30 Days to Leave My CEO Husband

On their wedding anniversary, Serenity Harrison received a video from a friend.

Her husband, Albert Sanchez, had spent a fortune—millions of dollars—on a piano as a welcome gift for his beloved Grace Lawson.

And Serenity's "gift" was a thick nutrition cookbook.

That morning, Albert had casually left it on the dining table without even looking at her. "You should start making some stomach-friendly meals."

The words she wanted to say circled in her mouth before she finally asked, "Albert, do you remember what day it is?"

Albert paused, then signed another check and tossed it to her.

"You've spent all the money I gave you again? Staying home all day, where do you even spend it?"

Before Serenity could say anything more, he had already grabbed the suit she'd carefully ironed that morning and left.

Back then, Serenity was still convincing herself that Albert just didn't care about ceremonies, which was why he forgot their anniversary.

Until she saw on her phone screen him and Grace with fingers intertwined. 

[1,098 days apart, every single day I've been waiting for you to come back.]

In that moment, Serenity understood.

It wasn't that he didn't care about ceremonies, or that he couldn't remember dates.

Everything related to Grace, he remembered as if carved into his flesh and blood.

But everything about Serenity—her birthday, her preferences, her seven years of devotion—wasn't even worth remembering to him.

Outside the window, the sky went from light to dark.

Serenity sat on the sofa, watching the clock on the wall tick away.

She suddenly felt this secret marriage was pointless.

As the clock struck twelve, Serenity picked up her phone and dialed the number that had been silent for three years.

"Mr. Thornton."

"Is it too late for me to join your team now?"

On the other end, Cassian Thornton's voice was rich. "Have you thought it through? I don't want you backing out again because of personal matters, Ms. Harrison."

Serenity gripped her phone tighter, her knuckles turning white.

Three years ago, she had given up her future to marry Albert.

She had been the youngest dual master's degree holder in biochemistry and medicine from a top university in the country. While still in school, countless industry giants had reached out to her. She could have achieved so much, but because she couldn't let go of Albert, she had even stood up Cassian, the head of the Thornton Group.

Back then Cassian said he'd give her three years to consider. In the blink of an eye, only one month remained.

At least now, she was awake.

Three years of disappointment and heartbreak were enough for her to see Albert clearly and recognize herself.

"Not this time."

Her voice hoarse, she spoke word by word. "Please give me one month. I'll take care of all those trivial matters once and for all."

"I'll be waiting."

"Someone will help you with the visa," Cassian's voice was flat. "Next month on the first, you'll leave the country with me."

He paused. "This is your last chance, Serenity. Don't disappoint me again."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Serenity went to the study to prepare divorce papers.

She waited on the sofa until dawn, but Albert never came home.

In the early morning, he finally called, his tone businesslike. "Bring a clean suit to my office, and make some fish soup to bring along. No onions."

Before Serenity could speak, the call ended.

Serenity listened to the cold dial tone, feeling the cold in her chest spread.

Out all night, and he had no intention of explaining.

Countdown: 29 days, 17 hours, 42 minutes remaining.

Serenity looked at the clock on the wall, forcing herself to suppress the dull pain rising in her chest.

They were getting divorced anyway. When the time came, they'd have nothing to do with each other.

She collected herself and, following Albert's instructions, made the soup, took the clothes, and rushed to his company.

On the office desk sat a pink cake, with a sweet scent.

Serenity froze.

Albert never liked sweets. Who was the cake for?

Just then, his assistant walked out from the adjacent office.

Seeing Serenity, she gave a pointed smile.

"Mrs. Sanchez, did Boss do something wrong to upset you?"

"First thing this morning, he had me order a cake from that new dessert shop on the west side. I think I heard him say something about apologizing."

"It's rare for him to be so thoughtful. You must have really upset him, huh? He just stepped out for something urgent but should be back soon. Want to wait inside?"

Serenity unconsciously tightened her grip on the divorce papers.

So Albert knew he was wrong? He called her here to apologize?

Serenity smiled politely at the assistant, walked into the office, and almost involuntarily opened the cake.

After three years of marriage, Serenity couldn't actually let go that easily.

Especially after secretly loving him for seven whole years.

If he truly had even a shred of regret, they could talk things through and part on good terms, without making it ugly.

Smelling the sweetness, Serenity picked up a spoon and took a bite.

The cream melted in her mouth, and something hard mixed in the mousse went down her throat.

Serenity felt uncomfortable, covering her throat as she stood to get water.

But just then, footsteps sounded outside the office.

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have kept you up so late last night."

"I prepared an apology gift, and the cake from that shop you've been wanting to try. Go see if you like it, okay?"

Serenity froze, watching Albert and Grace walk in side by side.

They were holding hands, intimate, his tone gentle in a way she had never heard.

And on Grace's collarbone, a faint red mark was visible.

So they spent last night together, and the cake Albert prepared wasn't for her either?

Cold spread from her chest throughout her limbs, plunging Serenity into an icy abyss.

The last bit of warmth she thought existed was just another self-deluded joke.

Serenity could barely stand, watching helplessly as the two walked into the office.

When Albert's gaze fell on her, his brow immediately furrowed.

"Didn't I tell you to bring clothes and soup? Why are you still here after delivering them?"

Grace looked at her curiously. "Albert, who is she?"

Albert was silent for a moment. "Someone from home. You said your stomach was bothering you, so I had her make you some nutritious stomach-friendly food."

Grace looked at Serenity with a pointed expression. "Oh, your family's housekeeper? She looks so young."

Then, with a cheerful smile, she said, "Albert just has this stiff personality, don't mind him. Thank you for making and bringing the soup."

Serenity opened her mouth, but her throat was too tight to speak.

Albert had no intention of explaining, clearly accepting Grace's assumption.

Come to think of it, Serenity as a wife was really no different in Albert's eyes from a housekeeper he could order around.

Serenity ignored Grace, digging her nails into her palm as she looked at Albert. "I need to talk to you. I'll leave after."

Just as Serenity was about to take out the divorce papers, Albert's gaze fell on the cake.

He immediately frowned deeply, his gaze icy. "You ate the cake I prepared for Grace?"

Before Serenity could react, he picked up the spoon and roughly dug through the cake, his expression growing even colder.

"Serenity, did you do this on purpose?"

Serenity looked at him blankly. "What?"

He leaned in close, roughly grabbing her wrist and throwing her onto the sofa.

"There was a custom ring I ordered for Grace in that cake!"

He demanded harshly, "Where's the ring? Hand it over!"

Serenity's face turned pale.

The thing she just swallowed was a ring?

Only then did she feel her stomach starting to hurt.

"I swallowed it."

She dug her nails into her palm. "I didn't know."

Albert's expression darkened further, his eyes glacial as he looked at her.

After a long moment, he walked to his desk and picked up the phone.

"Come to my office and take Serenity to the hospital for a stomach pump."

"As punishment, don't let the doctor use anesthesia."