When You Leave, I Miss You Most

Clarissa Rockwell, the daughter of Infinity Corporations' CEO, had been married for seven years.

She married a man from an ordinary background named Patrick Tanker. The public never understood why.

However, things changed for her when her Grandpa Darius Rockwell had a heart attack again. Patrick saved him in time. While Darius was seriously ill, Patrick even developed a new medicine to control his bad condition and extend his life.

When Clarissa’s car suddenly got caught in fire and almost exploded, Patrick risked his life to save her. He took care of her for three full months.

Clarissa had always been calm and never believed in love. But because of the things Patrick did, her heart slowly softened.

So she carefully prepared Patrick’s 30th birthday.

That day, she saw something she could never forget. The Patrick whom see knew as a cold and distant person, suddenly confessing his love to her cousin, Victoria Rockwell with passion.

Patrick almost pulled Victoria into his arms. His cold face was filled with obsession. His eyes burned with desire and strong possessiveness as he looked at her.

Clarissa stood frozen outside the room. She could hardly believe what she was seeing.

Victoria’s crying voice came from inside. “Let go of me. If you really love me even from back then, why did you marry Clarissa instead?”

Patrick grabbed her arm tightly. The veins on his hand stood out.

He looked like he was holding back, then suddenly shouted, “At that time, I owed hundreds of thousands in debt! You were a rich young lady in the entire province and I was worse than a beggar on the street!”

“Vicky, how could I marry you then? How was I supposed to marry you? Should I make you suffer with me, or beg on the streets with me?”

As Patrick spoke, his emotions collapsed. His eyes were full of pain, stabbing deeply into Clarissa’s heart outside the door.

Clarissa remembered when she had just gotten married. She happily introduced Victoria to Patrick. Back then, Patrick was cold even toward Victoria. He seemed to keep a proper distance.

So what was this now? If Patrick truly loved Victoria, why did he marry her?

Clarissa’s head buzzed.

Then she heard Victoria ask, “Then why did you marry Clarissa? Isn’t it because you like her?”

Patrick replied slowly, “If I say I married her because of you, would you believe me?”

He hugged Victoria tightly, his expression obsessed. “She is your cousin. If you left, we would never see each other again. Only by marrying her could I stay close to you.”

“Remember her car explosion three months ago? I planned that. I knew that if Clarissa couldn’t go to the company, you would get the project instead.”

Victoria could no longer hold back her tears.

Patrick gently kissed them away.

Meanwhile, Clarissa felt her heart being stabbed. Her blood seemed to freeze.

Three months ago, she had gone to First Metro for a business trip. Her car suddenly exploded on the way. She was almost disabled and stayed in bed for three months. Exactly because of that, Victoria took over her project.

For three months, Clarissa lay in bed like a useless person. She felt anxious and depressed.

Patrick stayed with her every day. He pushed her outside for fresh air and took care of her daily life.

She was deeply moved. She thought this was Patrick expressing his love for her. But it turned out, he had planned out everything.

How could someone be so cruel? What if she had died in that explosion?

Seven years. Even a dog would grow attached in seven years. Yet, Patrick was so heartless that he even wanted her dead.

Clarissa's mind went blank. She stepped back weakly and took out her phone with trembling hands.

***

Clarissa closed her eyes and called her lawyer. “Lawyer Luca, help me prepare a document. Inform my family. Tell them I want a divorce.”

When Patrick heard this, his face darkened. “Clarissa, are you crazy?”

“You begged me to marry you back then. Now it’s been seven years and you want a divorce? Aren’t you ashamed?”

Clarissa threw her phone onto the table. On the screen was a video of Patrick kissing Victoria.

“Patrick,” she said calmly, “what do you think will happen if this video got released?”

Almost instinctively, Patrick grabbed the phone and deleted the video.

He said coldly, “Risa, listen to me. You misunderstood.”

Seeing his reaction, Clarissa laughed. She laughed until tears fell.

Deep down, she wanted to ask him: 'What kind of misunderstanding when you're clearly trying to kill me?'

But Clarissa said none of it.

Instead, she took out some documents. “I have backups of the video. If you don’t want it leaked, sign the divorce papers.”

Patrick’s face turned pale with anger. He signed fiercely on it. “Fine, Clarissa. Don’t come begging me to get back!”

He then slammed the door and left.

Clarissa looked at his back, her heart in pain. But she would never comfort him again. And she would never regret this.

Her marriage was built on lies from the very beginning. Now, she must end it with her own hands.