Seven Years Married, Seven Years Betrayed

On their seventh wedding anniversary, Renee Nelson found a divorce papers in Adrian Harper's nightstand. The document was scrawled with corrections, reflecting indecision and hesitation. "If I fall in love with another during our marriage, I voluntarily forfeit all property and leave empty-handed. The following are the asset details..." Adrian had once sworn to leave everything behind for her. Yet the property section was heavily altered. He first crossed out the house meant for her, then reduced the 50 million to 500 thousand. Finally, he wrote in contrition. "Let Renee leave empty-handed. No choice. Vivian is pregnant." Renee sank onto the bed, stunned. The signature was sharp and decisive, with no hesitation. This agreement had been drafted seven years ago, the year they first married. Back then, Adrian had been willing to walk away with nothing. But year after year, he scratched off different assets. Seven years later, the empty-handed spouse was now her. Her phone buzzed. Adrian sent a message. Adrian: Business trip, don't wait for me. She tried calling, but he had already turned off his phone. A screenshot popped up from a friend. Vivian Clarke, a student Renee had sponsored, had posted on social media. Vivian: Wow, getting praised! To celebrate my first period without any accident, the CEO said we must celebrate properly. The grid of photos showed Adrian smiling, doting, and placing a dazzling gemstone necklace around Vivian's neck. The location tagged was the Lover's Haven Hotel. Renee froze. He had forgotten their seventh wedding anniversary but celebrated Vivian's period. That pendant had been spotted at an auction just last week. It had belonged to her late mother, a family heirloom. Renee had been ready to bid when her bank card was suddenly frozen. She asked Adrian why. After a long wait, he replied her with a message. Adrian: Don't buy impractical things. She clutched the bidder number, helpless in the auction hall. Determined, she finally sold her own creations to raise enough money. But someone had placed the winning bid remotely. For a long time, Renee blamed herself for losing her mother's heirloom. She never imagined who had placed that winning bid—it was Adrian. He knew how much she wanted it. Yet he gave the pendant to Vivian. Even on their seventh anniversary, Adrian lied, claiming he was busy while indulging Vivian. He had gifted her a divorce papers. Seven years of marriage. Seven years of betrayal. And Renee had no idea. She had even introduced Vivian to Adrian in person. Vivian was a poor student Renee sponsored. On her first visit to thank them, Adrian had found her annoying. "A country girl, no manners, left muddy footprints on my cashmere carpet. If she doesn't perform well, stop sponsoring her." Renee teased him, telling him not to be jealous; the girl was grateful. She had never suspected Adrian and Vivian. Seven years of marriage, everyone in the circle knew Adrian never strayed; he loved only Renee. But now, when she saw Vivian transformed into Adrian's personal assistant, everything collapsed. Adrian explained, "The girl had a hard life. You've supported her for years. Giving her a job was my way of easing your worries." Renee smiled it off. Yet now, seeing Vivian's social media post, she remembered that Vivian had previously hidden her posts from Renee, but now she flaunted everything. Renee's stomach turned. Every timeline matched. When Renee bled from her stomach due to overwork, Vivian used Adrian's card to buy her first Silver LV. When Renee cared for Adrian's bedridden grandmother, Adrian, under the guise of a business trip, took Vivian to learn perfumery. Vivian even vented on social media. Vivian: [Your wife is so clingy. Can't live without you?"] Adrian commented beneath. Adrian: [If she were half as independent as you, my life would be easier.] On the same day, Renee's mother passed from terminal cancer. She grieved and handled all matters alone. Adrian was impatient, glued to his phone, not working but focused on Vivian. Every timeline converged. Renee's heart felt like it had been punched, suffocating with pain. Seeing herself carefully dressed, and then the cold, untouched food on the table, she felt like a joke. Finally, she dialed a familiar number she hadn't used in years. "You want to marry me off to the Stern family's illegitimate son? I'll do it, as long as he doesn’t mind that I’ve been married before." Seven years of marriage had only yielded betrayal. She decided she wanted none of it. Tucking away her tears, Renee prepared to contact her lawyer to draft the divorce papers. Her phone buzzed with an anonymous message. A: Come to Aurora Villa to see a show.