Chapter 5

Claire left Mercer Corporation and took a cab back to the hotel where she'd been staying.

After sitting quietly for a long time, she reached into the bottom of her suitcase and pulled out an old phone she hadn't used in years.

The device felt cool in her hand. When the screen lit up, its glow reflected in her lifeless eyes.

Years ago, when she and Adrian had been hailed as the power couple of the design world, they'd created a joint social media account.

It had been a way to promote their company and present themselves to the public as the perfect couple.

Claire tapped the screen and successfully logged in.

The account's feed was filled with posts from years ago.

Videos and photos documented the two of them building their business together, working late into the night on designs, and sharing tender moments.

The comments were full of admiration and well-wishes.

“Now that's true love. They bring out the best in each other!”

“Mr. Mercer and Claire are the ultimate power couple in the industry!”

“Their love story and talent will never stop inspiring me!”

Claire scrolled through the old posts in silence.

Then she opened the direct messages, which she hadn't checked in years.

At the very top was a conversation with an anonymous account from five years ago.

She tapped it.

Messages filled the screen.

They were all from Adrian.

Five years earlier, when his schedule hadn't been quite so demanding, he'd used that secret account to message her every evening after work.

He'd kept her company through late nights, teased her to make her smile, and sent her countless sweet messages.

But eventually, the messages had stopped.

The account had gone silent.

Something flickered in Claire's eyes.

Then she pulled herself together.

She didn't read any further.

Instead, she opened the camera app and began recording.

Facing the lens, she looked calm, composed, and completely at peace with her decision.

Once she'd finished, Claire scheduled the video to be published across her social media platforms at a designated time.

Then she called her lawyer.

“Send all the divorce authorization documents and design copyright ownership agreements to this address.”

She paused.

“And put the apartment on the market immediately. Price it below market value if necessary. I want it sold as quickly as possible.”

After making the arrangements, she packed a few essentials and booked the earliest available flight.

That very night, she left the city that had held her captive for ten years and become the final resting place of her child.

Adrian spent a long time trying to comfort Lillian, who wouldn't stop crying.

He'd already cooperated with the company's public relations team, issuing a statement explaining that while he and Claire were still legally married, their romantic relationship had ended long ago.

But Lillian remained anxious and overly sensitive, obsessing over the occasional negative comment online.

After comforting her for so long, Adrian began to feel a faint sense of impatience and exhaustion.

The agreed time for Claire's clarification statement arrived.

Yet nothing appeared online.

Adrian took out his phone and called her.

The call wouldn't go through.

He frowned.

Just then, social media erupted.

A video shot straight to the top of the trending charts, spreading across every major platform.

In the video, Claire sat calmly before the camera.

She spoke openly, explaining that Lillian had become involved in her marriage three years earlier and had continued interfering in her relationship with Adrian ever since.

Then she revealed the truth about the death of their son, Andy Mercer.

She explained that what everyone had dismissed as her refusal to let go over the past year had actually been her desperate struggle to survive the grief of losing her child and the collapse of her marriage.

Finally, she made a formal declaration.

She declared that she held exclusive rights to all the original designs, creative concepts, and design sketches she'd produced during their marriage.

From that day forward, she would have no further business dealings or professional ties with Adrian Mercer or Mercer Corporation.

She would create independently and begin her career anew.

Adrian stared at the familiar account on his screen.

It was the account they'd once managed together.

In an instant, memories he'd buried for years came rushing back.

For a brief moment, he found himself lost in them.

Beside him, Lillian turned deathly pale.

She grabbed his arm tightly and burst into tears.

“Adrian! She's doing this on purpose! She wants the whole world to turn against me! She just won't leave me and our baby alone!”

Adrian snapped out of his daze.

Strangely, the first thought that entered his mind was that Claire must be at their old riverfront apartment.

She'd always been sentimental.

She had to be waiting for him there.

The video was nothing more than revenge.

She was angry, and she wanted to force him to come running back.

An inexplicable restlessness surged through him.

Without stopping to think, he pushed everything else aside and drove straight to the home they'd once shared.

He hurried upstairs and pounded on the door.

“Claire Bennett! Come out!”

His voice was low and furious.

“Haven't you caused enough trouble?!”

Silence.

No one answered.

He kept knocking, harder and harder.

After a while, an unfamiliar real estate agent hurried over with a set of keys.

“Sir, please stop knocking.”

The agent looked apologetic.

“The owner officially completed the sale of this apartment half an hour ago. All the paperwork has been finalized, and the previous owner has moved out for good.”