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Chapter 4

작가: Cocojam
In the following days, I started sorting out the division of assets.

According to New York state marriage laws, I was entitled to half of Finn’s assets acquired after the marriage.

But I only took the cash.

I gave up the mansion, the sports cars, the stocks – everything else.

Then I donated all the money to a children's cancer foundation.

Finn didn’t show up once.

Of course not. He was too busy playing knight-in-shining-suit for Elena.

So imagine my surprise when Elena herself asked to meet me—at a café near Central Park, no less.

"Victoria, can we talk?" Her tone was gentle, but I could hear she was testing the waters.

We sat across from each other, and Elena got straight to the point. "Are things okay between you and Finn?"

I took a sip of my latte and smiled faintly. "I'm moving out of New York tomorrow."

Hearing that, a flicker of poorly hidden joy crossed Elena's face.

"You're leaving? Is it because of me? Actually, Finn and I are ancient history—"

"Elena," I cut her off, looking her straight in the eye. "Even if you've moved on, he hasn't. He has all your performance videos on his phone. When he's drunk, your name is the only one he calls out. Every year on your birthday, he drinks himself into a stupor alone, until morning."

I put down my coffee cup, my voice frighteningly calm. "No matter how hard I try, I can't get into his heart. So, why keep up this ridiculous act?"

Elena was stunned. It took her a moment to process. "You... you're really getting a divorce?"

"It's all finalized. The cooling-off period ends tomorrow. From then on, Finn’s life has nothing to do with me."

I stood up to leave.

That should’ve been the end.

But fate had one more humiliation for me.

Just as I pushed the door open, a group of aggressive animal rights activists rushed towards us—they were holding signs saying "Elena Kills Innocent Animals," and they were extremely agitated.

My face changed.

I quickly locked the door again.

We were trapped in the café.

Elena frantically called Finn.

Ten minutes later, he rushed in, his suit all rumpled, looking like he’d run all the way.

Seeing Elena, he immediately said, "The only way is for you two to switch clothes. I'll take Elena out the back."

Elena turned to me, her eyes full of silent pleading.

I gave a bitter smile and took off my jacket, handing it to her.

Finn didn't even glance at me as he shielded Elena and left.

Seconds later, the protesters realized they’d been duped. They stormed in.

"That's not Elena! She's a fake!"

The angry crowd surrounded me.

Someone yanked my hair. Someone else threw hot coffee. I felt a boot slam into my ribs.

My body curled in on itself, trying to shield what I could.

It wasn’t until someone shouted “Cops are coming!” that they fled, leaving me bruised and burned on the floor.

Only a trembling waiter helped me up.

I dragged myself to the hospital, got my injuries treated, then went home to finish packing.

I was on the phone with the airline, confirming my flight, when Finn came back.

He heard me say "tomorrow morning's flight" and casually asked, "Taking a little trip?"

"Seeing some friends," I replied calmly.

He nodded. "Good, you should get out for a bit."

Then his eyes landed on my bandaged arm. “Damn, they really went after you. Sorry—I didn’t think it would get that bad.”

You didn't think?

Or you just didn't care?

I smiled faintly and didn't answer.

He walked away and disappeared into his study—probably texting Elena again, the door clicking shut like punctuation on our story.

Watching that door slowly close, I nodded to myself.

It was time.

The next morning, I got my divorce certificate.

When I got home, I ran into Finn, who was just about to leave.

"I need to tell you something," I said.

Finn glanced at his watch. "I don't have time right now, something urgent came up. Can we talk tonight?"

"Let's talk now," I said, pulling the divorce certificate from my bag and handing it to him.

He took it without looking, casually tossing it into a hall drawer. "Aren’t you going on vacation or something? No rush to come back. Enjoy yourself."

No rush?

There would be no coming back.

I dragged my suitcase out the mansion's front door.

In my heart, I said goodbye to him one last time.

Goodbye to these three demeaning years.

Goodbye, Finn.

The next time we meet, I won't be your wife.

I'll be your arch-enemy, Vicky.
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  • Ripping Off the Apron   Chapter 9

    Finn's POVIn the conference room of a downtown law firm, Finn held a pen and signed his name on the final document. The scratch of the nib on paper was the only sound in the quiet room."Mr. Cross, are you certain you wish to transfer all of your personal assets—including your law firm shares, the Mount Pleasant estate, your Mercedes sports car, and all investment portfolios, totaling $48 million—to the 'Sterling Justice Foundation'?" the notary confirmed one last time.He didn't hesitate, the pen drawing a final, decisive line. "I'm certain."As he walked out of the office, his assistant, Rebecca, ran after him, her eyes red. "Finn, what will you do now?"Finn stopped and looked toward the distant spire of the federal courthouse, feeling as empty-handed as he had when he’d first graduated."When I took my first case here three years ago," he said, his voice barely a whisper, "I had $327 in my bank account."This was just returning to where he started."Go back to the firm," he told

  • Ripping Off the Apron   Chapter 8

    Victoria's POVThe next day, at the Boston Federal Courthouse.I had just finished a hearing and was walking out of the courtroom with a determined stride. I wore a dark gray Armani suit, my hair pulled back in a sleek, low ponytail. My gaze could cut through steel. I was a world away from the meek "Mrs. Cross" of the last three years."Victoria!"The familiar voice came from behind me. My steps faltered for a fraction of a second, but I didn't turn around.Finn strode up and grabbed my wrist. "Why didn't you tell me you were Vicky?" His voice was hoarse, thick with a mixture of anger and confusion.I turned slowly, my eyes landing on his. A cool, ironic smile touched my lips."Tell you what, Finn? We were married for three years. Did you ever once ask about my job? Did you ever show any interest in my profession? You don’t even know what school I graduated from. And now you're here, demanding to know why I kept a secret?"His breath caught. My stare was arctic, as if I were loo

  • Ripping Off the Apron   Chapter 7

    Finn's POVHis fingers trembled as he zoomed in on the photo, staring at the face that was at once so familiar and yet completely alien.How is this possible? Vicky… is Victoria?But she’s… she’s just a housewife who cooks and cleans.A wave of vertigo washed over him.The woman in the photo, her eyes as sharp as a hawk’s, slowly merged with the memory of the gentle figure who made him eggs in the morning.Suddenly, a flood of overlooked details rushed back.Victoria, reading the Quarterly Business Law Review on the couch late at night, the cover crediting a feature article to "V. Sterling."Victoria’s razor-sharp analysis of Elena’s case, her perfect recall of every statute.Victoria’s casual mention that she had "handled similar cases," which he had dismissed as naive boasting.Even the legal journals on her desk, their corners marked with the initials "VS."She had never hidden who she was. He had just never bothered to see her.He had never known his own wife.The shock gave way t

  • Ripping Off the Apron   Chapter 6

    Victoria's POVThe day I got back to Boston, I went straight to my old law firm: Sterling & Associates.The moment I pushed open the glass doors, the entire office fell silent. Every head turned, faces etched with shock."Oh my God, Victoria!" my partner, Sarah, nearly spilled her latte on her keyboard. "You’re really back!""Ryan told me you were making a comeback—I thought he was joking!" another colleague, Jake, rushed over and wrapped me in a hug.I offered a faint smile, but my gaze was as sharp as it had ever been."It’s time I got back in the ring."I gave myself no time to ease back in. That same day, I took on a case that had the East Coast legal community buzzing. A Boston biotech firm was facing a hostile takeover by a Silicon Valley giant. It was a legal minefield of patent disputes, complex share structures, and international trade law.The opposition had hired an all-star team from Cravath. No one else dared to touch it.But I signed the retainer without a moment’s h

  • Ripping Off the Apron   Chapter 5

    Finn's POVFinn stood on the street below Elena’s Upper East Side apartment, a Cartier box in his hand.Inside lay the emerald necklace that Victoria had helped him choose. The afternoon sun caught the diamonds, making them glitter. But all he could see was the look in Victoria’s eyes as it had shifted from anticipation to disappointment.His knuckles were white as he gripped the box.I should go back and buy one for her, too. But he didn't know if he could ever go back.He rang the doorbell. Elena answered wearing a silk robe, a seductive smile on her face. "Finn? What a surprise!""I'm here to help you with those new scripts, remember?" he said, his mind elsewhere."Oh, right! I completely forgot," she laughed lightly. "Let me just get changed."On the way to Lincoln Center, Elena chattered excitedly about her upcoming tour, but Finn’s thoughts kept drifting.At lunch, Elena thoughtfully cut his steak and poured him a glass of red wine. "Something's on your mind.""Is it that obv

  • Ripping Off the Apron   Chapter 4

    In the following days, I started sorting out the division of assets.According to New York state marriage laws, I was entitled to half of Finn’s assets acquired after the marriage.But I only took the cash. I gave up the mansion, the sports cars, the stocks – everything else. Then I donated all the money to a children's cancer foundation.Finn didn’t show up once.Of course not. He was too busy playing knight-in-shining-suit for Elena.So imagine my surprise when Elena herself asked to meet me—at a café near Central Park, no less."Victoria, can we talk?" Her tone was gentle, but I could hear she was testing the waters.We sat across from each other, and Elena got straight to the point. "Are things okay between you and Finn?"I took a sip of my latte and smiled faintly. "I'm moving out of New York tomorrow."Hearing that, a flicker of poorly hidden joy crossed Elena's face."You're leaving? Is it because of me? Actually, Finn and I are ancient history—""Elena," I cut her off, lookin

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