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Chapter 2

Author: Shiyu
The next afternoon, Austin finally came home.

He came toward me with a bouquet of white roses. "Happy birthday, sweetheart. I'm sorry I wasn't with you last night. Meet me on the cruise ship at the harbor at eight tonight. I've got a surprise you're going to love."

He leaned down to kiss me.

I smelled that sickly sweet floral perfume on him again. It wasn't mine. I turned my head away.

He paused, then smiled and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Still mad? I'll make it up to you tonight."

The number above Austin's head still glared at me, but this might be the last birthday we'd spend together.

I wanted one last good memory so I could end our marriage with some dignity. So I nodded.

When I got to the harbor, the water was empty. There wasn't a cruise ship in sight, or even a decent yacht.

The cold wind whipped in off the sea and stung my face.

I stood under a streetlight with my arms wrapped around myself, coming up with one excuse after another. Maybe there's a last-minute inspection. Maybe he's still on his way. Maybe...

Eight o'clock came and went.

Then nine.

There was still no ship in sight, and my last bit of hope faded.

I called Austin. He didn't pick up until the third try.

"Livia?" He sounded as if he'd only just remembered, panic creeping into his voice. "I'm sorry. I had everything set up, but Bianca went missing by the water. I sent every boat I could to look for her. Go home. I'll make it up to you another day, I promise."

I could hear a child crying in the background and people updating him on the search.

My fingertips were numb from the cold, but I suddenly laughed.

Bianca again.

On Valentine's Day, she said she was having a breakdown. On our engagement anniversary, she took her son to the hospital. And now, on my birthday, she just happened to go missing.

I used to feel sorry for her after she lost her husband. I never held it against her, and I even went out of my way to help. But every one of her crises happened on a day that mattered to Austin and me.

And every time, Austin chose her.

"Okay."

After I hung up, I walked along the harbor. The wind made my eyes burn. As I passed a row of warehouses, I saw the luxury cruise ship meant for my birthday.

The ship was brightly lit, with a birthday cake and champagne set out on the deck.

Austin was holding Ron, letting the boy smear frosting on his face. This was a neat freak who couldn't stand even a wrinkle in his shirt, yet he was laughing without a hint of annoyance.

Bianca sat to one side with Austin's suit jacket around her shoulders, watching them fondly.

In that moment, my mind went blank. Every sound around me disappeared.

Watching the three of them play happy family made my chest ache.

Ron was smearing frosting from my birthday cake all over Austin, as if it were Austin's birthday instead of mine. My name was written on the cake, beside a candle shaped like my favorite number.

They'd taken my ship, my cake, my birthday.

They'd even taken my husband's tenderness.

Bianca saw me first. Her smile froze, but she quickly put on an innocent look.

"Ms. Sinclair, I'm so sorry for ruining your birthday." She stood up, her eyes red and that white floral perfume clinging to her. "I just wanted to clear my head by the water. I never thought Mr. Vance would worry so much."

She apologized, but kept her eyes on Austin, as if to remind me he'd even miss my birthday for her.

Only then did Austin notice me. He hurried over, took my hand, and tucked my ice-cold fingers inside his shirt. "How long have you been waiting? Why didn't you go home?"

I looked at Ron, still in Austin's arms and making faces at me, then at the jacket draped over Bianca's shoulders.

"Didn't you say tonight was my birthday party?"

His fingers went stiff. "Livia, I can explain. Something really did come up today..."

"Don't bother." I pulled my hand away, digging my nails into my palm. I looked him straight in the eye. "Let's get a divorce."
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  • When My Husband's Number Hit Zero, I Left   Chapter 17

    Livia's POVAfter the divorce, Austin sank into regret and emptiness.He could barely sleep. Even when exhaustion overtook him, he'd jolt awake from dreams of watching me walk away.In his dreams, he could never catch up to me.Each time he woke, reality felt even crueler than his dreams.He'd once had countless chances to win me back. He'd used them all up.Eventually, he stopped trying to find me.Austin returned to his old city and sorted out what remained of his businesses. He put the money he could legally use into a program that offered temporary housing and support to people who were homeless or struggling.At first, he just wanted something to fill the emptiness in his life.Only after he got involved did he begin to understand: helping someone didn't give him the right to cross their boundaries. It didn't mean they had to go along with his plans, either.He'd claimed he was looking after Bianca and Ron, but he'd brushed off my feelings again and again and confused his responsi

  • When My Husband's Number Hit Zero, I Left   Chapter16

    Livia's POVIt was time for me to leave.The archaeology project here was nearly finished, and I was preparing to head farther north for a new assignment. But since the divorce agreement had been revised, I had to sign it in person before I left.My brother called and offered to handle everything under a power of attorney so I wouldn't have to make the trip.I said no.Hearing Austin's name again didn't stir anything in me.Maybe this was fate. We'd already used up all our meetings. Even in the same city, our paths would never cross again.And that was exactly how it went.When Austin found out I would sign the agreement at the courthouse in person, he saw one last chance.He left before dawn. Afraid something might go wrong along the way, he wouldn't even let a driver take him. He walked to the courthouse alone.Halfway there, it suddenly started pouring.Rain soaked his clothes and dripped from his hair, but he kept walking.By the time he finally got near the courthouse, the rain ha

  • When My Husband's Number Hit Zero, I Left   Chapter 15

    Livia's POVAfter the attack, Bianca was arrested for assault.To get out of the charges, she claimed she was mentally ill. But Austin looked into it and found that her so-called condition was just another act."Every time Livia and I had plans, you found a way to lure me away," Austin said. He threw the fake diagnosis on the table and glared at her. "You lied to me from the start."For once, Bianca had nothing to say.Then her eyes reddened, and she gave him that pitiful look again."I lost my husband. I just wanted a little attention, someone Ron and I could lean on. Is that so wrong?"Austin clenched his fists."If you wanted money or a stable life, I could have given you both. Why did you have to destroy my marriage to Livia?"Bianca stared at him, then laughed until she cried."Don't act innocent, Austin. If you loved her so much, why didn't you turn me down even once? If you'd had any self-control, could I have climbed into your bed wearing Livia's nightgown?""Shut up." Austin w

  • When My Husband's Number Hit Zero, I Left   Chapter 14

    Livia's POVThe scandal quickly reached me.Comments flooded my personal account.[Ms. Sinclair, as the wife your husband abandoned, is there anything you'd like to say?][Someone's leaked that your husband ran smuggling routes. Did you know? Did you take part in the smuggling for your own gain?][Is your work in archaeology, exploring underwater shipwrecks, also about making money?]The loaded questions just kept coming.My brother helped me release a public statement saying I was in the process of divorcing Austin.We also released my financial records to show I'd never used my work for personal gain."The academic conference is tomorrow, and this is getting out of hand," said Bjorn Larsen, the head of our archaeology team. "Should I ask the professor to reschedule?"I shook my head."I haven't done anything wrong. I'm not going to hide from the cameras or the public."Bjorn didn't argue. "Do what you need to do. I'll beef up security. Someone will be right behind you the whole time.

  • When My Husband's Number Hit Zero, I Left   Chapter 13

    But it was far from over.As the archaeology project progressed, Livia's expertise drew attention across the field, and she was fast becoming one of its most talked-about young archaeologists.At the same time, the story of her marriage to Austin and their split became public.Intimate photos of Austin and Bianca began appearing online: Austin carrying her into a hospital, taking in the night view with her and Ron on a cruise ship, renting her an expensive apartment, even kissing her outside the estate.Public outrage spread fast.Some accused Austin of betraying his wife. Others suspected he'd had a trusted crewman killed so he could have the man's wife. Rumors even claimed Ron was his son with Bianca.Soon, the crew summoned Austin to an emergency board meeting.The scandal had enraged several board members. The smuggling routes Austin controlled had drawn police attention, and their partners were wavering. Worse, even his longtime men had begun to wonder if he'd betrayed one of thei

  • When My Husband's Number Hit Zero, I Left   Chapter 12

    Livia's team was staying in the area for a while longer, so Austin stayed too.He learned that Livia was due to attend an academic conference and paid a fortune for a ticket.He didn't care what the conference was about. He just wanted to see her with his own eyes.But just before Livia went in, her project team called. They'd made a major breakthrough at the site, and she had to return at once. Her assistant would attend in her place.When Austin heard, his face fell.He rushed out. The elevator was taking too long, so he took the stairs, racing all the way down. By the time he reached the parking lot, Livia's car was disappearing at the end of the road."Go after her!" he barked at the men behind him.His men's cars sped after her, but by the next intersection, Livia's car was long gone.Austin stood in the rain, breathing hard, the ticket crushed in his hand.So close.He'd rehearsed what he'd say, but he hadn't even had the chance to speak.Rain streamed down his face. He wondered

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