01

     

      

      "Ah….!" Mona moaned on the bed, holding on to Leo’s muscular back as she perceived another woman's perfume on him. Leo never used this kind of perfume and this could only mean one thing— he was cheating on her.

      

      Their heavy breathing mixed together. After a few more thrusts, they both attained climax.

      

      Leo got up from the bed, and walked toward the bathroom to take a shower, leaving her lying still on the bed. Mona was exhausted and got up from the bed, intending to go to the kitchen to drink water. 

      

      She saw Leo’s white shirt on the floor and picked it up. 

      But the stain of red lipstick on the collar of the shirt caught her attention. As suspected, Leo was really cheating on her. 

      

      During this three years of their marriage, Mona thought she could win his heart with her unwavering devotion, but in end…Leo still cheated on her. 

      

      Whenever Leo came home, he would have sex with her and take a shower after that. After taking a shower, he would leave with a cold face, avoiding any conversations.

      

      It was as if she was just a tool for him to satisfy his physical desires.

      

      Mona looked at the drawer in the nightstand and bit her lip. Three years ago, when the Hunt Group was having financial crisis, her parents sedated her and sent her to Leo’s bed to make a deal with the Cox family, after that she had to marry Leo in order not to run his family’s reputation. She tried to  explained to Leo that it was her parents who drugged him, but he never believed, thinking it was her.

      

      

      Mona had always had a crush on Leo even before she was sedated and slept with him. And for this three years, she had tried her best to win his heart but failed. 

      

      But today she made up her mind... she couldn't take it anymore. She was tired already.

      

      She was already pregnant, but knew Leo would never accept the baby because he already told her he didn’t want kids. 

      

      Or, to be more precise, he didn't want her to have his kids… so it was better she divorce him before he’d know about the pregnancy and force her to abort it.

      

      Mona opened the drawer in the bedside table and took out the divorce papers. 

      

      Leo came out of the bathroom with a severe frown on his face. He took something out of the pocket of his trouser and threw it at her. "Take it.“

       

      It was a contraceptive pills as usual. Leo always gave her this contraceptive pills each time they had sex, but unknown to him that Mona had only pretended to swallow the pills without actually taking them and throw them away when he was not around. 

      

      Mona didn’t take the pills on the bed, and said. "I don't need them. This time, I won't become pregnant. And... I need to tell you something.”

      

       "Go ahead. How much do your family want this time?” Leo asked. 

      

      "It’s not about money. I want to get a divorce.” She said.

      

      Leo’s eyes got bigger in surprise. He felt anxious and tightened his hands. "So now you're playing hard to get, huh? Don’t worry about the amount, just tell me how much your family wants. I’ll give them.”

      

      Mona slid the divorce paper toward him without saying anything. Her face stayed terrifyingly calm. 

      

      Leo picked up the paper without a care in the world.

      He could see the words "Divorce Agreement" right away.

      

      His eyes narrowed as he threw the divorce papers on the table. He lit a cigarette and blew smoke in her face, looking at her through the smoke. He said with a sneer, "You've gone too far with your little game." 

      

      He didn't understand why she suddenly wanted a divorce. He assumed she was merely playing hard to get-after all, he bet she'd be back, begging for reconciliation. He knew that she cared about him. She would never go away from him. Also, her family's greed would never let her get a divorce. 

      

      Mona held the blanket next to her tightly and looked Leo in the eye. She spoke slowly and firmly, "I just want a divorce. I don't love you anymore..." 

      

      Leo stepped closer and stared at her with a piercing look. He put his fingers under her chin and blew smoke in her face, which made her turn away and cough. He smiled and took a pen from the table. "You really think I won't sign it?" 

      

      Mona coughed and tears filled her eyes, but she quietly watched him write his signature on the divorce paper. 

      

      "Don't you dare regret this." He threw the divorce papers on the floor after he signed them. Then he took a card out of his wallet and flung it at her. "Think of this as payment for your..." He stopped, and his frown got worse. "'...hardships this past year." 

      

      He slammed the door and left after that. He didn't spend the night here very often. The bedroom was completely quiet. 

      

      Mona held the card in her shaking hands, and her eyes turned red. She bit her lip and cried, her pale face wet with tears. Her heart hurt so much that she couldn't take it. She curled up on the bed and rubbed her belly, crying till her throat hurt. She got her strength back, packed some clothing, and left. For three years, she had loved him.

      

      Devoted her time to become a good wife!

      

      And even when he told her not to work, but become a full house wife, she’d agreed because she loved him and was trying to win his heart.

      

      But not anymore…

      

       It was all over now.

      

      *** 

      The following day, Leo came back home.

      

      Today was the day he and Mona were going to see his grandpa. But when he got home, he couldn't find her. He asked Karina, the maid. “Where is Mrs. Cox?" 

      

      Karina thought about it for a moment, then said, "Mrs. Cox left since yesterday  and hasn't come back yet.“

      

       Mona left? But where to?… Leo thought, forgetting that they were already divorced the previous day.

      

      “Okay.” Leo nodded, as he walked to his car outside and drove off. He was sure she would  show up at grandpa’s house eventually. 

      

      Grandpa Eric was watering the plants in the yard when Leo came inside the compound. 

      

      Grandpa’s countenance changed when he saw Leo.  "Where is Mona?" He asked. 

      

      "I don't know," Leo said casually. "She was at home last night." He had already forgotten about their divorce. 

      

      "You're an idiot!" Grandpa yelled at him. He thought that Mona, who usually brought gifts each time they visit, must not have come today because of Leo’s cheating trending.

      

      He didn't want to yell at his grandson in front of other people, so grandpa firmly, "Come with me."

      

      After that, they both went inside the study. 

      

      "Isn’t this a romantic scandal of you with another lady?" Grandpa gave Leo a sad look. 

      

      "What scandal?" Leo asked, confused. 

      

      Grandpa threw his phone at him and yelled, "Look at it!" 

      

      Leo picked up the phone. It was an  headline of him and Sydney. 

      

      [Golden Award-winning Actress, Sydney Harlow's Mysterious Boyfriend Revealed, and It's Leo Cox. The CEO of Cox group!]"

      

      

      The picture on the headline showed him and Sydney having dinner together a few days ago in Ireland. The paparazzi got a picture of them that made it look like they were kissing passionately. But Leo was really just helping her stay balanced. 

      

      "This is nonsense," Leo said. “I..”

      

      "Get someone to delete this post right away," grandpa  said. "This issue hurts the Hunt family's and Mona’s  reputation. What will people think of her?”

      

      Leo’s face got darker as he said, "What does it have to do with her?"

      

       "You silly child!" Grandpa  picked up the teacup and flung it at him. Leo  missed the cup, which broke into fragments on the floor. 

      

      "Sydney will never marry into the Cox family!" Grandpa  hissed. “Not in my lifetime! Don't be as ungrateful as your dad!" 

      

      When his father was mentioned, Leo’s stern face finally changed, and his eyes went down to the floor. He said, "I won't." 

      

      Grandpa's face relaxed a little. 

      

      Leo left the study after talking about other things. He told his aide Nate, "Take down the tweet." After that, he drove back home.

      

       On his way home, he finally recalled that he and Mona were already divorced. He bet in three days that she was going to come back from wherever she went. She was only playing hard to get after all.

      

      When he walked in, he spotted a woman in a purple dress with her back to him. 

      

      ‘I knew she was going to come back but not this sooner….Leo thought.

      

      He cleared his throat, and said in a mocking tone, "I thought you wanted a divorce? Couldn't help but come back huh?”

      

      The woman turned around the next second. It wasn't Mona like he expected. She walked toward him, her face glowing with happiness, and shouted, "Leo!" 

      

      "What are you doing here?" Leo’s  eyes got big with confusion.

      

      It was Sydney.