Begging Her Not to Divorce: The CEO's Breakdown

"Ms. Anderson, the ligament damage to your knee is severe. If you'd come in any later, we might have been looking at amputation."

The doctor adjusted his glasses, studying Harper Anderson's solitary figure with a frown. "Are you here alone?"

Harper lowered her gaze. "Yes."

The doctor glanced at the "married" status on her chart and sighed before writing her prescription.

Harper took the medication slip, her left leg wrapped in thick bandages, and limped out of the emergency room with difficulty.

Her phone rang. Brandon.

She took a deep breath and answered.

"Grandma wants us home for dinner tonight." Brandon Martinez's voice came through the speaker, carrying its usual detachment. "Where are you?"

"I'm at the hospital." Harper tried to keep her voice steady. "I was in a minor car accident this afternoon. Hurt my knee a bit."

Two seconds of silence on the other end.

"How bad?"

"Not bad." Harper pressed her lips together. "I'll be home soon."

Just as she was about to hang up, a voice burst through the phone: "Mr. Martinez, no more phone calls! You lost, so accept your punishment—now you have to kiss Luna!"

Harper's heart clenched. Luna? Luna White?

Was she back from abroad?

Harper had only learned after marrying Brandon that he had a childhood sweetheart.

She heard Brandon chuckle through the noise. "Don't worry, I always pay my debts."

Then to Harper: "Since it's not serious, just head home."

The line went dead.

Harper limped toward the curb and hailed a cab.

As soon as she arrived at the Martinez estate, Brandon's grandmother Margaret Martinez hurried over. Seeing Harper's injured leg, she immediately moved to support her. "Harper, what happened to your leg?"

"I tripped. It's nothing."

Harper didn't want Margaret to worry, so she lied.

Margaret clearly didn't believe her. "Where's Brandon? Why didn't he come home with you?"

At the mention of Brandon, Harper's face clouded over.

Margaret read her expression immediately. After all these years of Harper's marriage, she knew exactly what kind of man her grandson was.

Margaret's tone turned sharp with disapproval. "That boy gets worse every day. I'm calling him right now to get him home!"

She reached for her phone.

Harper quickly stopped her. "Grandma, don't. Luna's back. He's busy with her right now."

At Luna's name, Margaret's hand froze mid-air. She looked at Harper with sympathy. "Harper, sweetheart, I know these years haven't been easy for you. Don't worry—when Brandon gets home, I'll give him a piece of my mind!"

Harper smiled without responding.

Three years ago, Harper had been volunteering at a rehabilitation center where she met Margaret.

Harper was just a college student then. Margaret was kind and talkative, and the two quickly grew close.

Margaret adored Harper, often holding her hand and expressing how much she wished Harper could become part of the family.

Later, when Brandon came to visit, Harper was instantly drawn to his appearance.

Margaret, being experienced in matters of the heart, noticed Harper's interest and began subtly matchmaking.

Brandon never objected during the process, and they married naturally.

What Harper didn't know was that Brandon had only married her to spite Luna.

She'd once overheard Brandon's friend at a gala: "Mr. Martinez, deliberately marrying someone else just to provoke Luna—isn't that a bit reckless?"

Brandon hadn't answered, his eyes revealing only complicated emotions.

Harper had felt her heart pierced through, a dense, throbbing pain.

She was nothing more than Brandon's compromise in this marriage.

Harper waited until nine o'clock that evening, but Brandon never came home. When she called, he claimed to be busy at the office.

Staring at the table full of untouched food, Margaret's face showed concern. "Brandon really... no matter how busy, he should come home for dinner..."

Not wanting Margaret to worry, Harper volunteered: "Grandma, let me take some food to Brandon."

Margaret's gaze swept from Harper's face down to her injured leg, her heart aching as she patted Harper's hand. "I hate to trouble you."

Seeing the guilt on Margaret's face, Harper smiled gently. "It's no trouble, Grandma."

Margaret grasped Harper's hand, her tone earnest. "Harper, you're the one I've chosen for this family. Whatever Luna does, don't let it bother you. If Brandon wrongs you even slightly, I'll be the first to deal with him!"

Harper nodded quietly, saying nothing more.

Half an hour later, she arrived at Martinez Group Tower carrying an insulated food container.

Her knee throbbed with each step, sharp as needles, but she forced herself toward Brandon's office.

The door stood ajar, light spilling out, accompanied by laughter.

A woman's laughter—crisp, melodious, tinged with flirtation.

Harper saw Brandon seated behind his massive desk, Luna on the sofa opposite him, holding a glass of red wine, her eyes sultry.

No one else was in the office. The scene of their private encounter felt intensely intimate.

"Brandon, do you remember our college days?" Luna's voice dripped with nostalgia. "That pool party you threw for my birthday—you got drunk and fell into the pool."

Brandon chuckled softly. "I remember."

Luna's voice turned wistful. "Those days were so good. We didn't have to think about anything. Just being together was enough."

Harper stood outside the door. Her hand slipped, and the food container clattered to the floor.

Hearing the noise, both turned. They saw Harper, disheveled and pale.

"What are you doing here?" Brandon glanced at Harper's bandaged leg, his brow furrowing, his tone annoyed. "You said it was just a minor injury. Was all this bandaging really necessary?"

"You must be Harper. I'm Luna, Brandon's friend."

Luna moved to Brandon's side. Noticing Harper's uncomfortable expression, she patted his shoulder and said gently, "Brandon, Harper's injured. How can you speak to her that way? You should go comfort your wife."

Harper studied Luna from head to toe—poised, graceful, completely from a different world than her own disheveled self.

No wonder Brandon loved her so much.

At Luna's words, Brandon stepped toward Harper.

Suddenly, Harper spotted it—a lipstick mark on Brandon's white collar.

Vivid and unmistakable, like a blood-red rose, it seared her eyes.

The exact shade Luna was wearing.