Chapter 3

Seeing him reach for the diary, I slammed it shut and shoved it in the drawer.

"Nothing."

He sensed my panic and seemed to remember something:

"You girls and your dramatics, always writing grudges in your little books. Is this that grudge book you mentioned?"

He meant after our wedding, when he lost the rings.

He’d used two soda can tabs instead.

That night, I was so mad I kicked him off the bed:

"Ethan, you’re killing me. I’m putting you in my grudge book."

He’d laughed through the pain: "Write all you want, I’ll always win you back."

Realizing he’d misunderstood, I didn’t bother explaining, just nodded.

Remembering those newlywed days, his cold face finally cracked a rare smile:

"Alright, I said I’d win you back, so no more grudges. Look."

He handed me a property deed and pulled me into his arms.

"It’s a new building downtown. Saved it just for you."

"The video’s been taken care of. Next month, I’ll get you back in the game, okay?"

The maid peeked in, jealous.

But I stayed stiff, saying flatly:

"Whatever."

Seeing I wasn’t moved, his brow furrowed, anger in his eyes:

"You really want to make this a thing?"

I looked up, my eyes dark:

"No, how would I dare, Mr. Ethan?"

That set him off.

"Chloe, I took those videos, and I slipped up letting Amber see them. If you’re mad, take it out on me. Got it?"

For a second, it felt like a rock was crushing my chest.

He’d do anything for Amber, even beg me, or throw himself in front of her.

I was suddenly so tired.

I didn’t want this anymore.

So I calmly said: "Got it."

Seeing his punch land on cotton, he glared, jaw tight, before finally slamming the door on his way out.

The next day, Ethan texted me to come to the golf course.

I was about to say no, but the next message came:

"I’ll count it as a forgiveness voucher."

Seeing that, knowing it was the last time, I went.

As soon as I walked into the private course, I didn’t see Ethan. Instead, someone kicked me from behind, and I hit the dirt.

Amber’s voice floated over:

"Don’t bother looking. I invited you."

As she finished, two bodyguards pinned me.

Then clubs rained down on my legs. I screamed as blood splattered.

Through the pain, I shouted:

"Amber, are you insane!"

She smiled sweetly, but her eyes were poison:

"Chloe, how dare you! You’re already trash, but Ethan still won’t divorce you. He even says he needs to make it up to you, get you back in the game."

"Chloe, tell me! How dare you?!"

Ethan treats her like a queen, and his half-assed words to shut me up are worth this?

Fed up, I said coldly:

"I’m not competing with you."

Seeing I knew my place, she snorted, haughty:

"But I just can’t stand you. You’re a supermodel, right? I’ll break your legs and see how you seduce Ethan then!"

Looking at the blood on my pants, she gagged. Her eyes landed on a golf ball nearby.

Like she’d had an idea, she smiled, eerie.

"Strip her!" Her voice was a shriek.

"Last time we didn’t get to the egg. Too bad. There’s a ball right here. Chloe, I promise you’ll feel amazing today!"

She stroked the golf ball and told the bodyguards to strip me.

I fought like a wild animal, roaring.

Amber giggled in my ear, grabbing my face, her nails drawing blood:

"Don’t scream! You’ll feel so good soon, better than any man! I promise you’ll be addicted!"

Looking at her ugly face, I flashed back to all the times Ethan had scolded me, looked at me with disgust, iced me out because of her.

Tears poured out, giving me the guts to say screw it.

I was leaving anyway.

Why should I take this?

Just as my pants were coming down, strength came from nowhere. I shoved the bodyguards and charged Amber.

Then I bit down hard on her hand. Amber screamed, trying to pry my mouth off.

But I held on. The taste of blood filled my nose as I bit off half her finger.

"What the hell?" Ethan’s roar came from behind.

Rushing in, he saw my bloody face and half-stripped legs.

Realizing Amber was behind this, he was shocked!

He kicked the bodyguards away and yanked up my pants, his eyes full of panic.

"Chloe, what happened? Don’t be scared, I’ll… get you to the hospital!"

But Amber shrieked, showing him her bloody half-finger, her cries piercing:

"Ethan, she bit my finger off! My hand is ruined!"

"It hurts! Ethan, please, help me!"

Ethan’s face changed. He looked at me, shocked, torn.

But after a second, he tossed me a few words and scooped up Amber.

"Finger reattachment’s time-sensitive. I’m taking her first. Call an ambulance. I’ll come back for you."

Hearing that, my heart dropped into a black hole.

So, he knew exactly how vicious Amber was. He was just picking sides.

I looked up at him, my eyes empty:

"Ethan, this is the last time."

Ethan looked at my stone-cold face and felt a pang, like he’d lost something big.

But feeling the broken girl in his arms, he still chose to leave me.

As he left, he looked at me, pleading:

"I know you’re hurt. I’ll make this right."

"Just… don’t call the cops… please."

Watching him disappear, I didn’t go to the hospital. I just dragged my busted leg back to the villa.

Sure enough, as soon as I got home, the maid handed me the 99th property deed.

It was for this villa.

I locked it in the safe.

With my diary, divorce papers, and contract termination, I put them on the table.

I left a note:

"The life debt is paid, love is done. Ethan, let’s divorce."

I packed a small bag and booked a flight to Yunnan.

Ethan, this is how we end.

As the plane cut across the sky, Ethan came home, wrecked.

The place was empty, silent. He called me, confused.

He saw the note on the bedroom table and reached for it as a cold, robotic voice came from his phone.

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service…"

And the next second, when he saw the big words on the note, his eyes went wide!