Chapter 7
After the wedding, Sylvie was about to head home when she ran into Soren downstairs. When their eyes met, she glanced away and tried to walk past him, but he stopped her.
“So, you still haven’t decided to end the financial agreement? Or is the amount not enough? Just be honest–how much will it take?”
After being asked the same question over and over, Sylvie no longer felt like explaining herself to him. She kept her gaze lowered and responded in a flat, empty
tone.
“Let me ask you something too. Do you believe money can erase me from your life and everything we’ve shared for over ten years? If I accept your money, does that mean it’s over between us and you’ll never talk to me again?”
Her questions left Soren speechless. He held her gaze, his eyes gradually clouding with something complex and inexplicable.
He wanted to explain that his only goal was to end their toxic relationship, not to wipe her from his existence. But then he spotted Zoe coming out of the washroom, and the words died on his lips.
What slipped out instead was a single syllable that was the exact opposite of what he meant to say. “Yes.”
Hearing his confirmation, Sylvie felt a heavy throb in her chest, though her heart had long been numb. Still, she pulled herself together instantly.
She watched as Soren took Zoe’s hand, their fingers intertwining, and gave a small nod. “I get it. Don’t worry about it. You’ll get exactly what you’re asking for. In five days, everything you want will be yours.”
Five days? What was she talking about?
Soren frowned. He was about to question her, but she was already gone. When Zoe whined about being hungry, he brushed off Sylvie’s words without a second thought.
After getting back home, Sylvie cashed out the last of her assets. She sold off everything–her jewelry, designer purses, villas, and luxury cars–converting it all
into money.
That night, a heavy downpour started outside as she was packing her things. Out of nowhere, she heard frantic knocks at the door.
She opened it to find Zoe, drenched from the rain, who then dropped to her knees and broke down sobbing.
“Ms. Clarke, Soren collapsed today and was rushed to the emergency room. But since I’m not family, I couldn’t sign the treatment consent form. I had to reach out to his aunt overseas, and the delay nearly made him miss the critical treatment window.
“He’s still in the ICU. You know his parents are gone, and he has no other relatives. I’m begging you. Please terminate the financial agreement and let him go. I want to be his wife, not just someone forced to stand by helplessly while he fights for his life.”
As Sylvie listened to the frantic plea, she remembered that Soren had also fallen dangerously ill around this time in her past life.
Back then, she’d immediately arranged for his transfer to the best private hospital and called in the top specialists in the city, saving him from severe
consequences.
Afterward, she’d nursed him day and night until she was so worn out she could barely stand up straight.
Yet when Soren came to, he was furious that Sylvie had snapped at Zoe in a moment of distress. He kicked Sylvie out without hesitation.
This time around, Sylvie refused to suffer that same humiliation again. She decided to play dumb and act like she knew nothing.
Zoe was an ordinary woman from humble origins with no family connections or social clout. Naturally, she couldn’t keep her cool in such a critical moment or pull together the necessary resources to arrange effective emergency measures.
Soren would go through a lot of pain, but that was to be expected. Even so, he was guaranteed to be safe since he was the male lead in this story.
That was why Sylvie wasn’t the slightest bit worried. She simply spoke to Zoe with calm confidence.
“Ms. Lasky, do you like watching romance dramas? In those shows, when the rich, handsome male lead and the sweet, innocent female lead fall in love at first sight, they always have to go through a bunch of challenges before they can be together.
“The same goes for you and Soren. But no matter what bad luck comes your way–even if a side character like me gets involved–nothing will keep the two of you apart. So don’t stress over Soren’s safety.
“You’re his fated wife who’ll grow old with him and stay by his side for life. As for me, I won’t stand in your way anymore. I’ve already given Soren what you asked for, so you should head back now.”
