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Chapter 6

Author: Shiyu
The next day, Austin's parents held a party at their estate and insisted that we both come.

He hugged me. "Bianca and Ron have moved out. Please don't be mad anymore, okay?"

I didn't want to go, but Austin's parents had always been good to me. I decided to treat it as my chance to say goodbye.

With that in mind, I agreed.

At the party, Austin was busy talking with important guests. He'd left his phone with me, and it chimed several times.

I glanced at it and froze. The messages were from Bianca.

"Ron misses you so much, and so do I."

"The way you made me feel that night was amazing..."

"I'm right outside the estate. I took one of Livia's lace nightgowns when I left this morning. I'm wearing it right now. It's such a thrill..."

Every suggestive word burned itself into my mind.

I stared at the photo she'd attached for a few seconds, my fingers going cold.

Austin had given in to temptation after all. He'd cheated on me.

When I gave Austin his phone back, his eyes caught on the messages for a split second. He swallowed and looked away as if nothing had happened, but his thumb kept rubbing the edge of the case.

Sure enough, before long, Austin walked over to me.

"Livia, Mr. Ashford and I have some business to talk about. I have to step out for a bit. Will you be okay on your own?"

His voice was as gentle as ever, as though some urgent business really were waiting for him.

I almost laughed out loud.

He probably thought that as long as his lies were good enough, I'd believe him forever.

I didn't call him out. I just nodded.

I watched him weave through the crowd and leave the ballroom, then grabbed my coat and followed.

Bianca was waiting outside the estate. As soon as Austin saw her, he hurried over.

Austin pulled her into a deserted corner, and Bianca threw herself into his arms and tilted her head up to kiss him.

At first he pushed her back and warned her quietly, "Bianca, I told you today's party is important. You shouldn't be here."

But his breathing quickened, and seconds later, he bent down and kissed her.

I stopped at the corner and watched them cling to each other.

I'd thought I'd be furious, that I'd storm out and confront them, that I'd throw every bit of the humiliation back in their faces.

But when I actually saw it, all I felt was disgust.

I'd thought he was the exception fate had given me. I'd believed in his love, his patience, and the "∞" that promised we'd meet countless times.

I'd already decided to divorce him, but before I left, he gave me one last gift: he destroyed every good memory we had left.

I turned and walked away. The number above Austin's head changed to "one."
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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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