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Dylan Grenville hummed softly as he arranged the last dish on the dining table.
It was their wedding anniversary, and Dylan had spent the day preparing the perfect dinner for his wife, Jane.
Dylan casually picked up his phone and noticed a message on it.
âBoss, the arrangement for investing one hundred million dollars in your wife's company is all set. We can sign the contract tomorrow.â
Dylan gave a faint smile and put down the phone with satisfaction.
He had been married to Jane for so many years, yet he had never revealed his true identity. However, he had been secretly helping Jane's company to grow rapidly. In just a few years, the market value of Jane's company had increased more than tenfold and was about to go public.
He also planned to take this opportunity to reveal his secret to Jane.
Dylan glanced at the clock. Nine p.m. Jane still hadnât answered any of his calls.
He dialed her number again. The line rang, and rang, until her voicemail clicked on. He sighed, setting his phone down. The food grew cold as the minutes ticked by.
It was nearly midnight when the front door slammed open. Dylan looked up to see Jane staggering in, her heels clicking unevenly against the tiled floor. The sharp scent followed her.
âJane,â he began, keeping his tone steady. âIâve been calling you since and you didnât answer my calls.â
Jane waved him off impatiently, wobbling slightly as she kicked off her heels. âI was busy, Dylan. Do you think I have time to deal with your endless calls?â
âToday is our wedding anniversary,â Dylan said quietly. âMolly was waiting for you, she has been waiting for her beloved mother all evening. She made you a card.â
Jane rolled her eyes. âWedding anniversary? Dylan, Iâve been working all day to get the company listed. Do you have any idea how important tonight was for me?â
âI do,â Dylan said evenly. âBut Mollyââ
âStop talking about Molly!â Jane snapped. âYou think everything revolves around this house, donât you? Meanwhile, Iâm out there fighting to make something of myself!â
Dylan took a deep breath. âThe Nelson family is helping, arenât they? Theyâll ensure the companyâs success.â
Jane froze, her drunken haze momentarily lifting. âHow do you know about the Nelson family?â
Dylan didnât answer, his expression unreadable.
The Nelson family was one of the wealthiest families in Silverpine city.
Three years ago, the Nelson family suddenly found Jane and established a close cooperation with her.
Jane was so flattered, but she didnât know it was her useless husbandâs order.
Janeâs eyes narrowed, but she didnât press further. Instead, her anger reignited. âYou donât get it, do you? Do you know what many successful men said to me at the banquet? âWhy doesnât such a successful woman have a real partner?â They laughed at me, Dylan. Because of you.â
âBecause of me?â Dylan asked quietly.
âYes!â Jane exploded. âYouâre a failure! A man who stays home, cooks, and takes care of a kid! If it werenât for Molly, Iâd never have been tied down to someone like you. My life would have been so much better!â
âSoâŠYou felt ashamed of me?â
Dylanâs gaze darkened, but he remained silent as Jane continued her tirade. He had seen through her true nature.
âYou made me have a baby and ruined my future! Iâve worked so hard to get here, and youâyou sit here playing house! Even this food you madeâdisgusting!â She picked up a plate and hurled it against the wall, the sound of shattering porcelain echoing through the room.
âI was too naive to marry you and give birth to Molly! You donât even know what I want!â
âThen what do you want, Jane?â Dylan looked at Jane, a self-mocking smile played on his face.
âWhat do I want? I want a real man! Someone who can help me in my career, someone who can connect me with the Nelson family and get them to invest one hundred million dollars in me! Not some good-for-nothing who just stays at home taking care of the kids!â Jane shouted in disgust.
Watching the somewhat frantic Jane, Dylan gave a self-mocking smile.
Ever since her company started to do well, Jane's attitude towards Dylan had changed drastically.
Dylan looked at Jane, a hint of disappointment in his calm expression.
"Yeah, Jane. I'm just an ordinary person, only able to cook for you at home, take care of the kids... Is that also wrong? I heard you've been getting close to a man lately. Do you think he's the one who helped you get in touch with the Nelson family?"
Jane looked at Dylan impatiently, "If it's not him who helped me, are you saying itâs you? Who I get close to is none of your business. If it werenât for you being useless, if you could help me get in touch with the Nelson family... Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I told you!"
Dylan gave a bitter smile, "Jane... since we're already here, maybe it's time to end everything."
âWhat?â Jane froze mid-rage.
âLetâs get a divorce,â Dylan said simply.
Janeâs shock quickly turned to fury. âOh, how convenient for you! You want to walk away just because things arenât perfect? Youâre the one who dragged me into this mess, and now you think you can leave? Youâre irresponsible, Dylan!â
Dylan didnât respond. Without another word, he turned and walked to the guest room, leaving Jane screaming in the living room.
âYouâre a coward, Dylan! A useless, pathetic coward!â she screamed, smashing another dish. âYou and Molly are the chains holding me back!â
Behind the closed door of the guest room, Dylan sat quietly on the edge of the bed. His heart ached, not for himself, but for Molly, who deserved so much more than this chaos. For the first time, he allowed himself to accept the truth: the woman he once loved no longer existed.
In the living room, Jane continued her rampage, breaking dish after dish, her screams filled with anger and pain. But Dylan didnât hear her anymore. He had already made up his mind.
The crash of dishes had finally stopped. Jane stormed to her room, slamming the door behind her with a thunderous bang. She grabbed her phone with trembling hands and dialed a number.
The person answered on the second ring, their voice smooth and confident. âJane, darling, whatâs wrong? You sound furious.â
It was Lisa Powell, her best friend and a sharp-tongued lawyer.
âItâs Dylan!â Jane hissed. âHe asked for a divorce tonight!â
"Dylan? That useless guy?" Lisa was a bit surprised, "Tell me what happened!"
Jane recounted the evening, her voice thick with frustration. âCan you believe it? He sat there with his pathetic little dinner, pretending like everything was fine! And when I told him the truthâthat heâs been dragging me downâhe suddenly wants to walk away!â
Hearing Jane's words, Lisa laughed, "Don't worry, Jane, I know exactly what he's up to! He's just trying to use this as an opportunity to threaten you!"
"Threaten me?" Jane was a little confused.
"Yes, he thinks you can't live without him, so he believes you'll beg him not to divorce! He's so foolish!" Lisa laughed. "I've told you from the start, you deserve better! Now isnât this the perfect opportunity?"
Lisaâs tone turned sharp. âHe wants a divorce now? How convenient. Right when your company is about to sign with the Nelson family. I bet heâs after your money.â
Jane froze, her grip tightening on the phone. âYou think so?â
âThink about it,â Lisa said smoothly. âYouâve worked your fingers to the bone to build your company. And now that itâs about to become a powerhouse, Dylan, the so-called âhousehusband,â suddenly decides to leave? Itâs too suspicious. But donât worry, Jane. Iâll handle him. He wonât get a penny.â
"You have to divorce him! I can't wait to see the look on his face when he regrets it!" Lisa laughed cruelly.
Janeâs face hardened. âYouâre right. Heâs trying to take what Iâve earned. Tomorrowâs deal with the Nelson family will double my companyâs value. I wonât let him touch it. Not a cent.â
âGood,â Lisa said with a satisfied tone. âIâll have the divorce papers ready in the morning. Trust me, Jane, Iâll make him regret even thinking about taking your money.â
Jane nodded, though Lisa couldnât see her. âThanks, Lisa. I donât know what Iâd do without you.â
âDonât thank me yet,â Lisa said, a sly smile evident in her voice. âJust focus on that Nelson deal tomorrow. Leave Dylan to me.â
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