A Marriage of Inconvenience

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When I discovered Richard was cheating, both of us remained incredibly calm. Richard shielded the girl behind him, his voice flat. Don't blame her. It was a moment of passion. She's innocent. I nodded. I understand. That night, Richard came home and handed me a divorce agreement. I've made concessions financially. Look it over. If there are no issues, sign it. I tossed the agreement into the trash can, smiling with boundless tolerance. "Relax. I won't make a fuss over something so trivial." It's just an affair. In this age of fast love, who hasn't faced temptation? I couldn't even control myself; how could I blame Richard?

Richard paused just as he was about to light a cigarette. He looked up at me, surprised.

I knew why he was shocked.

In the past, I was the kind of person who couldn't tolerate a speck of dust in my eye.

Richard had always been popular with women. Back when we were madly in love, he tried hard to keep himself clean for me. But some women just threw themselves at him.

We used to fight about it constantly.

But over the years, maybe because we'd been together too long and the passion faded, or maybe just because we got older and lost the energy to argue, our marriage became like stagnant water. Not a ripple in sight.

When life gets too bland, people crave excitement.

"Richard, we've known each other for twenty years. Married for almost ten. The company is thriving. Our parents get along great."

"Do you know what it means if we divorce?"

It means assets need to be divided. The stock price will tank.

It means major upheavals for both families. Our parents are old, they have health issues; they might not survive the shock.

Richard was silent for a long time. finally, he said, "I'm doing this out of respect for you."

"Your respect for me is finding a mistress and cuckolding me?"

Richard frowned, disapproving. "She's not a mistress! I told you, I was shameless. She knew I had a family and kept rejecting me."

"I get it. You don't need to explain. Love is hard to control with reason." I laid it all out. "You're just afraid I'll use my status as your wife to bully her, right? Don't worry. I, Sarah Vance, might have many flaws, but I am generous."

Richard looked at me tentatively. "You really don't mind?"

"To say I don't mind at all would be a lie, but you two are true love," I sighed softly. "True love is rare these days. I always respect and bless it."

Richard wasn't swayed by my sweet talk, but he knew I was stating facts.

So he said he'd reconsider the divorce.

For several days, he came home on time.

Occasionally his phone would ring. He'd glance at me, then hang up.

I said generously, "Was that her? Answer it. Don't make her sad. You can't give her a legitimate status, so don't let her suffer in other ways."

Richard endured it for a moment, then got up and went into the study.

The door closed tight, just like his heart, which hadn't been open to me for a long time.

Actually, I understood him.

People are very tolerant of those they love deeply or don't love at all.

They are only harsh toward those they once loved deeply but no longer do.

Richard probably detested me right now. Detested me so much that breathing the same air in the living room felt unbearable.

Yet, because he was afraid I'd hurt his lover, he had to come home every day and pretend with me.

It must be hard for him.

At night, as usual, I slept alone.

I can't remember how long it's been since Richard and I had a normal married life. At first, I tried to seduce him.

But he always used "tired" as an excuse.

But men are creatures who can impregnate women at eighty and try to grope nurses while paralyzed in bed.

I knew then that Richard wasn't tired.

He had just been satisfied by another woman.

But a thirty-year-old woman has needs. I was in my prime.

With no other choice, I found a clean man.

Before sleeping, I received a message.

[When are you getting a divorce?]

[I told you, I won't be a homewrecker! If you don't divorce him, don't contact me again!]

I thought of his eight-pack abs and licked my lips with regret.

Divorce was impossible. But since he was so firm, I couldn't force him.

So I moved my finger and deleted him.

Luckily, three-legged frogs are hard to find, but two-legged men are everywhere.

Goodbye is just a chance to say hello to the next one.

Monday. Shareholders' meeting.

Ever since I had a miscarriage from overwork two years ago, I stopped going to the office. I stayed home, rested, and collected dividends.

But I still attended the quarterly meetings.

Compared to the last time I was here, there were new faces. I immediately spotted the woman in the corner taking notes.

Seeing me, she panicked, looking left and right before shrinking back and lowering her head.

I didn't feel any hostility toward her, just a bit of pity.

She was the first woman Richard had brought in front of me.

But she wasn't the first woman Richard had cheated with during our marriage.

Richard was someone who separated public and private life. He never brought his past flings to the company.

Thinking of how Richard defended her, I thought, maybe this really was true love.

At ten o'clock, Richard walked into the conference room on time.

But he didn't start the meeting.

After a while, there was noise outside. The heavy doors opened, and a man in a dark grey suit walked in.

"Sorry, I'm late." He apologized verbally, but his face showed zero remorse. He sat down next to Richard.

Seeming to sense my gaze, he looked over indifferently, then looked away expressionlessly.

I clicked my tongue.

This guy has a poker face. Especially in bedthe more intense the desire, the colder he looks.

But I might be a bit masochistic. The colder he is, the more excited I get.

"Director Vance, who is this?" the shareholder next to me whispered, surprised.

"Caleb Sterling. Our angel investor," I explained softly. "Without him, the company wouldn't exist."

"But I've never seen him before?"

"He has a lot of assets. We invite him to every meeting, but he always declines."

"Why did he come this time?"

I smiled and shook my head. "I don't know. Maybe he's bored?"

The meeting ended near noon. I didn't rush to leave, planning to have lunch with Richard.

When I came out of the restroom after washing my hands, Richard's lover walked in.

Seeing me, her instinct was to run.

But after a moment, she shuffled over, head down, voice like a mosquito: "Director Vance."

I washed my hands slowly, pulled a paper towel, and dried them.

Receiving no response, she started crying from the grievance. Her shoulders shook, looking pitiful.

"Director Vance, I really didn't mean to ruin your marriage. I... I didn't know he was married..."

She sobbed, starting to defend herself: "I thought about leaving him, but, but..."

"But you love him too much," I took out a handkerchief, lifted the girl's chin, and wiped her tears with pity, speaking for her. "The thought of leaving Richard breaks your heart."

"So you had to stay entangled with him. Later, he got you a job at the company so you could be together day and night, right?"

I finished her lines. She was stunned, forgetting to cry.

"Do you have something to say to me?" I asked her.

The company is huge. If she really wanted to avoid me, it would be easy.

Her intentions were too obvious. She was too weak. So weak that I found her somewhat cute.

"Director Vance, you're so capable, beautiful, and rich. So, so... could you please divorce him..."

Knowing she was in the wrong, she started crying again. "I really have no choice. I... I'm pregnant..."

"Does Richard know?" I asked calmly.

She nodded. "But he says you won't divorce. But Director Vance, the child is innocent... I came from a broken home. I really want to give my child a complete family!"

"You can call me shameless, but for my child, I'll do anything!"

I smiled slightly and nodded. "I understand. Stop crying. You're pregnant; be careful."

"Thank you for your blessing." Saying that, she tried to kneel.

But realizing I wasn't stopping her, her knees hovered awkwardly in mid-air.

I checked the time on my watch.

It was late. No wonder I was hungry.

"I'll discuss the divorce with Richard again." I patted her shoulder and floated away.

Richard's office was large. When I pushed the door open, he was chatting with Caleb.

Seeing me, Richard smiled and stood up. "Just in time. Caleb, you haven't seen Sarah in a long time, right? Lunch together?"

Not that long. We slept together last week.

Caleb glanced at me and nodded slightly. "It has been a while. I was planning to message you guys for dinner today, but Sarah seems to have deleted me?"

"Impossible." Richard picked up my phone and scrolled through it. He really didn't see Caleb's name.

"Must be accidental," Richard explained immediately. "Sarah never deletes people."

"It's fine. Just add me back." Caleb held out his QR code, personally watching Richard scan it and send the request.

I rolled my eyes internally.

Who was the one last night swearing never to contact me again?