He was famous for his strict adherence to propriety, taking the initiative to marry me and take responsibility after our wild night. But he didn't love me. After we got married, no matter how hard I tried, he kept me at arm's length. He was as cold and detached as a monk. Until a woman appeared who perfectly matched his criteria for a partner. He lost his mind over her, unable to sleep at night. So, it wasn't that he didn't have desires and emotions. He just didn't have them for me. 01 At 1:00 AM, Carter finally came home. He seemed surprised that I wasn't asleep yet. "I told you, you don't have to wait up for me." "But I want to wait," I said, smiling and leaning against him. "It's only natural for a wife to wait for her husband to come home." He paused in taking off his watch: "Suit yourself." Only a small lamp was on in the living room. In the dim light, the man's features were so perfect he didn't seem human. Every time I looked closely at him, I felt a deep sense of awe. "I missed you so much today—" My words were cut off. Carter frowned at me: "What are you wearing?" I said: "New lingerie, do you like it?" "Don't do this kind of thing again." He turned and walked towards the guest bedroom. "Carter," I stopped him. "Today is my birthday, can't you just spend some time with me?" He stopped in his tracks: "Happy birthday. I'm pretty tired today, we'll talk about it later." He went into the room and locked the door behind him. Leaving me alone in the living room, wearing semi-transparent lingerie, feeling like an absolute fool. We've been married for half a year, and Carter has always kept me at a distance. No matter how much I flirted with him, he remained unmoved. Like a monk devoid of human desires. The media always said Carter was different from those playboy trust-fund kids. The Vance family had strict rules, raising him to be the most proper gentleman in Manhattan's elite circle. But I had seen his other side. His wild, unhinged side. Seeing it once made me crave it again. However, Carter's actions told me that night was just an accident. My phone vibrated. My best friend, Lily, sent a message: "Have you seen the trending topics... if you haven't, promise me you won't get mad." What happened? I opened Twitter, and a glaring headline caught my eye. #CarterVanceLateNightRendezvousWithBeauty# Oh, I knew this beauty. Carter's new secretary. 02 The comment section was full of people watching the drama unfold. [Congrats to CEO Vance for finding true love!] [Bring the marriage registry here! Hurry up and divorce that manipulative Audrey Miller!!] [Audrey Miller even posted a PDA tweet today. Talk about a slap in the face.] [Is there anyone who doesn't know Audrey Miller orchestrated a one-night stand to force him into marriage...] So, Carter was with his new secretary tonight. I had seen that girl before. Twenty-two years old, just graduated from college. Very young, very pretty, and full of energy. Most importantly, she perfectly matched Carter's criteria for a partner. They met at a campus recruitment event. Carter went to give a speech personally, and the girl was bold enough to be the first to raise her hand to ask a question. After the meeting, Carter specifically pulled out her resume and studied it for a long time. Unexpectedly, this girl was appointed directly as his executive secretary. You have to understand, Carter's secretarial team wielded immense power. The company's HR department had no say; only he could personally appoint them. Following the information provided by netizens, I found the girl's account. An hour ago, she posted a tweet. [Can't handle my liquor. Thanks to my kind boss for driving me home, hehe.] In the photo, she was sitting in the passenger seat, showing Carter's hands gripping the steering wheel. 03 Early the next morning. Carter walked out of his room and saw me. "You have a shoot today?" "No." "Then why are you up so early?" "What were you doing last night?" "Team building with the executive office." "Was it a team building for a group, or a team building for two?" "What do you mean?" I pulled up the trending topic. Carter glanced at it, downplaying it: "The media is taking things out of context. There were six people at dinner yesterday." "Is that so? Should I believe you?" "Audrey, stop being unreasonable. You know better than anyone what the media is like." He wasn't wrong. After all, in the current entertainment industry, no female star gets hated on more than me. The media deserves a lot of the credit for that. But these are two different things. I cut straight to the chase: "Do you like her? That secretary fresh out of college." "I don't." Faced with my blunt question, Carter remained calm and heavy. "And I don't appreciate your wild guesses. If you have too much free time, I'll have the management department schedule more shoots for you." He spoke as if addressing a subordinate. Not his wife. I said: "I remember your criteria for a partner. Under 5'7", long straight dark hair, a clean aura, energetic and smiley. She fits them all." And I didn't fit a single one. I was known for being cold and glamorous. Carter was getting annoyed: "Are you done? If you're done, I'm going to the office." "Fine, go. Today I will tell the media that Chloe is a homewrecker interfering in someone else's marriage—" Carter stopped abruptly. When he looked back at me, there was actual anger in his eyes. "Chloe is only twenty-two. She's just a kid. Do you want to destroy her life with rumors?" God knows how long it had been since I saw Carter angry. Raging for a beauty, only that beauty wasn't me. I said: "Carter, do you remember how old I am?" "Yesterday, I just turned twenty-five." "I'm only three years older than her." "When I was getting torn apart by the public, did you ever feel sorry for me?" 04 My feelings for Carter began when I was eighteen. I grew up in a single-parent household. During my senior year of high school, my mom got seriously ill. I didn't go to college. After graduation, I worked at a bar to scrape together money for her treatment. I worked a legitimate job, not selling anything inappropriate. But because of my standout looks, I occasionally faced verbal harassment from male customers. The manager said the customer is always right, and if I didn't want to get fired, I just had to endure it. One day, I encountered a particularly difficult customer. "How old are you, little girl? Oh, eighteen. So young. Are you a waitress here? Do you offer any other services besides serving drinks?" A group of men started laughing sleazily. "You don't? Stop pretending. Your uncle here isn't just rich, he's also very capable. Come with me tonight, and I promise you'll experience pure bliss." It was disgusting. He was about to continue harassing me when suddenly, a glass of liquor fell from the sky, soaking him from head to toe. "Who the f—" Seeing who it was, the male customer froze. "Mr., Mr. Vance, what is the meaning of this?" "Apologize to her." 05 That was the first time I heard Carter's voice. It was clear and cool, like pearls breaking off a string and clinking onto a porcelain plate. He was there to discuss a business deal. I figured if it weren't for work, he wouldn't have set foot in this place. Because he completely didn't fit in here. Carter didn't have the slightest smell of smoke or alcohol on him. He was as aloof as a god. After the man slinked away, Carter said to me: "People like that aren't fit to do business with me." "Thank you, sir." "You don't need to endure it. Next time, remember to fight back and protect yourself." "I'll lose my job." He looked down at me: "Are you very short on money?" "Yeah, my mom is sick and needs medical bills paid." "What about school?" I shook my head: "I don't have the money for tuition." "I understand." Surprisingly, Carter didn't show any pity. That was good. I didn't like people pitying me. He left me a phone number. "This is my subordinate's contact information. You can reach out to him. Our company has a charity project helping impoverished students. As long as your situation is verified, you can apply for a grant." He paused, then said one last thing. "If you have the opportunity, you must study." Later, I really did get the grant. After paying for my mom's treatment, there was still some left over. I took a gap year, studied hard, and successfully got into college. It was only then that I learned he was the famous Carter Vance. The Vance family was a titan in the entertainment industry, terrifyingly wealthy. And Carter was the sole heir. In my sophomore year, I met him for the second time. I gathered my courage and walked up to Carter: "Mr. Vance, thank you." He was confused: "You are?" He didn't remember. The lighting was dim that night, and he barely looked at me. Helping me was just a casual gesture for him. But that was okay. I would work hard, and sooner or later, I would stand beside him. A year later, I became a signed artist at Carter's company. I was finally able to confidently extend my hand to him: "Hello, Mr. Vance." He would never know how many years I worked hard for this day. I didn't dare to hope for the future; I was already content. But half a year ago, an accident completely changed our relationship. —Carter and I had a wild one-night stand. 06 I only remember the gist of what happened that night. The company hosted a gala, and many VIPs attended. I drank too much, and so did Carter. My guest room was 606. I was sure the room I entered was 606. But Carter was lying inside. I don't even remember how we started kissing. I was intoxicated, and so was he. There were many rumors about Carter in the outside world. He kept his distance from women and strictly adhered to propriety. Some said his sexual orientation was a mystery. Others said he had a hidden illness. But that night, I experienced firsthand that it was all fake! When Carter lost control, it was fatal. ... Early the next morning, someone rang the doorbell. My legs were weak as I went to open it. Because of the hangover, my mind was still foggy, and I thought it was housekeeping. In reality, it was full of reporters. Countless camera lenses were aimed at me. While I was standing there in shock, Carter also walked over. "Who is it?" He didn't even have time to put on his shirt properly before he was caught on camera. 07 The scandal between Carter and me caused an uproar. The Vance family was strict and wouldn't allow such an absurd thing to happen. Carter found me and proposed marriage. Of course, I agreed without hesitation. Happiness came too suddenly, going straight to my head. It caused me to ignore the scrutiny and coldness in his eyes at that moment. He asked me: "Wasn't the room number 909?" I said: "No, it was 606. You read it wrong." He was silent for a moment, then spat out four words: "As you wish." It wasn't until after we got married that I understood the deep meaning of those four words. It turned out that after that night, Carter went to the hospital for a check-up. They found traces of drugs in his system. The kind of illicit drug that makes you lose your reason and be controlled by lust. Though illegal, this drug wasn't uncommon. Who drugged him? At the same time, that morning, I opened the door for the reporters. Who called the reporters? How did they conveniently gather right outside this room? Everything seemed planned. I was the prime suspect. Carter hadn't originally intended to resolve this with marriage. But ruining the family's reputation caused their stock to plummet, and the family elders were furious. He had no choice but to take responsibility. I had defended myself. "It wasn't me"—I said those words countless times. But everything was just too coincidental. Carter said it was hard for him to believe me. During these six months of marriage, we slept in separate rooms. Even if he accidentally touched my hand, he would pull away as if he'd been electrocuted. I didn't give up. I believed that one day, he would discard the misunderstandings and barriers. But it seemed I wouldn't live to see that day. Because of Chloe's appearance. 08 I had seen Carter reading her resume word by word. As if trying to study her past between the lines. He was so gentle, but not towards me. After fighting with Carter, I packed my things and left the house. We gave each other the silent treatment for days, and he never reached out. A week later, I went to record a talk show. Carter came too, bringing his new secretary. Having not seen him for days, when he saw me, he just gave a distant nod from afar. No intimacy whatsoever. Chloe followed beside him, curious about everything, constantly asking him questions. I remembered that Carter hated stupid people at work. But right now, facing Chloe, he was very patient, answering every single question. After a while, he came over to me. "Audrey," he said. "I gave you the status you wanted. Don't drag innocent people into this." "We haven't seen each other for a week, and this is what you want to say?" "Just a reminder." I laughed: "Mr. Vance, do you still think I drugged you and called the reporters?" "What else?" I didn't say anything more. There was no need. Disappointment flooded my heart and brain, sobering me up. Carter was truly good to his little secretary. Her probation period wasn't even over, yet he let her appear on the show in his place. She was talkative and full of energy. Until the host asked about me. "Chloe, you just joined the company recently and you're already on a show with the boss's wife. Are you nervous?" Chloe glanced at me and said: "What's there to be afraid of? I know there are some bad rumors out there, saying Audrey used to be a bar girl, and that she's very manipulative and stuff. But I want to say, Audrey is a very good person. You shouldn't be prejudiced against her!" The whole studio was dumbfounded. She just publicly listed all my scandals! Even the host, who had seen all sorts of situations, was stunned into silence. The host had to change the subject. "Ahem, next, let's ask Audrey. Do you have any important plans coming up? Give the fans watching a little hint." "I actually do." I smiled calmly— "I'm, get-ting, a, di-vorce." Every word was clear and resounding. Carter, who was off-stage, snapped his head up. His eyes were filled with shock and disbelief. 09 The studio was quieter than it had ever been. The host looked like she wanted to die. Probably in her entire career, she had never felt this awkward. "Why, why, why did you make this decision..." "You should ask Miss Chloe." I tossed the ball to Chloe. The little girl was caught completely off guard. Did she think she was the only one who could play passive-aggressive? Sorry, I prefer the direct approach. "You've all seen the news lately, right? My husband has been acting ambiguously with his subordinate. If I don't divorce a husband like that, am I supposed to keep him around for the holidays?" Facing the camera, I smiled. "I don't like fighting with other people over a man. I have a lot of things to do. I have to shoot movies and record shows. Without love, I can still live a wonderful life." "As for men, if they don't behave, just get a new one." As soon as I finished speaking, Carter seemed to finally snap out of it and forcefully interrupted the show. He pulled me backstage. "Audrey, what nonsense are you spouting?" "I'm not spouting nonsense." I peeled his fingers off me one by one. It was so laughable. The man who usually dodged my touch was now refusing to let go. "Carter, listen closely." "Starting today, I, Audrey Miller, am officially asking you for a divorce." It was as if all the blood had been drained from Carter's body, his face turning pale. "You're fighting with me, right? You think if you bring up divorce, I'll coax you." He nodded to himself: "Okay, I'll coax you. Giving you the cold shoulder these past few days was my fault. I apologize. I'll have PR handle everything that just happened on the show. The company executives won't say a word of blame. If you don't like Chloe, I'll transfer her out of the executive office—" "Not necessary." I interrupted. "Wake up. I'm not throwing a tantrum." I pulled a piece of paper from my pocket. It was a prepared divorce agreement. "Take a look. If you don't have any objections, sign it now." 10 The show was live. Even though it was halted midway, the things I said were broadcasted accurately. I instantly went viral on Twitter. The comment section was surprisingly supportive. [I'm siding with Audrey on this one. That Chloe girl was talking way too passive-aggressively, it was disgusting.] [I wanted to say this a few days ago: regardless of how Audrey got her position, she is the legitimate wife now, bound by law. A bunch of people praising the mistress as 'true love'—what kind of messed-up morals is that?] [Support wifey getting a divorce. If you don't leave, I'll fight you.] [Off-topic, but Audrey's face is truly stunning. I was mesmerized by her beauty watching the live stream today... is Carter blind?] People were also discussing what kind of person Chloe really was. Because the day after the scandal broke, Carter, while fighting with me, swiftly issued a clarification statement. The executives who attended the dinner that night also posted photos. The scandal collapsed on its own. But my interview seemed to confirm their ambiguity again. Could a man as proper and rigid as Carter really cheat? Suspicions were running high. Soon, the company's disciplinary actions were announced. Because of her inappropriate language, Chloe received a severe warning and was transferred. Everyone said this was Carter trying to win me back. But was it really? I knew Carter's temper too well. If any other employee had made such a mistake, it wouldn't just be a transfer; they would usually be fired directly. Chloe merely being "transferred" meant he was still protecting her. 11 Looking back at the day of the recording, I brought out the divorce agreement. But Carter refused to sign. I couldn't guess what he was thinking either. I decided to send a text to rush him. "Mr. Vance, after you fill out the divorce agreement, please send it to me so we can pick a day to get the divorce certificate." Carter called me directly. "Rey-Rey, haven't you caused enough of a scene?" Rey-Rey is my nickname. When I was little and couldn't articulate well, I always mispronounced my name "Audrey" as "Rey-Rey," so my mom gave me this nickname. Carter had always known this name. But this was the first time he called me that. "I am very firm on the divorce. Please hurry up, Mr. Vance, don't delay me from finding my next partner." "Next partner?" Carter practically laughed out of anger. "I've given you the status and resources you dreamed of. Who else do you want to find? Rey-Rey, you are my first, and you will be my last. I've never coaxed a girl before, but I can promise you, as long as you want it, the position of Mrs. Vance is always yours. No one can take it away!" I said: "But what I dreamed of was never those things." Carter seemed stunned. "You still don't know what it is I truly wanted... but it doesn't matter, I don't want it anymore." With that, I hung up. My best friend, Lily, was also an employee at the company. She told me that Carter had been in a very dark mood these past few days and kept zoning out during meetings. Lily said: "Everyone is saying privately that you can't bear to leave Mr. Vance and that you'll be back sooner or later. It seems... Mr. Vance believes it too." No wonder. Ever since I mentioned divorce, Carter had been initiating contact with me every day. But for the past three days, he had reverted to his cold and aloof self. So he was waiting for me to bow my head. Then I'll give him what he wants. On Friday, I took the initiative to go to the company. When Carter saw me, his eyes lit up: "Rey-Rey, have you thought it through?" "I have." I slapped a stack of documents on his desk. "Not only do I want a divorce, but I also want to terminate my contract." 12 I signed a five-year contract with the company. This year was exactly the fifth year. I chose not to renew. Carter was in disbelief. He asked through gritted teeth: "Are you sure about this?" "Yes." "Found a new agency?" I didn't know which agency he was talking about. But I still said "Yes." My attitude infuriated him. He hesitated no longer, took a pen, and signed both contracts. However, he pressed so hard he almost tore through the paper. With the signed divorce agreement, the rest of the process was very simple. The day I got the divorce certificate, I felt incredibly light. This one-sided crush that had lasted for seven years was finally over. As I was admiring the certificate, I heard Carter say: "Remember, today is the day you gave up everything from the Vance family." "Oh, don't worry, I won't regret it." "I hope so." His tone was extremely cold, but when he looked up, I noticed. His eyes were red. 13 Whether his eyes were red or not, what did it matter to me? I threw myself into my new life without stopping. Of course, to say I wasn't sad at all would be a lie. After all, I had loved him so much and tried so hard to get close to him. But clarity only takes an instant. My sadness was only for feeling that my efforts were not worth it. The Vance family had funded my education, and I figured working for them all these years was enough to repay them. A few days later, Lily told me she had also resigned. "Rey-Rey, if you go, I go. Men are unreliable, your sister will stay with you!" I was so moved I almost cried. Lily had been working behind the scenes for years and was very capable. We planned to start our own personal studio. Preparing the studio would take some time. Before that, I was going to record a reality show first. It was a heartwarming variety show. The guests had to bring a few old items and reminisce about the past. After much deliberation, I decided to bring my old backpack. It was the backpack I used during my gap year studying for the college entrance exams. It held a lot of memories. On the day of filming, Carter showed up. It wasn't that surprising. I had accepted this gig while I was still with my previous company, and besides me, newcomers trained by the company were also on the show. Carter had a habit of being hands-on and came to check in with the production team. He stood behind the camera crew, his eyes fixed on me. I just pretended I didn't see him. Halfway through the shoot, it was my turn to present. I opened my backpack and took out the items one by one. "This is a gel pen. During my gap year, I did so many practice tests I had to change pens every two or three days. "Oh, and this. The SAT prep book. Everyone's done this, right? I call it a nightmare. "This is a notebook for mistakes. I have so many more like this. "And this—" I suddenly stopped. The last item was a yellowed diary. It used to be my most loyal listener. During the hardest and most exhausting times of studying, writing in my diary was my only way to relieve stress. My prolonged silence piqued the curiosity of the guest next to me. "Is there a secret in this notebook? You have to follow the rules of the game, no hiding." She took my notebook and flipped it open. [September 2016. The teacher said the intensity of the gap year classes is very high, and many students can't handle it. But I must persevere, because I have to go see Carter Vance.] She froze too. The whole studio went quiet.
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