Desmond Harrison was cheating on her.

Guadalupe Melton stood outside the CEO's office, frozen in place, still reeling from the dirty secret she had just uncovered.

Her black high heels seemed to blend into the black-veined marble floor.

After what felt like an eternity, she knocked on the door.

"Come in." A deep male voice rang out.

Clutching the files, Guadalupe opened the door with her other hand and forced a smile.

She strolled over to his side and asked, "Are you busy? I got a few files needing your signature right away."

Though she asked so, she had placed the files in front of him and even flipped to the pages where he needed to sign.

Desmond had just gotten back from a business trip to Thuoria that morning.

Right after he got off the plane, he headed to the office. There was a stack of files on his desk, fatigue etched on his face. So he signed without even looking at the files Guadalupe handed him.

"Thanks," Guadalupe said.

Then she put away the files he had signed and asked as usual, despite knowing his answer, "Are you coming home for dinner tonight?"

"I've got something to do. Don't wait up," he answered without looking up.

"Alright. I'll get out of your hair now."

She nodded and turned around, her smile turning into a sneer.

As she walked by the attached lounge in the office, she heard faint sounds from inside, like a kitten or a puppy jumping off the bed.

Her gaze flicked to the coffee table, only to see several packs of snacks and a half-empty cup of hot chocolate. And there was a toppled pink high heel on the floor...

She realized something instantly, her heart sinking to the bottom.

Then she came back to her office.

It felt as if the way back to her office had exhausted her. As she sat down, she let out a sigh.

Then she pulled out a file from those Desmond had just signed—a divorce agreement.

She flipped to the last page, her fingers tracing over his signature as a bitter smile tugged at her lips. Meanwhile, memories flooded her mind...

Back then, when Desmond said he wanted to marry her, he looked so firm and affectionate. Desmond's mom Elyse Garza, however, scoffed and told her not to get carried away, as no man would stick to one woman forever. Guadalupe insisted that Desmond was different.

But she was terribly wrong.

He thought he hid his affair well, enjoying the thrill of it all. In fact, he took his mistress together with him on this business trip.

He even brought her back here.

Guadalupe withdrew her finger, took a photo of Desmond's signature on the divorce agreement, and sent it to Elyse with two words, "He signed."

One week ago, they had struck a deal.

Elyse asked her to initiate the divorce and not to tell the others about her secret marriage with Desmond, and she requested 150 million dollars from Elyse as compensation.

A month later, Desmond would be a total stranger to her.

A knocking snapped Guadalupe back to reality.

She put away the divorce agreement and said, "Come in."

It was Desmond's assistant, Harold Osborne.

"Ms. Melton, Mr. Harrison asked me to give you this." Harold placed a dark green velvet box in front of her.

She opened it and saw a set of expensive diamond jewelry inside. Instantly, a photo flashed across her mind. A short-haired girl in a bathrobe had a diamond necklace in her hand, her eyes hazy. Behind her, the light was dim, and the bed was messy. Her chest was covered with hickeys, indicating wild sex.

Guadalupe felt sick.

"Thanks, Harold."

She looked up at him, her gaze as sharp as a blade.

Harold couldn't help but shiver.

"Mr. Harrison picked them for you. It's unique," he instinctively added.

Too bad Desmond's heart wasn't as exclusive.

And she didn't want a cheater.

She smiled, "Oh, is that so? How touching. He managed to buy me a gift when he's so swamped?"

Harold thought, "Something is off. Could it be that she has already known about Mr. Harrison and Ms. Graham..."

He broke out in a cold sweat and strode out of her office.

Guadalupe looked at the jewelry on her desk with disdain, like it had germs on it. Then she took out her phone, took a photo of them, and sent it to a second-hand luxury dealer.

She texted him, "Sell this set of jewelry for me. And donate the money to FCIDD."

The dealer was puzzled upon seeing her text.

***

At 5 p.m., Guadalupe went to the parking lot.

She was about to open her car door when she caught sight of another vehicle across from hers.

It had already started, and through the car window, she saw Desmond in the back seat as well as that short-haired girl sitting next to him. The woman had a round, cute face, brimming with exuberance.

"Mr. Harrison!"

Harold was so frightened that he slammed on the brakes.

Through the air and the glass, Guadalupe and Desmond locked eyes.

Desmond's eyes were deep.

And Guadalupe's eyes were devoid of any emotion.

The atmosphere in the parking lot was oppressive to the extreme.

Looking at Guadalupe, Belinda Graham didn't distance herself from Desmond at all. Instead, she became even more presumptuous; she even wrapped her arm around his neck and leaned to his ear, whispering something.

Guadalupe's eyes were stung by the scene.

She averted her gaze, got into her car, and drove away, not glancing in their direction again.

No longer after she arrived home, the sound of a car came from downstairs.

As she stood in front of the glass cabinet in the cloakroom, taking off her necklace, Desmond stood behind her. His body was tall and beefy, and she felt his powerful aura at once.

He propped his hands against the cabinet, leaned closer to her, and looked at her face. "Are you upset?"

She put away the necklace unhurriedly and said flatly, not looking at him even once, "I'm so upset that I wanna murder someone. You better watch out."

Remaining silent for a while, he said, "The Graham family wants to develop the Project 'Polaris' together with us. I've been in contact with Caleb lately. He's the family's eldest son. Ms. Graham is his sister."

She said sarcastically, "Oh, so he won't work with you unless you're together with her?"

He was rendered speechless for a few seconds before he said, sounding angry, "Guadalupe, I'm explaining to you. Stop throwing shade at me."

"You don't need to explain." Finally, she tilted her head to look at him, her gaze so icy and pure that he felt as if she could see through him. "Desmond, if you're fed up with being with me and want a new hostess for this family, I can step down."

Desmond pulled a long face at once. "What did you say?"

She sighed, "I mean, we can get a divorce."

Then she pushed him away.

As she was about to walk away, he forcibly pulled her back, pinched her chin, and warned her, "Don't even think about it."

She remained silent.

She thought about it and even did it.

She no longer wanted him.

Desmond stayed until late at night. After receiving a call, he left. Guadalupe clearly heard a delicate female voice on the other end of the line, and it seemed the woman was crying.

The next morning, Guadalupe's divorce lawyer and friend sent her a screenshot of Belinda's latest update. In the photo were two hands, one big and one small, making a heart shape on the mountaintop in the early hours of the morning. The caption read, "We feel each other's heartbeat in the tender sunrise."

Guadalupe recognized right away that the big hand was Desmond's.

She sat in situ, holding the glass of water for a long, long time.

As she put it down, a crisp sound rang out. She felt as if a piece of her heart had been stripped away.

For the next several days, Desmond never came home.

They only met at the company's meetings. He sat in the main seat, and she sat on one side of the table together with other higher-ups. They barely had any eye contact.

And she never came upstairs to see him.

When she had some free time, she'd browse and view houses as well as get rid of the gifts Desmond had given her, including the first-anniversary gift, birthday gifts, Valentine's Day gifts, and wedding gifts... She even sold her wedding ring.

Since she no longer wanted to be with him, anything related to their relationship meant nothing to her.

At night, the owner of Rhodax Group, Ciara Orozco, invited her to hang out at a club.

It was almost 11 p.m., and she wanted to say no at first. Yet, after she divorced Desmond and left Zenith Group, she'd need connections to start up her own business, so she eventually agreed.

She saw Ciara the moment she entered the club.

"Ciara, I could have gone up myself. You don't have to wait for me here at all," she said.

Ciara linked arms with her enthusiastically and entered the elevator together with her. "I was worried you'd get lost. You've never been here before, right?"

Indeed, it was the first time she had been here.

After they went upstairs, Ciara led her into a big private room with a big screen in the middle, dividing the private room into two halves.

Upon entering, Guadalupe noticed quite a lot of people on the other side of the screen. But instead of taking her to them, Ciara led her to the side where there was only one woman.

Guadalupe felt that the woman looked somehow familiar; it seemed she was the girlfriend of one of Desmond's buddies. The woman recognized Guadalupe, too. Though noticing the uneasy look on Guadalupe's face, she still smiled at Guadalupe.

After Guadalupe took off her coat and sat down, Ciara walked out of the room.

Guadalupe picked up a beverage and took a sip. The chatter of those people on the other side of the screen reached her ears; to her surprise, she heard her name.

"Hey, has anyone realized Desmond no longer takes Guadalupe when hanging out with us?"

"Is that surprising? Ms. Graham is so young and cute. He never goes anywhere without her; he dotes on her so much."

"Finally. After all these years, Desmond has changed his taste."

"Guadalupe is pretty indeed, but they've been together for eight years already. I bet he's sick of her."

"She's such a fool. It turns out those years being with him are just a waste of her time. What do you say I make a pass at her? Gee, I've been coveting her slender waist for years."

Their voices were filled with ridicule.

Guadalupe's gaze turned icy.

She recognized two people's voices; they were Desmond's friends who were always friendly towards her.

The woman sitting next to Guadalupe was so awkward that she didn't dare to look at Guadalupe. Seeing that Guadalupe stood up, she figured Guadalupe was going to leave.

However, Guadalupe cleared her throat, picked up the glass, and walked toward the other side of the screen. She then leaned against the screen and said leisurely, joining their conversation, "Guys, that's not fair, is it? Desmond was a virgin before he was with me. Don't you think I've used him to satisfy my physical needs without paying him a penny for eight years?"

The room immediately fell deadly silent.

Everyone on the couch gawked at her.

As she said this, two slender men happened to walk into the room.

They looked at her and then shifted their gazes to those men behind her, totally dumbfounded.

Desmond stood behind Guadalupe, his expression icy.

Noticing those people's gazes, Guadalupe turned around.

Then she saw Desmond.

She glanced at him and turned around to look at Belinda sitting on the couch. When she first showed up, Belinda crossed her legs, twirling her hair around her finger, looking smug.

But the grin on Belinda's face was gone. Now, she looked so sullen as if she wanted to strangle Guadalupe on the spot.

Guadalupe realized Belinda and Desmond were hanging out with their friends here. Judging from their conversation, it had happened more than once. It turned out the two had already made their appearances in public as a couple; they didn't bother to hide their affair at all.

Desmond walked over to her.

At the same time, those people came back to their senses.

"Guadalupe, sorry. We were just blabbering. None of that was true."

"Guadalupe, there's nothing going on between Desmond and Ms. Graham."

"Guadalupe, don't take our words seriously."

Desmond grabbed Guadalupe's wrist and was about to drag her out.

In the next second, she splashed the beverage on his face.

Immediately, the room fell deadly silent again.

Everyone felt a chill running down their spine; they had no idea Guadalupe was this bold.

She broke the silence, saying softly with a smile, "Continue to have fun with your darling, Desmond. I'll get out of your hair."

Then she lowered her head, trying to break free from his grip.

Desmond's expression darkened to the utmost; he picked her up, carried her onto his shoulder, and walked outside.

The people in the room were all slack-jawed.

Then went to the hallway, and Guadalupe was struggling hard on Desmond's back.

The elevator happened to arrive at this floor.

As he walked into the elevator and turned around, she saw a pair of black leather shoes of fine quality. As she looked up, a pair of long legs wrapped in black suit trousers as well as a pair of fair hands came into view. Each finger was slender, with distinct knuckles.

The quiet atmosphere was tinged with embarrassment.

As Desmond stepped out of the elevator, she couldn't help but look up, only to meet a pair of sharp, deep, and charming eyes.

Feeling awkward, she lowered her head while covering her face.

Desmond dragged Guadalupe out of the club.

He tossed her into the back seat of the car and sat next to her.

Feeling dizzy, Guadalupe climbed up. She had been hung upside down for so long; coupled with being tossed into the car by him, she felt she was getting a concussion.

Desmond took some wet tissues from the glove box to wipe his face.

Guadalupe keenly noticed something that looked like a condom behind the tissue box when he questioned her, "Why are you here? To catch me in the act?"

She opened the car door to get out.

Being in here sickened her.

"Guadalupe!" Irritated, Desmond grabbed her back. "Where are you going? Cut it out! My patience is wearing thin."

Her breathing was a bit rapid as she pinched her palm. "I wanna go home."

Desmond asked Harold, who was standing at the club entrance, to drive.

On the way, neither Desmond nor Guadalupe said anything. She sat far away from him, her face pale, seemingly as if she might throw up at any second.

Once they arrived, she got out of the car right away.

It wasn't until she gulped down a whole glass of ice water in the kitchen that she finally felt better.

As she walked out, she saw Desmond sitting in the living room. She walked over and sat down, too.

After a long time of suffocating silence, Desmond spoke first, "I was there to discuss a project. You rushed there and made a scene, which embarrasses me a lot. You've made a tit of yourself and are no different from a shrew. Haven't you realized that?"

"Is that all you wanna say to me?" she asked calmly.

He continued, "If you want things between us to work, stop being paranoid. I don't have time for your ridiculous suspicions."

She nodded. "Noted. Anything else?"

He frowned. After a few seconds, he said, "Guadalupe, do you know how annoying you are right now?"

She stood up, smiling while thinking, "You won't feel annoyed soon."

She went upstairs.

Her smile irritated Desmond even more. He sat in the living room for a while and went upstairs back to the bedroom, only to find she had already slept.

He took a shower and lay down beside her.

In the darkness, she had her back facing him. She moved further to the side of the bed, making sure her body wouldn't touch his no matter what.

He hugged her from behind and forcibly pulled her into his arms, his movements tinged with fury.

He was tall and beefy, and since he had exerted a bit of force, she couldn't move at all.

She spent the night stiffly.

In the morning, she made breakfast only for herself.

Desmond came downstairs and saw her sitting in the dining room eating alone. He was about to head to the door, but then he turned around, walked to her, leaned to her ear, and coaxed her, his tone soft, "Let's go out on the boat this weekend. Just the two of us."

While drinking milk, Guadalupe nodded nonchalantly.

On Friday, he stood her up again, saying he had to fly to Crowham.

She wasn't surprised; in fact, she didn't feel a thing.

Maybe it hadn't occurred to him. The truth was, it had been ages since they last ate together or even spent some time together. He said divorce was out of the question, but he had already treated her as someone not important at all. If she disappeared one day, she seriously doubted if he'd care.

On the weekend, she took her books from the bookshelf, put them in the suitcase, and took them to her new home.

Just as she was placing her books, Elyse called her, which was a rare thing.

She picked up and said politely, "Hello, Madam Harrison."

Elyse snorted haughtily and then said, "Come back. We should put what we discussed before in writing."

She asked, "Is that really necessary?"

Elyse said, "If I say so."

"Fine. I'll go back this afternoon," she answered.

Yet, Elyse wasn't satisfied. "Come back at noon."

"Fine," she agreed, figuring that she didn't have anything else to do anyway.

On the other end of the line, Elyse was standing on the second floor, looking at Desmond taking a walk with Belinda in the garden happily.

Elyse was determined to let Guadalupe know Belinda was the one for Desmond; they were a perfect match.

Guadalupe arrived at the Harrison's manor at around 11:40 a.m.

The housekeeper was very surprised to see her.

He knew they were expecting another guest, but little did he know it was Guadalupe. Thinking that Desmond and Belinda were in the living room right now, he felt his back covered in a cold sweat.

Other than Desmond and Guadalupe's parents, only trusted subordinates such as Harold and the housekeeper knew Guadalupe and Desmond were married.

"This way, Mrs. Harrison," the housekeeper said.

He had no choice but to follow Elyse's instructions and lead the way for Guadalupe.

Before they entered the living room, a sweet, coquettish voice rang out. "I won again. Des, you deliberately let me win, didn't you?"

Guadalupe stopped in her tracks.

Her mind went blank for a second, but she soon figured out what was going on.

Letting out a sneer, she walked inside.

As she had planned on moving her books, she didn't wear any makeup today, and she dressed casually. She was wearing a loose white T-shirt and jeans, her long hair tied up loosely with a hairband.

Yet, she still was strikingly beautiful with her fair skin and rosy lips, and the few wisps of hair that fell by her ears added a touch of allure to her beauty.

Desmond was in the living room. Upon seeing her, he was stunned. "Why are you..."

"Elyse asked me to come here." She looked calm, her eyes tinged with sarcasm. "Weren't you supposed to be in Crowham? Even magicians couldn't pull this off."

Desmond said nothing, a trace of guilt flashing across his eyes.

Belinda, who was sitting on the couch, walked over to Guadalupe and extended her hand provocatively. "Hello there. I'm Belinda."

Guadalupe didn't even glance at her as if she hadn't existed at all.

Just then, Elyse walked in.

She glanced at Guadalupe and then held Belinda's hand, smiling kindly while saying, "Are you happy today, Linda? Feel free to think of this place as your own home."

Then she introduced Guadalupe to Belinda, "This is Ms. Melton, the manager of Zenith Group. I asked her to be here for business."

Everyone knew Guadalupe was with Desmond, but Elyse introduced her merely as the company's employee. Her implication was clear; she didn't want Guadalupe to be part of the family at all. Meanwhile, she was hinting to Belinda that Guadalupe didn't stand in the way at all. The Graham family and the Harrison family could perfectly be united by marriage.

Belinda raised her face proudly. "She's just a company's employee? I see."

Ignoring Elyse and Belinda, Guadalupe started at Desmond quietly.

She wanted to know what his reaction would be.

He remained looking indifferent all this time, showing no intention of speaking up for her at all.

Didn't he know Elyse and Belinda were giving Guadalupe a hard time? He knew, of course. He simply didn't care how embarrassed she was.

"Madam Harrison, you wanted to discuss business with me, didn't you? How about we discuss it here?" She turned to look at Elyse.

Elyse said, "That can wait. We'll talk about it some other day. Since you're here, why don't you eat with us?"

"I'll pass. I've got something to do." Guadalupe turned to leave.

Elyse snapped, "I'm your elder, and I said, stay and eat with us. What's that attitude? You've got no manners at all."

Guadalupe turned back and stared at Elyse for a while, her gaze cold. "OK. I'll stay and eat with you. Don't regret this."

She then walked over and chose a single seat.

Belinda sat next to Desmond matter-of-factly and wrapped her arms around his arm. "Des, let's continue to play chess."

Yet, Desmond pulled out his arm and looked at Guadalupe.

"Ms. Melton, do you know how to play chess?" Belinda looked at Guadalupe.

Guadalupe glanced at the chess made of excellent material on the coffee table. At first glance, she could tell they were playing Five in a Row, which was practically child's play, but Desmond actually lost to Belinda.

It turned out Desmond still knew exactly how to please a woman; it was just she wasn't the woman he wanted to please anymore.

She looked up at Desmond, sneering coldly, "Yeah. Ms. Graham, do you wanna play?"

Desmond seemed a bit annoyed. He looked at Guadalupe, warning her with his eyes.

Meanwhile, Belinda reset the board confidently. "Ms. Melton, take your pick. Do you want black or white?"

Guadalupe took the white pieces. "You may have a head start with the black pieces."

Feeling being looked down upon, Belinda gritted her teeth and made the first move.

As they played, Elyse noticed that Belinda had been playing methodically, while Guadalupe's moves made no sense at all. She favored Belinda to begin with, so she didn't bother to observe the board. Instead, she turned to Desmond, saying to him with her eyes, "See? Belinda is the true well-bred daughter of a prestigious family."

Desmond, however, had no reaction at all.

Soon, both Belinda and Guadalupe had made several moves. Every time Belinda felt that she was about to win, Guadalupe always managed to stop her, and she couldn't help but feel a bit irritated. She told herself it was OK; after all, Guadalupe hadn't won either. At worst, it would be a draw.

She snorted deep down, finding it humiliating to reach a draw with Guadalupe.

"Your turn," Guadalupe said.

Belinda had already placed three pieces in an unnoticed corner. One more piece, and she'd win.

She pretended to be calm and placed a piece. Then she looked at Guadalupe, worried that Guadalupe would stop her again. To her relief, Guadalupe placed her piece somewhere else. Seeing this, she got carried away and shouted, "I won!"

Elyse immediately applauded, happy for her.

Yet, in the next second, Guadalupe started to pick up the pieces one by one slowly.

Only then did Elyse and Belinda see Guadalupe's pieces had formed a row of five.

Their faces turned pale at once.

Guadalupe picked up the remaining two pieces.

Five in a Row was a one-win game, but Belinda wasn't willing to admit defeat. To save face, she said unreasonably, "You won first, but I've got five pieces. I won, too."

She put another piece next to her pieces which had forced a row of four after saying this.

Guadalupe was rendered speechless. She looked at Belinda for a few seconds as if looking at a fool and then said, "According to you, I can continue, too, right?"

Then she placed another piece on the board and formed another row of five.

In the following minute, she took almost all the pieces on the board and made sure Belinda couldn't get another piece at all.

Belinda's expression changed. She insisted on having another round.

They played again and again.

Guadalupe either played with her unhurriedly while savoring the victory or played with accuracy and ruthlessness and won her very soon, humiliating her to the utmost.

Belinda was so frustrated and furious that she cried.

"Enough."

Desmond took Guadalupe's box of pieces, his expression chillingly icy.

He took Belinda's side, and she threw herself into his arms while crying pitifully as if Guadalupe had bullied her.

Desmond comforted her softly while Elyse echoed, too. Then Elyse turned to Guadalupe and scolded her harshly, "It's just Five in a Row. Do you have to be so serious? You're from a mediocre family and have never seen the world indeed. You're so petty. All you know is fighting for attention."

Her voice gradually faded away in Guadalupe's ears.

Guadalupe looked at Desmond, feeling that his face was like a faded photo. He used to be so dazzling, yet now, she could barely recognize him anymore.

She thought, "Forget it.

"Only twenty days left. I shouldn't care.

"He can do whatever he wants."

She tossed the pieces in her hand onto the board in a devil-may-care manner and stood up to leave, looking lazy and indifferent.

A few drops of blood fell onto the board. After she walked out, she realized her fingers were cold. Only then did she know she had clenched her fist so hard that her nails had been dug into her palm, and blood was oozing out.

"Guadalupe!" Desmond called her name, his voice tinged with a trace of concern.

He wanted to stand up to chase after her, but Belinda wrapped her arms around his waist and cried even harder.

Guadalupe left the Harrison's manor.

On her way back, her phone rang non-stop. It was Desmond, and she blocked his number.

Then she texted Elyse, "250 million dollars. A penny less, and I'll make sure you pay the price."

Elyse almost had a heart attack when she saw the message.

***

Guadalupe drove on.

Before she realized it, the sky had become gloomy, and it started to rain, which somehow diverted her attention.

Suddenly, a flash of yellow light darted. A yellow motorcycle whooshed around and cut in front of her. Startled, she hit the brakes.

In the next second, a huge bang rang out.

Given the great impact, she hit her head on the steering wheel hard.

A sharp pain started from the corner of her forehead and spread to her entire body.

She looked up, and everything seemed blurred and red.

Taking out a tissue, she wiped off the blood that blurred her vision.

She had been rear-ended, and the yellow motorcycle that came out of nowhere had already vanished.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the car door.

She rolled down the window.

Outside the car stood a man in his forties, wearing glasses with a black umbrella in his hand. He seemed gentle and elegant, and he said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Ma'am. I rear-ended you, and I'll take full responsibility. And ... there are some urgent matters my employer needs to attend to right now. Could we exchange our numbers? I'll reach out to you later. You can draw up a list of compensation. We will pay for everything."

"Just leave it to the police."

Already in a sour mood, Guadalupe was startled twice, and she felt so frustrated that she wanted to scream.

She opened the car door, got out, and walked to the back of the car. Seeing that her car's rear was already dented because of the Bentley behind, she frowned, took photos, and called the police.

Looking at her, the man felt it'd be inappropriate to stop her, so he came back to the car and reported, "Mr. Hodge, she insists on having the police handle it. What do you..."

The rain grew heavier.

The windshield wipers cleared the rainwater from the glass, and it was soon blurred again. Ezequiel Hodge leaned against the car door lazily, looking at Guadalupe, who was on the phone while covering her forehead with one hand. She looked dejected, and the white shirt on her had already been soaked by the rain. Rainwater fell on her thick eyelashes, and as they trembled, it fell onto her rosy lips...

"Mr. Hodge?" Miguel Walton called his name again.

Ezequiel lowered his gaze and checked the time on his watch. "Gilbert Dalton is on his way. I'll leave with him. You can stay here and handle it."

Gilbert Dalton was Ezequiel's assistant. "OK, Mr. Hodge," Miguel said, nodding.

Guadalupe went back to her car.

Soon, the police arrived, followed by a silver Maybach.

The police car and the Maybach almost stopped at the same time.

She got out of the car.

Meanwhile, the people from the Bentley stepped out, too.

Besides the driver, another man got out. He looked tall, slender, aloof, and noble. He had pale skin, but it wasn't the sickly type. Noticing her gaze, he glanced at her, his eyes deep and charming, his gaze sharp and almost intimidating.

Somehow, she felt familiar.

"Give it to her."

Ezequiel gave the suit jacket draping over his arm to Miguel and then sat in the Maybach, not glancing at her again.

Then Miguel trotted up to Guadalupe with the suit jacket and said, "Ma'am, your shirt is wet. Put this on."

Guadalupe looked down, only to see her white shirt pressed against her body, revealing the bra beneath.

Embarrassed, she took the suit jacket and put it on. "Thank you."

While Miguel talked to the police, the Maybach slowly started and drove off into the rain. Guadalupe only got to catch a glimpse of Ezequiel's striking profile.

His suit jacket was still warm with his body temperature, and a faint woody fragrance dispelled the chill from the rain.

The police soon handled the situation and concluded the incident. Both Miguel and Guadalupe had no objections, and he offered to take her to the hospital for the wound on her head.

She turned him down politely. By now, she had already calmed down. Thinking back to her overreaction, she apologized to him, saying she was in a foul mood, and it wasn't their problem. She said, "I'll send the suit jacket to you by courier after I have it dry-cleaned."

Miguel didn't say no; he nodded, though he knew Ezequiel well enough to know Ezequiel probably wouldn't want it anyway.

Guadalupe went to the hospital alone.

Desmond couldn't reach her no matter what. Looking at the heavy rain, he had a bad feeling.

Just then, he got the news that she had a car accident.

Guadalupe sat in the treatment room while her wound was being treated.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and a handsome man stormed in with a murderous look, which startled the doctor.

She glanced back at him and said to the doctor, "It's fine. He's my ... boss."

Desmond heard her words.

Feeling annoyed somehow, he walked over, asking the doctor, "Is it serious?"

The doctor replied, "No. It's just a superficial wound."

Not bothering to know their relationship, the doctor dealt with Guadalupe's wound and prescribed her some topical medication.

She thanked him and walked out.

Desmond followed closely behind her, paying for the treatment and taking the medicine eagerly as if he were a great husband.

Guadalupe didn't bother to stop him.

After getting out of the hospital, she took out her phone, wanting to order a ride. Seeing this, Desmond grabbed her phone away, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and forcibly took her to the parking lot. He opened the door to the passenger seat, shoved her into the car, and then got in himself from the other side of the car.

He slammed the car door shut, instantly cutting off the sounds outside.

The atmosphere inside the car was oppressive.

"You blocked my number and tried to top yourself just to punish me?" He turned to look at her, looking angry and impatient as if he had had enough of it.

Guadalupe felt speechless for a moment.

Then she looked back at him and couldn't help but burst into laughter at the sight of his sullen face.

She wasn't in a great mood, but his words amused her.

He cheated on her, and she tried to punish him by killing herself?

He was the biggest narcissist she had ever seen.

"Chill. That's not gonna happen. Give me my phone." She wanted to get her phone back from his hand.

But he moved his hand away. "I admit that I lied to you, but you shouldn't have given Belinda a hard time. She ended up crying. Don't you feel guilty at all? She's pampered and sometimes says and does things willfully. Why couldn't you be the bigger person?"

Listening to the words he used to describe Belinda, Guadalupe could tell how much he doted on Belinda.

She thought, "Desmond, I can barely recognize you anymore."

After a long time of silence, she said, her voice filled with powerlessness since she was completely disheartened, "I won't give her a hard time from now on, and I won't stand in the way of the two of you. But you should keep her in control. Make sure she doesn't mess with me."

"She's like my sister. It's not what you think." Desmond frowned.

"Yeah, right." She had to try very hard not to throw the proof onto his face to expose him. "I was being impulsive and thought too much. OK? Congratulations on having a new sister."

He fell silent.

"Drive." She felt a chill to the core, so she wrapped herself more tightly in the suit jacket. The tip of her nose brushed against the collar, and she smelt that warm, woody scent again.

It wasn't until now that Desmond noticed the high-quality light-gray men's suit she was wearing. Clearly, it was a privately customized piece. "Whose suit is this?"

She turned to look outside the window and said sarcastically, "My new brother."

Desmond felt speechless for a second.

Then he forcibly pulled off the jacket and tossed it outside the window, looking sullen.

Both stunned and pissed off, she wanted to get out of the car to pick it up; she promised to give it back.

Seeing this, Desmond was even more annoyed. He yanked her back, leaned over, and kissed her lips with great force.

She bit her lip tightly.

Noticing her resistance, he pinched her chin and forced his tongue in her mouth, not allowing her to say no.

After he was done, he leaned back in his seat, though she could still feel his heavy breath on her face. "Don't try to upset me using this way. At least consider other people's lives."

Guadalupe said nothing.

She felt utterly speechless.

In the end, she didn't get to pick up the suit.

What should she do? It seemed she couldn't keep her promise.

***

After the incident, Guadalupe caught a cold and developed a fever that very night.

Desmond stayed by her side, making soup and feeding it to her, giving her the illusion that maybe he still had feelings for her.

At midnight, she still had a fever. Drifting in and out of unconsciousness, she felt uncomfortable.

Suddenly, Desmond's phone on the bedside table buzzed.

She propped up and looked at the phone at the same time Desmond did; it was 12:35 a.m.

The name on the screen was "Bel".

What an intimate way to address Belinda.

The night was quiet, which made the buzz particularly piercing. The phone buzzed on the bedside table, striking the nerves of the two at the same time.

Guadalupe remained silent.

Meanwhile, Desmond tried to look calm, but the uneasiness in his eyes was more than obvious.

His phone kept buzzing. Belinda either called him or invited him for a video chat, but he didn't answer. In the end, she started to text him ceaselessly and blatantly.

The atmosphere in the room grew intense.

"Aren't you gonna do something?" Guadalupe said mockingly.

Only then did Desmond pick up his phone. Not even glancing at the screen, he turned it off and then put it back on the bedside table.

Then he felt her forehead. "Still a bit hot. It's fine; go to sleep. I'll keep an eye on you."

She lay down and closed her eyes.

After an hour, she breathed evenly; it seemed she was asleep.

Then Desmond picked up his phone, turning it on while walking to the balcony. After reading the messages, he made a call. "Is she OK? Don't worry. I'll be right back..."

He lowered his voice while saying. After walking back to the room, he picked up his jacket and left.

Behind him, Guadalupe opened her eyes in silence.

She had been awake throughout this whole time.

In fact, she had no idea what she was hoping. Once a man changed and fell in love with another woman, he'd be no different from a spoiled fruit that only rotted further.

At 4:30 a.m., Desmond came back.

Seeing that Guadalupe was still asleep, he looked relieved. Then he felt her forehead again and found that it wasn't burning anymore.

He stood up and went to the bathroom for a shower.

Soon, he came back, lay down, wrapped his arm around her waist from behind her, and went to sleep.

After he fell asleep, Guadalupe gently moved his hand on her waist away. She sat up and sized him up coldly. He was as handsome as ever; he had thin lips, a sexy Adam's apple, and...

Her gaze fell on the bite marks on his collarbone.

Immediately, her heart ached.

His body was the filthiest thing on Earth.

At this precise moment, she even had the urge to smother him with the pillow.

***

Guadalupe was already up by the time Desmond woke up.

As he walked downstairs, she was wearing an apron, having made breakfast for both of them. She called him over to eat.

"Your fever has just subsided. Why are you up so early?" He walked over, wanting to touch her forehead, but she dodged away subtly. "It was just a cold. It's not a big deal," she said.

She took off the apron and sat down.

Looking at his hand in mid-air, Desmond felt a bit awkward. Yet, seeing that she was no longer angry, he didn't say more.

He sat down as well.

"I've got something to say to you," she said.

"What is it?" he asked, sipping juice.

"I wanna quit my job."

Her words stunned him; before he could respond, she continued, "I've been working my ass off these days, and I'm tired. I wanna enjoy the carefree life of a rich man's wife."

He gazed at her, seemingly trying to see whether she was serious.

Then he said, "Are you serious about this?"

"Of course. Why? Do you think I'm some masochist and refuse to enjoy myself?" she smiled, asking.

After pondering for a while, he nodded. "I guess it works. Stay at home; we can try for a baby perhaps."

She smiled, saying nothing while thinking, "Dream on, Desmond. You want me to be your baby-making machine while you have fun with your sweet Bel? Not gonna happen."

Then she said, "Alright then. I'll get my hands on going through the resignation procedures. I wanna take a trip to Chouburg, and I've talked to Tani. She'll come with me. It's been ages since I went on a trip."

Knowing she was referring to Taniyah Howe, her childhood friend, he asked, "Isn't she busy with her law firm? Does she have time for a trip?"

Guadalupe smiled, "She is busy indeed, but she made time for me."

He fell silent for a while, seemingly thinking of something.

After quite a few seconds, he said, "Alright then. I'll arrange for your trip before you set off. You don't have to worry about anything. Just go and enjoy yourself."

She smiled again, not saying a word.

"Soon, I won't have to see you ever again," she thought.

The wound on her forehead was so obvious, and since she was about to resign, she didn't want to show up at the office like this, so she stayed at home for a few more days.

There was enough time, so she sorted out and packed up her luggage, such as her clothes, shoes, and bags, and then moved them to her new home in an unhurried manner.

She kept taking things away on a daily basis, and the closet was noticeably emptier.

With just a glance, Desmond could have noticed something, yet he remained oblivious.

She even burned their wedding photo in the yard when he was around; but all he did was check his phone while lowering his head, chuckle, and reply to messages in a good mood.

If only he had shot a glance at her, his wife standing outside the floor-to-ceiling window...

Standing in the afterglow of the setting sun, Guadalupe stared at him with a big smile on his face for a long, long time.

She didn't let go till the lighter in her hand made her fingers hurt.

The flames devoured the gasoline, illuminating their smiling faces in the wedding photo in the iron barrel. Her smile was sweet and happy, and his eyes were filled with his love for her. Then, gradually, their faces became distorted, and amidst the flames, they became nothing but ashes.

Suddenly, she was overwhelmed by great heartache. As she gazed at the ashes, her eyes were brimming with tears.

"What are you burning?"

Finally, Desmond noticed the smoke and walked out to check.

Guadalupe lifted her head, forced her tears back, and calmed herself down. "Nothing. It's just..." she turned back at him with a smile and red eyes," "useless trash."

Desmond glanced at the iron barrel, which was almost engulfed by thick smoke, and couldn't help but find her insane. "Then just throw it away."

Guadalupe said, "Burning it will make it go away more completely."

He frowned.

They stood in the yard in silence till the last ray of the setting sun's light was swallowed up by the darkness.

On Friday morning, the car repair shop called Guadalupe. Her car had been fixed.

She picked up her car and was about to call Miguel when she remembered the jacket.

She had promised to send it to him by courier once she had it dry-cleaned.

After pondering for a while, she called him. She told him the car had been repaired, and after hanging up, she sent him the repair list and the bill. She also texted him, "May I know your employer's height, weight, and measurements?"

She asked him this because suits came in sets. If she bought some jacket randomly and gave it back, it wouldn't match Ezequiel's pants. Since he was kind enough to lend her his jacket, she shouldn't repay his kindness like this. She intended to buy a pair of trousers together with a jacket.

Miguel was stunned after receiving her message.

She waited for quite a while but still hadn't received his reply.

She figured that perhaps he wasn't sure and had to ask, so she didn't dwell on it.

As she drove to the next intersection, the finance manager called her, wanting to verify some data with her.

Since the wound on her forehead mostly healed, she turned around and drove to the company.

She had been at home for days; the second she showed up at the Project Department, her subordinates all rushed to her and expressed their concerns.

She hadn't told them about her resignation; honestly, she felt quite bad about it, for they had to go through a period of time trying to adjust to a new superior.

After she discussed the matter with the finance manager, she came back to her office and started to take care of the work that had been piled up till the afternoon. Then she finally had some time to write her resignation letter, and she was planning on giving it to Desmond before getting off work.

Yet, before she got off work, she heard something repulsive when she was about to walk into the break room for some water.

"Someone at the Secretary Department told me Ms. Belinda, the fourth child of the Graham family, has started to work here today. Mr. Harrison has arranged for her to work in his office."

"Is the Harrison family and the Graham family uniting by marriage?"

"Have you forgotten? Ms. Melton is Mr. Harrison's girlfriend, OK? If they're setting up Mr. Harrison with Ms. Belinda, what about Ms. Melton?"

The breakroom fell silent for a few seconds.

The few people exchanged glances and then sighed in small voices while sipping coffee, saying how shameless Belinda was, how pitiful Guadalupe was, and how cold-hearted Desmond was.

Standing outside the break room, Guadalupe listened to their discussion in silence.

Then she went back to her office with an empty glass, sat in her chair in a daze for a while, and then went upstairs with the resignation letter she had printed out.

The sooner she left, the sooner she would be set free.

After she went upstairs, Harold rushed over and stopped her before she could walk over to the CEO's office.

With a nervous look, he said, "Ms. Melton, Mr. Harrison is in a meeting and can't see you right now."

She nodded, turned around, and was about to leave. As Harold breathed a sigh of relief, she suddenly turned around and walked forward, her movements elegant yet swift.

Then she grabbed the door handle, twisted it, and pushed it open.

Sometimes, she was quite annoyed with herself.

Since she had already given up on Desmond, how come she just couldn't stop disgusting herself? Yet, one was always subject to their emotions, and she just couldn't help it.

In the next second, someone in the office screamed.

Wearing nothing but a bathrobe, Belinda was leaning against Desmond's back, and she was greatly startled by the sound of the door.

The smile on Desmond's face froze.

Utterly terrified, Harold covered his eyes and didn't dare to look inside at all. "Ms. Melton... Well... Ms. Graham was sweating from moving the files, and she ... took a shower. I didn't want you to get the wrong idea, so I ... said..."

Guadalupe glanced at him and said with a sigh sympathetically, "Harold, you're wasting your talent as a top graduate from a prestigious university."

With that, she looked away and walked inside the office.

"Guadalupe, what's that supposed to mean? You're just a manager. How dare you barge into the CEO's office? You're fired!" Belinda straightened up and cursed condescendingly.

Guadalupe walked to Desmond's desk, put down the resignation letter, and said calmly, "I've told you I wanna quit. I have a lot of preparations to do for the trip, so this will be my last day here. Of course, I'll find some time to come back here to hand over my work."

Desmond didn't have the nerve to look her in the eye. "Alright. It's your call."

She nodded. "Alright."

Then she looked up at Belinda and then looked back at him. "Continue your ... meeting."

She withdrew her mocking gaze and turned to leave.

Before she walked out, Belinda's piercing shriek rang out behind her. "It's none of your business whether we carry on or not. Guadalupe, know your place! Des no longer loves you. He loves me! For so many nights, we..."

Desmond shouted sternly, "Shut up!"

Guadalupe took a deep breath.

She stiffened and then turned around. "Let her continue, Desmond. I wanna know how shameless the daughter of the Graham family can be." Then she looked at Belinda and continued, "No matter what, you're the homewrecker. The fact that I can push open this door means I can prove forever that you're a despicable pair. Understand?"

"You call me despicable?!"

Utterly pissed off, Belinda charged at her.

She slapped Belinda without hesitation. Seeing that Belinda still tried to attack her, she pulled off Belinda's bathrobe, pushed Belinda's head, and shoved Belinda to the floor.

Before she lowered her hands, someone suddenly yanked her away with great force.

She lost her balance and stumbled backward. Her waist bumped into the corner of the desk, and she was in so much pain that cold sweat broke out in a second, and she couldn't even utter a sound.

Desmond took off his suit jacket, crouched down, and draped it over Belinda's exposed body.

Meanwhile, Belinda kept screaming and crying; the noise was deafening.

"Get out, Guadalupe!" Desmond snapped, completely oblivious to Guadalupe's ghastly pale face.

Snapping back to reality, Harold supported Guadalupe at once. "Are you OK, Ms. Melton?"

Guadalupe gritted her teeth, her eyes turning red. "Desmond, you sicken me."

She pushed away Harold's hands. Though she could barely stand, she insisted on walking out on her own.

Desmond's heart sank. The way she looked at him made him feel that once she walked out of this door, she'd never come back.

He panicked.

Meanwhile, Harold said, "Mrs. Harrison... Ms. Melton's waist has been hurt, I think. And it's pretty serious."

Desmond froze a bit.

As he recalled how much force he had used in yanking her, suddenly, the painful look on her face emerged in his mind. Ignoring Belinda's shrieking cries, he went after her.

"Tani, I wanna end this now. I really... don't wanna see his face again."

Leaning against the elevator wall, Guadalupe muttered, her voice broken as she tried her best not to sob.

She refused to go back to the Project Department in such a sorry state. She could only leave the office and drive to her new home while enduring immense pain.

Taniyah noticed something off in Guadalupe's voice. She immediately grabbed her bag and car keys and walked out. "Where are you?"

Guadalupe told her the address.

She said, "Be right there."

She was Guadalupe's divorce lawyer as well as Guadalupe's friend from childhood, and of course, she knew Guadalupe well. Though Guadalupe looked gentle and delicate, she was aloof and tough in fact. From the day she found out about Desmond's infidelity, she had been in agony, but she had been preparing for the divorce calmly and had never cried.

Guadalupe wouldn't have been like this if she hadn't been pushed to her limit.

Desmond was such a nasty bastard!

"OK. I'll wait for you," Guadalupe said.

Then she hung up the phone, closed her eyes, and leaned against the elevator wall motionlessly.

Her long hair covered her face, blocking all the light. She felt as if her mind was dragged into an endless abyss, constantly falling...

She had no idea how long it had been.

"Are you OK yet?"

All of a sudden, a mellow, pleasant male voice rang out in the elevator, breaking the dead silence.

Guadalupe opened her eyes at once and looked back.

In the next second, she saw the man's broad shoulders and slender neck. The stark contrast between his black suit and his fair skin was striking, and as she looked up, she met a pair of icy, deep eyes.

"You?"

She couldn't help but mutter as she had recognized him while staring at him throughout this whole time.

Ezequiel felt a headache coming on.

He couldn't help but feel helpless.

She followed him all the way here from the parking lot, and after entering the elevator, she remained motionless while occupying the most important corner.

He leaned over.

He was 1.92 meters tall, and she felt that he was no different from a mountain.

Instinctively, she raised her hand to block him. "What are you..."

Before she could say the word "doing", he rested his hand on her arm. Then he pushed her away and pressed the fingerprint scanner.

Guadalupe was at a loss for words.

At this moment, she finally realized what was going on.

The elevator hadn't moved because she didn't press the scanner.

What was more, he couldn't press it either since she had blocked it.

It was embarrassing.

It was so embarrassing...

The elevator ascended.

When it reached the 5th floor, she quietly pressed the scanner and saw the floor he was heading.

It was the 46th floor—the top floor.

She tilted her body stiffly, the atmosphere eerie.

Just then, she heard his phone buzz. Then his mellow voice rang out. "What is it? My measurements? Ms. Melton asked..."

Guadalupe turned around, her neck so stiff that she could almost hear her bones crack. She was so awkward that she could no longer think straight, and even her vision was a bit blurred.

Taking a deep breath, she asked, "Could ... you tell me?"

Ezequiel remained deadpan.

Then a ding rang out.

The elevator doors opened.

Feeling greatly relieved, she walked out quickly while supporting her waist.

***

By the time Taniyah arrived, she saw that Guadalupe was lying prone on the bed in the bedroom, looking both fragile and charming. She seemed to have calmed down already.

"What happened?" Taniyah walked over to the bed, crouched down, and asked her gently.

Guadalupe's gaze became focused.

Thanks to the embarrassing incident in the elevator, she got the upper hand over her negative emotions and calmed down.

She told Taniyah what had happened in Desmond's office in a calm tone.

Taniyah was utterly furious.

"You haven't quit Zenith Group yet, and he has already had that slut in his office? They fooled around during work hours, and he even pushed you?

"He's totally captivated by her. How shameless! He doesn't even bother to hide their affair from you anymore!

"Guada, they're provoking you openly. Are you sure you want nothing more than a divorce?"

Guadalupe moved slightly.

She wanted to flip over, but the second she moved, the pain in her waist was killing her.

She gave up and continued to lie prone. "You know the reason why I chose to do this. It's not because I'm scared of him. I just want him to know that I'm the one who dumped him. I'll never get attached to a complete jerk; for me, he's just trash. I'll leave him without hesitation."

Taniyah looked at Guadalupe with distress in her eyes.

Then she rubbed Guadalupe's head gently. "You're so tough, aren't you? Then how did you end up like this?"

"I acted onawhim," Guadalupe smiled mockingly. "Just half a month to go. Even if they do it right in front of me, I won't blink. I promise."

Taniyah said, "You don't have to sicken yourself like that."

Guadalupe mocked, "Yeah, you're right. Maybe I'll throw up."

Taniyah shook her head. "Throwing up is bad for your stomach."

After staying with Guadalupe for a while, Taniyah could tell Guadalupe wasn't that upset anymore. Then she went to the pharmacy to buy Guadalupe some ointment.

The sky had darkened.

Desmond searched all the places Guadalupe might go to and called all her friends; he even went to her parents.

Yet, she was still nowhere to be seen.

Taniyah was the first person he called, but she said she didn't know where Guadalupe was.

Then he called her again, and she ignored it. Till he called her the 10th time, Guadalupe said, "Pick up. I think he already knows you left the law firm in the afternoon."

"What a jerk. Now he's worried? Doesn't he think it's a bit too late?" Taniyah walked to the balcony and answered the phone. Then she said sarcastically, "Desmond, shouldn't you be happy now that Guada is missing? From now on, no one will stand in your way. You can hook up with that slut however you want."

Hearing this, Desmond knew she was with Guadalupe. He said, his voice hoarse, "Put Guadalupe on the phone."

Taniyah said, "I can't. I don't know where she is. Oh, you know what? Maybe she got so upset that she jumped into the sea. Perhaps you should jump into the sea, too, to find her."

Then she hung up the phone.

She intended to leave him worried.

On the other end of the line, Desmond pulled a long face.

In the next second, Taniyah's phone rang again. Guadalupe walked out and said, "I'll take it."

Taniyah handed her the phone.

Guadalupe picked up and said, "Leave Tani alone. I'll be back."

After a brief moment of silence, Desmond's muffled breath became heavier. He said a bit cautiously, "Where are you? I'll go and pick you up now. How's your waist? Does it still hurt?"

Guadalupe sneered, "Desmond, you're such a hypocrite. You disgust me."

Desmond fell silent again.

After some moments, he said, "I didn't mean to..."

"All right." Guadalupe didn't want to listen to him explain. "You pushed me, anyway."

"Fine. It's all my fault. Tell me where you are. Now!"

"I told you I'd go back."

"You have to come back tonight, or I'll find you no matter what!"

Desmond failed to check his anger.

Guadalupe didn't see it coming.

Finally, she compromised and said that she would be back one hour later.

After all, she didn't want him to know about her new place.

Taniyah drove her back. "That asshole did so many bad things to you. How did he have the nerve to be angry with you? What a control freak... I'm afraid that he'll choke you if he knows that you tricked her into signing the divorce agreement."

Guadalupe looked at the light of the houses in the distance and joked, "Maybe I should poison him before that."

Soon, she arrived home.

When she got into the foyer, Desmond rushed over, looking worried and a little impatient.

Guadalupe glanced at him coldly and changed her shoes.

When she bent over, she frowned in pain.

Desmond reached over to support her.

"Don't touch me!" Guadalupe said with a disgusted look and shifted away despite the pain.

Desmond was frustrated.

He withdrew his hands and followed her in. Meanwhile, he showed her something on his phone. "I've had surveillance cameras installed in the office. You can check the footage anytime. What happened today won't happen again."

Guadalupe was surprised that he wasn't trying to smooth things over.

She glanced at the screen thoughtfully. "Are you afraid that I'll pay a surprise visit and embarrass your Bel again?"

Desmond didn't expect Guadalupe to say that. "There is nothing between her and me.

“I do think she's fun and cute. But she's like a sister to me. She got into the company because her father asked me to teach her something.

"We're signing the contract with Acme Group next week, so I can't refuse him."

What a justification.

He indulged Belinda and didn't care about hurting his wife because of that.

How could he be so hypocritical?

Guadalupe fixed her beautiful eyes on Desmond, feeling sickened. After a while, she put on a look of dawning comprehension. "Really? She's like a sister to you? But she said you'd been together for many nights. It's incestuous."

"I told you she's a willful kid full of nonsense."

"But you still think she's fun and cute."

Desmond knew that Guadalupe was mocking him.

He sighed. "Anyway, there's nothing between her and me. You can go on a trip. When you're back, let's try for a baby. Then, you'll have nothing to worry about. I promise you'll always be my wife."

Guadalupe stared at him, a smile touching her face.

She got it.

He was telling her to turn a blind eye to his affair.

But why would she do as he said?

He had gone on vacation with Belinda, slept with her, and watched the sunrise with her. He broke Guadalupe's heart. How did he have the nerve to ask Guadalupe to bear a child for him and be with him forever?

What a cruel and selfish man!

"I love you, babe." Desmond took Guadalupe's smile as an agreement.

He hugged her tightly against her will and looked like he was afraid of losing her.

But Guadalupe wasn't moved at all.

She was determined to leave him, for she had seen through him.

***

Desmond helped Guadalupe get upstairs.

Then, he called a family doctor over to check on her waist injury. The bones were fine, so he was relieved.

When Guadalupe went into the bathroom, he followed in. "I'll help you."

"No need..."

He had touched another woman with his hands. If he used them to touch Guadalupe, she would really poison him.

Desmond could feel her resistance, so he was annoyed. But he couldn't afford to displease her again.

"I'll be at the door. Call me if you need me."

"OK." Guadalupe nodded with a smile.

But she thought, "Rest assured. I'll not call you even if it hurts as hell."

When Guadalupe got out in a nightdress, Desmond was still at the door.

She smelled great, her skin rosy and tender, her shoulders and collarbones bare. She was seductive as she walked, wiggling her slender waist.

A desire showed in Desmond's eyes.

She was about to go to sleep when spotting his look. "My waist hurts. If you want to do it tonight, I may not be able to satisfy you."

Desmond wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her shoulder, not giving her the chance to shift away. "I'll be gentle..."

"Not in the mood. I'm tired and in pain."

Desmond was frustrated, but he couldn't force her.

Thus, he let go of her. "Fine."

And he got out with a poker face.

As Guadalupe had said, she didn't go to the company the next day.

She treated her subordinates in the Project Department to dinner and told them about her resignation.

Her subordinates thought it was a pity.

When Guadalupe got into the company, everyone heard that she was Desmond's girlfriend and thought she was eye candy. But then, she got the company many projects and proved that she had the required expertise. Besides, she cared about the company more than Desmond did. Every time she got a project for the company, she would be over the moon.

People gossiped that she was working hard so that she could marry Desmond.

No one expected her to resign.

"I'm sorry, but for something personal, I can't stay in the company anymore. Good luck. Call me if you need anything. And I'd love to hang out with you."

Guadalupe toasted them.

The leader of Team Three cried. She worked under Guadalupe for the longest time and the closest with Guadalupe.

Once Guadalupe left, the Project Department would have no backbone.

But everybody understood. Desmond had hired Belinda and even made out with her in the office. Rumor had it that Belinda was naked when Guadalupe walked in on them. How could Guadalupe not be hurt?

Anyway, it was a sad dinner.

In the end, they asked what Guadalupe's plan was, and she said she wasn't sure, so someone said, "Ms. Melton, Eclipse Group could be an option. Their CEO just came back from Ablaria. I heard he's recruiting people and that the job of his chief secretary is still vacant."