Chapter 2

3

The smile that had just surfaced on Jeffrey's face vanished instantly.

After a pause, he said bitterly, "I've done many wrong things to you in the past, but I've come to truly understand my mind. I really love you. I know you won't believe my words right away, but I hope you can give me a chance to prove myself..."

I shook my head. "No, thanks."

A flash of pain crossed Jeffrey's face. "Scarlet, are you really so heartless?"

I reminded him, saying, "Have you forgotten about Justine Tillery, the girl who saved you by the lake back then?"

Jeffrey's dream lover and unattainable dream woman was Justine.

Their story of meeting and falling for each other was nothing short of melodramatic.

Years ago, Jeffrey accidentally fell into the lake. He couldn't swim and nearly drowned. Justine happened to pass by and saved him.

Even though Justine was just a frail young woman, she acted decisively and courageously. From that moment on, the image of her jumping into the lake to save him became a beam of light etched into Jeffrey's heart.

But when he heard her name now, Jeffrey was unmoved at all.

I said, "She's the woman you've been pining for over the past ten years."

"Come on, dude, stick to the script here!" I thought.

To my surprise, Jeffrey frowned and asked, "Who's Justine?"

I was dumbfounded. "It's her! The woman you've been hopelessly in love with for six years."

How could he forget her?

Jeffrey shook his head. "I've only loved you."

He added, "Scarlett, I'm telling the truth."

I furrowed my eyebrows tightly.

Could it be... I'd gotten the wrong book?

So I needed to verify it.

I said rapidly, "Is your childhood nickname Jeff?"

Jeffrey's expression froze. "That's right."

"Your favorite breakfast is donuts. You insist on adding cilantro to your soup, and your second molar on the right side is an implant."

Jeffrey gradually turned astonished.

He said, "Those are right. Everything you said is true."

So he was still Jeffrey I knew, but why had he changed so much?

As I was deep in thought, Jeffrey's expression grew complicated. He said slowly, "Scarlett, I know you love me. I just didn't realize you loved me so much. Stop denying your feelings now. Okay?"

He even had a look on his face as if to mean "I understand everything now."

I didn't know what to say.

Was he out of his mind?

4

But even without his dream lover, I had no interest in Jeffrey.

Seriously, I would rather be rich, beautiful, free, and happy on my own than take care of him all the time.

"Let's get a divorce," I said seriously.

Jeffrey's face darkened. "Stop joking."

I was furious instantly and snapped, "I am not joking. Why did you even marry me? Go and ask around. Who marries a wife just to leave her at home like a decoration? You've never loved me all these years. All you do is throw money at me. I don't care about your money. I want a divorce."

Jeffrey said, "What I did was wrong before, but from now on, I'll treat you well."

"Look at you, all talk and no action."

Jeffrey stared at me and said, "What do you want? I can make it up to you."

I clasped my hands together and said sincerely, "The best way to make it up to me is to let me."

No matter what Jeffrey said, I was determined to get a divorce.

But Jeffrey was as stubborn as a mule and refused me.

He left me no choice.

That evening, I went on a spree of online dating and lined up eight boyfriends to make Jeffrey jealous.

I didn't believe he could tolerate that.

I quickly picked one guy to meet in person.

I chose to meet him in the very villa.

That would be fun.

When the guy, who was 6'2 tall, eight-pack abs, and was a Gemini, arrived, Jeffrey happened to come home.

The two of them ran into each other at the gate.

That guy was excited to see me, and his charming face flushed red.

He said shyly, "You're even prettier than your photos."

Then he turned nervously to Jeffrey and asked, "Is he... your uncle?"

I couldn't hold back my laugh.

"Well done, man. You deserved to be a Gemini," I thought.

That guy was in a casual outfit and was just twenty-two years old. In contrast, Jeffrey was dressed in a sharp suit with polished leather shoes. They instantly created a generational gap.

Jeffrey said flatly, "We're not hiring security guards."

That guy froze and was stunned for a moment.

Then he quickly said, "Sir, I'm not here to apply for a security job. I'm Scarlett's boyfriend."

I quietly grabbed the suitcase I'd hidden nearby and was ready for Jeffrey to explode in anger and kick me out of the house.

But he didn't. Instead, he said to that guy, "You're too short. Your eyes are not good-looking, and you're not as handsome as I am. You look broke. She can buy a dozen designer handbags in a day and spend two million without blinking. Can you afford that?"

That guy's pupils dilated in shock as he turned to look at me. His eyes filled with questions.

I shook my head vigorously. "No, I'm not. I didn't do that. Don't listen to him!"

Jeffrey then said, "Sweetheart, I'm starving."

He sounded a bit aggrieved.

I was speechless.

Jeffrey's behavior was a game-changer. In the end, that guy didn't even make it through the door and left dejectedly.