When Tenderness Disperses

I couldn't remember exactly when my marriage to Brandon Schmidt started falling apart. After all, everyone in Harbor City knew that Brandon adored me to death, that he couldn't live without me. But that day, his little bird decided to come knocking at my door.The girl was pitiful to look at, like an innocent princess from a fairy tale.I had just finished dealing with two moles who tried to steal our bid documents. I personally broke one's leg with an axe and cleanly chopped off four fingers from the other. The little princess sat across from me. Just as I took the towel my bodyguard handed me and was calmly wiping the blood from my hands, she got right to the point, saying, "Bran doesn't love you anymore. If you leave on your own, it's better for everyone."I raised an eyebrow at her. "Brandon has countless women flocking around him. You're nothing special."The girl was in her late teens. She was wearing a white blouse, a light-colored pleated skirt, and canvas shoes, with her

Seven years ago, Brandon was betrayed by a trusted associate during a shipment run, losing both the cargo and being kidnapped. In Harbor City's underworld, everyone knew who was behind it.They were jealous of Brandon's meteoric rise as a "newcomer" in the business and had conspired to set him up. To humiliate Brandon, they said they would release him if I entertained their boss. We had just gotten married then and were deeply in love. Murder might end a life, but this was designed to destroy the soul.I was terrified. In the video they sent, he was covered in blood, having gone two days and nights without water, looking frighteningly pale.Eventually, I approached his enemies on my own. I knew what I would endure, but I would do anything as long as Brandon could live. Two days later, I was delivered to the hospital, barely clothed. They released Brandon as promised, but they had despicably recorded videos of everything. In the footage, I was on my knees, actively begging while

I slapped Luna across the face several times. I growled, "Was I too soft on you before? Who do you think you are?"She clutched her red, swollen face and screamed, "How dare you lay your hands on me? I'm carrying Bran's baby! He won't let you get away with this!"I grabbed her by the throat. "He can't save you, and I won't spare him either."She was powerless against me, her limbs flailing as her face turned crimson.Suddenly, a strong force pulled me away. I was held tightly in someone's arms while Luna collapsed to the floor. I knew then that Brandon and I were completely done, and I wanted them both dead....After that incident, I suffered from insomnia for two years. Every time I closed my eyes, the humiliating scenes from that day would replay in my mind like a movie. I was afraid to close my eyes, so I would just lie in bed watching the sky gradually brighten.The sun would rise, but my life had fallen into darkness. I felt dirty, a stain that Brandon couldn't erase. I h

Brandon went to Luna's hospital room and slapped her awake with one blow.Luna covered her face as tears immediately fell, her expression full of grievance. "Bran, that hurts! My neck is in so much pain—Cami was too cruel."Brandon was terrified inside, knowing that Carmelia might never forgive him. He grabbed Luna's collar and roughly yanked her up from the bed. "Who gave you the guts to find her? What did you say to her just now? She never shows her emotions that easily!"Brandon's hands were shaking; he was almost crazy with fear. Meanwhile, Luna didn't dare meet Brandon's eyes, her guilty gaze darting everywhere.She mumbled, "She came after me first. She wanted to harm our baby, and she said… She said you were lying to me, that you don't really love me, that I'm just someone you use to vent your desires." Brandon laughed bitterly. "Aren't you exactly that? Haven't you figured out what you are yet? You're just a toy! If she killed you, I'd only help her bury your body."Luna

Leona still needed some time to settle everyone. Due to Harbor City's special circumstances, I didn't have to worry about transferring assets abroad, as these matters were left to my lawyers and advisors.The company was handed over to professional managers, and I would step back from management to become a pure dividend-receiving shareholder. I finally allowed myself to relax completely.Later, I bought a lot of cat food. Behind Grandma's old house lived several chubby stray cats. Before she passed away, she fed them several times a week, and eventually, the cats brought their families and settled behind the old house. After her death, I continued to feed them weekly. The cats were usually aloof with me, but today they surprisingly gathered around my legs, affectionately rubbing their heads against me. It was as if they knew I was leaving. I petted each cat on the head, saying, "Ravioli, I'm entrusting you all to a friend. Keep being good and eating properly, and take care of yo