Asset Management

The man on the other end of the line paused, then laughed with even more amusement. His voice carried undisguised interest and provocation.

"Give me your address. I'll come pick you up."

The next morning, Kieran glanced at the empty seat beside him and spoke to the housekeeper.

"Wynnie, tell her to come down for breakfast."

Wynnie Marks lifted her slightly bowed head, looking confused.

"Mrs. Chase left early this morning. She took her suitcase with her."

Kieran's hand froze mid-air, spoon suspended. "She left?"

"Kieran, maybe you should just send me back. Joanna must be angry, that's why she..."

Kieran cut off Leona with a cold expression.

"She's thrown tantrums and run away from home before. After a few days cooling off outside, she'll come back.

"Don't worry about her. Just eat your breakfast."

As he finished speaking, Kieran pushed a cup of warm milk toward Leona. She lowered her head and took a couple sips, her face full of contentment.

Kieran picked up his spoon again, preparing to continue eating. But unbidden images kept flashing through his mind.

My face from yesterday, pale to the point of transparency. My cold and decisive words. That divorce agreement sitting on the coffee table.

"Tch." Kieran made a barely audible sound. His appetite vanished instantly.

He stood up, his movements were slightly more abrupt than usual.

"Clear it away and have the car ready. I'm going to the office."

Meanwhile, having barely left the hospital, I found myself being rushed back by Maverick Tiller. My condition had been too poor. Forcing myself to check out early backfired when I burned with fever until I lost consciousness in his car.

Half dreaming, half awake, I vaguely felt someone massaging the bruises on my right hand.

"A car accident? What do you mean they issued three critical condition notices? Are these the aftereffects?”

"The abdominal wound is infected. I'll step out and have the nurse prioritize the antibiotics and dressing change.”

"Turn the air conditioning up higher. Where's the IV warmer?”

…

I fought to open my eyes and caught only a glimpse of anxious ones staring back at me.

"Joanna?”

"I'm here. Keep sleeping. You'll feel better when you wake up."

He took my cold right hand in his. Warmth spread from his palm. I was too feverish to recognize who he was anymore.

I only thought his hand felt so warm.

Beep beep beep.

This was the eighth call Kieran had made. Still no answer.

In the past when I threw tantrums, it never took more than two or three calls. Kieran never even had to say a kind word before I came running back eagerly.

"Scott, go check..."

Before Kieran could finish, someone from the secretary's office knocked, bringing in a visitor.

"Mr. Chase, Mr. Wells over here insists on seeing you. He says... he's here on behalf of your wife."

James Wells adjusted his glasses and introduced himself.

"Mr. Chase, I've been retained by Ms. Joanna Candor. I'm here to discuss the divorce proceedings."

Kieran froze for two seconds. He let out a derisive laugh, a smile crossing his face as if to say "of course."

"Mr. Wells, is this another one of Joanna's new tricks? Where is she?

"I'm very busy. I don't have time to play along with her running away from home games. Have her move back as soon as possible.

"Leona's personality is sensitive. She keeps worrying that this whole thing will set back her recovery. When Joanna comes back, tell her to apologize to Leona properly."

His tone was dismissive, as if discussing an unreasonable child throwing a tantrum.

James remained silent for a moment before opening his briefcase and withdrawing a document.

"Ms. Candor instructed me that if you didn't believe her, you could review this."

It was not the divorce agreement but a printed official statement.

"According to Ms. Candor's wishes, her capital management firm and all its affiliated companies officially released this statement through official channels to the media and all business partners at ten o'clock this morning.

"It formally notifies the public that Ms. Joanna Candor has initiated divorce proceedings with you."

The smile on Kieran's face shattered instantly. His pupils contracted sharply.

The document was stamped with an official seal, undeniably legitimate. This was the method he excelled at and preferred above all others.

Only now did Kieran realize something. I was not joking.

I truly wanted to divorce him.