Chapter 1 I Don’t Want to Do This Anymore

"Ms. Turner, your cancer has spread to an advanced stage. You need to start chemotherapy as soon as possible."

In the hospital corridor, the cold white light overhead made Elodie Turner dizzy.

She clutched the test results, standing frozen for a long moment before making a call. After a long busy tone, an arrogant voice came through: "Mrs. Stewart, what can I do for you?"

It was Adrian Stewart's secretary.

Elodie's voice was hoarse: "Where's Adrian?"

"Mr. Stewart is very busy and can't take calls." The secretary's tone was impatient. "Just tell me what you need."

Elodie opened her mouth, gave up on the idea of reaching Adrian, and said in a muted voice: "I'm sick and need money for treatment. Can you transfer a hundred thousand dollars to my account?"

"A hundred thousand dollars?" The voice on the other end was mocking. "Mrs. Stewart, you must be really sick to need that much money. But according to the rules, any expense over five thousand dollars requires a written application in advance. If you want the money, go through the proper channels."

"Wait..."

Before she could finish, the other party hung up directly.

Listening to the dial tone, Elodie stood there and suddenly let out a bitter laugh.

Five years married to Adrian, nominally Mrs. Stewart, she was actually more like a timid housekeeper. Her food, clothing, and shelter depended on Adrian's mood, and even spending money depended on his secretary's whim. When the secretary was in a good mood, she got five thousand dollars a month for living expenses; when the secretary was in a bad mood, she got nothing. Any extra spending had to be reported, or she wouldn't get a cent.

She used to put up with everything, but today, she suddenly found it unbearable.

Lowering her eyes, Elodie blocked the secretary's number. As she walked out of the hospital, her phone suddenly lit up with several glaring news alerts:

#Shocking! Adrian spotted with mysterious woman at The Grandview Hotel, suspected affair!

#Adrian's marriage in trouble! Spending big money at auction for love.

#Identity of mysterious woman in white dress revealed!

In article after article of gossip, the man who hadn't been home in nearly half a month appeared at various events. What they had in common was that he was always accompanied by a fragile-looking woman in a white dress, and his face wore a tenderness Elodie had never seen before.

No wonder she could never reach him these past few days—he was busy keeping another woman company.

An indescribable bitterness spread through her heart as Elodie took a cab and left.

On her way back, her phone suddenly vibrated, Adrian's name flashing on the screen.

"I heard you want money to see a doctor?" Adrian's tone was distant.

Elodie's eyelashes trembled slightly. Before she could speak, he had already issued his command: "The Grandview Hotel parking lot, get here within half an hour. And bring me a clean set of clothes."

She had no room to refuse. He finished speaking casually and hung up again.

The pain in her stomach seemed to be pulled by this cold dial tone, throbbing with each beat. Elodie swallowed two painkillers, went home to get clothes, and headed to The Grandview Hotel.

As soon as she arrived at the parking lot, she spotted the black Maybach. License plate with five 8s—the only one in Harbor City belonged to Adrian.

Elodie walked over and knocked on the window. The window lowered halfway, revealing the man she hadn't seen in days.

His well-tailored white shirt outlined his broad shoulders and narrow waist. He was casually supporting his forehead with one hand, two buttons undone at the collar, revealing his sexy collarbone.

And on that collar... was a faint lipstick mark.

Even though she was mentally prepared, Elodie's heart was still stabbed hard.

"You're here?" Adrian's voice was cold. "Good timing. There are some annoying reporters outside, go deal with them."

He lit a cigarette and said disdainfully: "They're saying nasty things, and Chloe is upset. Make sure you teach those reporters a lesson."

Elodie felt cold all over, the pain in her stomach instantly shifting to her heart, suffocating her. She asked in a daze: "How do you want me to handle it?"

Adrian frowned, his eyes darkening: "You're the Chief Legal Officer of the Stewart Group. Do I need to teach you how to handle something this simple? Sue who needs to be sued, warn who needs to be warned. I won't allow any negative comments about Chloe to spread."

His protective words were like poisoned silver needles piercing Elodie's heart.

She instinctively clenched her fists, her voice trembling: "You mean... you want me to step forward and protect the reputation of a homewrecker who destroyed my marriage?"

Adrian's expression turned cold: "Elodie, know your place. You know perfectly well how our marriage came about. Stop pretending in front of me."

Elodie's face turned pale, her stomach churning with pain.

"Mr. Stewart is right." She lifted her head, a faint smile on her pale lips. "I really have no right. However, I'm afraid I can't handle this job. Please find someone else."

She handed the clothes through the car window, her eyes calm.

Adrian's eyes grew colder: "Elodie, are you throwing a tantrum with me?"

Elodie found it laughable. How could she have the right to throw a tantrum?

"You misunderstand." Her eyes reflected the man's stern face. "I just... don't want to do it anymore."

She put down the clothes and was about to turn away when a strong force suddenly grabbed her wrist and forcibly dragged her into the car!

"What are you doing?!"

Before she could resist, Adrian's tall body was already pressing down on her. Mixed with the familiar woody scent was a sickly sweet fragrance that made Elodie's stomach churn.

Adrian easily controlled her, his casual voice carrying malicious teasing: "Jealous?"

The man's chiseled face enlarged before her eyes, the perfunctory attitude and desire for control in his eyes plain to see. "My family has been pushing us to have a child lately. Why don't we make one today."

His calloused fingertips explored under her clothes despite her resistance, expertly finding her sensitive spots. After years of marriage, he knew too well how to make her go weak instantly.

Elodie's mind went blank.

How could he... how dare he touch her after being with another woman, still wearing her perfume?!

"Adrian, let me go!"

Elodie struggled desperately, her light blue sweater pulled into disarray, her pale face with eyes reddened from anger making her look like frightened prey.

Her appearance didn't make Adrian stop; instead, the desire in his eyes grew stronger.

"Stop pretending," he snorted coldly. "You used to chase after me every day wanting a child. Now I'm giving you what you want, and you're refusing? Elodie, playing hard to get doesn't work on me."

No! She didn't want it! She didn't want anything anymore!

Elodie almost lost her mind, pushing him away purely on instinct. But the difference in strength between men and women was too great. Adrian said no more, simply pinned down her hands and forcibly took her.

Elodie cried out in pain, tears falling on the leather seats, her thoughts sinking into a dark blank.

This one-sided torment lasted who knows how long.

When it ended, Elodie, like a drowning person who had barely survived, frantically pushed open the car door to escape.

"Going out like that, aren't you afraid of being laughed at?" Adrian grabbed her.

Elodie looked down and realized her clothes had been torn half to shreds, the exposed skin covered with suggestive red marks. Anyone could tell what had just happened in the car.

She bit her lip and said nothing, stubbornly trying to leave.

Adrian frowned and forcibly draped his suit jacket over her shoulders.

Before Elodie could push it away, a blinding white light suddenly flashed before her eyes!

She instinctively raised her hand to shield herself, only to see countless media reporters emerge from some corner, instantly surrounding her.