Chapter 1

Calista Arden has tried to seduce her husband, Theodore Montclair, for the 999th time, only to fail in consummating her marriage with him as always.

Afterward, she calls her older brother, Elijah Arden. "I'm planning on getting a divorce, Elijah."

Elijah remains silent for three whole seconds over the line. Finally, he speaks up in a deep, gravelly tone, "I already told you before that it's impossible for you to drill through Theodore's stone-cold heart no matter how hard you try."

With reddened eyes, Calista can only chuckle quietly. "Yeah. I'm the overconfident fool here."

"Come to Nordland," Elijah says lightly. "There are plenty of hunks here who are as good-looking as Theodore. Since that idiot doesn't know how to cherish my amazing and adorable sister, he can just spend the rest of his life as a devoted man of religion who has no family of his own."

Chapter 1

"Yeah, once I finish the paperwork," Calista Arden said softly.

After hanging up, Calista drew in a deep breath. As she passed the prayer room at the end of the hallway, a muffled groan drifted from inside.

The door stood ajar, and a thin strip of light spilled through the crack. Unable to stop herself, she peered inside.

Through the drifting incense haze, Theodore Montclair kneeled before the statue in a plain white robe, chest partly open, a rosary wrapped around his wrist. His body moved in faint, rhythmic motions over a doll lying beneath him.

The doll's features appeared vivid in the flickering candlelight—almond eyes, cherry lips, and a beauty mark beneath the left eye. It looked just like his adoptive sister, Aveline Montclair.

Calista bit down on her lower lip until she tasted blood. This was the third time she had stumbled upon this scene in secret.

The first time, she bolted from the room. The second, she stayed awake the entire night. But tonight, she felt nothing but numbness.

She found it absurd. Theodore did have desires and emotions. They just never had anything to do with her.

Leaning against the frigid wall, she suddenly remembered the first time she met Theodore.

She was 20 years old that year. Her brother, Elijah Arden, had taken her to a gala at a private club to introduce her to his best friend.

That day, Theodore wore a pale tailored suit adorned with a diamond pin and a rosary wrapped around his wrist. Amid a room full of decadent socialites, he sat with only a cup of tea before him, a stark contrast to the surrounding excess.

He kept his gaze lowered while brewing the black tea, his slender fingers gripping the pot as the water cascaded down. Through the rising steam, he lifted his eyes and looked at her.

In that instant, Calista's heart skipped several beats.

Noticing her dazed expression, Elijah tapped her forehead with a smile. "Forget it, Calista. You can fall for anyone, just not him. Among all the heirs in our circle, everyone indulges in vice except Theodore. He has been praying in the church since he was young and stays away from worldly desires."

Calista refused to believe Elijah. A troublemaker since childhood, she doubted that anyone could truly be without desire. Thus, she began to pursue Theodore, employing every tactic to provoke his interest.

She purposefully sat on his lap while he recited prayers, but he simply lifted her aside with one hand. She spiked his tea, but after finishing it, he merely said calmly, "Don't add so much cinnamon next time. It's too strong."

In her most daring attempt, she sneaked into the prayer room while he was in seclusion and lay on his bed wearing nothing but his white shirt. When Theodore opened the door, she deliberately let her legs dangle over the edge of the bed, swinging them back and forth.

Instead of reacting, he turned and left. The next day, he sent her a box of brand-new shirts. "These are for you. Stop stealing mine."

Even Elijah couldn't stand it anymore. "Can't you have some self-respect?" he asked.

Calista replied defiantly, "I'm doing God's work! It's a total waste for a man this handsome to be living like a monk!"

She pursued him for four years, exhausting every effort, yet she failed to stir even a flicker of interest.

Just as Calista started feeling discouraged, she received a late-night call from Theodore on her birthday. "Come downstairs," he said.

She rushed down in her pajamas to find him standing in the snow, his shoulders dusted with white flakes.

"Let's get married," he said.

There was no ring, no confession—just those few words. But Calista was overwhelmed with joy and threw herself into his arms. "I finally got to you, didn't I?"

Theodore didn't hug her back and merely gave a soft grunt in response. Looking back now, she realized how perfunctory his response had been.

Two years into their marriage, they still hadn't consummated it. No matter how she tried to entice him, he would always turn away at the final moment and walk alone into the prayer room.

She had once believed that he had spent too long in devotion and simply needed time.

Everything changed three days ago, when she refused to give up and followed him into the prayer room. Witnessing the scene, she finally understood that he didn't lack desire—it simply wasn't directed at her.

The person he loved was Aveline, the girl his family had adopted when they were young. His devotion, his rosary, and his marriage to Calista were all just tools to suppress his feelings for his adoptive sister.

At that moment, her heart went completely cold.

Inside the prayer room, Theodore finally ceased his movements. He leaned down to kiss the doll's neck, his voice incredibly raspy. "Ave… I love you."

His voice was barely audible, yet it pierced Calista's battered heart. Her tears finally fell as she turned and walked away without looking back.

…

The next morning, when Calista woke up, Theodore was already dressed and ready to leave. Clad in a tailored black suit that emphasized his tall, lean frame, he still wore the rosary on his wrist. It was as if the man who lost control last night was merely an illusion.

Just as he was about to step out of the villa, Calista called out, "Wait!"

Without lifting his head, he said coldly, "I have a meeting today. Stop pestering me."

His words cut through her final hope like a blade. It turned out that in his eyes, she would always be nothing more than a persistent nuisance.

Calista suddenly laughed. "You misunderstand. I just want the keys to the Maybach. You can take another car from the garage. I'm more comfortable driving this one."

Theodore finally looked her in the eye, his tone remaining indifferent. "Are you heading out for errands today?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"What kind of errands?" he asked, pressing further.

Calista pulled the keys directly from his suit pocket, a smile playing on her lips. "Something… that will make you happy."

She intended to leave him forever.

Chapter 2

Calista didn't say her last line out loud. She turned around and drove straight to the embassy.

The process of applying for permanent residency in Nordland wasn't complicated, especially for someone with her family background. The Arden family had moved their entire business overseas a few years earlier. Her parents and brother had relocated abroad as well.

She was the only one who stayed behind for Theodore. And now, she would be leaving too.

"The processing should take about a week," the clerk said with a smile.

She nodded, took the receipt, and walked out of the embassy.

It was finally coming to an end.

Theodore—the man she had pursued for six years, the reserved, chaste man she had once thought she could bring down from his pedestal—didn't belong to her after all.

She had sacrificed so much for him—adopting his vegetarian diet, embracing his abstinent lifestyle, and even toning down her vibrant personality just to get closer to him. Yet in the end, she couldn't even reach the deepest, most hidden desires in his heart.

She lowered her gaze to the receipt in her hand and let out a faint laugh, though her heart felt heavy. "Forget it. Theodore, if you don't like me, plenty of others do."

…

That night, Calista invited a group of close friends to a nightclub. She hadn't stepped into a place like that since marrying Theodore.

She wore a black slip dress, the hem swaying gently with each step to reveal her long, slender legs. There was a flicker of her long-lost boldness returning to her eyes.

Her best friend, Noelle Rowan, grabbed her arm. Noelle's eyes widened in surprise. "Calla, what's going on with you today? Ever since you fell for that cold ascetic, haven't you stayed glued to his side every day and stopped coming to places like this?"

Calista smiled and took a sip from her wine glass, her eyes turning slightly hazy. "Forget him. Tonight, I just want to have fun."

She turned and stepped onto the dance floor, swaying to the rhythm. Her body moved as if it had finally been unleashed, wild and uninhibited.

Her gaze swept over the male escorts nearby, a smirk playing on her lips. She reached out and lightly ran her hand over one man's torso, making him chuckle softly.

Noelle rushed over and grabbed her hand. "Calla, are you crazy? You've been touching all these guys and dancing so close. Aren't you afraid that Theodore will get mad if he sees this?"

"He's not even here," Calista said.

Noelle hesitated, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, "No… who told you he wasn't here? I've been trying to tell you—Theodore's in the back booth, and he's been watching you for a while!"

Calista's body stiffened, and she slowly looked up. Through the dizzying lights, she spotted him instantly.

Theodore wore a black suit that clashed with the surrounding chaos. He sat in a corner booth, his long fingers resting on the rim of his glass. His heavy gaze was fixed on her, and she had no idea how long he had been watching.

The music stopped at that exact moment.

She heard his friend beside him joke, "Theodore, Calla's been out there dancing for ages, and she's even touching other guys. If that were my wife, I'd have flipped the damn table by now. How are you still sitting here?"

Theodore's expression didn't flicker. He simply took a calm sip of his tea and replied coldly, "She knows her limits. She won't do anything inappropriate."

Those words hit Calista like a poisoned needle, striking exactly where she was most vulnerable.

Calista couldn't understand what he meant by knowing her limits. She wondered if he was certain she loved him too much to actually do anything with someone else or if he simply didn't care at all. Perhaps it was both.

"Wow, I'm genuinely outclassed by your level of detachment! I'm starting to wonder if there's anything in this world that could even faze you—"

The friend's voice suddenly rose mid-sentence. "Hey, Theodore, where are you going?"

Calista looked up instinctively and saw Theodore rise abruptly, his eyes fixed on the other side of the dance floor. A rare flicker of jealousy crossed his usually detached eyes.

She followed his gaze and saw Aveline standing at the edge of the dance floor in a white dress, exchanging contact information with a man.

Theodore strode over and grabbed Aveline's wrist, his voice terrifyingly cold. "Who allowed you to come to a place like this? And who gave you permission to give your number to others?"

Aveline was stunned for a moment, and then her eyes began to well up. "Why can't I be here? And why can't I give someone my number? Theodore, haven't you stopped caring about me? Then, what I do has nothing to do with you."

Theodore clenched his hand so tightly that his knuckles went white, his voice dropping to a low, heavy tone. "Who said I stopped caring about you?"

Aveline's voice broke with tears. "You did! You avoid me every day and refuse to see me! Theodore, you used to be so good to me. Why did everything suddenly change one day?"

At her words, Theodore's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice thick with suppressed emotion when he said, "That's because—"

Calista, standing nearby, felt a sharp pang in her chest. She knew Theodore couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth.

He could never admit that he avoided her because he liked her or that he lost all self-control the moment he saw her.

He could never confess that he loved her so obsessively that, despite being married for two years, he had never touched his wife. Instead, he commissioned a lifelike doll that looked exactly like her to ease his longing.

Calista gave a self-deprecating laugh and turned to leave, but then, she heard Aveline cry out, "Theodore, can we go back to how things were? I want my old brother back—the one who only had eyes for me!"

Theodore's voice was low and hoarse. "I'm married now. I can't keep revolving my whole life around you."

Aveline suddenly looked up, a hint of madness flickering in her eyes. "Does that mean if your wife disappears, we can go back to how things were before?"

Calista had just picked up her bag to leave when she saw Aveline snatch a wine bottle from the table and stride toward her.

With a loud crash, Aveline smashed the bottle onto Calista's head. The sound of shattering glass rang in Calista's ears as warm liquid streamed down her forehead.

Noelle's scream rang out beside her. "Calla!"

Calista stumbled backward, only to see Aveline raising a second bottle.

"Go die!" Aveline shouted.

The second strike landed even harder and knocked Calista out. She collapsed into a pool of blood, the world around her fading into nothing but a blur of frantic screaming.

Chapter 3

Calista woke to a sharp, throbbing pain.

The smell of disinfectant filled her nose, and the bright fluorescent light overhead made her eyes ache. She instinctively lifted her hand to shield her eyes, but the movement tugged at the IV needle on the back of her hand, and a sharp hiss escaped her lips.

The nurse was changing her dressing and sighed with relief when she saw her awake. "You're finally awake. Who could hate you enough to do this? Two bottles were smashed over your head, and it took over 30 stitches to close the wounds."

Calista reflexively touched her bandaged head and asked in a raspy voice, "Where is the person who brought me here?"

"If you mean your friend, she stayed by your side all night but had to leave for a business emergency. She asked me to tell you that she hired a caregiver to look after you," the nurse replied.

Calista froze for a moment. She realized that the person who rushed her to the hospital wasn't even Theodore. She wondered where he could possibly be.

She reached for her phone, and as her fingers brushed the screen, an Instagram story from Aveline popped up. The caption read, "Theodore still knows exactly how to make me feel better."

In the video, Aveline held out her hand and pouted. "Look, I even cut my index finger while smashing those bottles."

The camera cut to Theodore crouching in front of her. His long, slender fingers held a bandage, which he carefully pressed onto her fingertip. He then lowered his head and pressed a restrained kiss to her finger, his voice low and husky. "There. It doesn't hurt anymore."

Calista stared at the screen, feeling as if the wound on her head had been ripped open again and doused with a bottle of alcohol. The phantom pain was so sharp it left her fingertips numb.

She took a deep breath and dialed 911. "Hello, I'd like to report an assault."

…

That night, Theodore pushed open the hospital room door. He was dressed in a black trench coat, his expression grim with a flicker of anger hidden in his eyes. "Did you call the police and accuse Aveline of intentional injury?"

Calista looked him straight in the eye. "Yes. What she did was intentional assault, and it's serious enough to press criminal charges."

Theodore's voice was deep, his brows furrowed with displeasure. "It was wrong for her to hit you in anger, but I've already punished her. This matter is settled."

Calista let out a cold laugh. "Punished her? How exactly did you punish her?"

Theodore replied, "She has a volatile temperament, so I grounded her for the day."

Calista froze for a moment before bursting into laughter, laughing so hard that her wounds ached. "I got over 30 stitches, and you only grounded her for a day? Theodore, did you keep her from leaving the house to punish her, or were you secretly protecting her because you were afraid that I'd go after her?"

Theodore's expression darkened. "Don't be ridiculous. Of course it was a punishment.

"I've already had the police drop the charges. There's no point in reporting it to other stations—no one in all of Jorville would take this case."

Calista gripped the bedsheets tightly, her nails nearly digging into her palms.

There were countless things she wanted to say, but in the end, all she could do was ask, "Theodore, in the six years I've spent chasing after you, what exactly did you think of me? Since you don't care about me, why did you even marry me?"

Theodore's frown deepened. "Who said that I don't care about you?"

After a pause, he continued, "That's enough. Let this end here. I'll stay at the hospital to look after you for the next few days, and I'll compensate you once you're discharged. Stop making a scene."

He spoke as if he were granting her some magnificent favor.

Calista suddenly found it laughable. And yet, she realized that it was true. In the past, she had always been the one chasing him—chasing him to tell him she loved him, chasing him to be with her, chasing him to bed.

He had never taken the initiative. Now that he chose to stay on his own, it truly felt like a tremendous favor.

Chapter 4

Over the next few days, Theodore stayed at the hospital to care for Calista as promised.

He arrived on time every day, brought her light meals, and changed her dressings. He would even silently hold her hand when she woke up from the pain in the middle of the night.

The Calista she used to be would have been overjoyed, but now her heart felt utterly desolate. She realized that although she had loved him for six years, letting go took only an instant.

On the day of Calista's discharge, she reached the parking lot only to find Aveline sitting in Theodore's car. Upon spotting her, Aveline shot her a sidelong glance, her expression sour.

Theodore frowned. "Ave, did you forget what I told you before?"

Aveline bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears as she murmured a reluctant apology, "Calista, I'm sorry. I acted too impulsively. Ever since Theodore married you, he's refused to see me for years. He devoted all his attention to you, so I took my anger out on you. I won't do it again."

Theodore turned to Calista and said calmly, "Ave wants to stay at our place for a few days. You two should try to get along from now on."

On the drive back, Theodore and Aveline sat in the front.

Calista leaned against the window, silently watching the scenery blur past. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Theodore's profile. He had always been composed and restrained, yet now his gaze kept drifting toward Aveline.

Aveline looked down at her phone and suddenly giggled. "Theodore, look at this guy. Isn't he handsome? He just added me on Snapchat."

Theodore's fingers tightened instantly around the steering wheel, his voice dropping to a low, cold tone. "Delete him."

Aveline pouted. "Why? I'm in my 20s. Am I not allowed to date?"

His tone left no room for argument. "I said delete him."

Aveline pursed her lips but still obediently deleted the contact. She muttered under her breath, "Theodore, you're stricter than a boyfriend."

Theodore remained silent, yet Calista noticed the tension in his jaw and realized that he was jealous.

After they returned home, Calista skipped dinner and went straight to her room.

She heard the clatter of dishes, Aveline's giggles, and the lingering romantic background music of a movie drifting in from beyond the door. In the two years of her marriage to Theodore, she had never experienced such warmth in their house. She buried herself under the covers, her heart aching.

After a while, the sounds outside gradually faded. Thirsty, Calista got up to pour herself some water, but she froze the moment she opened her door.

Moonlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Theodore crouched beside the couch, silently watching the sleeping Aveline. He had always seemed as untouchable as a god, yet in that moment, he was gazing at his own deity.

Aveline suddenly stirred and sleepily wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice soft and sweet. "Theodore, don't leave me. You're the only one who cares about me."

She unconsciously pulled his head down, and their lips met accidentally.

Theodore's pupils dilated as his breathing turned uneven in an instant. In the next second, as if his final thread of restraint had snapped, he could no longer hold back and leaned down to kiss her passionately.

Chapter 5

Moonlight spilled across the living room floor like a gentle stream.

Standing behind the door, Calista peered through the cracked opening and watched Theodore lean down to kiss Aveline. His breathing was uneven, his long fingers gripping her waist tightly, as if six years of restraint were finally breaking free.

"Ave…" he called her name in a low, hoarse voice, filled with a tenderness Calista had never heard before.

After a moment, Theodore snapped back to his senses and gently wiped the moisture from the corners of Aveline's lips with his thumb. He slid the rosary back onto his wrist and once again became the distant, chaste man.

Calista dug her fingernails deep into her palms, the sharp pain barely keeping her grounded. She pivoted sharply, closed the door without a sound, and buried herself beneath the blanket.

Outside the room, the sound of footsteps gradually faded into the distance. She knew Theodore had gone to the prayer room again.

She closed her eyes as memories of her countless attempts to seduce him over the years flooded back.

She recalled wearing provocative lingerie and "accidentally" falling while he recited scriptures, yet he had caught her firmly using his prayer book. She had deliberately brought him a towel while he bathed, but he wrapped himself securely before opening the door.

She even pretended to be drunk and leaned into him, yet he simply pushed her away with a single finger on her forehead.

Theodore had always remained unmoved, making all her efforts seem futile. Yet she realized now that for the person he truly loved, even a single word could make him lose control.

Tears streamed down Calista's face, but she quickly wiped them away.

She told herself that it didn't matter. It wasn't as if she was unwanted. From now on, he could love his adoptive sister, and she would seek her own happiness.

…

When Calista woke up the next morning, Theodore and Aveline were already having breakfast.

Aveline touched her lips and muttered, "Theodore, are there mosquitoes in your house? Why are my lips swollen this morning?"

Theodore paused for a moment, his voice low. "I'll have the housekeeper bring you some ointment later."

Calista took the gift box Theodore handed her and opened it. Inside was an antique worth over a hundred million dollars. Her lips curled into a faint smile, and her tone held a hint of sarcasm. "You really spared no expense."

Aveline leaned in to take a look, her voice tinged with jealousy. "Theodore, I had no idea that you were so generous to Calista. I thought you were just a stiff, old-fashioned man who only cared about prayers and didn't know how to spoil his wife."

Calista looked up at Theodore and saw his gaze dim slightly. He seemed to have no intention of explaining that the gift was meant to make up for Aveline injuring her head.

In truth, he never cared about her preferences and certainly never bothered to put any thought into choosing gifts for her.

He uttered a brief acknowledgment before standing up. "I have things to attend to at the office. I'm leaving."

Before leaving, he glanced at Aveline, his voice deepening slightly. "Behave yourself at home. You can go anywhere in the villa except the prayer room."

Aveline looked puzzled. "Why?"

Theodore casually made up an excuse to brush it off, but Calista knew that it was because the prayer room held his deepest desires.

After finishing breakfast, Calista returned to her room, unwilling to stay in the same space as Aveline. When she woke from her nap, she found her long hair cut into uneven, jagged clumps.

Calista rushed out and saw Aveline sitting on the couch, smiling as she braided something using Calista's severed locks. Calista understood the situation instantly.

Her voice trembled. "Did you cut my hair?"

Aveline looked up and smiled calmly. "Yeah. I need to make a handicraft for school, and I'm planning on making a wig."

She waved the strands of hair in her hand. "Your hair color is the best. It's so dark and shiny."

A chill ran through Calista. She couldn't hold back any longer and lunged forward, slapping Aveline hard.

Chapter 6

The sharp crack of a slap echoed through the living room.

Aveline clutched her face, her gaze turning cold in an instant. "How dare you hit me? Theodore has cherished me since we were kids. Even he wouldn't dare lay a finger on me. Who do you think you are?"

She raised her voice to summon the bodyguards. "Hold her down!"

The bodyguards hesitated, looking between Calista and Aveline.

Aveline narrowed her eyes and said, "You work for my brother. Think about it. Who do you think matters more to him?"

After a brief silence, the bodyguards stepped forward and restrained Calista.

Calista laughed so hard that tears streamed down her face. It turned out that everyone already knew how much Aveline mattered to Theodore. She was the only one who took six years to learn the secret that she had once believed was earth-shattering.

Aveline raised her hand before Calista could react. A loud smack rang out as the first slap landed, burning across her cheek. Then came the second and the third.

Calista struggled violently, her voice hoarse. "Aveline, aren't you afraid that Theodore will come after you for this?"

Aveline laughed triumphantly. "Since we were kids, he's cleaned up every mess I've made. Hitting his wife won't be any different."

She leaned in and whispered into Calista's ear, "Remember, Calista—I'm the only one he truly cares about."

With that, she slapped Calista again and again. Calista fought with all her might, but the bodyguards held her down tightly.

A series of cracks filled the air.

The strikes rained down on Calista like a torrential storm. Her consciousness began to fade, and her cheeks burned as if pierced by countless needles. Tears blurred her vision, but she could still see the twisted satisfaction on Aveline's face.

"How many has it been?" Aveline asked the bodyguards.

"99," one bodyguard replied.

Aveline said with a smile, "Let's make it an even number."

The final blow landed heavily. Calista suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. Her vision went black, and she lost consciousness.

In her haze, she heard the front door swing open. Someone demanded sternly, "What are you doing?"

…

When Calista woke again, she was lying in her bed.

Theodore sat by her bedside, his expression calm. "I know what happened today."

Calista's throat felt parched, and her voice was rough. "And?"

He said indifferently, "Ave's been spoiled since she was young. I've already punished her, so don't take it to heart."

Calista stared at him. "How did you punish her?"

Theodore fell silent for a moment before pulling a lock of hair from his pocket. "She cut your hair, so she has cut off a lock of hers as an apology."

Calista found it utterly absurd. "What about the hundred slaps she gave me? Did you just slap her once and call it even?"

Theodore's voice remained level. "Her hand is swollen from hitting you. That counts as her punishment."

Calista froze, then suddenly laughed so hard that tears began to fall. She asked herself, "How did I ever fall for Theodore Montclair in the first place?"

Just as Theodore was about to speak, she snatched the vase from the nightstand and hurled it to the floor. Her eyes were bloodshot as she screamed, "Get out!"

Theodore stood up, his tone still serene. "I know you're angry, but the doctor said you need proper rest. Calm down."

After he finished speaking, he turned and left. The moment the door closed, Calista could no longer hold back and broke into loud sobs.

Chapter 7

Over the next few days, Theodore stayed home the entire time, which was a rare occurrence. He noticed that Calista was in a foul mood and, for once, made Aveline apologize to her.

Aveline stood before Calista and offered a half-hearted apology. "Calista, I'm sorry. I acted too impulsively that day."

Calista gave her a cold glance and didn't even bother to respond. She turned and walked into her room, slamming the door shut with a loud bang.

Aveline flinched and immediately threw herself into Theodore's arms, her voice trembling. "Theodore, she won't hit me, will she?"

Theodore patted her back in reassurance. "With me here, no one will bully you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of someone rummaging through drawers echoed from the room. Theodore frowned and was about to knock when the door suddenly swung open.

Calista walked out with a large box of items, ignoring him completely. She went straight to the trash can in the living room and dumped everything inside with a loud clatter.

Theodore's eyes widened. The box held all the things she had carefully kept over the years that were related to him. Inside were notes he had scribbled, a cup he once used, and the only gift he had ever given her—a rosary bracelet she had relentlessly begged him for.

Now, she threw all of them away as if they were nothing but trash.

His voice turned cold. "What do you mean by this?"

Calista brushed the dust off her hands and replied indifferently, "It doesn't mean anything. I just don't want them anymore."

She no longer wanted his belongings or him.

After she finished speaking, she turned and left without looking at him again.

Aveline watched as Theodore's expression changed. Feeling a pang of jealousy, she deliberately asked, "Theodore, do you want to go inside and comfort Calista?"

Theodore stayed silent for a long moment, then finally spoke, "There's no need. She'll sort it out herself. Soon enough, she'll be picking those things back up."

It was just like the way she had relentlessly pursued and loved him for the past six years.

Separated by only a wall, Calista stood in her room and almost laughed when she heard those words. She knew Theodore was completely wrong this time.

…

That evening, Theodore intended to take Calista and Aveline to a charity gala.

Calista didn't want to go, but Theodore said calmly, "Noelle will be there too. You've been shut inside for so long. Don't you want to see her?"

Calista fell silent for a while, then eventually changed her clothes. The recent events felt far too suffocating, so she desperately needed someone to have a drink with.

Throughout the drive, she didn't talk to Theodore or Aveline at all, keeping her eyes closed to rest. When they were halfway there, a loud crash suddenly erupted.

Blinding headlights flashed in their eyes, and Calista caught a glimpse of an out-of-control car hurtling straight toward them. In the next instant, she was thrown violently as the world spun around her.

…

When Calista regained consciousness, a cold, metallic scent of rust filled her nose. She struggled to open her eyes and found herself tied to a chair alongside Aveline in an abandoned warehouse. Their hands were bound behind their backs, and bombs were strapped to their chests.

Calista vaguely remembered seeing the second son of the Lockwood family—the archrivals of Montclair Group—stepping out of the other car just before she passed out. She wondered if he had abducted her and Aveline to get back at the Montclairs.

Beside her, Aveline wailed incessantly, her voice shrill and piercing. "Is anyone there? Help! Save me! I don't want to die!"

With only a few minutes remaining on the timer, Calista forced herself to stay calm and began dismantling the device strapped to her.

Aveline's wailing gave her a headache, so she said coldly, "Why are you crying? If you don't want to die, hurry up and defuse your bomb."

Aveline cried even harder. "Why are you yelling at me? I don't know how to do it. Theodore, where are you? I'm so scared… Theodore."

The moment she finished speaking, the warehouse door was kicked open. Theodore rushed in.

Chapter 8

Theodore's usually immaculate suit was covered in dust, and blood smeared his temple. His breathing was ragged, and his eyes widened the instant he saw Calista and Aveline.

This was the first time Calista had ever seen this detached man looking so disheveled.

After discovering that they were missing following the car accident, Theodore immediately sent people to track them down and rushed to their location as fast as he could.

With only one minute left before the bomb exploded and time to dismantle a single device, Theodore chose Aveline without hesitation.

He worked rapidly on Aveline's explosive without lifting his head. "Calista, once I get her out, I'll come back for you immediately."

Calista laughed. Strangely, her heart didn't ache anymore, perhaps because she no longer loved him.

After Theodore dismantled Aveline's device, the countdown showed only 20 seconds left. Aveline gripped his arm tightly, her voice trembling so hard she could barely speak. "Theodore! We have to go! It's going to explode!"

For the first time, Theodore pushed her away, urging her to escape before turning back to defuse Calista's bomb.

But Calista suddenly grabbed his hand and shoved him away. She said calmly, "Theodore, take her and leave. Remember, from this day on, I don't need you anymore. Whether I live or die is none of your business. I'm not someone no one wants. If you don't love me, plenty of others will!"

Theodore froze in shock.

Aveline broke down in tears beside them. "Theodore, I'm so scared! If you don't leave, I won't leave either!"

As the seconds ticked down to detonation, if they didn't leave now, all three would die. At the critical moment, Theodore picked Aveline up and rushed out.

Calista closed her eyes, her fingers moving swiftly across the explosive. She had taken a demolition course in college, and now that knowledge came to her rescue.

A soft click sounded. She successfully disconnected the fuse at the final second.

Yet an explosion still went off. As the blast hurled her into the air, she caught a blurry glimpse of Theodore running back.

…

Calista opened her eyes in the hospital to excruciating pain radiating from her arm.

Theodore was sitting by her bed. When he saw her awake, he quickly steadied her. "Don't move. You just had a skin graft for Ave."

"What did you say?" Calista asked.

In her daze, she almost thought that she had misheard him.

Theodore stayed silent for a moment, his voice carrying a rare hint of guilt. "Ave's arm was injured in the explosion. She didn't want a scar, and since your skin tone is the closest match, we took a graft from you for the transplant."

Calista stared at him in disbelief. "Theodore, did you even ask me?"

He tried to soothe her. "I'll make it up to you. Haven't you always wanted to go on a date with me? Once you're discharged—"

She cut him off, "Who cares?"

She ripped out her IV needle forcefully, blood trickling down the back of her hand. "You can't just treat me this way!"

Theodore was stunned.

Calista's eyes were bloodshot, and her voice trembled. "She's everything to you, and I'm nothing—is that it? You just took advantage of my feelings for you… You just used me—"

She couldn't bring herself to finish.

Theodore felt a tightness in his chest as he suddenly recalled her words in the warehouse. "If you don't love me, plenty of others will."

Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang.

The anxious voice of his assistant, Lucas Ashford, buzzed through the phone. "Mr. Montclair, the Princess Danielle limited-edition necklace that Ms. Montclair has always wanted is being auctioned tonight in Valdoria. Do you want to go?"

Theodore gave a brief affirmation and hung up.

He put his phone away and looked at Calista. "I have to go abroad for a few days. I'll bring you a gift when I get back."

After a pause, he added, "Don't worry. I'll keep my word about the date."

With that, he pushed open the door and walked away quickly.

The moment the door closed, Calista could no longer hold back. She slowly curled up, hugging herself tightly as tears streamed down.

Chapter 9

Calista stayed in the hospital for three days.

On the day of her discharge, she received a call from the embassy informing her that her permanent residency for Nordland had been approved. This was the only piece of good news she had heard lately.

Calista stood at the embassy entrance. The sunlight was so blinding that it brought tears to her eyes. She raised her hand to shield them. She had removed her wedding band long ago, leaving a faint mark on her ring finger.

It was time to end this.

After collecting her residency permit at the embassy, she went straight to a law firm. She drafted a divorce agreement, signed her name, and then dialed Aveline's number. "Come out and meet me."

…

Inside the cafe, Aveline glared at her warily. "What are you trying to do? I'm warning you, if Theodore comes back and finds out that you bullied me—"

Calista stayed silent, then pulled the wedding ring from her bag and slid it across the table to Aveline. "Try it on."

Aveline gave her a suspicious look, but almost instinctively, she reached out and slipped the ring onto her own finger. It fit perfectly.

She was stunned. "You—"

Calista smiled. "Haven't you always wanted to know why Theodore suddenly started avoiding you?"

Aveline's fingers trembled slightly.

Calista stared into her eyes and spoke slowly, word by word, "Fine, I'll tell you the truth. He avoids you not because he married me and not because you upset him, but because he likes you.

"In his prayer room, he keeps a lifelike doll that looks exactly like you and indulges his desires with it every single day.

"On the night you stayed at our house, while you were sleeping on the couch, he secretly kissed you for three minutes. This ring was also custom-made to your exact measurements. The person he wanted to marry has always been you."

At her words, Aveline's expression shifted instantly. A wave of emotions flickered in her eyes—shock, disbelief, embarrassment, and delight.

Calista looked at her and suddenly found the situation absurd.

Theodore had been afraid to confess his feelings to Aveline, fearing he might lose her, so he forced himself to suppress his desires through prayer. Yet he had no idea that Aveline felt the same way.

Calista stood up, took the signed divorce agreement from her bag, and slid it across the table. "Give this to him when he returns. Tell him that I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together."

After saying that, she turned to leave. Aveline finally came back to her senses and called out to her. "Calista, where are you going?"

Without looking back, Calista replied, "Since I'm divorcing him, of course I'm going to live my own life. From now on, your affairs have nothing to do with me. And Aveline, if you ever dare to lay a hand on me again, I'll make sure you pay for it a hundred times over!"

…

Calista pulled her suitcase through the airport. Just before boarding, her phone vibrated.

She glanced down and saw a message from Theodore. It was a photo with the caption, "I've landed. Here is a gift for you."

She opened the image to find a plain bracelet, not even presented in a gift box.

Calista smiled faintly. She knew it was merely a freebie. He had gone abroad this time specifically to bid on that Princess Danielle necklace for Aveline. What he gave her was nothing more than an afterthought.

Yet Calista felt no sadness. Since she no longer loved Theodore, he had lost the power to hurt her.

Holding her boarding pass, she walked quickly toward the boarding gate. When she looked up, she happened to see Theodore. Dressed in a black trench coat, he stepped out from the VIP arrival exit in the distance with a stern expression.

She didn't call out to him, choosing instead to watch him walk away in silence. In her heart, she wished him a happy divorce and freedom, while celebrating her own liberation.

In the next moment, she blocked every one of his contacts without hesitation. Then, she turned and walked in the opposite direction from him.