Love is Wrong, Only Letting Go

I immediately agreed, "I’ll do it."

I still had some savings from the years I’d worked and I quickly sold two pieces of land by the West Lake in the city, which were home to golf courses I had built.

In no time, I had enough capital to start.

Those golf courses were something I had built specifically to win Thomas’s favor. He liked playing golf.

During the entire construction period, I lived in a makeshift metal shed, overseeing the progress of the project.

When I excitedly invited Thomas to play, he casually brushed me off, saying, "If I have time, I’ll go."

But he never once went.

Later, I found out that his interest in golf was only genuine when it meant he could spend time with Jessica in the locker room, warming up together.

Three months after leaving the Rivers Family, thanks to the business experience I had accumulated over the years and Amelia’s constant encouragement, my career began to rise rapidly.

My younger sister, who had just graduated from college and started working, moved in with her mother to stay with me.

The old place was too small, so I bought a bigger house.

Coincidentally, Thomas and Jessica's new home was just two floors above mine.

The next day, I was woken by a knock at the door. When I opened it, I saw an unexpected visitor. I looked at him coldly and asked, "What is it?"

Thomas glanced at me with disdain, clearly irritated by my indifferent attitude.

"Aren’t you going to invite me in?" he asked. "Is this your way of playing hard to get?"

Part 4

"My home doesn’t welcome you."

Thomas had never been turned away from my door before and he never expected me to speak to him with such a cold attitude.

In the past, if he had taken a single step toward me, I would’ve been overjoyed, unable to sleep all night.

"Stop pretending. Even if you stayed here for the rest of your life, I wouldn’t spare you a single glance."

I frowned, confused and asked, "You didn’t actually think I moved here because of you, did you?"

"Isn’t that the reason?"

He stormed into my house with absolute certainty, smashing the potted plants I had just arranged in my room into pieces.

Out of courtesy, I stood at the door, waiting for him to vent his anger, before coldly pulling out the property contract.

"As far as I know, you and Jessica only moved into this neighborhood yesterday, while I bought this place two months ago."

Thomas took the contract and glanced at it; the date was exactly as I had said.

Who moved in first was now crystal clear.

There wasn’t the slightest hint of embarrassment on his face; if anything, he became even more relentless.

"Then you move out!"

"Why should I?"

I stood my ground, staring him down.

Thomas immediately gave me a scrutinizing look, his eyes narrowing as he sized me up.

"Living so close, are you sure you won’t go mad watching me and Jess be all happy and in love in front of you every day? Over time, you might lose your mind."

I smiled.

"Don’t flatter yourself too much. I’ll live just fine without you—and I’ll live better. The only question is, will your little lover stay loyal to you forever? Don’t be surprised if one day she sells you out and you’re there counting the money for her."

If the seemingly invincible heir Thomas had a weakness, it would definitely be Jessica.

The Brookes Family had fallen on hard times years ago and it was only through Jessica’s sacrifices to Thomas that they managed to cling to any semblance of stability.

Everyone knew Jessica was ambitious—she pretended to be devoted and faithful on the outside, but in reality, she used Thomas’s money to support a whole string of male models.

The only person who was kept in the dark was Thomas, who, year after year, remained deeply devoted to her.

"You can talk about me, but not her."

With those words, Thomas slapped me across the face without a moment’s hesitation.

The fiery pain from the slap made me see this man clearly once again—he was nothing short of a beast.

I slammed the door shut, staring at the mess in the room, a reflection of our lost marriage that could never be salvaged.

From this moment on, I promised myself I would never shed another tear for him.

But Thomas didn’t seem to agree.

Living in the same neighborhood, with nothing more than a floor separating us, the next day I got into my car, ready to head to work.

At some point, Thomas had gotten into my car without my noticing and had already been waiting. Just like countless times before, he ordered me to drive him to the gym first, then turn around and take me to the office.

I found it laughable.

Yesterday, he slapped me and today, without so much as an apology, he was ordering me around like a chauffeur.

"Get out."

I refused so firmly that Thomas was clearly taken aback, his eyes flashing with surprise.

"Do you not love me anymore?"

Once, I loved him more than I loved myself. When I wanted to be good to someone, I’d have gladly given him the world.

But Thomas had taken advantage of my love, using it as a license to hurt me without restraint.

"Yeah, just seeing you now makes me irritated."

I answered him with obvious disgust, ready to drag him out of the car.

Just then, Thomas's phone rang—it was a call from the hospital. He quickly listened to the explanation on the other end.

I didn’t catch all the details, only thinking to myself that I needed to get him out of my car so I wouldn’t be late for work.

But the next second, Thomas, eyes reddened, suddenly pulled me into his arms.