Love is Wrong, Only Letting Go

He wanted to use me to pave the way for Jessica, making their future a little smoother.

Leaning against the marble pillar nearby, I met his gaze, disappointment overshadowing my exhaustion.

"Tell me, what do you want me to do?"

Thomas showed not a trace of gratitude; his eyes still brimmed with disgust, but his tone was disturbingly casual.

"It's simple. Publicly admit you cheated during our marriage—take all the blame on yourself. Convince my mom that you were involved with another man and even had an abortion, which is why you haven’t been able to get pregnant all these years. Agree to leave the marriage with nothing. That's it."

As he finished, my hand by my side clenched tight, fingernails digging deep into my palm.

"We've been through so much as a couple. Do you really have to be this ruthless?"

Thomas spread his hands helplessly.

"I don’t have a choice. If you don’t do this, even if I divorce you, my family will never agree to let Jess in."

People are inherently selfish and love—or the lack of it—only makes it clearer.

For Jessica’s sake, he was willing to trample me into the dirt, shamelessly demanding that I paid the price for their affair.

In the past, I would never have said "no" to Thomas. If my unconditional compromise could make him happy, I would have followed his every word for a lifetime.

But this time, I didn’t want to give in.

"Of all the conditions you proposed, I’ll agree to only one: leaving with nothing."

Ten minutes later, we each tucked a bright red divorce certificate into our pockets.

Five years of marriage, over just like that.

Thomas gave me one last glance before looking away. "Even though you didn’t fully cooperate, at least the result is good. Finally, the divorce is done."

"Don’t act all high and mighty. Just name your price. While I'm in a decent mood, I’m willing to give you something…"

I interrupted him just in time.

"If we’re ending this, then let’s end it cleanly. I won’t take a single thing that belongs to the Rivers Family."

"Fine, as long as you don’t regret it."

He turned and walked straight toward Jessica. She pressed a kiss on his cheek, throwing me a look of smug triumph.

Before leaving, Thomas waved at me. "Cheryl, from now on, let’s just be strangers."

It was the first time he’d ever given me a genuine smile.

I went back to pack my stuff.

Looking around the luxurious bedroom, it seemed untouched by my departure, unchanged.

Our wedding photo was still hanging on the wall.

Looking at it now, his smile frozen in the frame seemed a bit forced.

Everything felt like it had circled back to that afternoon after my high school entrance exams. I had just been adopted into the Rivers Family, suddenly thrust into this lavish mansion, where I felt completely out of place.

Thomas had just returned from a ski trip abroad with Jessica. He looked at me then like I was a sideshow attraction.

Now, nearing thirty, I found myself single again.

That night, I ended up at a bar, drinking until I was utterly wasted.

My best friend Amelia set down her glass, patting my shoulder with the frankness of an outsider.

"Honestly, Thomas never had a place for you in his heart. If you ask me, this divorce was long overdue. But I really have to congratulate you—you’ve got a whole new life ahead now."

I raised my glass and downed it in one go, silently echoing her words: Protect your sanity, steer clear of toxic men.

Part 3

I resigned from the company, saying goodbye to my father-in-law, who had always treated me like his own daughter.

I declined his generous offer of 50% of the company shares as compensation.

Who would’ve thought I’d run into Thomas as soon as I stepped out?