Chapter 3

In the beginning, Julian would still confess and apologize.

The gift he sent Anastasia was incredibly valuable, and it inadvertently took the spot I’d originally reserved.

The circle of the wealthy is too small; a single clue can unravel a massive scandal.

Julian rushed home, handing over all his phone, bank cards, and a dozen other account passwords.

“She helped me with a small favor. Alex picked out the gift. I’ll give him hell for it later.”

He only offered a brief explanation, and I believed him. There was no reason not to.

But that day, Anastasia, somehow learning about the big fight Julian and I had, appeared.

On a rainy day, she knelt dramatically at the villa’s entrance: “Mrs. Thorne, there’s truly nothing between Mr. Thorne and me. You must believe us.”

It was so clearly an attempt to cover up something, it just screamed ‘guilty!’

Anger burned away all rationality, so I didn’t see the flicker of pity in Julian’s eyes as he looked down from the floor-to-ceiling window that day.

A man feeling pity for a woman might be the start of a romance for two, but for three, it’s a dangerous game.

But none of that truly mattered; the hardest days were long behind me.

If I remembered correctly, today was November 27th, leaving only a few days until my three-year term with Grandfather Thorne expired.

I looked at Julian, about to speak.

He suddenly received a call. The voice from the other end faintly leaked out.

It was Anastasia’s voice: “The electricity in my house is out. It’s pitch black, and I’m a little scared.”

“Wait there, I’m coming.” Julian stood up, glanced at me, and I swallowed the words on my tongue. Since I didn’t speak, he walked out without a backward glance.

After Julian left, I drove to the Thorne family’s old estate.

The Thorne estate was a sprawling compound of century-old mansions. Inside, the decor was a blend of East and West, a mix of antique and modern.

Upon entering, Julian’s mother, Vivian, was sitting on the sofa, a maid massaging her shoulders.

Hearing my arrival, she turned, glanced at me, then closed her eyes again.

I didn’t bother her, going straight upstairs to the study.

“Grandfather…” I considered my words carefully. “Three years have passed. I want to leave the Thorne family.”

I knew then that Julian had outwardly sent Anastasia away, but in reality, he was sending her abroad to study.

When I found out he was still flying back and forth between Hong Kong and Australia while I was hospitalized, I completely gave up hope.

It was then that I sought out Grandfather Thorne, just as the Thorne family was facing internal turmoil.

He asked me to stay for three more years, promising that if Julian remained incorrigible, he would personally arrange for me to leave the family.

The armchair creaked softly. Grandfather Thorne opened his eyes, looking at me, and asked, “I thought three years would make you accustomed to things. Why do you still want to leave?”

Seeing my silence, he sighed.

“When you first wanted to marry into the Thorne family, you should have anticipated this. Look at Vivian. When she was young, she was even fiercer than you. Yet, in the end, didn’t she hold onto the title of Mrs. Thorne? All those illegitimate children couldn’t stir up a ripple, and the son she bore, Julian, is still the sole heir to the Thorne family.”

Vivian was Julian’s mother, this woman, who now leads a life of quiet devotion, had an extraordinary force of personality in her youth.

“Do you know what she relied on?”

“What?”

“She relied on my endorsement. As long as I say so, no one can steal your position as Mrs. Thorne. With my backing, those other women won’t threaten you.”

“Besides, I’m not talking to you about feelings; I’m talking about a transaction. You’ve performed exceptionally well these past few years, both in the company and for the Thorne family. You’ve held everything together. It would take time and effort for us to cultivate another person like you. You can calculate whether leaving the Thorne family is worth it.”

If we were to talk strictly about transactions and not feelings, this was undoubtedly the most advantageous deal.

I poured him some tea and said softly, “You know, if it wasn’t about feelings, I wouldn’t even be here right now.”

I had considered it too, holding firmly onto the title of legitimate wife, no matter how hard outsiders tried, they couldn't enter the Thorne family's doors.

But I didn't marry Julian to become Mrs. Thorne; I became Mrs. Thorne because I married Julian.

Back then, I pushed him away, telling him his marriage wasn't free, yet he still had the nerve to date me.

Julian frowned, “What do you mean my marriage isn't free? I have plenty of ways to marry you. You can't go a day without seeing me, and you're already talking about marrying someone else? Do you think I'm a good-for-nothing?”

I didn't believe him. What 'ways' could possibly bypass so many obstacles?

Later, he didn’t bring it up again. He just gradually took over Concord Group, slowly integrating himself into the heart of the Thorne family.

After graduation, I also successfully joined Concord Group, starting as an intern.

Back then, I trained during the day, and Julian coached me personally at night, allowing me to grow incredibly fast.

By the time we brought up marriage again, he was firmly established in the Thorne family, and no one dared to utter a word of dissent.

He respected Grandfather Thorne, however, and the next day, he came up with a scheme to make the Old Master see reason.

“You little rascal, did you really think I was old and senile, out of my mind?” Grandfather Thorne scoffed. “You dragged some pretty boy with slicked-back hair from an entertainment company, holding hands, ready to register their marriage. Did he think I’d be scared? I just turned a blind eye. I indulged you, and still you're not satisfied.”

“Now, after only a few years, you’re making a fuss about divorce again.”

“Let me be clear. Once you leave the Thorne family, I won’t let you return. Think it over carefully before you decide.”

I bowed my head, replaying the fleeting seven years of my marriage in my mind.

“Leaving the Thorne family is something I’ve waited three years for.”

He waved his hand. “Finish up your current affairs. Someone will contact you then.”

When I came downstairs, Julian’s mother was still sitting on the sofa.

I walked to the door, then turned back. “In the future, I won’t be able to offer you my well wishes. I hope you remain in good health.”

After saying this, I turned and walked out.

The living room of the Thorne estate was dimly lit. Vivian, shrouded in the dim light, looked straight ahead.

All the light in the room seemed to be carried away by the figure walking swiftly out.

As she watched, it was as if she saw a younger Vivian, walking out.

Aunt Lee bent down and whispered in her ear, “Madam, it’s late. It’s time for bed.”

The living room fell dim again. Vivian retracted her gaze. “Let’s go.”

**TO BE CONTINUED...**