Chapter 4

After I stayed, I accompanied Ethan as he slowly built up the business.

Though I couldn't hold my liquor, I forced myself to drink until I could handle any amount, ending up in the ER several times.

Finally, after much effort, Ethan's father saw our potential and let us take over the company.

Ethan also proved himself capable, growing the company bigger and bigger, his net worth increasing rapidly.

Once, after being forced to drink by a client, I carelessly revealed the truth about the conquest when I got home.

Ethan held me tenderly, saying he would be good to me for life and that I didn't need to hide anything from him.

But less than a month later, he started fooling around with different women.

He was certain I couldn't go back, so he became more and more reckless, each time worse than the last.

From the first time I discovered his affair, I regretted staying.

I made a new deal with the system - the day Ethan let me down for the hundredth time would be when I left.

I originally wanted to leave Ethan right away and wait for that day to come.

But the system informed me that in this parallel world, I relied on the male lead's energy to survive.

If I stayed away from him, I would be rejected by this world and die a miserable death.

So reluctantly, I had to continue playing the role of his obedient, virtuous wife.

But Ethan really didn't disappoint. In just four short years,

I had proposed marriage 99 times, each time rejected.

Meanwhile, the women by his side kept changing. No matter how I tried to remind him through messages, he remained indifferent.

Instead, he took my love as a reason he could manipulate me.

Fortunately, it was almost the hundredth time. This time, I would leave forever.

In the evening when Ethan returned, he had already changed into a new set of clothes.

He handed me a document with a smile: "Olivia, the company is about to go public. When the time comes, get dressed up and we'll go ring the bell together!"

"Okay."

I nodded numbly. Whether the company went public or not no longer mattered to me.

After all, I couldn't take anything with me when I left.

"Olivia, don't be angry anymore. Those women were just for fun."

"You're the one who's been by my side all along. In the future, you'll be my only wife."

Ethan's eyes were full of deep affection.

I found it hard to understand how he could passionately make love to his secretary in the study last night, yet profess his love to me so tenderly today.

"Mm, I know."

It wasn't long before I could leave. I just needed to endure a little longer.

At this moment, Ethan's phone kept buzzing with incoming messages from someone frantically texting him.

"Aren't you going to check that?" I raised an eyebrow.

"It's nothing important. Today I want to spend time with you!"

Ethan shook his head, a placating smile on his face.

But I no longer felt that heart-fluttering excitement. I only felt annoyed.

However, the other person wasn't about to let him off the hook. Call after call kept coming through.

I looked up at him: "Ethan, it's very noisy."

Without a word, he took his phone and walked into the bedroom.

I took out my own phone and started typing messages.

"Ethan, don't ignore the beauties outside for Olivia's sake."

"Olivia will never leave you. She'll still be willing to marry you even after you've had your fun."

This was an ability the system gave me. Only Ethan could see these messages.

To leave as soon as possible, I had to let him continue hurting me recklessly.

Soon, Ethan came out of the room looking apologetic.

"Olivia, there's a problem with a business deal at the company. I need to go take care of it. I'll be back as soon as I can!"

"Go ahead."

I kept scrolling on my tablet.

I was logged into Ethan's Instagram account. The most recent message was from Sophia - photos of her in various risqué outfits, so revealing it made me blush.

The chat ended with Ethan's message: "You little minx, just wait till big brother shows you what he can do!"

"Olivia, I'll bring back those dumplings you like from the north side when I come home later."

Ethan said as he grabbed his coat and car keys on his way out.

Back when Ethan and I first got together, all I could afford was one order of dumplings. He went hungry and gave them to me. At the time, I thought they were the most delicious food in the world.

At midnight, my phone received several explicit videos. Ethan's beautiful almond-shaped eyes were filled with lust.

An hour later, Ethan came back with the dumplings from the north side, along with a faint scent of women's perfume.

I had just taken my first bite when I recalled those videos.

I felt incredibly nauseous and couldn't control myself as I rushed to the bathroom and threw up.

"Olivia, what's wrong? Is your stomach acting up again? Quick, come eat some dumplings!"

Ethan came over to support me, looking concerned.

I didn't want him to touch me at all. I struggled free and went to pour myself a glass of warm water, trying to suppress the nausea.

"It's fine. Olivia, someone will come deliver custom-made gowns tomorrow. Pick one to wear when you accompany me to the bell-ringing ceremony."

"After the company goes public and stabilizes, we'll get married."

Ethan patted my back as he spoke.

It seemed the company going public made him very happy, even prompting him to bring up marriage on his own.

I nodded slightly at the mirror.

It's not going to happen, Ethan. We'll never get married.