranger worthy of his momentary kindness.
The waiter continued apologizing repeatedly. “Miss, I’ll take you to the hospital right away to get it treated.”
Hailey looked up and forced herself to appear calm.
“It’s fine,” she said. “It’s just a minor burn. I can handle it myself.”
After that, she fled the restaurant as if escaping. If she stayed a second longer, the fragile composure she had been clinging to would shatter.
At the hospital, a nurse carefully cleaned and disinfected her wounds.
“Miss, this burn is pretty serious. You need to take good care of it, or it may leave a scar.”
Hailey nodded quietly. Layer upon layer of gauze wrapped around her body, the stark white almost blinding.
All of a sudden, she was reminded of the year when she was working in a restaurant, washing dishes, and had accidentally cut her finger. Jeremy had panicked so badly that he nearly cried. He had pulled her hand to his chest, holding it carefully, as if the pain were his own. Yet now, she was nothing more than an irrelevant stranger to him.
Then again, it made sense. Once she signed the divorce papers, she and Jeremy were no longer connected.
Her phone vibrated. It was a message from Jeremy.
“Are you okay? I can’t get away right now. If you need anything, contact my secretary.”
“I’m fine,” she replied quickly, then left the hospital and went home.
Back in the bedroom, she lay down. Both her body and mind were utterly exhausted, and she soon fell into a deep sleep. In her haze, she felt the mattress beside her sink, followed by a warm body pressing down on her. The man’s movements were rough and impatient, grinding painfully against her wounds.
“It hurts!” Hailey pushed away the hands roaming over her body.
It was Jeremy.
She could not remember how long it had been since he last came home. It was probably since the first time he asked for a divorce—the night she jumped from the rooftop.
Back then, Jeremy’s eyes were red as he rushed her to the hospital. However, ever since, there had been some sort of distance between them. It was as if he had made up his mind that as long as she refused to divorce him, he would never come home.
She waited for him in that house, day after day. Later, she went to his company to look for him. She even hired a private investigator to track his movements. However, she no longer needed him now.
The man’s hands paused slightly, clearly surprised by her reaction.
He turned over and sat up, apologizing, “I’m sorry. I was too impatient and forgot you were hurt. I just wanted you to understand that no matter what’s going on between Whitney and me, in my heart, you’re the only wife I have.”
Hailey laughed. A wife with no wedding, status, or a marriage certificate? She did not want to be that kind of “wife” anymore.
Seeing her remain silent, Jeremy thought she was angry about what had happened earlier. Hence, he lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead.
“Hailey, I know you’re upset, but you have to think about the bigger picture. Rest well and recover. I’ll sleep in the study tonight.”
In the middle of the night, with the pain from her wounds making her body tremble, Hailey got up and went to the living room to look for painkillers. As she passed by the study, she heard Jeremy’s voice from inside.
“Yes. I got the divorce settlement agreement today. Tomorrow, I can inform the board about my marital status.”
The other person scoffed. “Did Hailey agree to divorce you? That’s rare. How did you convince her?”
Jeremy sighed. “She probably figured it out. She’s always been considerate of me.”
“So you’re planning to marry Whitney after this?”
Jeremy was silent for a long time before speaking again. “When I first approached Whitney, I did want to use the Addams as leverage. But later, every day I spent with her felt easy. She always understands me. Sometimes, just a look is enough, unlike with Hailey. Every time I see her face, I’m reminded of how miserable I was back then. So poor that I had to rely on a woman to support me. That period of my life was nothing but a nightmare.”
Outside the door, Hailey stumbled backward in shock. Tears spilled down her face, burning hot against her cheeks. It seemed the days she cherished—the days she had suffered for him—were, to him, an unbearable nightmare. In that case, what was she to him, really?
Jeremy continued, “Once the company goes public, I plan to propose to Whitney.”
Just moments ago, he had said Hailey was his only wife, and now, he was planning to propose to another woman.
Hailey cried until she started laughing. Her wounds throbbed faintly, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. She had had enough. She wanted nothing but to leave this place as soon as possible.
The next day, Hailey went to the mall to pick out a gift for her Aunt Iris. After entering a boutique, she set her eyes on a silk scarf. Just as she was about to ask the sales assistant to wrap it up for her, a commotion broke out outside.
“Make way. Mr. Fisher has booked out the entire floor today. All other customers, please leave immediately.”
Several tall bodyguards began clearing the area. Through a narrow gap, Hailey caught sight of Jeremy and Whitney walking together.
Soon, all unrelated customers were escorted out. She remained unnoticed, hidden away in a corner, out of the bodyguards’ line of sight.
