All Chapters of Prime Priority: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

After arranging everything for my departure, I hung up the phone and slipped the confidential file back where it belonged.Outside the door, a familiar hint of tobacco drifted in.I looked up and realized it was Ethan Fuller, my husband.He walked in, the cold from the night still clinging to his suit.He wrapped his arms around me from behind, and his warm breath brushed against my neck. His voice was low and gentle, just like always. "Why aren't you asleep?" he asked."I was just thinking about my new jewelry auction." I smiled, forcing my tone to sound light and normal.He rested his head on my shoulder, his fingers gliding through my hair. "Honey, you've stayed up too many nights for this auction. I hired a world-class nutrition consultant for you. She'll be here tomorrow."In the five years we had been married, Ethan had spoiled me in every way imaginable.I hated the cold, so he kept warmers in his pockets at all times. I was afraid of the dark, so he never turned off t

Chapter 2

Early the next morning, Ethan was in the walk-in closet adjusting his tie.I finished putting on my lipstick and said casually, "I'm going with you to the celebration dinner tonight."His hand paused on the tie, and our eyes met in the mirror.A flicker of surprise crossed his face, but he quickly slipped back into his usual gentle tone. "Of course. Just remember there'll be a crowd. I don't want you getting tired. We'll drop off the gift and leave early."I nodded lightly, fully aware of what this meant. This was the last social event I would ever attend as his wife.…The Schmidt family's ballroom glowed with bright lights, and celebrities from across the city gathered to celebrate Vivian.I slipped into a corner with a glass of champagne to avoid the crowd, but I couldn't avoid the endless praise showered on her."Ms. Holcomb, the new jewelry designs for the auction are absolutely brilliant. Any one of them could fetch a sky-high price!""It's an honor to attend the auction

Chapter 3

The drive up the mountain was silent.Ethan's warm hand rested over mine as he said gently, "I hired your favorite five-star chef. Whatever you want for your birthday dinner, he can make it."He paused, his gaze softening. "Once things settle down, we should think about having a baby. You've always said you love kids."I didn't respond. I just watched the scenery blur past the window.He didn't know that we could have had a child long ago. But that little angel died because of the order he personally gave to the hospital staff.We hadn't driven far from the banquet when his personal phone rang.He answered the call, spoke softly, then turned back to me with an apologetic expression. "There's an urgent issue at the company. I need to go back and handle it myself."I nodded calmly. "Go ahead. Work comes first."He looked taken aback, as if wanting to explain. "Laurel, I…""It's fine. Go," I said with a small smile, nudging his arm. "I'll wait for you at the top. You promised to

Chapter 4

Ethan froze. Then, he grabbed Thomas by the collar, his voice breaking. "What did you just say?"Thomas trembled. "Mr. Fuller, M-Mrs. Fuller disappeared at the mountaintop. The last person who saw her said she was standing near the cliff. The rescue team found her watch right at the edge…""Impossible! She would never kill herself!" Ethan cut him off, sounding like his throat had been torn open."Why didn't anyone tell me that she insisted on going up alone?" he demanded.Thomas stammered, terrified. "Mr. Fuller, I called you all night. Your phone was turned off the whole time…"Ethan yanked out his phone. The screen was dead. No matter how he pressed it, it wouldn't turn on.He turned to Vivian, his eyes sharp as blades. "Did you turn off my phone?"Vivian flinched, then quickly shook her head. "Ethan, why would I ever do that? Perhaps you accidentally pressed something, or the battery ran out. You can't blame me!"She tried to look innocent, like she truly had no idea what wa

Chapter 5

That scheduled email was my final verdict on Ethan, and also my farewell to that marriage.While his world descended into chaos, I was already living in a quiet town by the sea.Everything from my past was now an ocean away.There was no Fuller Group here or Ethan.It was just a small room and a window overlooking the water.I took on a new identity—"Olivia Schmidt". The version of me who once lived cautiously as Laurel was someone I had already buried with my own hands.Here, hidden away where no one knew me, I was fully prepared to live out the rest of my life alone.At first, I spoke to almost no one. My days moved between the cafe and my little apartment.Locals treated me as a quiet outsider and kept their distance. It was precisely the kind of silence I needed.I once believed happiness was glittering jewels and effortless triumphs in high society. Now, I knew happiness could also be brewing coffee and drawing a latte heart for a sunburned traveler.A month later, I r

Chapter 6

Even though I told myself it didn't matter, curiosity still pushed me to request one final report from my contact.The contents were brief.Vivian had been abandoned by her husband and expelled from Fuller Group. In the social circles she once bragged about, she had practically vanished.Ethan had used every resource he had, searched half the world, and still found nothing.The report said he hadn't appeared in public for a long time. His personality had changed drastically, and he was no longer the man he once was.I read it expressionlessly, then deleted everything.He had begun to regret things, but I had already left his world.Every bit of affection he offered late felt like a cruel joke."Olivia, your latte art is so pretty!" The new young lady at the counter leaned over, breaking my thoughts.I slid the cup toward her and said softly, "It's just a wave pattern. Go serve it."She tilted her head, "Olivia, you seem a little sad."I froze for a second, then smiled. "I'

Chapter 7

The next morning, my contact sent me one last message on his own. It was news about Ethan with a link attached.The article said the heir of the Fuller family had not appeared in public for months, and that all corporate matters were now handled entirely by Thomas.There was a photo attached, taken secretly from afar.Ethan stood alone at the edge of a cliff, thin and hollow-eyed, with his expression empty.I stared at the picture without hatred or satisfaction, only calmness.Maybe his regret was real. But so what?I no longer wished to be the wife he used as a shield, and I refused to become the redemption he sought after waking up too late."Ms. Schmidt."The familiar voice of the regular customer sounded beside me. He had come again today. He handed me a beautifully bound folder."I'm not going," I said immediately without even looking at it."Why?" he asked. "Don't let your past trap you. Your talent deserves more than this place."I didn't answer.He sighed. "I don'

Chapter 8

"Vivian," I said calmly, my voice steady and cold. "This is a private workspace. Please leave."She let out a hysterical laugh. "Leave? Laurel, you filthy bitch! You ruined my marriage and my reputation! And now you want to act like you're above me? If not for you, I wouldn't have ended up like this!"Her eyes burned with hatred, as if she wanted to tear me apart."Even Ethan doesn't care about me anymore because of you! You bitch! You think you've won?"Before she even finished, she lunged at me, nails aimed straight for my face.I barely had a second to react before a figure stepped in front of me.It was Clayton Hickman, the cafe regular who brought me here, and the true owner of this atelier."Miss, control yourself." His grip closed around Vivian's wrist, firm and unyielding.Vivian shrieked and fought like someone completely unhinged.At that moment, the door swung open again.Several bodyguards in black surrounded a familiar figure, worn and breathless from travel. I

Chapter 9

In the private hospital suite, the doctor had already finished treating Clayton's injuries.I sat at the bedside, watching the peaceful curve of his sleeping face, and finally let myself breathe again.Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.I opened it.Ethan stood alone in the doorway with his head lowered. The confidence he once carried was completely gone."Laurel…" he rasped. "Can we… talk?"I glanced back at the sleeping Clayton, then stepped outside and closed the door behind me.He lifted his head, and his bloodshot eyes met mine. "Laurel, I was wrong. After you left, I realized how completely I had failed you."His voice trembled with guilt."I thought about how, no matter how late my meetings ended, you would wait at home to make me hangover soup. When my stomach problems got worse, you learned to make special soups just for me."I was a fool. I let Vivian blind me. I took your love for granted. I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'm only asking for a chance to

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