Sharon asked, "Do I really disgust you that much? You clearly had strong feelings for me. I don't believe your love for me could disappear overnight. Not after two years.""I told you already," Edward said coldly. "I stopped loving you when we broke up two years ago.""I don't believe that," she shot back. "You weren't like this just a little while ago. You even kissed—"Before she could finish, Edward grabbed her jaw firmly to silence her."That was just me trying to figure out if I still had any feelings for you," he snapped. "But every time I get close to you, I only think about Macie. She's the one I love."Four days ago, he'd said he didn't love Macie. But now, he was admitting it to Sharon's face.Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her fists clenched at her sides. She hated Macie more than anything at that moment."So, you never really loved me, did you?" she cried. "That's the only way you could've moved on so fast." She continued, "Do you even know how much I loved you?
Edward turned his head, clenched his fists, and glared at Sharon. Every word out of her mouth reminded him of just how monstrous he'd been and how deeply he'd hurt Macie. Regret twisted with pain inside him. He wanted nothing more than to slap himself across the face."Ed, I know you still love me. I don't know how you ever convinced yourself you had feelings for Macie, but it's not real."When he didn't speak, she thought her words were starting to sink in. She stepped closer and continued to work him."You just weren't used to her being gone. Anyone would get attached after two years—even if it was just a dog. You simply mistook that familiarity for love."In your heart, the one you truly care about is me. Think about it. Every time I got hurt, who was the one who panicked? Who came running without a second thought?""Shut up!" Edward roared, his face twisted in fury."Do you think I can't tell the difference between loving and not loving someone? I'm not a fool. I don't need
"Macie never took me from you," Edward said. "It was Grandpa who forced her to marry me."However, Sharon didn't believe him. It wasn't as though she didn't know about Macie's feelings for Edward. She knew that Macie had liked him since high school.But, of course, Sharon would never say that out loud. After all, why would she do Macie any favors? If anything, she was hoping that the two of them would split for good."Ed, you and Macie are already divorced. It's in the past. Why don't we start over?" she persisted.Sharon has a long history with Edward. She had "known" him since high school, and they started dating in college. After all the effort she'd put into their relationship, she wouldn't give up on their relationship that easily."Who wants to start over with you? I'm not even divorced," Edward spat.He gritted his teeth and glared at her. Just hearing the word "divorce" made him tense up. He insisted that he hadn't divorced Macie."How is that possible? The paperwork was
This time, no one would offer Sharon ten million dollars to leave Edward. She'd vanish without a trace, like a filthy rat scurrying through the shadows."I admit it. I slipped the divorce agreement inside and made you sign it," she said through sobs as she crawled over and clung to his leg.After hearing her confession, his rage exploded, and he kicked her away.Sharon grunted in pain and continued through the sobs, "But it was Macie who made me do it. She doesn't love you anymore. She wanted a divorce, but you refused. She had no choice but to come to me for help."I swear. I wasn't hiding anything from you. She made me promise not to tell you. "I'm her friend. I had to help her, Ed. I had to…""Bullshit! She loves me and would never ask for a divorce," Edward shouted. He continued, "You're the one who drove a wedge between us. It's you who tricked me into signing the divorce agreement. That divorce means nothing."Edward couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't wait until tomorr
Edward was so furious that he nearly ripped the page on the spot. He couldn't even bear to look at it. His jealousy was eating him alive as his eyes burned with rage.But just as he began to rip the corner, he stopped. After all, this was Macie's diary, which held her memories. He figured that he could still use the excuse of returning it to find her.Edward was filled with jealousy. He stormed over, snatched the other half of the diary from Sharon's hands, then slammed the door shut.He couldn't bring himself to look at the diary. It had been with Macie since high school and through college. Even after they got married, she still carried it with her everywhere. He figured that she must've really liked her first love.Edward gritted his teeth. His heart was heavy with unspoken frustration and sorrow. This made him envy and hate that bastard even more.Overcome by emotion, he nearly tore the diary again. But after several moments of inner conflict, he forced himself to stop.Edwar
While walking to the master bedroom, Edward instinctively glanced at the small guest room next to it. He subconsciously turned and stepped inside.The room was empty. Macie had cleaned everything before she left, even the toothbrush and cup.She hadn't left a single trace behind. There wasn't even the slightest sign that she'd ever been here. That alone made it clear how decisively she had walked away.Edward's eyes burned with unshed tears, and his fingers curled into fists. Like a child desperate for comfort, he brought over his blanket and pillow and lay on the bed Macie used to sleep in.…Outside the neighborhood, Sharon stood there with her eyes swollen from crying after being kicked out. The property management had cleared away her belongings, and she quickly dialed her assistant, Rebecca.When Rebecca arrived and saw Sharon's disheveled and miserable loon, she had a good idea of what had happened but didn't dare ask."Not a word of this gets out. Got it? If Edward finds
As the car started moving, Macie asked, "Are you here just to pick me up?""Not exactly. I was just passing by," Julian said.She pursed her lips together. It was clear she didn't believe him."It's true. After I dropped you off last night, I realized that your place is on the same route as mine. I figured, why not swing by again this morning?" he said earnestly.Macie looked at Julian. He was dressed in a sharp black suit and had even put on cologne. He definitely looked like he'd put some effort into his appearance."Julian, I'm just going to be upfront with you," she said."If it's something I don't want to hear, then don't bother," he replied.She looked at him, sighed, and said, "You're a smart guy. I'm sure you already know what I'm thinking. So there's no need for either of us to dance around it.""Have you broken up with him?" Julian suddenly asked.Macie was taken aback. She hesitated before saying, "Yes. We broke up."To be more precise, it was a divorce. There woul
Julian fell silent at Macie's words.He wanted to know who could have her so deeply. The situation reminded him of that old saying—once bitten, twice shy. He was both curious and jealous, especially since she always rejected him so decisively."May I ask who that person is?" he asked."Sorry. I don't want to talk about it," Macie replied.This chapter of her life was one she no longer wanted to revisit. Moreover, Julian and Alice knew Edward, and talking about someone they were familiar with always felt awkward."Did you really like him that much?" Julian asked again."I've loved him for almost nine years," Macie answered.When he heard about the number of years she had devoted to this person, Julian couldn't help but feel like he had never stood a chance. It was no wonder many men had tried to win Macie's heart in college, but she never accepted any of them."You'll get over it. You're a strong person," Julian comforted her.Macie responded with a soft hum. She was already
When Macie heard that Edward had driven Sharon away, she was a little surprised. Alice was even more shocked, but Macie quickly said coldly, "I really did get divorced. He's the one who keeps pestering me. We're going to court next week." She glanced at Sharon. "Once that's over, Edward and I will have nothing to do with each other. Don't believe me? Come to the court yourself."Sharon frowned when she heard that, clearly unconvinced.What if they went to court and the divorce didn't go through? Then she would just end up being played yet again."May's right. She and that scumbag Edward are definitely getting divorced," Alice said mockingly. "You're the only one who still treats him like he's some kind of prize. No one else gives a damn. "You two had better lock it down. When you get married, I'll show up with a gift and wish you all the happiness in the world."Sharon shot Alice a glare. Wasn't this the same woman who had bragged last time that Edward was about to marry her?
Sean couldn't help but think to himself that he'd really gone too far. He wondered how he was any different from the bullies who had tormented Macie.He remembered how Macie had looked that morning with her anger held back, forced to endure his teasing with a fake smile. Meanwhile, he found it amusing, as if it were some kind of game to him.He couldn't believe what a monster he had been.Macie's quiet demeanor was the result of years of enduring suffering, with her anger only surfacing when she was pushed too far.Macie was a young woman with a vintage landscape as her profile picture—someone who had already seen the world's harshness and matured well beyond her years. And all of this was the result of childhood trauma and constant bullying. At this moment, Sean could no longer dismiss what Alice had told him. He fully believed her now. …After returning to her private office downstairs, Alice didn't dare admit to Macie how spineless she had felt. All she could do was firmly
"Stop it right now. Don't bully my friend anymore, or I swear I won't let you off easy," Alice warned. However, Sean didn't even flinch, arrogantly ignoring her threat.Alice was furious, but there was nothing she could do. She wouldn't win if she argued or fought with Sean. He could easily slap her down to the ground, and she wouldn't even be able to get back up. If anyone else had bullied Macie, she would have gone all in, but this person was Sean—her brother, the one who had always pushed her around since they were kids.Alice sighed, moving from anger to helplessness, feeling stuck and useless. She couldn't protect Macie and felt she wasn't a good friend. "Macie has already been through enough. Can't you show a little compassion? Stop bullying an innocent, vulnerable lady!" Alice tried softening her tone. "You don't know how much Macie has suffered. Do you even have an ounce of human decency?" She switched tactics, telling him everything she knew about Macie's past and th
It looked like Macie hadn't just been flustered—she'd fully entered rage monster mode. Sean could imagine her fists flew, as if they could actually do damage, even though they barely stung. He genuinely found it endearing.When Sean finished reading the last screenshot, he closed the chat and saw a new message from Alice. Her text read, "So, are you going to explain why you were flirting with my friend? "And what about the things you said to Edward last night? It sounds like you meant what you said. You weren't just playing along with me."Did you put your arm around Macie's waist? Hold her hand? You had better come clean!" Sean just typed a simple response. He typed, "Go ask her if I did that." Alice, on the other end, was speechless.Sometimes, Alice really wondered if Sean was just a brooding, black-bellied guy with an obsession with keeping things mysterious. She didn't respond right away. Instead, she stormed over to his office, yanked a chair out, and took a seat rig
Alice immediately called Macie, venting all her frustration about Sean. She cursed him as much as she could, even bringing up stories from their childhood to illustrate just how terrible he had been.Macie listened to how Alice described her miserable childhood, living under the shadow of Sean, enduring various "torments".As Alice spoke, Macie couldn't help but picture that insufferable face, and she felt that it wasn't surprising he could do such things. If he treated his own sister that way, what would he do to her? Indeed, some people's bad habits formed when they were young. Macie felt sympathy for Alice, and what started as one person venting turned into a united front, two people joining in on the complaints."Ugh, my brother's the worst. When we were kids, he ripped the ears off my plush bunny, and then claimed it was the turtle pillow that did it." Alice continued, venting, "I love cake, but I got cavities. He'd eat it right in front of me and mock me for not being able
Not far from Macie's workstation, Lily had been listening to their conversation, especially when Macie, with a hint of pride, casually mentioned her good relationship with Sean. Lily's fists tightened, and a flash of hatred and jealousy crossed her eyes. There was also a sense of helplessness and resentment. Julian hadn't fired her, but had only made her apologize publicly in the company's group chat, and now this happened.Macie was not only Alice's friend, but she also had a close relationship with Sean. Moreover, Julian clearly favored Macie, openly confessing his admiration for her.Macie's relationships within the department would only be stronger. Her promotion to team leader would only be a matter of time. Lily had crossed her, and sooner or later, she'd be the one getting sidelined. Lily was already worried about her future and deeply regretted causing trouble for Macie on her first day. She shouldn't have tried to embarrass her last night either. At her desk, with ju
Now that Macie knew who Sean was, she was sure she wouldn't just sit there and take it like she did that day if he ever visited again."It's my fault. I didn't know that Mr. Hart and Macie had a history," Palmer said, breaking the silence."I didn't know either," Macie replied, her voice tight. "And even if I had known, I still wouldn't have recognized Sean. I would've gone to the meeting, and I'd have still been bullied."She clenched her fists, anger rising inside her. She didn't owe Sean anything. Indeed, the two companies were collaborating, but she couldn't understand why he should make her his personal target.Still, she couldn't care less now. She would let him think whatever he wanted. He was the one who crossed the line first. Back in the design department, only Macie and Palmer remained. Palmer, still curious, asked, "Macie, did you offend Mr. Hart?" That seemed to be the only explanation for Sean's strange behavior that day. Although there had been some "tension" bet
Macie managed to hold back her anger, reminding herself that Sean was a client and that her supervisor had emphasized how important this collaboration was.Sean smiled at her. He was still watching Macie, who was silently glaring at him. He then casually pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it to her.Macie glanced down at the card. Despite not wanting to take it, she accepted it out of politeness and flipped it over to read it.In bold, gold letters, it read, "Chief Executive Officer, Hart Group."Macie froze for a moment when she read "Hart Group". She was familiar with the name because it was Alice's family's company. And then, her eyes landed on Sean's printed name. She began to wonder if he was related to Alice.Suddenly, she looked up, her gaze shifting toward the elevator. No wonder he had seemed familiar—she now realized his features resembled Alice's.The answer was almost painfully obvious.Inside the elevator, Sean stood in front of his employees, smili
Macie clenched her fists, gritting her teeth as she took two steps forward and said, "You say five minutes, then five minutes it is. There's no need to bother the technician." She tried to remain calm, though inside she felt a little flustered. The idea that Sean would actually want to check the security footage over something so trivial seemed ridiculous. However, the fact that Sean was so insistent, almost as if he were out to get her, left her feeling uneasy. Sean, sensing her discomfort, stepped to the side and casually said, "Ms. Smith, you were so adamant in denying it earlier. Let's just check the footage anyway. I said I'd apologize if I were wrong. You have my word as a man." He was so precise with the timing, down to the second, and had even given her his solemn word. Macie couldn't help but snap. She looked up at him and, unable to hold back her anger anymore, said, "Then shouldn't you be apologizing to me for what happened that night?"I already explained everythin