Scandal Reunion

At the prestigious charity dinner hosted by M Corporation, Asher arrived with Sloan on his arm—the power couple that once set the business world abuzz with their perfect union of talent and grace. Envied by many for their match made in heaven, their breakup three years ago was a subject of much regret. Their joint reappearance after such a separation drew the eager lenses of the media. A topic this juicy was sure to capture widespread attention. Eager to catch the latest scoop, some reporters risked being ejected by security as they pushed to the front, microphones at the ready. They cut to the chase, asking pointedly, "Mr. Jiang, as everyone knows, after your split with Ms. Su, you married your current wife. Now, appearing with Ms. Su so publicly, are you confirming the rumors of marital discord?" Rumors? The spectrum of rumors surrounding Asher was vast, with some fresh piece of gossip about him emerging every fortnight. The most well-known of these centered around his tangled love-hate relationship with his current wife, Iyla, and his ex-girlfriend, Sloan. After marrying Iyla, Asher was anything but reformed—his public escapades grew even wilder, regularly showcasing a new lady on the trending news. Consequently, the public speculated wildly about the state of his marriage, and Asher had never addressed it directly. Aside from the few times shown publically during their marriage, not much was known about Iyla. With microphones poised, journalists awaited his response. Asher looked at the questioner with a playful yet warning glance. But before he could craft an answer, Sloan, linking his arm, covered her mouth with a light laugh. "That's an entertaining question, my media friend. Why bring me into this? We are good friends. As for his relationship with his current wife, I'm not too clear on that, even..." With a look full of affection, she gazed at him, hesitating, "Even... I'm curious about your relationship too..." Taken aback, Asher glanced down at her, his fingers tensing as they squeezed her delicate hand to reassure her. "There have been many rumors regarding my relationship with my wife," Asher replied for the first time, addressing his marriage, "and to that, let me just say, our relationship has always been as it is." Asher's ambiguous comment left plenty of room for media speculation. The press area exploded with flashing cameras and consecutive questions, but Asher, disinterested in further responses, took Sloan's hand and entered the banquet. Since marrying into the Jiang family, Iyla was forbidden by Asher to work outside. He never committed to being home for dinner, and while Iyla would still prepare his portion, he seldom returned to eat it. Eating quietly at the dining table, her phone wouldn't stop buzzing. Her best friend Cleo had bombarded her with a series of messages on WeChat. Fingers trembling slightly, Iyla opened the messages to find news about Asher—just after the media interview, he was photographed in a restroom, intimately kissing Sloan. "Our relationship has always been as it is!" acknowledged the disharmony with his wife. Iyla had always been acutely aware of the nature of their relationship. Still, this was the first time she had heard him admit it openly. Further seeking confirmation, she watched two more videos that had surfaced. Having just finished her meal, Iyla felt nauseated, a painful constriction at her chest. Nothing had changed in three years; there was no possibility of change. Wasn't it time to learn to let go? Cleo called, cursing Asher and asking sharply, "Iyla, did you divorce that scumbag?" "Yes!" Iyla said firmly, her lips pale yet resolute, confirming her decision. "You absolutely must divorce. We should never have allowed you to agree to marry him." When did her relationship with Asher even begin? Recalling their time together brought only bitterness, as vividly painful as if it were all just yesterday.