Chapter 3

I ordered Asher’s belongings packed and sent back to his own home.

When Asher walked in with breakfast, he passed movers carrying out his incense burner, scriptures, and meditation mat.

He froze. “What’s going on? Adele—are you moving?”

I smiled broadly.

“Yes. I’ve lived here long enough. It’s annoying now.”

I glanced at the tray.

Pickles. Plain porridge. A few slices of bread.

Not even an egg.

Asher didn’t eat meat, so I’d gone vegetarian for years too.

I grabbed my bag.

“Keep it for yourself.”

His shocked expression didn’t matter. Nothing about Asher mattered now.

That night, I met several Beijing Circle friends at a bar for a farewell.

They teased me endlessly.

“Adele’s drinking? What will your picky, uptight husband say?”

“Yeah, the social darling has been so proper since marriage. What changed today?”

I scoffed.

“Being proper is for someone who deserves it.”

A commotion broke out in a corner.

Two people were having a drinking bet. Whoever finished twelve cocktails first got to take a woman home.

My friends went to look, came back uneasy.

“Adele… you might want to check. It’s Asher.”

I didn’t react.

I knew I should be shocked—that a man who never drank would do this for another woman.

But inside, there was nothing left.

As if my love had died yesterday.

I even led the group over, amused.

“Come on. Let’s watch.”

Asher stood at the long table, stunned when he saw me.

But before he could move, the bartender reminded him:

“Sir, leaving means forfeiting. You sure you want to quit?”

Asher looked at me, then at Beatrix, hesitating.

Then he turned back.

“No forfeiting.”

Beatrix leaned close, voice dripping venom under the bar’s music.

“Adele, maybe try talking to him? You two won’t be married much longer—you can still beg a little.”

“But if he won’t listen even once… pretty pathetic, right?”

I ignored her and stared at Asher.

He refused to look back, eyes down, fingers nervously rolling his prayer beads.

Onlookers swooned.

“Drinking twelve of those will send him to the ER. This guy must really love his girlfriend.”

“True love. Wishing them all the best.”

A vein pulsed on Asher’s forehead.

He snapped, “Shut up.”

Then he turned to me and whispered, “Adele… I have my reasons. I’ll explain when we’re home.”

I smiled.

“Asher, you promised to keep your vows for three years. Only three days left.”

“If you drink this, the whole agreement is meaningless.”

His face froze. After a long silence, he nodded.

“Then it’s meaningless. Let’s go home tonight. I’ll make it up to you.”

I knew he meant finally consummating the marriage.

I almost laughed.

He chose to break his vow for me—after breaking everything else for her.

I removed my wedding ring.

Dropped it into his drink.

And turned to leave.

But with so many people crowded around, I accidentally knocked over a champagne tower.

Glasses crashed everywhere.

I heard Asher call my name.

But when it mattered, he protected Beatrix first.

Glass shattered underfoot. My vision went dark. I saw Asher running toward me.

He lifted me, hands trembling.

He whispered “I love you” over and over.

And it made me sick.

When I woke up, three days had passed.

My friends said Asher had waited outside the ER the whole time, refusing treatment for his own injuries.

Said he refused to leave my bedside. Didn’t even let nurses wipe my face.

They said he booked a massive banquet hall filled with cornflowers—my favorite.

No one knew what for.

I called the butler. “Take me to the airport.”

As the car pulled away, Asher’s car approached.

When our cars crossed paths, I rolled up the window.

Asher had been relieved—finally fulfilling the twelve wishes he owed Beatrix. The drinking contest had been the last one.

He thought he could finally let her go.

Finally love me fully.

But when he walked into the hospital room—

The bed was empty.

Not a wrinkle on the sheets.

His face showed confusion, doubt… and then pure panic.

Beatrix handed him a document, smiling brightly.

“Asher, you’re finally free!”

“This is the divorce agreement Adele signed. We can finally be together again!”

Asher was taken aback.

He had heard Beatrix mention “freed