Chapter 1

"Stanley, are you seriously asking me to tend to your mistress during her postpartum recovery?"

Janelle Shaw froze in the middle of chopping some vegetables and set the knife gently on the cutting board. Only then did she lift her head to look at her husband, Stanley Gale, straight in the eye, her gaze sharp and cold.

Under her stare, Stanley's eyes flickered with a trace of guilt, but it disappeared just as quickly. His eyes fell on her apron, marked with a few fish scales, and he frowned.

"Iris isn't my mistress."

A bitter smile curved on Janelle's lips. "You have an illegitimate child with her, and now, you're telling me that she's not your mistress?"

Stanley's expression hardened with fury at the mention of an illegitimate child, and his voice was colder when he spoke again.

"I've told you that her baby isn't mine. She's just moved back to Mirethia and has no one to turn to. She came to me because she sees me as a friend.

"She gave birth just two days ago and doesn't like food at the postpartum care center. You're great at cooking, so I'm asking for your help to make her something nutritious.

"It's just three meals a day. You're at home and have nothing to do anyway, so I thought I'd give you something meaningful to keep you occupied. I mean, what's the harm?"

Staring at Stanley before her, Janelle felt disappointment swelling in her chest.

This was the man she'd secretly admired for three years in high school, relentlessly tried to win over since freshman year of college, and married right after graduation. For him, she'd given up everything just to be a housewife.

They'd known each other for ten years now. She used to believe his cold, aloof demeanor stemmed from his troubled family background and poor upbringing. So for a decade, she'd been his warm sun, always shining in hopes of pulling him out of that freezing world.

But in the end, she hadn't managed to make him thaw at all. She'd only ended up burning out her own light instead.

If he were simply cold by nature, she might have accepted it. But as it turned out, it wasn't that he couldn't be warm; it was just that she couldn't reach him.

Janelle had learned a few days ago that Stanley had been carrying a torch for Iris Fuller, his first love, for ten years.

"Do I look like I'm always idle and bored? Do you think my time and everything I do is completely worthless?" she asked.

A flash of hopelessness crossed Stanley's face.

"Stop being difficult, Janelle. I'm just asking for a few meals. Just buy a little extra when you go grocery shopping since you cook for us every day. The postpartum care center's just five minutes away, so it won't take much time for you to send those meals over.

"I don't ask for much. You don't have to work, and you have free access to my cards. Now, you're living a comfortable life as a rich, pampered wife with everything you could ever want, so what are you not satisfied with?

"This is just a small favor. Do I have to beg you for that?"

Janelle's heart had gone cold now. To her, this was nothing more than a pointless argument.

All these years, she'd given him everything and simply hoped for some warmth in return. But it turned out to be nothing more than a desperate obsession.

And now, the taut string within her, pulled so tight for so long, finally snapped.

Instead of throwing a fit, she picked up the knife again and went back to slicing potatoes. Her voice was calm and steady as she said, "I'm busy, and I won't deliver meals to her."

"What could you possibly be busy with? You're a housewife, so there's nothing else you do other than just cook."

The words slipped out of Stanley's mouth almost reflexively. He seemed to belatedly realize how harsh they sounded.

Yet, when he looked at Janelle—bare-faced, in loungewear and slippers, apron tied around her waist, knife in hand, the faint smell of fish clinging to her skin—another scene surfaced in his mind.

Iris had appeared at his office door just a week earlier. She'd been impeccably dressed, with exquisite makeup and four-inch heels.

Though heavily pregnant, she'd carried herself with an innate grace and elegance that seemed to flow from her very being.

The contrast between the two women was stark, and that thought seemed to erase any trace of guilt in Stanley's eyes.

Suddenly, Janelle slapped the knife onto the cutting board with full force, startling Stanley so much that he jolted at the sound.

In just a few strides, she marched up to him and snapped, "A housewife? Is that how you've always seen me?

"Have you forgotten that right after we graduated, I was accepted into the national photon-chip project? But you said you wanted to start a company, so I gave it all up to find investors and secure projects for you. For years, I ran around and faced endless rejection.

"When your tech company finally took off, you told me it was too exhausting for you. Your mom and sister were also moving here from the countryside, so you asked me to stay at home for the family.

"You said you would rather have a stable home front than someone fighting on the frontlines with you. You told me I was the only one you trusted to take care of things."

"But now, it turns out you see me as just a housewife who can't do anything but cook. You think I'm a pampered wife with nothing to do, living off your money.

"Stanley, don't you dare forget that I was financially independent before I met you. I'm not some incapable woman who needs a man to survive. The core technology that built StyrisTech was my—"

"Enough!" he snapped, clearly infuriated. "How long are you going to drag up the past?

"Yes, you're the daughter of the wealthy Shaws and were raised like a princess, but you're my wife and a Gale now. In this family, you live by our rules.

"I won't put up with your entitled habits or let you crush me with your family name because I'm not the kind of man who grovels before the rich.

"I won't deny you helped a little when StyrisTech was just starting out, but you've been away from the company for two years. Do you have any idea how much it's grown since then?

"Technology is constantly changing, and it's pathetic that you're still trying to claim credit for that small contribution.

"The company's about to go public now. Once I become the CEO of a billion-dollar unicorn tech company, you'll share that glory as my wife. Your job now is to do what's expected of you and not cause any trouble."

Seeing Janelle lower her head, Stanley's tone hardened. "Make sure nutritious meals for Iris are delivered to Room 888 at the postpartum care center by 6:00 pm."

With that, he turned away and announced in a cold, detached voice, "If you refuse, we're getting a divorce."

Chapter 2

In their three years of marriage, this was the first time Stanley had brought up divorce. He didn't mean it; he was just furious at how defiant Janelle had been today.

Over the years, she'd always been compliant and yielded to his every demand. But since she'd stubbornly resisted and fought back today, he wanted to crush her pride and regain a sense of superiority.

Deep down, he was certain Janelle would never agree to a divorce. For ten years, she'd clung to him like a plaster he couldn't shake off.

He expected this time to be no different; she would surrender unconditionally, just as she always had.

Stanley looked at Janelle, expecting the word "divorce" to terrify her. Yet, she met his gaze with an unnerving calm.

Just then, his mother, Audrey Frey, opened the door and demanded, "Janelle, come here and check my blood sugar."

Audrey had diabetes, and for the past two years, monitoring her blood sugar levels had become part of Janelle's responsibility. She did it six times a day and within two hours after Audrey's three meals.

It seemed like a small task, but because of that, Janelle hadn't slept in once or taken a single vacation in two years.

She'd tried to teach Audrey to test her own blood sugar level, but the latter had always refused, claiming she was afraid of blood.

Unsettled by Janelle's steady, unblinking stare, Stanley muttered before turning to leave, "Help my mom. I'm heading to the office."

When Audrey called again, Janelle finally went to her room. Without a word, she grabbed the blood glucose meter from the bedside table drawer.

Off to the side, Audrey rambled, "I don't mean to criticize you, Janelle, but you shouldn't have fought Stanley over Ms. Fuller. He's the CEO of a company now and has so much on his plate, yet you're burdening him with this nonsense. That's not how a good wife behaves."

Janelle froze, sharply catching the key point. "Ms. Fuller? Have you always known about Stanley having a mistress and said nothing?"

Janelle herself had found out just three days earlier when her best friend, Penny Rich, had run into Stanley at the mall, where he'd been buying baby products. She'd followed him and seen him entering the most expensive postpartum care center in Navalus City.

When Janelle had confronted him, he'd kept referring to the mistress by her first name, Iris. Janelle had no idea Iris' last name was Fuller, but since Audrey knew, either Stanley must have told her, or she'd known about it all along.

Audrey showed no guilt, only disapproval toward Janelle. "Why are you making such a scene? Iris isn't some mistress, and she's been a blessing to us Gales. You dated Stanley for years and have even been married to him for three, but you still haven't given him a child.

"A woman's duty is to continue the family line, and if you can't have children, he has to find someone else who can.

"It's perfectly normal for a man of his status to have women on the side. As his wife, you should turn a blind eye to it and prioritize the bigger picture.

"Besides, Ms. Fuller is a remarkable young lady. She just returned to Mirethia, and despite being heavily pregnant, she even brought me gifts—expensive jewelry at that. She's sensible and considerate. And now that she's had a baby, you need to be gracious and learn to get along with her.

"There's room for both of you here. You can go on living life as a wealthy, pampered wife, enjoying fine food and living in this luxurious home…"

Audrey continued rambling, full of pride for Stanley. Her words were laced with warning for Janelle and clear favoritism toward Iris.

To Janelle, it was utterly ironic.

When Audrey had first moved from the countryside, she'd been a frail, hunched old woman plagued with illness.

It was Janelle who'd sought out renowned doctors and expensive medicine for her sake. After dedicating herself to Audrey's care, she'd managed to turn the other woman into the poised lady she was now.

Meanwhile, the constant demands and criticisms from Audrey had worn Janelle down and left her with little energy to care for her own appearance. She'd started to look like a tired housewife.

But she'd never held Audrey's pettiness or old-fashioned views against her. After all, Audrey was Stanley's mother, and Janelle had truly considered her family.

Now, it was clear her devotion had been wasted.

Janelle was exhausted after that huge argument with Stanley and no longer had the strength to confront Audrey as well.

All she did was coolly reply, "This apartment we live in was part of my wedding gift."

That stopped Audrey short.

The apartment they were now staying in was over 4,300 square feet in the heart of the city, where every inch of land cost a fortune.

It was now worth eight million dollars, with the luxury showing in the amenities and environment. To live here was to live like royalty. And yes, it had indeed been a part of Janelle's wedding gift.

Audrey's expression darkened. "What's yours is his! You're married to Stanley, so everything you have belongs to him—ouch!" She broke off with a sharp cry, jolted by a sudden pain in her fingertip.

When Janelle pricked her finger for a blood sugar test, it usually barely hurt. But today, Audrey couldn't help but jolt back in pain, her finger twitching as if a knife were twisting into it.

When she looked down, her fingertip was already covered in blood. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"Sorry. My hand must have slipped," Janelle replied expressionlessly.

"H-How dare you! You must have done that on purpose! I was just giving you good advice. You're so heartless to treat me this way!"

Janelle got up and tossed the blood glucose meter aside. "Who's the heartless one here? When you arrived two years ago, you were sallow and frail with a fasting blood sugar level of 300 mg/dL.

"You were a breath away from ketoacidosis, so I rushed you into the hospital. When the doctor said you needed insulin for life, I found a specialist and got you on a treatment, so now you only have to take a pill a day.

"Since you're diabetic, I studied to be a certified nutritionist and design every meal around your blood sugar, specifically for you.

"And as for Chelsea, I made her separate breakfasts, delivered her lunch, and tutored her every night until midnight. Did I do all that just so you could walk all over me?"

Janelle's eyes reddened. Her eldest brother, Callum Shaw, had always said that she was stubborn to a fault. Once she made up her mind, she never turned back until she hit the wall.

Now that she'd hit the wall, she finally realized that he'd been right all along. She'd given her all, but her sincerity had long been trampled on. All that remained in her was a faint, stubborn reluctance to give up.

But even if she refused to give up, what good would that do? She knew she was at a dead end, and it was time to turn around.

Audrey had never seen Janelle so mad. In the past few years, the latter had been so compliant, gentle, and hardworking that Audrey had forgotten she could get angry too.

Trembling with rage, she jabbed a finger at Janelle. "You did this to yourself! No one forced you! You should be grateful that you got to marry my outstanding son and understand that everything you do is just your duty. If you aren't satisfied, I'll have my son get rid of you!"

Janelle smiled. "Don't worry. I'll divorce and get rid of him, you dinosaur."

With that, she turned and walked out.

Audrey slumped onto the bed, pointing a shaking finger at Janelle as the latter strode away decisively. "H-How dare you…"

…

After leaving Sunset Valley, Janelle went straight to Brightway Law Firm, where Penny worked.

When Penny heard that she wanted a divorce, she pulled Janelle into a hug and burst into tears. "Ten years! I tried to convince you for ten years, and you're finally leaving that ingrate!

"Stanley was never worthy of you, and I don't even know what you saw in him. Honestly, God must be fair because he gave you a brilliant mind but made you blind in love. And now, thank heavens, you've finally seen the light!"

Penny dramatically dropped to her knees in the middle of her office as though thanking God.

Janelle felt a mix of emotions. It still hurt that her decade-long relationship and efforts had come to such a messy end.

"Stop that and work on drafting my divorce papers right now."

Penny got up and went to her desk. After opening a drawer, she pulled out a stack of papers and handed it over. "Here."

Janelle was stunned. "That's fast."

Scratching the back of her head, Penny explained with a grin, "I always knew you'd get a divorce, so when you ignored my advice and married him, I drafted these papers."

Chapter 3

Penny knew Janelle's situation inside out. The divorce papers she'd drafted secured the best benefits for Janelle, but one detail made the latter pause.

She pointed and said, "Change this part. I don't want any of his company shares."

Penny looked startled. "Are you dumb? You're getting divorced, so why the hell do you still want to act so noble? StyrisTech is one of the hottest companies around right now, and after it goes public, the value of those shares will increase a hundredfold.

"I know you've never cared about money, but you poured your heart and soul into that company. Why hand it all over and let that jerk benefit from it?"

Janelle's eyes flashed with a cold glint as she explained, "StyrisTech won't go public. Those shares will soon be worthless, and the company will be buried in debt."

When she lifted her head, her eyes were clear and sharp. "Even if I want the shares, Stanley will never agree to it anyway. That would mean we'd have to go to court, and that's too troublesome."

Penny thought about it and slowly nodded. It was true that Stanley would never hand over half of his shares to Janelle. Dragging it would take a lot of time and be a hassle.

Although she didn't want Janelle to regret it later, she quickly amended the divorce papers.

Janelle took the papers and left. She'd just gotten into her car when her phone rang with a call from Stanley.

After a brief hesitation, she tapped on the accept button. The moment the call connected, he lashed out at her.

"What did you say to my mom, Janelle? How did you turn into a shrew? Is this how a polished lady from some wealthy family behaves?"

Janelle didn't hold back and snapped, "You're right! Before I met you, I was the rich daughter of the Shaws, but after I married you, I became a shrew. Whose fault do you think that is?"

Stanley was speechless for a second before his fury flared. "How dare you talk back? You're the reason Mom almost had a heart attack! You'd better come home right now and give her a proper apology. That's the only way I'll let this slide."

Listening to his usual commanding tone, Janelle suddenly realized that Stanley had always spoken to her with a sense of superiority and entitlement.

She used to dismiss it as his personality and never took it to heart, but hearing it now, every word grated on her ears.

When she didn't respond, he assumed she'd compromised and softened his tone. "I know Mom said some harsh words, but she's just a woman from the countryside, so don't take it to heart. She's our elder, so you should show her some respect.

"Just buy groceries, cook her favorite lemon garlic shrimp for lunch, and then give her a full massage. That'll calm her down, and she won't hold a grudge. Oh, and make a pot of chicken soup while you're at it. Iris is craving chicken soup for lunch.

"Don't be upset, alright? I won't work late tonight, and I'll come home to have dinner with you." His tone was gentle as he said that.

If it had been before, just that hint of tenderness from Stanley would have been able to cheer Janelle up. She would have agreed to any demand he made, no matter how unreasonable, and ignored how uncomfortable it made her.

But now, Janelle saw him for what he really was—selfish and hypocritical. His true colors utterly revolted her. She realized that he'd only used that gentle tone to get her to make chicken soup for Iris.

The irony cut deeply. Janelle was completely awake now. Clutching her divorce papers, she suppressed her emotions and asked, "Where are you right now?"

It was almost 11:00 am—just in time for lunch. She had a guess about where he could be.

Stanley hesitated briefly before saying, "I'm at Starlight Postpartum. Bring the food here when it's ready, and cook extra because I haven't eaten either."

"Alright. I'll be right there," Janelle said calmly.

As Stanley ended the call, he couldn't help but feel surprised. He'd expected Janelle to argue and maybe pick a fight, but she'd given in so easily. Perhaps his threat of divorce that morning had truly rattled her.

At that thought, he felt a smug sense of triumph creep in.

All these years, Janelle hadn't been without a temper. But each time, he'd found a way to stamp it down, be it through pressure or promises.

He knew he was pushing it by having Janelle attend to Iris during her postpartum recovery, but he wanted to test just how far Janelle would go for him.

If she could compromise in this aspect, he could rest easy, knowing that she would never rebel no matter what he did or demanded in the future.

Janelle drove straight over. Within ten minutes, she was outside Starlight Postpartum, the most luxurious postpartum care center in Navalus City, where a month's stay cost nearly 40 thousand dollars. Stanley had most likely paid for it.

It struck Janelle then how frugal he'd always been with her over the years, and one moment in particular crossed her mind.

Back when she'd just started dating Stanley, she'd known that he had little money and had volunteered to cover all their dating expenses. Once, while strolling past a bakery she loved, she'd pointed to a piece of bread in the display.

"Stan, could you buy me a cheese bread?"

He'd coolly looked at her and asked, "Didn't you just have dinner?"

It was just an ordinary question, but for years after, Janelle never asked him for anything again. And since she didn't ask, he never offered anything.

Growing up wealthy, Janelle had never considered money important. She had her own money, so back then, his lack of generosity had never seemed like a big deal.

But now, she understood. It wasn't that he was stingy—he simply didn't love her enough to buy her even a piece of bread.

Her heart clenched painfully.

Soon, Janelle entered the postpartum care center and wound her way through the hallways until she arrived at the VIP suite.

The door was slightly ajar, and a sweet, soft voice sounded from the inside. "Ouch… It hurts…"

Peering through the crack, Janelle caught sight of Iris on the bed. The latter had beautiful features, and her hair cascaded down her shoulders as she held a baby to her chest.

She'd probably just nursed the baby because her shirt still hung open, exposing her bare skin.

At the sound of Iris' pained gasp, Stanley, who'd been looking out the window with his back turned, hurriedly spun around. His gaze landed directly on her exposed chest.

Blushing, she fumbled to cover herself, while Stanley turned away, pretending not to have seen anything.

A moment later, she softly said, "The baby bit me again, Stan."

Stanley turned back and calmly walked to the bed. He sat down naturally, gently lifted the baby, and patted his bottom. "How could you hurt your mom, you little rascal?"

His eyes were full of affection, and as his gaze drifted to the doorway, he met Janelle's cold stare.

The smile on his face vanished instantly.

Chapter 4

"Couldn't you have knocked after you arrived?" Stanley grumbled.

As Janelle stepped inside, she said, "I didn't want to interrupt such a cozy family moment."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" he snapped, his expression darkening. "Iris and I are innocent."

"If what you two are doing is innocent, they might as well bottle toilet air and sell it as perfume," she mocked.

"Since when did you become so rude and vulgar, Janelle?"

Turning around, Janelle stared straight at Stanley. A mocking sneer played on her lips, but there was a determined gleam in her eyes.

"Listen carefully, Stanley. The well-mannered, loving, understanding, and endlessly tolerant Janelle you knew is dead from this moment on."

Something about the look in her eyes made Stanley's heart skip a beat.

Just then, a voice came from the bed. "I think you've misunderstood our relationship, Janelle. I swear nothing's going on between me and Stan."

Janelle turned to look at Iris. The latter had just given birth, but she'd still put on makeup. It was a dewy, barely-there look that gave her an air of innocence.

She wore a white silk nightgown that clung to her curves, making her look both pure and seductive.

Tears shimmered in her eyes as she rushed to explain helplessly. "I just came back from abroad and don't know anyone here, so there was no one I could count on.

"Stan was the only one I could turn to, and I never imagined you'd think my baby's his. If it upsets you, I'll just give Stan back to you."

She seemed to be on the verge of tears, like she'd suffered a great grievance.

"Give him back to me? What a joke. You make it sound like he was yours in the first place." Janelle chuckled.

Stepping closer to Iris, she continued, "Ms. Fuller, you claim not to have anyone to turn to, but you're from the first branch of the Fullers. You might be an adopted daughter, but the Fullers never kicked you out.

"And even if you don't want to return to the Fullers, your biological mother lives less than three miles away. Instead of turning to her after giving birth, you chose to run to someone else's husband.

"You claim you don't mean to wreck a marriage, yet you turned nursing into a cheap little show to seduce him. After baring yourself in front of a married man while his wife is around and flaunting your breasts, how do you expect anyone to believe this was unintentional?

"As for using a baby as an excuse to get close to a man and playing weak to steal him… Do you think I'm an idiot who can't see through your dirty little schemes?"

Janelle had looked into Iris' background earlier that morning at Brightway Law Firm.

Iris was rendered speechless by Janelle's blunt words. After a moment, tears began streaming down her face.

She turned to Stanley. "Please leave with Janelle, Stan. Don't come here anymore. I can take care of myself and the baby, so you don't have to worry about us."

The more she cried, the more Stanley's heart ached. Cradling the baby, he returned to Iris' side and softly said, "Don't listen to her. Stay here and rest. I promised to take care of you and your baby, so I will."

He handed the baby back to her and strode across the room to Janelle. Without a word, he grabbed her by the arm and hauled her out.

After walking further down the long hallway, he finally let her go with a shove. "What's gotten into you today, Janelle? Look at how you behaved in there, like some crude, lowly shrew!"

Janelle lifted her chin, a mocking smile on her lips. "What? Does it hurt you that much to hear her criticized?"

"How could you say that about Iris? Do you have any idea how tough her life has been? Six years ago, the Fuller family abandoned her when their biological daughter returned.

"They claimed they sent her abroad for studies, but they never even provided her living expenses. Her biological mom is just a gambling addict who leeches off her.

"And despite all that, she worked hard and earned a Master's in Microelectronics and Chip Design from University of Southern Cherrington.

"I'll be straight with you; she's back in Mirethia because I recruited her as StyrisTech's CTO. She'll be stepping into the role as soon as she finishes her maternity leave.

"So this is my final warning—stop making a scene, Janelle. Iris is nothing like you. She isn't some housewife who spends her days cooking, cleaning, and picking fights over a man.

"She doesn't play those cheap games to win men's attention like you accused her of. She's naive and straightforward, and as a rare talent, she'll shine in the field of photonic chips one day."

Every word from Stanley cut into Janelle like a blade, leaving her raw and bleeding.

In his eyes, she was reduced to nothing more than a petty, jealous housewife who didn't know anything other than cooking and cleaning. As for Iris, she was the woman he admired and protected.

He seemed to have forgotten that Janelle, too, had once been StyrisTech's CTO back during its earliest days as a startup.

There were so many loopholes in his story. How did he know so much about Iris' life all these years? And whose baby had she really given birth to?

But suddenly, none of it seemed worth dwelling over anymore. After all, it didn't matter anymore.

Janelle took the stack of papers and a pen from her bag before handing them over. "I don't want to hear another word of your nonsense, Stanley. Just sign this."

He glanced down, and his expression darkened upon realizing it was a set of divorce papers. "What's this supposed to mean?"

"We've been married three years, but there's hardly any shared property. I don't want company shares, and I'm just taking what was mine before marriage. If you can agree to that, then sign."

He flipped through the divorce papers in disbelief. "I asked what you meant by this."

She calmly met his gaze and announced, "It means I want a divorce. I'm done with you."

Listening to her calm voice, his fingers tightened around the pen, and his tight lips spread into a faint grin.

"Is this some kind of game, playing hard to get? Do you think you can wave divorce papers in my face to scare me off?

"Fine. I can give you a divorce, but don't come crawling back to me in tears."

He was truly furious now, as he'd never imagined her threatening him with a divorce. Did she think such an obvious trick would make him yield?

He'd glanced through the terms and noticed that she would be walking away with almost nothing, not even a share of the company. Clearly, she'd avoided going too far, just to leave herself a way out.

Remembering everything she'd done for him over the years, he grew more certain that she was just throwing a tantrum.

So, he took the pen and signed the divorce papers without hesitation. "There's a limit to how far you can push things, Janelle. You'll have to live with the consequences of the mess you've made."

With that, he turned and walked away, convinced that she would be knocking on his door, begging for forgiveness within half an hour.

Chapter 5

When Stanley left, Janelle stood rooted to the spot, clutching the divorce papers in a daze.

Then, a soft, sweet voice called out to her from behind. "Janelle."

She turned to see Iris smiling triumphantly, her earlier vulnerability nowhere to be seen. She didn't even bother to put on an act anymore.

Iris stepped forward and extended a hand to Janelle. "Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Iris Fuller, the new CTO at StyrisTech and your husband's closest confidante."

Instead of taking her hand, Janelle calmly scrutinized her. "So now mistresses are calling themselves confidantes? Is that a fashionable excuse these days?"

Iris' lips twitched helplessly, but her voice grew even more arrogant. "What right do you have to judge me, Janelle? You only got to marry Stanley because I turned him down. Do you honestly believe you would've gotten the chance if I'd accepted his proposal?

"Did it never occur to you what 'Styris' in StyrisTech stands for? It's Stanley and Iris. Stan was already married to you when he founded the company, but he chose to use my name. Doesn't that make you feel like a fool, parading around as Mrs. Gale?

"Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention that Stan only married you in the first place because you came cheap. You never demanded a wedding gift from him and came from a wealthy family.

"He sold quite a few of your wedding gifts to fund my studies abroad and paid for all my expenses. Over the years, I think it's cost him at least 800 thousand dollars, or maybe closer to one million dollars," she announced, as if flaunting Stanley's care.

Her eyes flickered over Janelle's plain clothes. "As for you, he hasn't even bought you a single handbag, has he?"

Standing rooted to the spot, Janelle clutched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned pale.

She'd guessed part of the truth when she'd first heard Iris' name, but she'd never confronted Stanley. She hadn't wanted to humiliate herself.

But she'd never expected that Stanley had sold her wedding gifts to fund Iris' studies abroad.

She recalled that, just after they'd gotten married, Stanley had suddenly asked her for 400 thousand dollars, claiming it was a loan for a friend. The timing lined up exactly with Iris' departure for her studies abroad.

Afterward, Janelle had never asked Stanley about the money again.

She'd loved him for ten years, yet it felt like today was the first time she truly got to know him. All these years, she'd thought of him as a cold, aloof workaholic who neither smiled nor spoke much.

Still, they were a young married couple whose relationship was based on mutual respect—or so she'd thought.

In truth, that was never the case at all. When it came to defending Iris, Stanley could talk endlessly, and his eyes were filled with tenderness when he looked at her. With her, he could smile and even blush.

Janelle had always considered him an honorable man. She'd never imagined him doing such shady, disgusting things for Iris.

Seeing Janelle's red-rimmed eyes as if she'd just suffered a blow, Iris became even more pleased. "All this time, you were just a stepping stone in our love story. If you know what's good for you, you'll step aside."

By then, Janelle had steadied herself, and her voice was calm as she said, "I'll divorce Stanley."

Iris' heart leaped in glee. She hadn't expected Janelle to be so weak and demand a divorce with just a little prodding. Still, it was a good thing that she had her pride and knew when to step back.

It seemed like Stanley was right—Janelle was just a stubborn fool.

Before Iris could respond, Janelle's tone shifted as she added, "But before we get a divorce, I want you to repay what you owe me."

That left Iris baffled. "When did I ever owe you money?"

"You just said Stanley spent at least 800 thousand dollars on you over the years. He even sold my wedding gifts just to fund your education. Including that, let's say you owe me one million dollars."

Grabbing a notepad and pen, Janelle scribbled a string of numbers and stuck the note onto Iris' clothes. "This is my bank account number. I expect to see one million dollars deposited within three days."

Iris' composure cracked instantly. "Are you insane? Why on earth would I give you one million dollars?"

"Because every dime Stanley spent on you came from our marital assets. As his wife, I have the legal right to claim that money back from his mistress. And if you won't cooperate, I'll file a lawsuit and invite the press to cover the story.

"StyrisTech is set to go public soon. Let's see how smoothly things go once the world learns that Stanley used his wife's wedding gifts to bankroll his mistress. The losses will be far more than just one million dollars."

Iris hadn't expected Janelle to turn the tables like this at all. It left her both stunned and furious, but she quickly shifted to playing dumb. "I was just joking earlier. What proof do you have that he spent so much on me?"

Calmly, Janelle took a recording pen from her bag and tapped on the play button. Iris' voice rang out loud and clear.

"You only got to marry Stanley because I turned him down… Stan only married you in the first place because you came cheap. You never demanded a wedding gift from him… Over the years, I think it's cost him at least 800 thousand dollars, or maybe closer to one million dollars…"

Iris stared wide-eyed in disbelief. Her face turned pale, then flushed with anger. She'd never expected Janelle to carry a recording pen around and capture their entire conversation.

"I'm giving you three days to pay up, Ms. Fuller. I don't care if you have to sell your apartment, your car, your bags, or even yourself."

"How dare you insult me!" Iris exclaimed, outraged at the implication that she would sell herself off.

Janelle ignored her and continued, "Either way, you'll face the consequences if I don't see one million dollars in my account in three days."

With that, she turned and left.

Iris crossed her arms, but she was so mad that she was trembling. She'd always thought Janelle was a pushover, but it turned out she was a hedgehog bristling with quills. At their very first clash, Iris had been pricked all over.

She didn't even have 100 thousand dollars, so where was she supposed to get one million dollars?

…

As Janelle left the postpartum care center, her stomach growled. She thought about grabbing a simple plate of pasta like she always did.

For years, she'd rushed every noon to cook and deliver lunch for Stanley's sister, Chelsea Gale. Every midday had felt like a battle.

And Chelsea… Well, she was something else.

Since Janelle had decided to get a divorce, she was done serving Stanley's family.

She went to the most expensive Rothwynese restaurant in the nearby mall and indulged in a full meal.

She remembered eating here often as a student, but after she'd gotten together with Stanley, she'd never gone there. And after she'd married him, there had been even fewer chances to visit the restaurant.

As the rich, sweet taste of caviar and bluefin tuna melted on her tongue, she felt almost like crying. It had been so long since she'd enjoyed a meal slowly and peacefully without needing to rush.

The bill amounted to 630 dollars.

Not even 30 seconds after Janelle swiped the card, she received a WhatsApp message from Stanley. "Are you a starving ghost reincarnated? How could you spend 630 dollars for a meal?"