Divorcing the Ruthless CEO

The whip struck the woman's soft, tender skin, and a searing pain spread through her entire body.

Christina Reed lay on the cold tile floor, biting down hard on her lower lip just to barely stay conscious.

Her body shook with anguish, but she lifted her gaze defiantly toward the man lounging on the sofa. "Ethan… why can’t you trust me?"

Unlike her miserable state, Ethan Carter sat on the leather sofa in a custom-tailored suit, legs crossed, his posture noble and cold.

His face was strikingly handsome, every sharp angle commanding attention, while his almond-shaped eyes carried a cold, untouchable restraint, beauty so intense it bordered on oppressive.

He looked down at her from above, his voice filled with disgust: "I saw it with my own eyes. You still want to make excuses?"

Christina's whole body shook as she screamed hoarsely: "Emily fell down by herself..."

A sudden, searing pain ripped through her jaw, forcing her to lift her head, and there it was, Ethan’s icy gaze locking onto hers.

"Christina, you knew Emily was in poor health, yet you deliberately pushed her down those stairs. Why are you so vicious?"

His fingers gripping her jaw kept tightening, the force so strong Christina felt her bones might shatter.

Christina looked at him. Destined to be his wife, she had never earned his trust. “I swear, I didn’t,” Christina’s head shook violently, desperation lacing her voice. “I was only trying to save her.”

"Still making excuses." Ethan forcefully released her jaw and barked coldly at the bodyguard nearby, "Keep going. Beat her until she's willing to tell the truth."

Christina clung to Ethan’s pant leg, her body shaking. “Ethan… I’m your wife. You can’t do this to me…”

Before she could finish, a powerful force came, and she was kicked away.

Ethan turned around, leaving her only his cold, hard back, spitting out one word: "Continue."

The whip lashed down on Christina once more, agony twisting her into a tight curl. The final flicker of hope inside her extinguished completely.

She braced herself against the floor and screamed with all her strength: "Ethan, if you don't believe me, then let's get divorced!"

Ethan's departing footsteps stopped.

He turned back to look at Christina, battered and bruised on the floor, and smiled coldly: "Divorce? The position of Mrs. Carter that you schemed so hard to get—you're willing to give it up? I'm warning you, don't think you can threaten me with divorce. It won't work!"

Ethan’s words cut deeper than any lash on her skin. At last, Christina realized that all along, he had believed she would go to any lengths, unflinching and relentless.

Five years ago, at an art exhibition, she saved Elizabeth Carter's life by performing CPR after Elizabeth choked and vomited. The incident marked the start of a close friendship between them.

At the banquet, murmurs of disdain spread, claiming her daring rescue was nothing more than a calculated move to entwine herself with the illustrious Carter Family.

She blushed with embarrassment at their words, but Ethan stood up to protect her and drove away those gossipy people.

In that moment, her heart wavered.

She knew he was only protecting the Carter Family's dignity, but it became a rare light in her dark life.

Knowing her place, she hid these feelings away, treating him with respect and distance.

The turning point came three years ago at Elizabeth's birthday banquet. After they were drugged and found themselves entwined in a single bed, the scandal ignited across Emerald City overnight. Only when Elizabeth compelled him into marriage did the uproar finally subside.

And Ethan's lover, Emily Cooper, upon hearing the news, left for abroad without a word.

Ethan blamed everything on Christina—hated her for appearing at the Carter Manor, hated her for climbing into his bed, hated her for ruining his love.

From then on, he looked at her only with disgust.

Only Christina knew the truth: she had never even entertained such a thought how could she have possibly drugged him?

That night three years ago, when she woke up, she was already beneath him, her whole body aching, her mind blank, with no idea what had happened.

Over the past three years, everyone in Emerald City had been mocking her as shameless, willing to do anything to marry up.

Every member of the Carter Family, Elizabeth alone excepted, regarded her with nothing but scorn and disdain.

She restrained all her temper, endured all the grievances, only because she still held onto a bit of hope in her heart.

A year ago, after he got drunk, they had sex for the first time since their marriage.

Afterwards, Ethan’s demeanor toward her softened noticeably, and their intimacy grew with a surprising harmony.

She thought her persistence had finally moved him, letting him see her sincerity.

But now, each lash of pain finally woke her up completely.

It turned out it was all her wishful thinking.

She refused to endure a life of meek submission and hollow dreams, no longer willing to be trapped in a loveless, trustless marriage.

She wanted to set him free and let herself go, to end this painful marriage.

Seeing her silence, Ethan assumed he had hit a nerve. His expression darkened further as he said coldly, "Today is just a small punishment. If you still don't learn your lesson, I'll show you what happens when you anger me."

With that, he strode away, his retreating figure resolute.

She refused to endure a life of meek submission and hollow dreams, no longer willing to be trapped in a loveless, trustless marriage.

One day earlier, late at night.

The floor-to-ceiling windows in the master bedroom were open, wind pouring in, but it couldn't dispel the thick scent of sex in the room.

On the expansive bed, Ethan’s intensity was fierce, as though he sought to fuse Christina entirely with himself.

"Gentler..." Christina endured his thrusts, gripping the sheets beneath her tightly.

Hearing her plea, Ethan, on top of her, didn't slow down at all. Instead, his assault became even more fierce.

Christina passively endured it, gazing hazily at the handsome face of the man above her.

Fire burned in his eyes—an obsession with her body.

Between them, there were no kisses, no gentleness, only raw, possessive lust, as if she existed solely to satisfy his craving.

"Focus." Ethan noticed her distraction, his large hand gripping her waist, punishing her with force.

Christina let out a muffled groan, tears forced from the corners of her eyes.

After a long while, everything stopped.

Ethan strode out toward the bathroom, the rush of water soon filling the room. Christina hauled her aching body upright, barely able to rest against the headboard.

Soon, the bathroom door opened.

Ethan wore a towel wrapped around his waist. Water still dripped from his hair, droplets sliding down his broad shoulders and neck, tracing over his firm chest and abs before disappearing into his V-line.

Christina watched him. He truly had a perfect body. Even after all these years, her heart still fluttered at the sight. Ethan ran a towel through his hair, and when his gaze lifted, it locked onto Christina’s glistening, tear-filled eyes.

In those eyes was undisguised adoration.