Gianna Redstone was finding the perfect gift for her third wedding anniversary with Felix Clinton when her sister, Bella Redstone, message came through.
The message contained some ambitious photos. Gianna was shocked, her face turning pale.
Every photo was about Felix and Bella.
They were either kissing or hugging each other. The only thing in common was that in every photo, Felix would look at Bella with love.
Even though she had been with Felix for three years, she knew he never saw her like that.
Bella: [Are you familiar with this place?]
Gianna massaged her temples and something quite familiar caught her eye. Before she could fully recollect, Bella's next message popped up.
Bella: [Gianna, recognize this room? It was meant for me, you know. Remember, you hardly set foot in here after your wedding night. Curious, isn't it? If it weren't for Natalie Clinton's interference on your wedding day, you might never have set foot in this place.]
Each word from Bella felt like a stab to Gianna's heart, causing her hands to tremble uncontrollably.
She gripped her phone tightly, struggling to type a response.
Gianna: [Bella, stop sending these photos. You and Felix become the past.]
Bella: [Do you really think we stopped?]
Bella never stopped to hurt Gianna with her words.
Bella: [I've been back for two months. Did Felix even spend a night at home since then?]
Bella continued to text Gianna.
Bella: [He didn't have time to go home. He came to see me in this wedding room every day. Do you know what he said about you while he slept with me? He said you were so boring, just like an inflatable doll.]
Bella: [To be such a failure, woman, I'd killed myself if I were you!]
Bella: [While Felix has feelings for you, I’d advise you to leave him. Otherwise, you're the one who will end up embarrassed.]
...
Gianna couldn't remember how she got home until the digital lock snapped her back to reality.
Felix walked in and found Gianna collapsed on the floor at the entrance. His brow furrowed, and his eyes flickered with annoyance.
"Why are you sitting here?" he asked with a hint of impatience in his tone.
As Gianna raised her eyes, Felix's handsome features appeared, yet they only reflected disdain towards her. She sought affection in his gaze, but encountered only anger and irritation.
For three years, those eyes had regarded her in this manner. When she discovered he could gaze at another woman with an entirely different expression, it felt as though her heart had been pierced by a knife, causing her immense pain.
She stood up slowly and stared at Felix.
"Why didn’t you tell me Bella was back?"
A flicker of surprise showed on Felix's face before he replied. "You two don't get along. There was no need to tell you."
Gianna chuckled.
‘Is it unnecessary, or was he just afraid I'd find out he was cheating on me with Bella?’
She closed her eyes and said, "Felix, if you still see me as your wife, you wouldn't have slept with Bella in our wedding room!"
Felix was baffled. "How did you know that?"
"How? You should ask Bella! I also wanted to know why a mistress could send me the dirty photos!"
"Gianna!" Felix looked at her with a grim expression, his eye contact feeling like a piercing arrow to the body.
In his mind, Bella was so pure and innocent and would never hurt anyone. She would never provoke Gianna.
"Our relationship wasn't so scandalous. She had nowhere to stay, so I lent her our wedding room, and Bella won't send you any photos!"
His eye contact pained Gianna. Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke, "Lending our room to her? Are you taking me for a fool? And by saying she won't send me any photos, are you suggesting I falsely accused her?"
"You are very likely to speak ill of Bella. You've had issues with her before, haven't you?" Felix said firmly.
Gianna pressed her lips together, feeling like a fool. He didn't even ask what happened but stood by Bella's side.
No wonder Bella dared to send those photos.
She must have guessed that Felix would stand by her.
Gianna felt so exhausted. "Whatever you say, you can pretend I'm accusing her."
A shadow of anger flashed through Felix's eyes. "Bella owes you nothing. Don't let me hear you speak of her like that again!"
She hadn't even begun to confront Bella, and already he was defending her. If I did something to Bella, Felix probably would never forgive me.
With a self-deprecating chuckle, Gianna asked, "Felix, in the three years of marriage, have you ever loved me?"
Felix stared at her coldly. "Since I married you, I promised I would take care of you."
He didn't answer it directly, which meant he never loved her.
Gianna laughed softly and turned her head to hide the tears. She was highly disappointed and said, "Let's divorce."
She had endured this marriage for three years, hoping that with the substantial payout, she could make him love her. But in the end, it was all in vain.
Now, it was time for her to wake up.
Felix frowned, a clear flash of irritation in his eyes. "Gianna, enough with the games!"
Gianna couldn't believe that her actions were seen as nothing more than “games” to him.
Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, she looked at Felix with a determined stare. "I'm not playing games with you. I'll have my lawyer draw up the divorce papers. As for your wealth, I want nothing!"
She brought nothing to the marriage, and now she won't take anything when leaving it.
The moment the words left her mouth, Felix's face turned particularly cold and impatient.
"Gianna, I'm swamped and don’t have time for arguments. I could pretend I didn't hear a word. Let's talk when you've calmed down." With that, Felix strode out without looking back.
This was his usual tactic after every fight. He would leave Gianna alone and talk to her until she coaxes him.
Now that she'd decided to let go, Gianna realized just how much she'd demeaned herself, so much so that he hadn't even bothered to console her.
But that was the past.
The next day, the first thing Gianna did was have her lawyer prepare the divorce agreement.
As he printed the documents, he couldn't resist persuading her. "Bella, Sirius Trading Syndicate is worth hundreds of billions. You've been stuck in a marriage with Felix for three years. It wouldn't be unreasonable to ask for a few billion."
Gianna offered a bitter smile. "No need. I just want to end this marriage as soon as possible."
Seeing her resolve, the lawyer handed her the divorce papers and left.
Gianna didn't hesitate as she signed her name on the last page. She took off her wedding ring and placed it on the agreement. She stood up and began to pack her things.
In less than an hour, Gianna was done. She had few items, and anything Felix had bought she wouldn’t keep. All her stuff could be in a small suitcase.
As she looked at the villa one last time, where she had lived for three years, there was no sentiment in her eyes. It was clear that her efforts to claim what wasn't rightfully hers were in vain.
It took her three years to grasp this lesson, but it wasn't too late.
Turning her back, she walked out of the villa. A red Lamborghini waited at the door, its horn beeping when she appeared.
Gianna settled her suitcase and slid into the passenger seat. The chapter of her life lived in the shadow of somebody else’s had ended.
A woman was sitting in the driver's seat. Her oversized sunglasses nearly covered her whole face.
As Gianna settled in, Faith raised an eyebrow and asked, "So, you've really decided?"