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Chapter 3

Author: Shiyu
The laughter on the deck stopped short.

Austin's smile vanished completely. "Divorce! Over one missed birthday?"

He lowered his voice, staring at me in disbelief. "Livia, stop it. Bianca just lost her husband. She's not stable. I can't just ignore her."

I looked at him. "What about me?"

He froze.

I'd waited two hours for him until I was numb with cold, and the first thing he did was blame me for showing up.

Austin grabbed my hand. "I messed up today, but don't bring up divorce again. We're not getting divorced."

He was about to pull me away when Bianca covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

"It's all my fault... If it weren't for me, Mr. Vance wouldn't be fighting with you. I shouldn't even be alive. All I do is cause trouble for everyone..."

Before she could finish, she collapsed onto the deck.

Ron burst into tears and threw himself at her. "Mommy! Mommy, don't die!"

The color drained from Austin's face, and he crouched down to check on her.

I stood to one side and watched the all-too-familiar scene unfold, unmoved.

All Bianca had to do was cry, and everyone would rush to her side. All Ron had to do was throw a fit, and Austin would drop me immediately.

Sure enough, Austin looked back at me, his voice pleading. "Livia, can you go home first? I'm taking her to the hospital. We'll talk once she's been taken care of."

I watched him fuss over another woman, and my chest tightened until I could barely breathe.

It hit me then: Austin had pushed me away and chosen someone else. I had no reason to hold on to a marriage that had long since gone sour. And I definitely shouldn't give up my own life for a man who no longer cherished me.

I took out my phone and called my old mentor.

"Professor, last time you asked if I wanted to join your archaeology team. I've thought it over. I'm in."

I heard the relief in my professor's voice, but I felt strangely dazed.

Five years ago, I'd given up the career I loved to help Austin build his empire. Now I understood that love shouldn't be my whole life, much less the thing that kept me trapped.

"Your flight's at ten a.m. the day after tomorrow," my professor said. "It'll be good to have you back."

I hung up and took one last look at the brightly lit cruise ship.

This time, I wasn't going to wait for Austin anymore.
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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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