He Begged for Her, I Set Him Free

Chapter 3

Christopher and I were university classmates. After graduation, he stayed on at the university as a faculty member, while I joined a multinational corporation and fought my way through the corporate world.

But ever since we got married, he kept saying that the university projects were too demanding and asked whether I could quit my job and focus more on our family.

At the time, I was already exhausted by the power struggles within the company, so I agreed.

But now, I’m divorcing him.

Returning to the workforce is only a matter of time. It’s just that after being away from society for so long, with several blank years on my résumé, it’s difficult to find a job with the same salary and benefits as before.

So I decided to go abroad for further academic enrichment, which would also help compensate for the weaknesses in my résumé.

While using the computer in the study to browse the PhD application requirements of overseas universities, I accidentally discovered a private folder.

"To My Beloved," I read the title that was written there.

Just those three simple words gradually blurred before my eyes.

Almost unwilling to believe it, I entered my birthday, his birthday, and our wedding anniversary.

Stubbornly, I tried every number that held special meaning between us.

But none of them worked.

Until I opened Claire's social media profile, found her birthday, and entered it.

The folder unlocked.

Even though I already knew the answer, when I saw the truth with my own eyes, the ache in my chest still became so overwhelming that I could barely breathe.

The folder was a huge 4.3 gigabytes. Inside were countless records, all related to Claire.

A hair clip she casually threw away had been picked up by him, pressed against his chest, and photographed.

There was a video of Claire asleep on the desk while they worked late together in the studio on a project.

There were voice messages Claire had sent him. The way she addressed him gradually changed. From the initially distant 'Professor Elowen' to 'big brother,' and eventually 'husband.'

In every single entry, Christopher had carefully documented his feelings at the time.

He called her his little moon, and wrote: Little Moon, I often feel like a sick dog chained by iron shackles. Only when I occasionally look up at you does my soul find freedom. That day, you said you wanted to offer yourself to me as a gift. I refused. Not because I didn’t love you, but because I didn’t dare to disrespect you.

He hated himself for not meeting her sooner, and hated even more that he already had a family before meeting her.

I felt like a thief peeping into someone else’s privacy, spying through a screen on a romance that had seeped into their very bones.

The final entry was from the day I discovered their affair. Christopher had written a suicide note filled entirely with guilt toward Claire.

Even the way he addressed her had changed. He called her 'My wife.'

My wife, if one day I unfortunately pass away, all the property under my name will belong to you. As for Vivian, I’ve wronged her. Leaving her a sum of money for her retirement would be enough.

The blood in my body turned ice-cold. My hand gripping the mouse trembled uncontrollably. A violent wave of nausea surged in my stomach, and I clutched the trash can as I vomited.

At that exact moment, Christopher came home.

The moment he saw the computer screen, panic overtook his face.

Stammering, he tried to defend himself. "N-no, it’s not what you think, Vivian. Listen to me. I just wanted an outlet for my emotions. There’s nothing else going on between us."

Before he could continue, I wiped the corner of my mouth and straightened my posture.

Looking directly into his eyes, I said, word by word, "I’m giving you two choices. Either make her disappear from your life immediately, or I’ll expose every disgusting thing the two of you have done!”