Clarissa Rockwell, the daughter of Infinity Corporations' CEO, had been married for seven years.

She married a man from an ordinary background named Patrick Tanker. The public never understood why.

However, things changed for her when her Grandpa Darius Rockwell had a heart attack again. Patrick saved him in time. While Darius was seriously ill, Patrick even developed a new medicine to control his bad condition and extend his life.

When Clarissa’s car suddenly got caught in fire and almost exploded, Patrick risked his life to save her. He took care of her for three full months.

Clarissa had always been calm and never believed in love. But because of the things Patrick did, her heart slowly softened.

So she carefully prepared Patrick’s 30th birthday.

That day, she saw something she could never forget. The Patrick whom see knew as a cold and distant person, suddenly confessing his love to her cousin, Victoria Rockwell with passion.

Patrick almost pulled Victoria into his arms. His cold face was filled with obsession. His eyes burned with desire and strong possessiveness as he looked at her.

Clarissa stood frozen outside the room. She could hardly believe what she was seeing.

Victoria’s crying voice came from inside. “Let go of me. If you really love me even from back then, why did you marry Clarissa instead?”

Patrick grabbed her arm tightly. The veins on his hand stood out.

He looked like he was holding back, then suddenly shouted, “At that time, I owed hundreds of thousands in debt! You were a rich young lady in the entire province and I was worse than a beggar on the street!”

“Vicky, how could I marry you then? How was I supposed to marry you? Should I make you suffer with me, or beg on the streets with me?”

As Patrick spoke, his emotions collapsed. His eyes were full of pain, stabbing deeply into Clarissa’s heart outside the door.

Clarissa remembered when she had just gotten married. She happily introduced Victoria to Patrick. Back then, Patrick was cold even toward Victoria. He seemed to keep a proper distance.

So what was this now? If Patrick truly loved Victoria, why did he marry her?

Clarissa’s head buzzed.

Then she heard Victoria ask, “Then why did you marry Clarissa? Isn’t it because you like her?”

Patrick replied slowly, “If I say I married her because of you, would you believe me?”

He hugged Victoria tightly, his expression obsessed. “She is your cousin. If you left, we would never see each other again. Only by marrying her could I stay close to you.”

“Remember her car explosion three months ago? I planned that. I knew that if Clarissa couldn’t go to the company, you would get the project instead.”

Victoria could no longer hold back her tears.

Patrick gently kissed them away.

Meanwhile, Clarissa felt her heart being stabbed. Her blood seemed to freeze.

Three months ago, she had gone to First Metro for a business trip. Her car suddenly exploded on the way. She was almost disabled and stayed in bed for three months. Exactly because of that, Victoria took over her project.

For three months, Clarissa lay in bed like a useless person. She felt anxious and depressed.

Patrick stayed with her every day. He pushed her outside for fresh air and took care of her daily life.

She was deeply moved. She thought this was Patrick expressing his love for her. But it turned out, he had planned out everything.

How could someone be so cruel? What if she had died in that explosion?

Seven years. Even a dog would grow attached in seven years. Yet, Patrick was so heartless that he even wanted her dead.

Clarissa's mind went blank. She stepped back weakly and took out her phone with trembling hands.

***

Clarissa closed her eyes and called her lawyer. “Lawyer Luca, help me prepare a document. Inform my family. Tell them I want a divorce.”

When Patrick heard this, his face darkened. “Clarissa, are you crazy?”

“You begged me to marry you back then. Now it’s been seven years and you want a divorce? Aren’t you ashamed?”

Clarissa threw her phone onto the table. On the screen was a video of Patrick kissing Victoria.

“Patrick,” she said calmly, “what do you think will happen if this video got released?”

Almost instinctively, Patrick grabbed the phone and deleted the video.

He said coldly, “Risa, listen to me. You misunderstood.”

Seeing his reaction, Clarissa laughed. She laughed until tears fell.

Deep down, she wanted to ask him: 'What kind of misunderstanding when you're clearly trying to kill me?'

But Clarissa said none of it.

Instead, she took out some documents. “I have backups of the video. If you don’t want it leaked, sign the divorce papers.”

Patrick’s face turned pale with anger. He signed fiercely on it. “Fine, Clarissa. Don’t come begging me to get back!”

He then slammed the door and left.

Clarissa looked at his back, her heart in pain. But she would never comfort him again. And she would never regret this.

Her marriage was built on lies from the very beginning. Now, she must end it with her own hands.

The news of their divorce shocked the entire Rockwell Family. After all, Patrick had saved Clarissa not long ago and the two seemed deeply in love.

Alberta, Clarissa's mother, couldn’t stop herself from persuading them.

“Did you two just have a fight? Couples argue all the time. Why does it have to end in divorce?”

At the dining table, Patrick sat cold-faced and silent.

Meanwhile, Clarissa lowered her eyes and said calmly, “I just suddenly realized we are not suitable for each other.”

Alberta wanted to say more but stopped. Victoria, however, showed a flash of happiness in her eyes, though her face looked worried.

“Clarissa,” she said softly, “don’t act on impulse. You’re already thirty. If you lose your husband, who would want to marry you?”

Clarissa slowly raised her head and saw the hidden malice in Victoria’s eyes.

She smiled and replied with calmness, “Oh, I’m not worried about my next married life. But Victoria, you’re almost thirty too. Why haven’t you found someone to marry yet?”

Before Victoria could react, Patrick suddenly slammed his fork on the table.

“Clarissa!” he said angrily. “This is between us. Don’t take your anger out on Vicky.”

Clarissa clenched her fingers and laughed sarcastically. “Oh, tell me then, when she said the same thing about me, why don’t you stop her?”

Patrick said coldly, “She’s telling the truth. You’re already thirty. Can’t you be more mature? Do you really think stuff like divorce can be brought up so easily?”

Victoria shook her head with discontent. “It's fine Patrick. I spoke carelessly. So, it’s normal for my sister to be angry.”

Patrick comforted her gently, not even sparing Clarissa a glance.

Clarissa already knew Patrick loved Victoria, but his actions her heart still hurt.

She told herself to stay calm. 'Clarissa, just wait thirty days. After the 'cooling-off period', everything will be over.' So, Clarissa insisted on the divorce to continue.

Later, her mother pulled her aside to a quiet place and asked softly, “Risa, if Patrick hadn’t saved you in that explosion, you would have died. Why do you suddenly want a divorce?”

Alberta knew her daughter well. Clarissa truly did fell for Patrick. If nothing serious had happened, she would never ask for a divorce.

Clarissa saw the worry on her mother’s face. She wanted to tell her that Patrick was behind that explosion. That he was secretly having an affair with Victoria.

But her reason overcame emotion. So, Clarissa shook her head. “We’re just not compatible, Mom.”

Alberta sighed helplessly but respected her decision. “Grandpa’s birthday is coming soon. He has always liked Patrick. Don’t let him find out about the divorce.”

Clarissa remembered that her grandpa hadn’t liked Patrick at first. But three years ago, Darius got so frightened during a flight travel and suffered a heart attack. Patrick quickly called the hospital and saved his life.

When Darius became seriously ill, Patrick developed a new medicine to ease his condition. That was why Darius came to value him so much.

Clarissa had already thought this through. In the divorce agreement, she gave her consent so that Patrick got the money he deserved during the thirty days. In return, Patrick had to cooperate and act all normal in front of Grandpa Darius.

There were four days left until Darius’s birthday. So, Clarissa sent Patrick a message, asking him to come back that day.

Patrick replied with one word: [Okay.]

Relieved, Clarissa stayed at the company. But on the day of the banquet, she sent many messages:

[Patrick, where are you?]

Her messages received no reply. Her calls went unanswered.

What Clarissa didn’t expect was that her grandpa had found out about the divorce. He was so angry that he suffered another heart attack on the spot. No medicine helped and he was rushed to the hospital overnight.

Clarissa panicked completely. She kept sending messages:

[Patrick, Grandpa Darius is sick again. Come back soon, would you?]

After a long while, Patrick finally replied: [The medicine I made for Grandpa is in the cabinet at home. Go look for it.]

Clarissa immediately drove home. But when she arrived, she found that all the medicine was already gone.

At the same time, the doctor sent a critical notice about Darius: [Ms. Rockwell, the patient has fallen into a coma. He is very old. Please be mentally prepared.]

A deep feeling of helplessness rushed over Clarissa. She quickly made a call and the other side answered almost at once.

“Patrick, where are you? The medicine is gone. Grandpa needs you now.”

“Clarissa, I’m abroad. I can’t just come back whenever you ask me!” His cold, emotionless voice felt like a knife cutting into her heart.

Before she could say anything, a familiar female voice came through the phone. “Patty, who are you talking to?”

Clarissa felt as if a hand had tightly gripped her heart, making it hard to breathe.

That was Victoria's voice. So when he said he was abroad, he was actually with her cousin.

Clarissa snapped back to her senses and tried to speak again, but Patrick had already hung up.

Soon after, Clarissa saw a new post on Victoria’s social media: [Some people always laugh at me for not having a boyfriend. Well, now I do.]

Below the text was a photo. In the sunlight, Victoria’s slender hand was tightly held by a man’s muscular hand. On that man’s finger was the wedding ring Clarissa had given Patrick.

Even worse, the location showed a luxury apartment in Alkaid City. Patrick was not abroad at all. He was just making an excuse to avoid coming.

With red eyes, Clarissa called her mother. “Mom, please take care of Grandpa for a bit. I will bring Patrick back.”

After hanging up, she rushed to the apartment immediately. But before she could reach the building, a group of thugs dragged her into a nearby alley.

The leader rubbed his hands while chuckling. “Hey, pretty lady, come have some fun with us!”

“We heard that a young lady from the Rockwells’ would pass by here. Didn’t expect it to be true!”

Clarissa’s pupils shrank. She turned to run, but one of the men grabbed her hair hard.

The pain from her scalp made her scream. She was then thrown heavily to the ground. Her vision spun. She tightly held her phone as the men walked closer to her.

Holding back her fear, Clarissa dialed Patrick’s number. She thought it would take a long time to connect, but surprisingly, he answered quickly.

Her eyes turned red as she said slowly, “Patrick, I’m at Star Apartment. Some thugs were after me. Please come save me!”

There was a long silence on the other end.

After a while, Patrick’s tired voice finally came through, filled with impatience. “Clarissa, I saw you from upstairs. Those people weren't hurting you. Why do you need to put on a show in front of me?”

Clarissa’s heart turned completely cold. She slowly lifted her head and saw him! On the rooftop above, Patrick stood against the wall, watching her suffer.

Beside him, Victoria leaned casually against the wall, smiling as she looked down at Clarissa.