Dangerous Marriage, Eternal Love

That evening, when I returned home, my parents had prepared a table full of dishes, including my favorite sweet and spicy ribs steak. Because Connor doesn't like sweet dishes, I hadn't had them in a long time. "My mom and I think Connor's apparent dislike for us might just be an excuse." We were just chatting about everyday things when my dad suddenly said this. I didn't respond and continued eating my meal. "Nadine, you've never experienced anything major, so you think too simply. The problem might not be with you, but with him changing," my dad continued. I still didn't speak because I didn't know what to say. My mom signaled to my dad to stop talking. "We've bought tickets for tomorrow. We won't disturb you anymore." I looked up, ready to persuade them to stay, but my dad stopped me. "Nadine, this is not a big deal. Some things can be replaced if they're lost." His words further alarmed me and were soon confirmed. That night, I turned on the home computer and used the browser's cache to access Connor's e-commerce account. When I opened "My Orders," the truth unfolded before my eyes. Lipstick, skincare products, woman bags. New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, Children's Day, Fourth of July, Christmas, he didn't miss a single one. These orders were for another woman. My cursor hovered over the LV Valentine's Day limited edition bag. I had once joked about when he would buy me a luxury bag. Connor had reacted strongly at the time, saying that people who carry those bags wear clothes worth thousands and drive cars worth hundreds of thousands. He asked if it wouldn't be ridiculous for me to carry that bag while riding the subway every day. It turned out it wasn't that I didn't deserve the bag because I didn't wear expensive clothes or drive an expensive car. In his mind, I simply wasn't worth it. At this moment, my dad knocked on the door and said, "It's time to sleep." "Okay, you guys go ahead," I replied, but I had no intention of sleeping. My dad said, "Nadine, your mom and I have reminded you before that you should control the household finances. This ..." I knew what they were worried about, but they didn't know I had already made a big mistake. "Don't worry, Dad. I'll sleep soon." He seemed to want to say more but shook his head and closed the door. I clicked on the order delivery address. The recipient was, "Little Missy." The delivery address was a very upscale neighborhood not far from our home, it was Orchid Apartment. I remembered once walking past that neighborhood with Connor after dinner and he started talking about how high-end neighborhoods like that had separate pathways for people and cars, unlike our neighborhood, where cars were parked everywhere. I had clung to his arm and said, "When you strike it rich, we'll move here." I was full of sweetness and didn't notice that he just smiled without promising me anything. It turns out he wasn't just talking casually back then, he had experienced the benefits of a high-end neighborhood and started to despise the shortcomings of ordinary residences.

After three days, Connor finally replied to me, "I'll come back when your parents leave." Seeing this response, my heart sank. "No need to wait. They've left." Early that morning, I heard the door open, it was Connor coming back. I sat up in bed. He looked a bit tired. Those deep eyes of his, which I once loved so much, now seemed unreadable. He looked at me heavily and said, "Let's talk." Although I knew what was about to happen, I still felt nervous, scared and sad. "I think we ... should just separate," he said quietly, as if mustering a lot of courage. "Why? What's wrong with us?" I tried to asked casually. "It's not you, it's me ..." he said. "What's wrong with you? Have you fallen for someone else?" I asked him again. He answered, "No, I just think I'm not suited for marriage. I can't get along with your family." Just as my dad said, he was using this as an excuse. "Didn't you promise to stay together forever?" I still want some explanation. "Some things change." He lowered his head and fell silent and the room was suddenly so quiet that I could hear the clock ticking. Connor wiped his face, his voice trembling, "I really can't take it anymore..." I didn't want to continue this charade, so I took out my phone, showed him the screenshots of the orders he placed for "Little Missy," and threw it to him. Seeing the picture, Connor's expression shifted from pain to shock. "You logged into my account?" Like all scumbags, when confronted, he didn't reflect on his mistakes but questioned how I invaded his privacy. "Who is "Little Missy"?" I demanded. "She's just a client," Connor frowned. "What kind of client needs you to nickname her "Little Missy"? What kind of client needs gifts from you on Valentine's Day and Fourth of July?" His answer made me feel he thought I was an idiot. "You know my job requires special means to secure important clients." Connor stared at me, thinking this explanation would make him seem truthful. The Connor I thought I knew was just an illusion I had created. "I came back today to tell you that since we're already divorced, it's best to sort out the remaining matters." At this moment, Connor couldn't hold back his true intentions any longer. "What remaining matters?" I confused. "I'll compensate you. So ..." his eyes suddenly turned cold, "I hope you can move out as soon as possible." The worst outcome I had anticipated finally happened. I had read about such things in the news, but I never thought it would happen to me.

I felt as disgusted as if I had swallowed a bug, but I had no one to talk to about it. I stumbled through work in a daze and drowned my sorrows in alcohol after hours. While I was wallowing in sadness, another event compounded my misery. I had worked overtime the whole day and it was raining heavily. By the time I managed to get a taxi home, it was already late. But when I reached my apartment, I found I couldn't open the door. Upon closer inspection, I realized the lock had been changed! I had never felt so furious. I grabbed my phone and called Connor, he was the only one who could have done this. But he didn't answer my call. My heart sank, I was shaking with anger, the rain outside pouring down as if mocking my life. I kept calling, but he didn't pick up. After about a dozen calls, I was exhausted and slumped at the doorstep. After so many days, I finally couldn't hold back and cried bitterly. I never imagined that I, Nadine Diaz, would end up in such a state. Despite our many years together, Connor had no compassion for me. He chose this rainy day to kick me out in such a heartless manner. He had no bottom line! Looking back, I realized Connor didn't just dislike my parents, he didn't like my friends either, causing me to drift further away from them. I used to think he was my everything, but now I understand that he was my torment, bringing all the pain and hardship into my life. I called for a taxi, determined to confront him face to face today. Unfortunately, no one was accepting rides in the rain. I didn't care anymore and ran into the rain. Orchid Apartment was only two kilometers away, I could get there on foot. The cold rain quickly soaked me through. These sad stories always seem to happen in the rain. Orchid Apartment had strict security, but seeing me drenched and hearing my story about losing my access card, the guard let me in after registration, urging me to go home and take a hot shower. Building 8, Unit 2, Apartment 1007. Today, I finally stood at this door. This neighborhood was much more luxurious than ours, certainly beyond the means of an intern. Clearly, Connor was footing the bill. I pounded on the door of Apartment 1007 with all my strength. "Connor, open the door! I know you're in there!" My voice echoed in the empty hallway, finally swallowed by silence. I kept banging on the door, shouting, "Don't be a coward hiding in there! Come out and face me!" Eventually, my hand turned purple, my voice grew hoarse and still, there was no response from inside. I leaned against the wall, letting my hand fall. It was swollen with pain and I felt hot and sticky from the rain and my rising body temperature. It was extremely uncomfortable. Just as I was about to knock again, I heard the sound of hurried footsteps from the elevator. "What are you crazy about?" It was Connor. He was flushed, looking like he had rushed over from somewhere. He looked frantic, that word perfectly described his current state. "What I going crazy about, huh? I'm asking you, what do you mean by this?" I shouted. "Mean by what?" he asked me back. The door behind me opened. I turned around and saw "Little Missy". A younger woman, wearing pajamas, looking pitifully at Connor. "Connor, you're finally back. I was so scared," Her voice was very soft. Compared to her, I looked like a raging beast. Connor brushed past me, not seeing my drenched state, only seeing her fear. He walked over to the girl, putting his arm around her shoulders and said, "Don't be afraid. It's okay. I'm back." I watched as Connor's eyes filled with tenderness and pity for her. I felt a moment of disorientation. That stare used to be mine, but now it belonged to someone else. The girl looked at me with a victorious gaze, seeing me as a soaked, bedraggled mess.

When a woman appeared more vulnerable than you, she won in front of a man. The girl nestled pitifully in Connor's arms while I shook with anger. The more I looked at her, the more familiar she seemed. "Sandra, go inside first," Connor said gently. Sandra? So, it was her! Sandra Kelce. Sandra didn't want to go inside. "I want to stay here. I'm afraid she'll hit you." Hit him? I sneered. They had already figuratively devoured me. I remembered a long time ago, Connor had mentioned a new intern in his team named Sandra. At first, he complained to me about the new young employee who knew nothing, neither this nor that. At that time, I kindly suggested he help her more, so she'd get the hang of things soon. How ironic that not only had he helped her at work, but now he was helping her with things he shouldn't have. "What right do you have to change the locks?" I didn't want to waste words with these shameless people and demanded an answer. Connor frowned and glanced at Sandra, seeming to understand something. "I told you before, I wanted you to move out as soon as possible." I wiped the rain off my face. "I can move out, but you must give me fifty percent of the house's value. Otherwise, don't think you'll get away with this!" "Sandra, go inside. I'll talk to her." Connor coaxed her again to go inside and close the door. I couldn't hold it back anymore and tears started streaming down my face. "You're so cruel, Connor," I cried while wiping my tears. "You told her the house password, didn't you? Then she changed the lock to kick me out. Let me tell you, you're the one at fault here. You tricked me into transferring the house to you before our divorce and now you want to take my property with her. It's not going to be that easy!" "Don't say things you can't prove. This is a misunderstanding," Connor's eyes flashed with cunning. "My relationship with Sandra started after our divorce. I wasn't cheating on you. Don't make accusations without evidence." I looked at the man in front of me in disbelief. Today, I finally understood what it meant to know a person's face but not their heart. "You said those gifts were for clients, yet the client's address is Sandra's. Those gifts have been sent for a year and now you claim your relationship started after our divorce? Your lies are endless," I said. "Yes, I sent the gifts to Sandra and she delivered them to the clients. Is that a problem?" He threw back my question. I couldn't believe the extent of his shamelessness. "I'm done talking to you. Give me the house password. I'll move out after you pay me," I said. Connor went inside reluctantly but didn't come back out. Instead, he sent me a message on WhatsApp with six digits, 520131. Looking at the numbers, I remembered how this man used to be the one I trusted most in the world and I felt the world had become absurdly ridiculous.

It wasn't until my mom called that I realized I'd forgotten to call them recently. "Your dad and I only want you to be happy. So, whatever decision you make, we will support you," after chatting about some random things, my mother suddenly said this. "Mom, I feel so miserable. Living is just too hard ..." As soon as I said this, I broke down. "Don't cry, don't cry, dear. This will pass. It's not that big of a deal," I could hear the worry in my mom's voice. I never expected that, even in their twilight years, I would still cause them so much concern. "Okay, Mom. Don't worry, I won't do anything foolish. You should rest," I said, ending the call quickly to avoid worrying them further. Hugging myself, I felt both despair and hatred. Though I had managed to get into the apartment, Sandra's behavior made it clear that everything here was hers and she could take it all whenever she pleased. I wasn't just heartbroken anymore, I was filled with vengeance. I wouldn't let them get away with this! The next day, instead of going to work, I staked out at their apartment complex early in the morning. I found a perfect spot and waited until seven o'clock. Sure enough, they came out together. I snapped a photo of them. If you are unkind to me, don't blame me for being unjust. Since Connor had been my classmate in college, it wasn't hard to find the email of his boss through mutual connections. Once at the office, I sent the photos and screenshots of the gift orders to his boss. In the email, I not only accused Connor of immoral behavior and betrayal but also of deceitfully obtaining my property and conspiring with his mistress to evict me. I naively thought this would ruin Sandra's internship and tarnish Connor's reputation. However, two days after sending the email, there was no response. It was like the email had vanished into thin air. On the third day, I saw a post from Connor on social media. "Once you're legal, we'll be legal." The picture showed two hands forming a heart, each wearing matching rings from a luxury brand. My heart felt like it was being stabbed repeatedly. I remembered wanting those rings when we registered our marriage, but Connor said they were overpriced and insisted on buying plain gold bands instead. Now, it seemed the brand's price no longer mattered to him. How ironic. Then, I received a message from him. [Nadine, you're disgusting. I told you, Sandra and I got together after our divorce. You have no right to accuse us. And you have no evidence. Those emails you sent were a waste of effort.] His words were like pouring oil on a fire. [You shameless jerk! Fine, I don't want to argue about you and Sandra anymore. When are you going to give me my share of the house?] I replied back. [Which house?] He asked nonchalantly. When I saw that message, my mind went blank. I realized something was very wrong. [Which house? The one I'm living in. I told you, no money, no moving out.] [We clearly stated in the divorce agreement that the house belongs to me. We processed the transfer based on that agreement and now the house is under my wife's name,] he replied. Then he added, [For the sake of our past, I'll give you a month to find a place. Otherwise, I'll have to personally escort you out.] His words hit me like a bolt of lightning. No wonder they had been stalling, promising to give me the money later. They had planned to transfer the property all along! I was trembling with anger when a voice brought me back to reality. "Nadine." I looked up to see my boss, Jacob Elody.

"Where's the PPT I asked you to prepare?" Jacob, although only in his early thirties, had reached a position many could only dream of. His rapid rise was due not only to his exceptional abilities but also to his notorious workaholism. When he barked at me, I knew I was done for. I'd completely forgotten about the work. "The client meeting is at two this afternoon. Do you know what time it is now?" he asked. I glanced at my watch, it was eleven. If I skipped lunch and worked straight through, I could probably get a draft done. "I'll have it to you before two," I said quickly. "One o'clock," he demanded, giving me a stern look before walking away. Starving and exhausted, I managed to get the PPT done and sent it to Jacob by one o'clock. The meeting was a disaster, but luckily, Jacob single-handedly managed to secure the deal. However, his face was anything but pleased. Instead of yelling at me, he led me to a nearby restaurant. "What's going on with you today? You seem distracted," he asked, catching me off guard. My emotions welled up and I started crying again, much to his surprise. He hastily handed me a napkin. "Stop crying, please." People at nearby tables glanced over, curious. I had worked with him for five years, from when he was just a team leader to his current department head position. I knew him well enough to know he was the type of boss who pushed everyone to their limits, regardless of gender. After a while, I managed to calm down. "Can you tell me now?" I sobbed, "It's nothing, just some family issues …" Jacob, showing rare generosity, ordered a lot of food. Maybe playing the pity card with a boss did work sometimes. "Are your parents sick?" he asked. I shook my head. He paused for a moment before asking, "Your husband cheated on you?" I fell silent, which was answer enough. "Oh, I thought it was something serious. Eat up, there's plenty more if you need it. My treat today." He shook his head and smiling. Seeing him acting as if it had nothing to do with me, I was so angry, but he is a big shot and I can't afford to offend him. "Mr. Elody, as an outstanding person like you, you can't understand the troubles of an ordinary person like me." "Is that so? What kind of struggles do you ordinary people face? I got divorced before I joined this company because my ex-wife cheated on me. I couldn't stay there, so I moved here." When Jacob said this, I was drinking a drink and I almost choked to death. I didn't expect this cold man was married! I was shocked. "Don't get too excited," he laughed. I felt like I'd just learned a massive piece of gossip. I wanted to ask if the other guy was somehow better than him, but held back. This composed, decisive leader had quietly endured his ordeal and walked away. "My ex-husband tricked me into signing over our joint property to him and now he's married his mistress and transferred the property to her," I confessed. Since Mr. Elody was honest with me, I decided to told him the truth. "No wonder you're my subordinate, your situation is similar to mine," he said, genuinely surprising me. "Did you get your property back?" I asked. He shook his head. "I have more than one property. I considered it fulfilling a duty and gave it to her." Of course, he wasn't like ordinary people. "That property was bought with my hard-earned money and my parents' money was also involved. I can't just let them have it," I said. Jacob frowned. "Your ex-husband is quite the scumbag. What's your plan?" "Hire a lawyer and sue him. I'm not letting them get away with this." I sighed. Jacob asked, "How did you transfer the property to him?" I explained the whole situation. He finally said, "There are two options, the legal route, I can recommend a good lawyer who specializes in these cases or public opinion. I can help you find a popular blogger to publicize your story, making it impossible for him to escape unscathed." "Mr. Elody, would you really help me?" I was taken aback. "After all these years working together, this small favor is nothing." He smiled. "And there's a third option, use both approaches simultaneously." I thought the third option sounded promising.

Mr. Elody was known for his decisive actions. Early the next morning, he sent me the lawyer's contact information and scheduled a meeting for after work. Then, he recommended a feminist relationship blogger with millions of followers. "She's a classmate of mine. Her team will discuss the details of the exposure with you." I suddenly felt like my life was on an upswing. Looking at Jacob with admiration, I felt his image in my mind grow even more impressive. That evening, we met the lawyer, a very capable-looking woman. "This is Winona James, another classmate of mine." "Miss James, nice to meet you. Mr. Elody's classmates are all outstanding." I praised her. We met at the rooftop bar of a landmark building in the city center, offering a panoramic view of the city's nightscape. "I've heard about you from Jacob. He always praises you, saying you're young, hardworking and very promising," Winona said with a smile. I didn't expect Mr. Elody to praise me. Over the past five years, our department went through many personnel changes and Jacob's rise to his position wasn't easy. I witnessed his struggles and betrayals in the workplace, so as someone who has been loyal to him from the beginning, he always took me to meet clients. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to alcohol, so every time we went out, he had to drink for me. "It's a pity I'm not a man, otherwise, I'd go all out for Mr. Elody." I joked. "Haha, Jacob doesn't need you to go all out for him," Winona laughed even more. "You're quite an interesting assistant." "Alright, let's get down to business," Jacob interrupted. "Alright, alright," Winona nodded. "Miss Diaz, I've heard about your situation from Jacob, but I still have a few questions to confirm with you." "Sure, go ahead." I recounted in detail how I was deceived and how I discovered Connor's affair. "We'll follow the legal process first, gather evidence proving their illegal cohabitation during your marriage and then prove that he committed fraud when signing the divorce agreement. Also, we need to find the records of your parents' money transfers. Of course, just these might not be enough to win." Winona paused. "However, Jacob has already thought it through. If we leverage public opinion and create a significant social impact, it will be extremely beneficial to us." I asked hesitantly, "What about the fees …" Winona glanced at Jacob. "With Mr. Elody here, don't worry about that."