Mr. CEO, your wife's making headlines again with someone else

In the heart of M city, the winter air was bitingly cold, with strong winds that whispered eerily through the tree branches. In a sprawling villa downtown, a hush filled the expansive space. The dining table bore an array of delicately arranged dishes, each one a testament to the care put into its preparation. A woman sat quietly at the table, dressed in a camel-colored sweater, her gaze lowered in patient solitude as the meal before her grew cold. The wall clock chimed, breaking the silence. Selina slowly lifted her head. It was now midnight. She pulled out her phone and checked f*******:, where Calvin’s profile picture topped her feed. It showed a string of unread messages. Today marked their fifth anniversary, yet their marriage had felt hollow for years. On this day, each year, Calvin had never come home. Another half-hour passed, and still, Calvin did not return. With a resigned air, Selina stood, discarded the uneaten food into the trash, and began to wash the dishes, her expression unreadable. By the time she finished, it was nearly two in the morning. Weighed down by fatigue, Selina trudged upstairs to bed, quickly succumbing to sleep. But her rest was short-lived; her phone rang with a tone she knew all too well. Even half-asleep, she recognized it was Calvin. “Husband?” Her voice was soft and uniquely tender. “Hmm.” His reply was terse, his voice colder, more distant. “Are you drunk?” Selina asked, coming to full alertness. “Some club. Pick me up,” Calvin said abruptly and hung up. He hadn’t considered the time—three in the morning—nor the freezing night air. In their social circle, everyone believed Selina’s devotion to Calvin was deep-seated. Throughout their marriage, she had always accommodated him, no matter how unreasonable his demands. She never once pushed back. Tonight was no different. Selina glanced at her dark phone screen, a dim light flickering within. She quickly threw on a coat and rushed out the door, only to be met with a blast of icy wind that made her shiver. It took her thirty minutes to reach the club. “Miss Selina, why did you take so long? CEO Calvin shouldn’t be kept waiting! Room 306, hurry!” The club manager barely masked his impatience as he met her at the entrance and quickly walked away. With frost melting in her lashes, Selina’s pale face was flushed with cold, making her seem more vulnerable, easily molded by others’ will. She hurried to Room 306. Despite the club’s soundproofing, faint laughter leaked from inside. After a moment to warm her frozen fingers, Selina pushed open the door and was immediately enveloped by a wave of warm air, her fingers gradually regaining feeling. “Look who’s here!” came a mocking whistle. “Hey, she actually showed up! Didn’t even change her shoes—must’ve come straight after Calvin called.” “Everyone knows how madly in love Miss Selina is with our Calvin—she probably thinks she can’t live without him!” “But now that Candice is back, it’s probably time for the cheap stand-in to exit, right?” Their words were cruel, intended to wound, and spoken without a filter. Only then did Selina see a shadowy figure next to Calvin. It was Candice, the woman he had always placed above all others. She was back? A subtle flicker of emotion crossed Selina’s face, disappearing almost as quickly as it had appeared. She focused on Calvin, her voice still gentle, “Shall we go home?” Those around them watched with smirks, enjoying the drama unfold. Luther, Calvin’s old friend, couldn’t help but comment with a laugh, “Now that Candice is back, should we be preparing the celebration?” Calvin glanced down, swirling his drink in his hand, his expression unreadable. He said nothing. As Luther’s words hung in the air, Candice moved closer to Calvin, a blush on her face as she caught Selina's glance, a smug smile tugging at her lips. The glances from everyone in the room were palpable, but Selina maintained her composure under the warm glow of the room’s lights, appearing even more pliant and vulnerable. After a moment, Selina met Calvin’s gaze, her cheeks and nose tinged red from the cold, adding an air of undeserved pity to her demeanor. She waited calmly for his response. Calvin met her gentle eyes, paused for a moment, then a trace of disdain flashed through his expression. He put down his drink and casually dismissed her with a wave, “Let’s go.” “Hey, Calvin, leaving already? We’re not done here. The late-night snack is almost here. Stay for the meal!” Luther was taken aback. But Calvin ignored him, walking out with Selina. Once they were gone, Luther looked confusedly at Candice, “What was that about?” Candice shifted her gaze from the doorway back to Luther, her smile returning as she casually remarked, “Calvin still respects his grandfather’s feelings.” Luther nodded, finally understanding. The marriage had been arranged by Old Mr. Rollin from the start. Without his backing, Calvin would have likely divorced Selina long ago. But now, things might change. Everyone knew Calvin’s demeanor towards Candice; he was always quick to bow his head to her. Back at home, Calvin's stomach churned uncomfortably from too much alcohol and not enough food. Noticing his discomfort, Selina slipped away to the kitchen to make him some noodles while he showered. Twenty minutes later, Calvin sat at the dining table, his sleeves rolled up, exposing his toned forearms—a striking sight. Selina had to admit, after all these years, Calvin still appealed to her aesthetic. The room was quiet, save for the sounds of Calvin eating. “Calvin, let’s get a divorce,” Selina said quietly, almost relievedly. Calvin paused, frowning at the serene face across from him. Selina returned his gaze, her expression unchanged, her eyes soft. He thought he might have misheard. After a pause, Calvin smirked, recalling the evening's events, his disdain palpable, “Heh, since when did you start playing hard to get?” Calvin eyed her with increasing annoyance and disdain. “I’m serious,” Selina said, looking up at him. Calvin scoffed, his voice dripping with mockery, “Selina, you agreed to this marriage of convenience. What, can’t handle it anymore?” Selina remained silent, not responding. Thinking he had struck a nerve, Calvin's scorn grew. He abruptly left the table and stormed upstairs. He didn’t believe Selina would ever actually leave him. Downstairs, Selina watched the food cool. She went to her room, retrieved the prepared divorce papers, placed them on the table, and left the house without looking back, suitcase in tow.