The night was quiet. Sweet dreams eluded Zoey Swift. She was feeling a little depressed and kept tossing and turning in bed.

When she felt a pair of hands on her waist, she intentionally shifted closer to the edge of the bed. But just as she was about to fall asleep, she was pulled back.

Zoey stubbornly moved away again, but the man forcefully pulled her into his embrace.

This tug of war continued for a short while.

Zoey ended up fanning the flames of the man's desire. His hands no longer stayed on her waist and began roaming her body as he pleased.

She was completely awake by then. She grasped his lean and strong arm, trying to push him away. "I don't want to do it tonight," she pleaded, her voice breaking.

She had always been docile and obedient during their three years of marriage. It was the first time she was denying his needs.

Unfortunately, Stephen Holtz was deaf to her words. Her rejection was utterly useless.

Tears streamed down Zoey's face. She only allowed herself to cry as much as she wanted under the cover of darkness.

…

A few hours ago, Zoey had dropped by the bar to deliver something to Stephen's younger sister, Sabina Holtz. When she was on the way home, she was robbed.

The two robbers showed no interest in her branded handbag, accessories, or purse. Instead, they tried to drag her to a darkened corner to assault her. They didn't seem to be after her money and had other unsavory intentions.

If a police officer hadn't coincidentally passed by, Zoey's life might have ended then and there.

She clutched her torn clothes as she squatted on the curb. She was trembling when she called Stephen, but when the line connected, a feminine and coquettish voice greeted her. "Steve's taking a bath. Did you need him for something?"

The voice was sweet and melodious. Instead of asking Zoey a question, it sounded more like a dominant declaration.

Zoey could vaguely hear the sounds of running water in the background. She felt like she had been struck by lightning and couldn't say a word. In the end, she silently cried under the streetlight after putting her phone away.

She knew the owner of the voice on the other end of the line—it was Queenie Quigley, Stephen's beloved. Queenie had returned.

After Zoey ended the call, Queenie sent her a message to provoke her. There was a picture attached with the simple message that read, "The one who isn't loved is the mistress."

The picture was a zoomed-in ultrasound report. It stated that the person was six weeks pregnant. The gestational sac was also clearly visible in the photo.

Zoey recalled how Stephen had left for a business trip to Mariano about a month ago. The timing made sense.

Stephen must be looking forward to the birth of their child.

Too many things had happened at once, leaving Zoey in a daze.

The words from the officer who had saved her kept echoing in her ears.

"The two men were ordered to attack you. We haven't been able to get an answer out of them regarding the person who pulled the strings behind the scenes yet. Did you step on someone's toes?"

Zoey was shocked by the officer's words and wondered who wanted to hurt her. After all, she was just a housewife who spent most of her time at home. How could she have offended someone?

After mulling it over, she could only think of one person who loathed her with every fiber of their being. She became lost in her thoughts as her heart turned numb from pain.

…

"Queenie's back. Coincidentally, our contract is also nearing its end. Let's find time to process our divorce," Stephen said.

Zoey's heart throbbed when she heard Stephen's words. The pain was so overwhelming that she felt like she was suffocating.

She knew that he would broach the topic of ending their relationship sooner or later, but she never expected him to talk about it in this situation. They had just finished being intimate, and yet he was already bringing up another woman.

It seemed that destroying somebody else's spirit was as easy as breathing for Stephen.

Zoey wondered if he knew that people weren't inanimate objects. She wondered if he knew that she had feelings too.

She did her best to keep the tremble out of her voice when she said, "Congratulations to the two of you. I guess true love does prevail in the end."

In the darkness, Zoey's eyes were wet with tears as she gave him her reluctant blessings. As expected, loving someone was an extremely humbling experience—one was willing to give their loved one blessings even if they didn't want to.

"Are you crying?" he asked.

"No," Zoey answered stubbornly.

Stephen didn't seem to be satisfied with her blessings, saying, "I also hope that you'll get to reunite with Dorian soon. Feel free to seek me out if you run into any trouble. We were married once, after all."

…

Stephen wasn't in bed when Zoey woke up the next morning.

He was much more disciplined than the ordinary person. It didn't matter how late he slept the night before, but he would wake up at the same time every morning.

He would then exercise, eat breakfast, and watch the news. He was like a machine that operated like clockwork.

Zoey went downstairs after freshening up.

The morning news was playing on the television, coincidentally reporting the attempted sexual assault case on Bower Street the night before.

Stephen was sitting in the dining room. The sleeves of his black shirt were rolled up, revealing his muscular forearms. His strong shoulders filled out his shirt. He was a man with sharp features, and he had never shown Zoey even a sliver of affection.

He was holding a finance magazine in his left hand and a sandwich in his right hand. He seemed to be completely unbothered by the shocking news reported on the television. He carried himself with a cold demeanor that warned people to keep their distance.

The housekeeper, Julie Lawson, smiled when she spotted Zoey descending the stairs. "Would you like to have toast or cereal, Mrs. Holtz?" she asked.

Zoey pursed her lips before answering, "Either is fine. Also, you should refer to me as Ms. Swift in the future, Julie. It's more appropriate."

The smile on Julie's face stiffened as she pondered the meaning behind Zoey's words. She glanced between Stephen and Zoey, not daring to continue the conversation.

"Do whatever she wants," Stephen said coldly.

He didn't even bother lifting his gaze, keeping his eyes trained on the magazine.

Stephen rose to his feet and left the dining room halfway through breakfast. He returned about a minute later and tossed two sets of divorce agreements on the table along with a blank check.

"Sign this. You can write any number you want on the check."

Zoey was momentarily stunned. She lifted her head and looked into Stephen's dark eyes that were reminiscent of obsidian.

He was the successor of Holtz Corporation, a company that had a firm grip on the economy of Jawglaton. He was a titan in the business world and never showed mercy to anyone.

Zoey had tried to get Stephen to fall in love with her, wanting his affection for herself. She had attempted something incredibly ridiculous.

She grabbed the pen and flipped the agreement to the last page. She didn't bother looking at the contents before penning her signature.

"When can we get the divorce certificate?" she asked.

Displeasure flickered in Stephen's eyes. "Why are you in such a rush?"

Zoey chewed on her cereal, feeling like she was chewing on cardboard instead. She looked calm on the surface, but in reality, a flurry of chaotic emotions was raging within her.

She couldn't hide her turbulent emotions for much longer. Her breaths were shaky when she exhaled. She did everything she could to keep her emotions under control, not wanting to reveal her true feelings to Stephen to protect the last shred of dignity she had left.

"I just don't want to get in your and Ms. Quigley's way."

Stephen scoffed lightly. He grabbed the agreement before flamboyantly penning his signature on the dotted line, saying, "I think you're just in a hurry to look for Dorian."

Chapter 2

Zoey let out a bitter laugh. She didn't care what assumptions Stephen came up with. There was no need for her to explain anything, considering how the situation had already escalated to this point.

Stephen grabbed one of the signed divorce agreements while handing the other copy to Zoey. Then, he explained slowly, "We won't be getting the divorce certificate just yet.

"I need you to keep this between us for now. The press conference for the company's new products is right around the corner. I won't allow any mishaps to occur, especially since Grandpa—"

Zoey interrupted him before he could finish his sentence, saying, "Don't worry. I'll keep this a secret from Albert. I can also explain the situation to Ms. Quigley if needed. After all, I've accepted your money, so I have to do my part as well."

Stephen's gaze darkened. "I might really have to trouble you to explain yourself then," Stephen said, his voice laced with a hint of mocking.

Zoey's throat felt tight while a sour sensation roiled in her gut. She ran to the bathroom and knelt in front of the toilet before throwing up everything in her stomach.

Breakfast ended on an unhappy note.

Stephen left a half-eaten sandwich behind and left.

Zoey thought about the first time they met as she silently watched his tall and muscular back.

He had been dressed in a tailored suit when he strode into the cafe. He had straight brows, bright eyes, and a sharp nose. He was extraordinarily handsome, and she had fallen in love with him at first sight.

With Stephen's grandfather, Albert Holtz, calling the shots, Stephen and Zoey got married on that very same day.

When they shared their first night together, Stephen had tossed an agreement at Zoey.

"I already have someone I like," he explained. "I only married you because Grandpa kept rushing me. Take a look at this contract. Sign it if you have no issues with the terms. We won't be making our marriage public, and we'll divorce amicably in three years. I won't give you anything else but money."

Stephen had been a man of his word. He gave her a card and allowed her to spend his money as she pleased for the last three years. He never showed her any affection. His expression remained icy even when they had to sleep together.

After mulling things over, Zoey concluded that Stephen probably only agreed to marry her because she looked rather similar to Queenie.

She snapped out of her thoughts when she accidentally spilled half of her milk.

Julie rushed over to clean up the mess, asking, "What happened, Mrs. Holtz? You're usually so mild-mannered. Why didn't you hold your tongue today? Just because the two of you are arguing doesn't mean that you need to get a divorce.

"I don't think Mr. Holtz actually wants to divorce you. Didn't you notice how stormy his expression was when he signed the agreement? I know that I'm an old woman, but you should listen to me. Give in to him tonight, and you'll be able to sweep all of this under the rug."

Zoey grabbed a tissue and dabbed her watery eyes. "I'm afraid I won't be able to do that."

At the end of the day, Queenie was like a thorn in her side, causing her unbearable pain.

Zoey swiftly packed her belongings and left Jinyard Residence after she finished her breakfast. It was only after she got into a cab that she realized she had nowhere to go.

"Just drop me off at any hotel," she said to the driver.

Meanwhile, Stephen was in the middle of a meeting when Julie called him. He hated being disturbed when he was in a meeting, but surprisingly, he uncharacteristically answered the call that day.

"Mr. Holtz, Mrs. Holtz left the villa with her luggage. I couldn't stop her. You should hurry up and tell your men to bring her back. She couldn't have gone far," Julie blabbered anxiously.

Stephen pinched his brow. He didn't understand why, but frustration festered in his chest. They weren't officially divorced yet, so he didn't expect that Zoey would just up and leave after signing the agreement. Her decisiveness had left him blindsided.

They had shared a bed for three years. Was Zoey unwilling to even share a last meal with him before they went their separate ways?

Stephen assumed that she would have caused a fuss. If she did, he would have been willing to discard his pride a little and coax her. However, she hadn't shed a single tear throughout their entire conversation. In fact, she seemed even more eager than he was to get a divorce.

A sour sensation spread through his heart when he thought about how Zoey frequently hired people to look for Dorian.

"No need," he said coldly to Julie before he ended the call.

His face was as dark as coals when he announced that the meeting was adjourned. He then strode out of the meeting room, beckoning his assistant, Emerson Jones, to follow him.

"Find out where Mrs. Holtz is, and who she's been in contact with."

Stephen paused for a moment before saying, "I mean, Zoey Swift. Ms. Swift."

Emerson looked at Stephen in surprise. He didn't know why Stephen was in a foul mood, but he could make an educated guess that it was related to Zoey. Stephen had worn the same terrifying expression when he came to work after arguing with Zoey in the past.

"Should I check her phone log too, Mr. Holtz?"

"Do it. Investigate every Dorian that she contacted."

"Understood."

Emerson immediately sprang into action to carry out Stephen's orders.

Meanwhile, Stephen read through the message that Julie had sent to her after giving Emerson his orders. He clenched his jaw tightly.

"Mrs. Holtz left this behind."

A photo of Stephen's supplementary card was attached with the message.

He hadn't asked for it back, and yet Zoey had taken the initiative to give it back to him.

So, Zoey truly intended to leave without a word. In a fit of rage, Stephen blocked her card.

It was only natural for her to come back to him if she didn't have any money at her disposal.

…

The receptionist at the hotel's front desk informed Zoey that her card couldn't be used when she tried to pay for her room. When she calmed down and thought about it, she immediately knew who was responsible.

Since she couldn't book a room, Zoey had no choice but to ask her good friend, Gideon Lacey, for help as she dragged her luggage with her.

Gideon was a man who loved men, and he was also her best friend. He rushed over to her in his car 30 minutes after they ended their phone call. He felt a pang of sorrow in his heart when he saw Zoey standing on the curb, looking beautiful but broken.

He was cursing up a storm when he got out of the car and helped her hoist her luggage into the boot.

"I told you a long time ago that you shouldn't fall for a handsome, rich, or bad-tempered man. And what did you do? Find someone who's all three at the same time. What a waste of your pretty face.

"You were with him for three years, but he kicked you out with so little luggage? This is the first time I've seen such a stingy CEO. I guess you'll get a chance to experience everything once you live long enough."

Zoey knew that the truth was hard to swallow, but she couldn't bear to listen to Gideon's incessant nagging any longer. She just wanted some peace.

"He also gave me a check. He told me I can fill in the number myself," she said softly.

Zoey leaned against the backseat and closed her eyes.

Gideon maneuvered the steering wheel with one hand as he continued cursing out Stephen. After hearing that Stephen had given Zoey a check, he stopped dissing him and said, "I'll have you know that I'm going to look down on you if you don't write at least 100 million on that check."

"I'll listen to you and write 100 million then. Why don't we drop by the bank to cash the check now? Sounds good?" she asked.

Gideon assumed that Zoey was just joking, but she actually pulled out the crumpled check and wrote down 100 million on it.

Zoey saved the money she had earned from her part-time job in her bank account, so Stephen didn't have anything to do with it. How dare he block her card of his own accord? Not only had he kicked her out of the house, but he had also caused her to be unable to book a room at the hotel.

She was furious. Since he wanted to force her into a corner, he couldn't blame her for retaliating on a large scale.

"Let's go to the bank to get the money," Zoey said.

Gideon's eyes were sparkling when he spun the steering wheel. "I've never seen that much money in my life, Zoey. Will 100 million dollars be able to fit in my car? Should we switch to a stretch SUV first?"

"I've never seen that much money either. I guess both of us will learn something new today," she said.

Meanwhile, Stephen was distractedly looking through some documents in Holtz Corporation's president's office when Emerson suddenly burst in.

"Have you found the information I wanted?" Stephen asked before Emerson could get a word in.

"Mr. Holtz, Mrs. Holtz is withdrawing money from the bank," Emerson replied, looking anxious.

A puzzled look appeared on Stephen's face. He had just blocked her card, so there was no way she could withdraw money from her account.

"Mrs. Holtz is trying to withdraw 100 million dollars with the check you gave her. The bank doesn't dare process her request because of the huge sum. They need your signature before they can proceed with the withdrawal."

Emerson mumbled the last part of his sentence through clenched teeth as he watched Stephen's face visibly darken. He wondered where Zoey got the guts to provoke Stephen. He was worried that Stephen would end his life just for describing the situation to him.

Chapter 3

Stephen nearly choked on his coffee. He had only blocked Zoey's card because he wanted to force her to go back to the villa.

He never would have guessed that she would do such a thing, considering how she had been so weak and timid in the past. She didn't even raise her voice when she spoke to him.

They had only been apart for a day, but Zoey was already displaying a completely different side of herself to him. She had some guts wanting to get 100 million dollars from him.

Stephen got up and strode out of the office while fastening the button on his suit.

Emerson hastily rushed ahead and pressed the button to call the elevator.

When the car slowed to a stop in front of the bank, they saw Zoey and Gideon exiting the building. They were cursing up a storm since they had failed to withdraw the money.

Seeing that they were about to get into their car, Stephen opened his own car door and walked up to them right away.

"I see you've developed a taste for the finer things in life. How dare you take 100 million dollars from me?"

Zoey retreated one step at a time until her back pressed against the car door due to Stephen's overwhelmingly intimidating presence.

Stephen lifted her chin and scrutinized the audacious woman.

Zoey coughed lightly and murmured, "You're hurting me…"

Stephen's eyes darkened as he stared at Zoey's pale face, which was smaller than his hand. He felt as if he could snap her thin neck if he wasn't paying attention. His heart softened at the thought, and he loosened his hold on her.

Zoey rubbed her chin as she regained her composure. She then said, "It's all because you blocked my card."

"You only have about 10,000 dollars in your account. How does it make sense for you to try to take 100 million dollars from me in return?"

"Then you should tell me why you blocked my card. I earned every dollar in that account. What gives you the right to stop me from using my hard-earned money?"

Stephen was momentarily stunned. They had been married for three years, but it was the first time Zoey spoke to him so arrogantly. She was usually as obedient as a rabbit.

"What hard-earned money? There are only 365 days in a year, and you spend 300 of them at jewelry exhibitions."

In other words, Stephen was claiming that Zoey would have starved to death by now if it weren't for him.

Gideon couldn't bear to just stand on the sidelines and do nothing any longer. "What the hell are you talking about? Zoey is a—"

"A freeloader. You're right. I'm nothing more than a freeloader," Zoey said, interrupting Gideon with an anguished look in her eyes.

Stephen had no idea that she was an internationally-known jewelry designer because she used an alias for her work.

Zoey didn't intentionally hide the truth from him. She would even occasionally sketch some designs while she was home. It was just that Stephen never paid attention to anything she did, so he definitely didn't notice her sketches. From his perspective, they were just doodles that she did on a whim.

She had dedicated all her attention to the family for the three years they were married. However, she only received Stephen's disdain in exchange for her efforts. He thought she couldn't do anything except spend his money.

It was then that Zoey realized how presumptuous she had been in the past.

The ringing of a phone shattered the dead silence.

Albert was calling.

"Zoey, come over with Steve and have dinner with us tonight. We just received a new shipment of crayfish from New Freston. I remember that they're your favorite, so I didn't allow anyone else to touch them. They're all yours," Albert said.

"Albert, I—"

Zoey never would have expected that it would be so difficult to leave Stephen behind and have some alone time. There was no way she could reject Albert's request—not when he loved her like she was his actual granddaughter.

Stephen snatched the phone from her and said, "We'll come over tonight, Grandpa."

After ending the call, he addressed Zoey, saying impatiently, "Let's go. Why are you just standing there in a daze?"

Zoey stood rooted to the spot for a brief moment. In the end, Stephen just dragged her toward his car by the arm before forcing her inside.

She had just sat down when he tossed a small and intricate box at her. She held the box and looked at him, her eyes shining with confusion.

"This is the main piece for the company's next season of products. It'll have a limited sale after the press conference is over. You can have it."

Zoey opened the box and stared at the item inside, speechless.

It was the jewel pendant that she had just designed last month. The draft for it had mysteriously gone missing when she was about 80% done, and she couldn't find it even after searching through the entire study.

How did her unfinished draft end up becoming the main piece for Holtz Corporation's new line of products for the next season?

"Can I ask who the designer for this jewel pendant is?"

Stephen seemed to be immensely pleased by her response. "Queenie's the one who designed it. She just signed with Holtz Corporation yesterday to become the chief designer of the company. This is her best work since she returned to the country. It'll certainly become extremely popular."

He didn't forget to insult Zoey after praising Queenie. "Take a good look at it. It's completely different from the messy doodles that you're scribbling."

Stephen looked quite smug as he talked about Queenie. He probably wasn't aware that he was boasting about her, talking about her as if she was a rare and precious treasure.

Zoey could feel the top of her head tingling. Her mind had gone blank except for a single voice that told her that her work had been plagiarized. However, she couldn't figure out how Queenie had managed to get her hands on her unfinished draft.

Stephen was a proud man. He wasn't one to steal, and more importantly, he had looked down on Zoey's sketches. Furthermore, her draft had disappeared into thin air when she left them in the study. It wasn't as if the draft could suddenly grow wings and fly into Queenie's hands on its own.

Zoey ended up experiencing motion sickness after being too engrossed in her thoughts. She felt extremely nauseous. She covered her nose and mouth with her hand and gagged a few times.

Fortunately, she didn't have enough money to eat lunch earlier that afternoon. Although she felt like she was going to throw up her entire gut, nothing disgusting came out.

Stephen offered her a pack of tissues before asking confusedly, "You…. Have you had your period yet this month?"

Zoey froze when she heard his question. Did she have her period this month? Her mind had turned incredibly sluggish. She couldn't remember when she had her last period at all, but she knew that it had been a long time ago.

Still feeling extremely uncomfortable, she mumbled, "I… Motion sickness…"

She then started dry heaving again.

Stephen's suspicions were dispelled when Zoey claimed that she was just experiencing motion sickness.

"Stop the car by the curb," he told Emerson.

Emerson found a suitable spot to slow the car to a stop. He had just turned off the engine when Stephen's phone began ringing.

Zoey hadn't even recovered yet. "I feel terrible, Steve. Can you come over for a little while?"

The dead silence in the car allowed the woman's coquettish voice to reverberate in their ears. It was also like a new stab wound into Zoey's already immensely battered heart.

Stephen glanced at Zoey from the corner of his eye, thinking about how she had totally ruined her image when she was dry heaving earlier. He then turned to look at Emerson and said, "Start the car. Drive us to Emerald Bay."

The car hummed back to life as Emerson maneuvered it back onto the road. He then turned the car around and drove toward Emerald Bay.

Zoey started dry heaving again once the car started moving.

If she remembered correctly, Stephen owned a luxury apartment unit in Emerald Bay. Albert had gifted it to them when they got married. Although the unit was registered under both their names, Stephen was using it to house his lover after leaving it vacant for the past three years.

It was ridiculous.

Zoey's dry heaving intensified as the car continued to travel along the road. Her eyes became wet with tears as she frowned heavily. A thin layer of sweat beaded on the tip of her nose, adding to her incredibly pitiful appearance.

It was rare for Stephen to feel sorry for Zoey. He reached out to her and ran a soothing hand down her back. "Put up with it for a while more. Queenie has heart disease, so I can't afford to neglect her. Do you want to lean against me?"

Zoey shifted to the side to get away from him. She pressed her body against the door, looking distant and aloof when she said, "I'm begging you. Let me out of the car. My motion sickness is making me feel terrible."

Stephen frowned as he shifted closer to her before forcefully pulling her into his embrace.

"Why are you throwing a tantrum and being so petty toward someone with heart disease? Her life could be in real danger if her illness flares up. Her condition is much more complicated compared to just dry heaving."

Zoey mustered the last bit of her strength to push him away. Unfortunately, there was a clear difference between a man's and a woman's strength. Her efforts were completely futile.

Stephen watched Zoey struggle in his arms before leaning closer and whispering into her ear, asking, "Is it uncomfortable to lean against me? Do you want to sit on my lap instead?"

Chapter 4

Stephen didn't wait for Zoey to respond before picking her up and placing her on his lap.

Zoey was momentarily stunned when she was picked up, feeling like she had become weightless. When she snapped back to her senses, she was already sitting on Stephen's lap with her head resting against his chest. She could hear his heart pounding under her ear.

His actions briefly made Zoey feel as if she were someone that he was carefully protecting. She knew that they were getting divorced soon, but she couldn't help but yearn for the feeling of being held tightly by him.

It was different from the sensations she experienced when they slept together. She felt as if her heart was going to hammer right out of her chest at that moment.

Zoey allowed herself to indulge in the moment, convincing herself that it would be the last time.

Although Emerson gripped the steering wheel and did his best to drive steadily, Zoey would still gag occasionally. Her gut felt like it was on fire, and she couldn't tell if it was because of her constant dry heaving or if it was because she was feeling hungry.

When they arrived at Emerald Bay, Stephen got out of the car and strode into the apartment building, leaving Zoey and Emerson in the car.

"Do you have a girlfriend, Mr. Jones?"

Assuming that Zoey wanted to introduce someone to him, Emerson hastily explained, "I recently went on a blind date. We've also met each other's parents, and we've decided to get married."

Zoey pursed her lips and hummed in response. "That's great. Congratulations. You should take this necklace and give it to your fiancee. The ruby is very pretty. I'm sure that most women would like it."

Emerson broke out in a cold sweat when Zoey offered the small, intricate box to him.

"Mrs. Holtz, there are only two of these necklaces in the entire world. One is being used for the press conference, and you're holding the other one. Mr. Holtz gave you the necklace to convey his feelings to you!"

Emerson didn't dare accept the necklace. Not only did it have an astronomical price tag, but it also marked the owner as "Mrs. Holtz". If Stephen found out that Emerson had taken it, he would definitely end his life.

In fact, Zoey was always the first to receive Holtz Corporation's newest products every season. No one else enjoyed that privilege.

"You should take good care of it, Mrs. Holtz. If Mr. Holtz found out that you tried to give it to me, he definitely won't let me off the hook."

Emerson warily looked out of the window and breathed a sigh of relief when Stephen was nowhere to be found.

Zoey didn't insist since Emerson was unwilling to take the necklace. She carelessly stuffed the box into her bag, saying, "Alright then. I'll give it to someone else since you don't want it."

She felt repulsed just looking at the necklace.

Stephen had already gone up to Queenie's place for a while. She had no idea what they were up to. They could be intimate with each other right now, while she, as Stephen's ex-wife, foolishly sat downstairs waiting for him after personally delivering him to Queenie's doorstep.

It was ridiculous.

Meanwhile, Stephen had made it to Queenie's floor. He stepped out of the elevator and unlocked the door with his fingerprints.

The door had just swung open when Queenie threw herself at him, filling his arms with her warm and soft body.

"Do you feel unwell, Queenie? Let's go to the hospital right now," he asked.

Queenie had intentionally done her makeup before Stephen arrived. She set her voluminous waves with volumizing spray so that her hair cascaded down her back, making her look elegant and charming. She was practically glowing and didn't look ill at all.

She hugged Stephen's slender waist tightly and nuzzled her face against his chest. "I was feeling so anxious earlier, Steve. I don't know if it's because my heart disease is acting up. You can feel for yourself if you don't believe me."

Stephen was rather panicked when he rushed into the apartment. Now that he had confirmed that Queenie was fine, he slowly began to calm down, his wits returning to him.

"Let go of me for now," he said while holding his hands up, not daring to put them down.

He couldn't explain why, but he felt a little irritated at how Queenie was hugging him so tightly. "You're forbidden from joking about this in the future, Queenie."

Queenie was reluctant to let go of him. She felt a little scared looking at his serious and frighteningly stern face.

"Don't be angry. I was just missing you a little, that's all. Stay with me today. I made your favorite barbecued ribs."

"I'm busy today. I'll stay another day."

Stephen prepared to take his leave after confirming that Queenie was fine. He was a little worried about the actual ill person waiting for him downstairs.

Queenie began to panic when she realized Stephen was serious about leaving. "Just stay with me for a few more minutes, Steve. I want to show you something."

She then went to her study and grabbed the drafts she had been working on for a long time. "Look at this, Steve. I designed these matching rings that symbolize loyalty and commitment. What do you think about using these designs for our wedding rings?"

Perhaps it was because Stephen had seen Zoey dry heaving, his patience was wearing thin. "You can decide," he said flippantly. "I'll have my staff make it when the time comes."

Queenie was over the moon. Since Stephen didn't oppose the designs of the wedding rings, she assumed that he was going to marry her. She was only one step away from marrying him. And all her years of waiting wouldn't be for naught.

As for the final step, she had to work harder to make her marriage to him a reality as soon as possible.

"Do you want to try the ribs, Steve? I spent the whole afternoon preparing it for you. I learned how to make it just for you. I even accidentally burned myself while preparing it."

Queenie petulantly pulled Stephen into the kitchen and forced him to have a bit of the ribs.

When Stephen returned to the car, Zoey's stomach churned violently when she smelled the combined scent of meat and perfume on him.

Stephen inhaled deeply before glancing at her and saying, "You looked fine when I was walking over. Why did you start gagging again after I got into the car?"

Zoey paused. She couldn't hold back her incredulous laughter and almost thought that her ears were playing tricks on her. "Do you think that I'm acting? Do you think that I'm just pretending to be sick to stop you from seeing your lover?"

Stephen was angered by her questions. "Watch your tongue. Know your place."

Zoey let out a silent and bitter laugh that expressed how utterly disappointed she was. She leaned against the window and didn't say another word. It was true that she had no grounds to call Queenie his lover. She never had the right to do so, even before she signed the divorce agreement.

Stephen's anger faded away as he took in how vulnerable she looked. From the corner of his eye, he watched her close her eyes as she rested her pale face against the window. The color had drained from her full lips, and there were two faint, red marks on her neck where he had gripped her.

The longer he looked at her, the more he wanted to bully her.

"Come here," Stephen ordered, breaking the silence in the car.

Zoey looked at him suspiciously.

"You're feeling uncomfortable, right? Do you want to lean against me?" he asked.

Zoey turned her head away and stubbornly ignored him. However, Stephen forcefully dragged her onto his lap. When she saw the faint lipstick mark on his chest, she couldn't stop the tears from streaming down her cheeks.

What terrible crime did she commit that she had to be forced to witness Stephen flaunting his relationship with Queenie right in her face?

The car had stopped in front of Holtz Manor by the time Stephen realized that there was a wet patch on his chest. He easily carried Zoey with one hand and frowned when he noticed his soiled shirt.

After they got out of the car, Stephen slowed his footsteps so that Zoey could catch up to him. She locked arms with him when they stepped through the door, easily falling back to old habits. They had perfected the image of how they should present themselves in front of the other Holtzes long ago.

The living room had an incredibly tall ceiling and was decorated lavishly.

Albert was a fan of scents. The faint smell of sandalwood permeating the air greatly eased the discomfort in Zoey's gut.

The butler, Sean Zelman, raised his voice and announced, "Mr. Holtz Senior, Mr. and Mrs. Holtz have arrived."

He then turned to look at Zoey with a smile. "If you had arrived any later, Mrs. Holtz, the crayfish would be gone by now," he said teasingly. "Ms. Holtz has been whining about it for the entire afternoon, but Mr. Holtz Senior stood firm with his decision. He wanted to wait for you."

The corners of Stephen's lips curled up into a smile. "Sabina has a tiny appetite. She'll be full for the rest of the day if you just give her a dozen crayfish."

Albert was in high spirits when he came out of the study. Although he was turning 80 soon, he had taken good care of himself, so he was still brimming with energy and vitality. In fact, he could even pass off as a 70-year-old.

"What are you talking about? Come here, Zoey."

Zoey greeted Albert sweetly before obediently heading over to his side.

Chapter 5

"Why do you look so pale?" Albert asked.

He then glanced at Stephen and added, "You come with me, too."

Albert led Zoey and Stephen to the study before asking Zoey, "How did you get these injuries on your arm?"

Albert had spotted the scratches on Zoey's arm with his sharp eyes.

She had gotten hurt when the robbers threw her to the ground.

Zoey smiled obediently before answering in a way that downplayed how serious the situation had been. "It doesn't hurt, Albert."

Albert looked at Stephen and asked, "Tell me. How did Zoey hurt her arm?"

Stephen only noticed the shocking scratches on Zoey's pale, right arm when he looked at her. They looked quite painful.

He didn't know how to answer Albert's questions. He thought back to last night. He had gripped her arm tightly, and yet she hadn't made a sound. She was too good at enduring pain.

Albert launched into a barrage of criticisms. "You don't even know that your wife got hurt. What kind of husband are you? Are you waiting for someone else to come along and love your wife if you're not going to do it yourself?"

"It really doesn't hurt, Albert," Zoey tried to explain. "That's why I didn't tell him."

Albert scoffed before asking, "When are the two of you planning to give me a great-grandchild?"

The air in the room froze.

Just then, Stephen's phone started ringing. He grabbed his phone and exited the study.

Emerson was calling him.

"I've gotten the results for the investigations. Mrs. Holtz hasn't contacted anyone of note except someone called Dorian Lewis, whom she called for two minutes.

"Last night, she went to the bar to drop something off for Ms. Holtz. When she was on the way home, she stopped by the police station. In the end, a police officer sent her back to Jinyard Residence using his personal car.

"Also, Dorian Lewis is a middle schooler," Emerson added. "Mrs. Holtz didn't contact him again after confirming that he wasn't the one that she was looking for."

"Why did she go to the police station?" Stephen asked, confused.

Emerson held his breath. He was a little scared to tell Stephen the truth. He hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Mrs. Holtz was nearly sexually assaulted last night."

Stephen felt as if an explosion had been set off in his brain. His chest felt tight when he recalled her bizarre appearance when she returned the night before with the strange clothes she had been wearing.

Why didn't Zoey tell him anything? She should have asked him for his help the second something like this happened to her. Did she think his role as her husband was just for show? Anyone who dared lay their hands on his wife must have a death wish.

"Explain the entire situation to me in detail," Stephen demanded.

Emerson could sense Stephen's burning anger through the phone.

"The two robbers have already been thrown into prison, Mr. Holtz. This incident was also reported in the news. I'll send you a link now."

Emerson sent him the link after he ended the call.

…

Stephen was sitting on one end of the couch when Zoey exited the study. He was staring at his phone and was surrounded by an air of coldness.

Several other people had joined them in the living room.

"Richard, Mabel, Jason."

Zoey greeted her elders one after the other before obediently sitting by Stephen's side. She grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest. She had been dry heaving throughout the entire car ride before she had to chat with Albert in the study. Now, she had to stay strong and keep up the act until the very end.

Stephen's mother, Mabel Turner, could tell that Zoey was feeling under the weather. She studied the red marks on Zoey's neck before asking with a smile, "Are you like this because we'll be having a new member in our family soon, Zoey? You have to be careful for the first three months."

All the maids in the house immediately stopped what they were doing the moment the words left Mabel's lips. Zoey could feel over a dozen gazes on her.

Stephen pocketed his phone and stared at her. She had been gagging the entire time on their way here. There was no way he wouldn't be suspicious.

Zoey smiled awkwardly at suddenly being the center of attention. Her face was flushed when she explained, "It's not like that, Mabel. I was experiencing motion sickness earlier. I'll feel better once I rest a little."

Mabel felt a little disappointed for not getting the answer she was hoping for. Still, she kindly comforted Zoey, saying, "It's fine. Both of you are still young, so you don't have to worry about having a child right now. You should rest in your room if you're feeling unwell. I'll ask Steve to call you when it's time for dinner."

Zoey shook her head. "I'm fine. I'll feel better once I sit for a little while."

As Stephen studied her cautious behavior, he couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure you don't want to go back to the room?"

"No need."

Sabina overheard the conversation in the living room just as she was descending the stairs. She scoffed and said, "She's like a hen that can't lay any eggs. It's been three years, and she hasn't gotten pregnant yet. It'll be weird if she gets pregnant now."

Mabel rolled her eyes in the direction of the staircase and berated sternly, "Why are you speaking so rudely to your elder? Hurry and apologize to Zoey."

Zoey wasn't bothered by Sabina's words.

Sabina and Queenie were best friends, which was why Zoey hadn't heard a good word from Sabina ever since she married Stephen.

Sabina would often complain about her on Queenie's behalf. She would say offensive things and was even bolder when there was no one else around.

Zoey had gotten used to her behavior a long time ago.

Fortunately, Mabel was on her side, which was why Zoey didn't argue with Sabina for Mabel's sake.

Sabina was dragged over to Zoey's side and forced to apologize to her. Sabina stuck her nose in the air before apologizing to Zoey in an utterly insincere tone.

Before Zoey could say anything, Stephen asked, "You were taught manners since you were a child. Is this how they taught you to apologize to someone?"

Zoey was a little surprised. Sabina being rude to her was a common occurrence, but Stephen had never spoken up about it. She couldn't help but wonder if he had some screws loose in his brain that day that prompted him to take her side and speak on her behalf.

Sabina feared nothing since she was a child. The only person she was scared of was Stephen. She only gave Zoey a proper apology after noticing his poker face. After she was done, Stephen dragged her into a nearby storage room by the back of her collar.

Sabina panicked and started begging for help loudly, "Mom! Mom, he's going to beat me again!"

Mabel flashed Zoey a polite smile, saying, "She needs to be disciplined, and Stephen's the only one who can teach her a lesson."

A few moments later, the sounds of Sabina's pained cries resounded from the storage room.

A hint of worry flickered across Mabel's eyes, and she asked, "Do you want to go over and take a look, Zoey?"

Truth be told, Zoey didn't want to get involved in Stephen's and Sabina's scuffle. However, since Mabel had voiced out her request, she had no choice but to follow her to see what was happening.

She figured that she could pretend to convince Stephen to go easy on Sabina. She didn't believe that he would actually hurt his own sister.

Zoey was just about to knock on the storage room door when she overheard the conversation going on inside. She then slowly lowered her hand.

"Why are you treating her like she's your maid? Why did you ask her to deliver something to you so late at night?" Stephen asked.

"It's your fault for giving her so much jewelry," Sabina retorted. "I don't see why I can't borrow some from her if they fit the occasion. If you had given that jewelry to Queenie instead, she would have happily given them to me. I wouldn't have had to ask Zoey to deliver them to me then."

The conversation paused for a few seconds before Stephen asked, "Was Queenie at the bar with you last night?"

Sabina sounded slightly nervous when she replied, "No. No, she wasn't. Wasn't she with you last night?"

Stephen hummed in response before he said in a warning tone, "You're forbidden from ordering her around in the future. Got it?"

The door swung open.

When Stephen saw Zoey standing rooted to the spot outside the room, he noticed that her complexion had turned even more pallid. "Are you sure you don't want to go upstairs and rest?" he asked again.

Zoey didn't answer his question. Instead, she said lightly, "It's time for dinner."

Sabina's forehead was a bright shade of red when she stormed out of the storage room. Stephen had most likely flicked her forehead. When she passed Zoey, she intentionally rammed her shoulder into her.

Zoey stumbled backward and nearly lost her footing. However, a hand suddenly appeared at her waist and steadied her. After she regained her balance, she swiftly put some distance between herself and Stephen.

Irritated by her behavior, Stephen yanked her into his arms again, asking, "Why are you avoiding me?"

Worried that he had forgotten the current state of their relationship, Zoey reminded, "We're divorced now, Mr. Holtz. It's only natural for us to maintain our distance."