Beyond Love and Longing

Wendy and James had been married for eight years. One day, Wendy told James that she wanted to have a child with another man, and she wanted to hold a wedding with that man as well. Faced with James's questioning, Wendy didn't beat around the bush. "You're infertile and he's willing to give me a child. We're only having a child and holding a wedding. That's all. We won't be getting a marriage certificate, so he has no effect on your status." James's heart turned cold. He arranged the best wedding for Wendy and the man named "Sean." Wendy was very happy with how obedient James was. When they were saying their vow, James was lying on the operating table all alone and was erasing all his memories of Wendy from his mind. Chapter 1 "Mr. Linton, are you sure you want me to arrange for Sean and Mrs. Linton's wedding in a month's time?" James Linton's secretary, Eric, sounded a little hesitant on the other end of the line. Standing in front of a French window, James looked at the gradually darkening sky. "Yes. Arrange the best wedding for them. Make sure it's grand." Eric was a little taken aback, not sure what James was thinking. Sean Greenwood was the person who James's wife, Wendy Bundred, had cheated on James with. 'Why does Mr. Linton want to hold a wedding for them?' wondered Eric. "Book a ticket to Wanera for me on the day of their wedding. Also... contact Dr. Anderson for me." Eric didn't dare ask too many questions. A while later, the call to Dr. Anderson was answered. James then began speaking in Waneran. "Anderson... I want to undergo the memory erasure operation." "Once you've undergone the operation, you'll forget everything about your wife. Have you made up your mind?" James remained silent for a while and then said, "Yes." After the call was hung up, the sky was already dark. When James walked out of his study, he saw Wendy sitting in front of the dining table with an impatient look on her face. "Have you made up your mind? I don't like to wait." James sat in front of her and looked calmly at his wife's face. A couple of days ago, Wendy suddenly told him the truth. "I don't want to keep anything from you. Sean's willing to have a child with me. I want to hold a wedding for him. I have your health check report. James, you're infertile and can't have a child with me. "As the father of the future child, I want to satisfy Sean's request. It's only a wedding, so he can have a child with me. We won't be getting a marriage certificate so he has no effect on your status." James's hand froze. He was pouring coffee. The coffee cup was overfilled and the coffee spilled everywhere. He knew that Wendy had never been loyal to him. The fact was that during the years that they were married, Wendy had continuously been having affairs. But Sean was a special person. During the eight years of their marriage, Sean had been a homewrecker for four. "I've already made the arrangements. Your wedding will be in a month's time. It won't hold you back on... getting pregnant." James forced an extremely faint smile on his face. "I'll make sure you're the perfect husband and wife." "Finally made up your mind?" Wendy's furrowed brows smoothed out and a smile appeared on her face. "That's great, James. You've been too old-fashioned before." It was probably because she was in a good mood, Wendy's tone softened. "I just want a child who's related to me by blood. I'm just holding a wedding with him while having a child of my own. "You're the one in charge of our company. You should know my feelings for you, James, right? You're the husband who my father personally chose. You were raised under my father's requirements. "You're my lawfully wedded husband. Don't worry. I won't divorce you because of him." James sat there quietly, not saying a word. He and Wendy had been married for so many years, but they had never held a wedding. But now, he had to arrange a wedding for his wife and a homewrecker. After being in a little bit of a daze, James quickly raised his head. He tried his best not to show any emotions. James had always felt that he was very lucky. He used to be an orphan in the countryside and was adopted by Wendy's father, John Bundred. This caused him to become the adopted son of an affluent family. He and Wendy grew up together. He protected her and she relied on him. When both of them were young, James's eyes followed Wendy around and she realized that. "You like me?" That day, Wendy was wearing a light-colored dress. Her long hair was hanging loosely down and she was standing under the sunlight. "Hey, nerd, have you ever kissed?" Wendy smiled as she threw herself into James's arms and kissed his lips. James's mind became blank. He held her tightly in his arms. He allowed her to continue the deep and passionate kiss. He felt that this was only something people who were very intimate could do. After James graduated from university, Wendy gave him control of her company and trusted him completely. "People say that one's money will always be in the same place as the person they love. Honey, I've given you everything I have. You're my life. I'll have to rely on you in the future." James was touched by those words. John had been critically ill, so they were in a rush to register their marriage and didn't hold a wedding, but James had made a lot of plans for the rest of his life with Wendy. However, his plans didn't include Wendy keeping their marriage a secret and cheating on him. When James first discovered that Wendy had cheated on him, he had hoped that Wendy would give him an explanation, but she didn't seem to care. "James, you're already the CEO of the Bundred Group. You should not dwell on such trivial matters. This is normal amongst the upper-class circle, don't be so naive. You'll always be my husband, the person that I love and trust the most." 'One's money would always be in the same place as the person they love.' He would always be her husband, the person that she loved and trusted the most. Those words caused James to endure what Wendy was doing for eight whole years. No one knew that James was Wendy's husband. They only knew that the Bundred Group had a daughter which kept on having affairs. However, James still had hopes and looked forward to the day that Wendy would settle down. 'She's still young. She will come back to me once she decides to settle down,' thought James. He pretended not to know anything and waited for his wife to come home. That was until Sean appeared four years ago. Since then, Wendy never had an affair with anyone else. She would spend a ton of money on him to increase his popularity. She acted like a huge fan of his. Now, she even wanted to have a child with him and also hold a wedding. It was ridiculous. As Wendy's lawfully wedded husband, James felt like he was a clown. At that moment, he finally realized that Wendy would never come home. James was willing to arrange a grand wedding for Wendy and Sean, but he was also planning on leaving Wendy. He wanted to get as far away from her as possible and forget about her. Chapter 2 Wendy was very happy that James was understanding and had gone home for two continuous nights. It had been a very long time since she went home to sleep. James stood at the door for a long time before opening the door. He coincidentally locked gazes with Wendy. She had probably just gotten home as well. She was just removing the necklace on her neck. When she saw James, she was taken aback. The clock on the wall showed that it was 11 o'clock at night. James could smell the faint smell of men's scent in the room. This caused him to furrow his brows slightly. 'She's probably just got back from a date with Sean,' thought James. He forced himself to remain calm and slowly sat down beside the table. Wendy slowly walked over and sat on the opposite side. She raised her brows and then smiled. "Why are you back so late?" "I just finished a meeting with foreign designers. We're in different time zones." James's face was indifferent. "I ordered a suit for Sean from an Idalian designer. Mr. Greenwood is a live streamer. To secure his image, the suit will need to be custom-made." As she heard the words "Mr. Greenwood", Wendy's smile faded a little. She looked at James for a while and then began laughing. "You're upset?" Wendy reached forward and pulled out a chair. She sat down next to James with a meaningful look on her face. "James, it's been so many years. Haven't we already come to an agreement? Why are you making a fuss again?" "I'm not making a fuss." "Then what was that all about then?" Wendy raised her head a little and looked careless. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. Don't go causing Sean any trouble. He's a nice guy. He's quite popular, so rumors can affect him quite a lot. Don't ruin his reputation." James didn't move. Wendy furrowed her brows. Her voice became unpleasant. "What the hell do you want?" "I won't cause Mr. Greenwood any trouble," James said calmly. "Wendy, if you want to be with him, then I can..." After hearing those words, Wendy completely lost her patience. "James, why are you being so sarcastic? I've already told you, it's just a wedding and nothing else! This is all because you can't have a child with me. Even if I have a child with him, the child will still call you Dad!" She leaned back on the chair and removed all her accessories. Her voice was clearly impatient. "You're so inconsiderate and naive! As expected from someone from the countryside. You've always been slow and selfish during the past couple of years. "Back then, you didn't understand things and I tolerated you and patiently explained things to you. But now, you're no longer an immature child!" Wendy's sharp voice echoed in the room. James's face paled and he was at a loss for words. He couldn't believe Wendy just said that he was inconsiderate and naive. Ever since he married into the Bundred family, he had been very careful. He always tried to please Wendy and obeyed her every word. He tried to convince himself every day that Wendy would come back to him one day. He kept on telling himself that Wendy loved him. She allowed him to manage their family and the company. This meant that she had complete trust in him. However, if Wendy really loved James, then why would she treat him in such a way? Eight years of confusion and torture caused James to be on the edge of breaking down. James's voice was very light. "Wendy, did you marry me because I'm a capable man and match your requirements or... or because you love me?" His hands were clenched into fists and were trembling under the table. Did she really love him? The two of them had been married for eight years, but this was the first time that he asked such a question. They grew up together, they even kissed and hugged intimately. They even slept together during the countless nights after they were married. During those past years, he did so much for the Bundred family. One would even treat a dog better after keeping it as a pet for 20 years. Memories of the days with Wendy appeared in James's head. "If you love me..." James said subconsciously. However, he was interrupted by a knock on the door. A servant quickly went to open the door. Sean walked inside with a gentle smile on his face. "Wendy, you left your phone in my car. I didn't want you to become desperate looking for your phone, so I brought it back for you." Wendy smiled and threw herself into Sean's arms. "There's no need for you to make this trip." Sean looked at Wendy, who was in his arms, and smiled dotingly. "I thought you might need to use your phone." "Losing my phone isn't so important at all. You need to take care of yourself as we have to prepare to have a child." Sean smiled and pinched her hand. "I've always been fit and healthy. You should know that." He raised his head with a smile and saw James standing not too far away. "Oh, James." Sean looked surprised and walked up to James. "Wendy told me that you're willing to arrange our wedding for us. I've heard that you didn't even hold a wedding yourself, but you're still willing to arrange a wedding for us. You're such a nice guy." Chapter 3 As soon as Sean said those words, the atmosphere became awkward. All the servants were shocked. But due to the look on Wendy's face, none of them dared to say anything. Sean pretended not to notice anything and smiled gently. "Wendy kept saying that I'm not as smart as you. You always have a solution when a problem arises. Unlike me, who could only sigh when I came across a problem. This means that I can't be successful." James held his phone tightly in his hands. He forced himself to suppress his disgust by thinking about the plane ticket and operation in a month's time. "You seem like quite a smart guy to me, Mr. Greenwood. You've kept quiet about having a child with Wendy and about the wedding." The smile on Sean's face froze. The sarcasm was evident in those words. Sean turned around and looked at Wendy. "Wendy, I think I might have sprained my ankle on my way here. It hurts..." Wendy's face changed and she began to panic. "Where does it hurt? Let's go see a doctor!" "I think I might have stepped on something on my way here." Sean patted his shoulder and pointed at the bathroom. "Help me to the bathroom first to wash things off." Wendy quickly helped Sean towards the bathroom and carefully set him down on a chair. James sat tensely in the living room. He couldn't help but focus his attention on the sounds that were coming from the bathroom. There was the sound of running water. Wendy was gently caring for Sean and the latter let out a quiet hiss in pain. Time slowly passed. The sounds that were coming from the bathroom gradually disappeared. It was a torture for James. He couldn't help but imagine what was going on in the bathroom. Another two minutes had passed. James stood up and walked quietly to the corridor. He felt like he was a thief as he looked at the door which was left ajar. Behind the door, one was seated and the other was on the knees. Sean gently lifted Wendy's chin and the next moment, the two of them began kissing passionately. James froze where he was and he immediately felt humiliated. He stared at the two who were kissing and his heart ached. The two behind the door hugged tighter and tighter. "Mmm..." Wendy murmured and threw herself onto Sean. James had already known that the two of them were having an affair, but when he saw them kissing passionately, he felt his heart crumble. James didn't walk away and just stared at the two who were kissing. Sean's hands held Wendy's slim waist. After the passionate kiss, Sean began kissing Wendy's chin, and then gradually worked his way down to her collarbones. James looked at Wendy's lustful face as his fingers trembled. He tried his best to remain calm. A while later, only Wendy's lustful gasps could be heard. Wendy panted as she said, "You're so mean. James is still outside. It'll be embarrassing if an outsider saw us like this." 'An outsider?' James's heart ached. He was Wendy's husband, but he actually became an outsider in this house. Wendy lay lustfully in Sean's arms. "You have a sprained ankle. Why were you so impulsive?" Sean smiled and pinched her nose. "It's all because you're too attractive, my love." A shy look appeared on Wendy's face that James had never seen before. With a blushed face, she gently pushed Sean away. "I'll go get you some medicine." Sean held Wendy's hand and stood up. "Help me to the sofa before you go." James clutched his fists and quickly returned to the table. Wendy quickly sat Sean down and rushed out. She seemed to have completely forgotten that James was still in the house. "You saw everything, right?" Just as James was about to stand up, he heard a chuckle from behind. Sean leaned back on the sofa and said meaningfully, "I knew you were standing at the door when we were in the bathroom just now." James stopped where he was and slowly turned around. "I've heard that you've ordered an Idalian suit for me, James." A playful look flashed in Sean's eyes. "Thank you so much." He smiled and shook his head. "In order to continue to be the CEO of the Bundred Group, you really are tolerant towards everything. You've been married to Wendy for so many years, but you're unable to have a child with her." Sean looked down on James and smiled mockingly. "We are only holding a wedding and not getting a marriage certificate, but technically speaking, my child will be the successor of the Bundred family. All you're doing now is managing the Bundred Group for my child. "It's only a marriage certificate, I don't really care. Wendy cares about me and would always send me gifts on my livestream channel. All the money belongs only to me. Me and my child will both have a bright future ahead of us. Who do you think is smarter out of the two of us, James?" Sean's words were like daggers stabbing into James's heart. James forced himself to not show any signs of weakness and forced a smile on his face. "You're right." Sean was indeed the smarter guy. Now that James had realized that, he straightened his back and walked out of the house. 'Just a little longer, James,' James said inwardly. He reminded himself that he only had around 28 days left. Chapter 4 James stayed at a hotel for several consecutive days. From the moment Sean stepped into the home he shared with Wendy, James no longer wanted to return to that house. At dawn, he instructed his driver to take him to the law firm. While waiting at a traffic light, he opened Sean’s livestream. During the livestream, Sean accidentally revealed the kiss marks on his neck. “I’m about to have a wedding with my wife. I’ll stream it live for everyone when the time comes,” he announced, his face flushed with excitement as he shared the good news with his fans. ‘His wife... If Wendy’s his wife, then who is my wife?’ wondered James. James turned his head to look at the rain streaks drifting past the car window. Jelaston was a city of frequent rain. It had also been raining on the day he and Wendy registered their marriage. Carl Jackson had served as the Bundred family’s lawyer for a lifetime and had practically watched James and Wendy grow up. “James, are you sure you want to divorce Wendy? I’ve vaguely heard about what she’s been up to outside, but divorce is a serious matter…” Carl sighed and asked. “Is it really necessary to go this far? The Bundred family has treated you well since you were a child, and Wendy has always been good to you too. You two had such a good relationship when you were young. "Mr. Bundred raised you personally to groom you. He brought you under his wing, taught you himself, and you excelled in everything—always ranking first in every subject, advancing from the University of Northela all the way to the Warden Business School. You fell in love, got married, and Mr. Bundred brought you into the Bundred Group, offering you a bright future…” As Carl spoke about the past, James felt an indescribable bitterness in his heart. It was true that Wendy’s father had shown him great kindness, bringing him out of a remote mountain village and transforming his life. The love and grudges, the sweetness and pain between him and Wendy, were all intricately intertwined in his heart. Tears slid down his cheeks. Family ties, romantic love. His entanglement with Wendy was too deep. Making the decision to divorce her was like cutting out half of his soul, a pain as sharp as scraping flesh off his bones. “Uncle Carl, she’s planning to have a child with that man. They’re even going to hold a wedding.” Overwhelmed, he pressed his hand to his heart, unable to keep his emotions in check anymore. “I’m a man… I can’t hold on any longer. I don’t know how to keep going…” For years, he had clung to the hope that Wendy wasn’t serious with those men, that she would eventually come home. It was this hope that had sustained him year after year. But now, he was on the verge of collapse, teetering on the edge of the cliff. “You’ve had a hard time too.” Carl sighed. “When Mr. Bundred was critically ill, those relatives of the Bundred family couldn’t wait to tear the Bundred Group apart. If it hadn’t been for you, the Bundred Group might have been in danger long ago… And now Wendy has gone this far with other men...” James moved his lips slightly and gave a bitter, self-deprecating smile. He placed the documents on the desk. “If Wendy is willing to sign the divorce papers, that’ll be the fastest way to settle this. If she’s unwilling, you have enough evidence of us living separately for over two years to file for divorce.” James lowered his eyes. “Uncle Carl, please do me a favor. Please hand her the divorce papers after I’m gone.” In the past, he had been hopelessly infatuated, ruled by his emotions. Without the shackles of love, what influence could Wendy possibly have over him anymore? Once the memory-erasure operation was done, he would completely let go of the past and start a new life. Chapter 5 “Please adjust the share transfer allocation yet again,” said James, his face pale. “As for the Bundred Group’s shares, I don’t want any of them.” He had made up his mind long ago. Since he had decided to leave, he would repay all the kindness the Bundred family had shown him. The Bundred family had supported him for 20 years, giving him a life-changing opportunity. He had preserved the Bundred family’s business and would return all the shares as repayment for their kindness. In the end, he still came out ahead. Thanks to the education he had received over the years, he had developed many skills. He had also managed to save some assets to rely on. As for Wendy… “All you're doing now is managing the Bundred Group for my child.” Sean’s words echoed in his ears. “Wendy cares about me and would always tip me on my livestream channel. All the money belongs only to me. Me and my child will both have a bright future ahead of us.” Since she had been heartless toward him, why should he continue degrading himself? James returned to the company, preparing to sort through his assets. Unexpectedly, he ran into Wendy in the office. “Why weren’t you at work during the day? Where did you go?” Wendy frowned. “I’ve been waiting for you all morning.” James replied calmly, “Do you need something?” “James, you don’t need to act like this. And don’t blame me for being with Sean. Look at yourself—are you even a man? You can’t have a child with me. All you know is burying yourself in work, and you don’t know how to make me happy. You don’t provide any emotional value.” Wendy spoke with righteous indignation. “Sean is different from you. He’s liked me for years and has never interfered in my marriage. He’s so handsome, understanding, and even willing to let his child call you ‘Dad’ in the future. What more could you possibly want?” Seeing James remain silent, she laughed mockingly and shook her head. “James, don’t be so jealous. Sean is foolishly selfless. He doesn’t even hope to get a marriage certificate with me. He’s no threat to you. You will always be the head of the Bundred family, the father of my future child. No one can take your place. You’re a smart man. You’ve always been rational.” Wendy spoke confidently, her tone softening into a coquettish lilt. It had been years since she last used that tone with him, and now she did it for another man. James chuckled bitterly. ‘Wendy, you truly are hopelessly in love with Sean.’ Just as he was about to respond, Wendy’s phone suddenly rang. It was Sean. She hesitated for a moment, then silenced the call, intending to continue placating James. But just a few seconds later, the phone rang again. Unable to resist, Wendy answered while walking toward the door. “Sean, it’s me…” As her figure disappeared through the doorway, James finally bent over, unable to hold himself up anymore. His expression was calm to the point of indifference, yet it exuded a profound sense of helplessness. Before Wendy’s father passed away, he had left James numerous properties and estates. James meticulously organized all of them and handed them to Carl, asking him to assist in transferring ownership. He returned everything to Wendy. After completing these tasks, he sat in the empty room, staring at the drizzling rain outside. Before he knew it, night had fallen. It was raining. Suddenly, his phone screen lit up. Sean had sent a few photos along with two messages. In the photos, Sean and Wendy’s faces were flushed with happiness, radiating joy. “James, Wendy accompanied me to Hallea to check out wedding venues. Wendy asked for the Bundred family’s private jet to fly us. You’re not mad, right?” James forced a wry smile. In the past, he might have felt angry and hurt. But now, having decided to divorce Wendy, he was beyond being provoked. Only 20 days were left. What was there to care about anymore? He raised his hand, typed a few words on his phone, and tapped send. “Choose carefully. Make sure you an expensive venue.” Chapter 6 When Wendy and Sean returned, it was already a week later. The day they came back, James happened to be at home. The sound of laughter and playful banter echoed as Sean planted a kiss on Wendy's face. “Honey, I really like the wedding rings you chose.” Under the crystal chandelier, the sparkling diamond ring radiated brilliantly. “Oh, James is home too.” Standing in the living room, Sean looked surprised. After a brief hesitation, he pulled a box out of his bag. “James, I got you a gift as well. Look, I picked this out myself. Do you like it?” James suddenly felt disgusted. He and Wendy weren’t even officially divorced yet, but the shameless homewrecker dared to stride into his home with such audacity. And now, he had the gall to act as though he were a master handing down rewards to a servant. “No need, keep it for yourself,” James replied curtly, rejecting the gift as he turned and headed upstairs. “Honey, is James mad at me?” Wendy quickly coaxed him in a soft voice. “He’s just got that strange temper. Don’t mind him…” Holding his vibrating phone, James quickened his pace, closing the door and taking a deep breath. It was Carl calling. “James, I’ve prepared the documents for the property and share transfers. All you need to do is sign them when the time comes…” “Alright.” James exhaled deeply and hung up. “You should’ve returned those shares to Wendy a long time ago.” Sean’s voice suddenly came from outside the door. At some point, he had been eavesdropping on the conversation. “You’re incapable of giving Wendy a child. When you’re old, you’ll have to rely on my son. So, hand over the shares now and make a good impression. Maybe I’ll let my child give you a little more pocket money in the future.” He chuckled softly, leaning closer to James’s ear. “James, those who adapt to the times are wise.” James sneered. “Save your provocations. Don’t waste your schemes on me. Stay calm and go be the groom.” As James turned to leave, Sean’s gentle expression twisted into something strange. The next moment, the sound of shattering glass rang out. A powerful force shoved James suddenly. “Ah—” A sharp scream sounded. James tumbled down the stairs. “Watch out!” Hearing the commotion, Wendy rushed over from the side. Out of instinct, she pulled Sean to safety, holding him tightly. Bang! With a loud crash, James landed hard at the bottom of the staircase. Blood gushed from his leg and arm, quickly soaking his clothes. Lying on his back, James felt his vision go dark, the pain made it difficult to breathe. “James!” Seeing James’s pitiful state, Wendy instinctively let go of Sean and called out to him. “Are you okay?” Her face flashed with panic. “Do you need to go to the hospital?” The pain in James’s leg was excruciating, and every movement was a struggle. “Wendy, my leg hurts. Help me…” He tried to speak but was interrupted by a choked sob. “Wendy… I just wanted to give James a gift, but he tried to hit me with a vase… My face hurts so much. Do you think it’ll affect the wedding?” Wendy’s eyes widened in shock, glaring at James with fury. “James, are you insane? Sean is a livestreamer, and you tried to smash his face with a vase? I always thought you were just cold-blooded. I didn’t realize you were this vicious!” Seeing Sean holding his head, pale-faced, Wendy’s anger boiled over. She stormed down the stairs and kicked James hard several times. “You bastard! You can’t give me a child, and you won’t let anyone else give me one either! If something happens to Sean, you’re done for!” One of her kicks landed squarely on James’s front, causing him to cough up a mouthful of blood. Wendy, however, turned a blind eye, gently helping Sean to his feet. “Don’t worry. I’ll take you to the hospital right now.” Before leaving, she paused at the door. “You’d better pray his head is okay.” Even after the two disappeared out the door, James lay motionless at the bottom of the staircase. He stared blankly at the dazzling crystal chandelier above, his eyes trembling slightly. He wasn’t sure how long he remained there before tears began streaming freely from the corners of his eyes. Chapter 7 “Sir…” Several servants cautiously approached him, their voices trembling as they softly inquired, “Are you alright?” James struggled to control his shaking. He took a deep breath and forced a smile that was more heartbreaking than tears. “Call an ambulance for me, please. I can’t move anymore.” Under their pitiful gazes, James was carried into the ambulance. His injuries were worse than he had expected, with bruises and abrasions covering his entire body. “These injuries are severe. Don’t you have any family to stay with you?” The doctor couldn’t help but comment as he treated James’s wounds. “You’ll need help since you won’t be able to move around.” “I don’t have any family,” replied James, his voice distant and hollow. “There’s no one in this world who’s tied to me anymore.” His parents were gone and Wendy… she was gone too. Or maybe, she was never truly there to begin with. As the nurse wheeled him out, he overheard two other nurses gossiping nearby. “Did you hear? That livestreamer, Sean, is hospitalized here.” “I did! His wife treats him so well. She booked an entire floor for him.” “Wow… she’s the daughter of an affluent family and is still so attentive. I’m so jealous.” “Although I heard his wife had a lot of scandals before…” “So what? Can’t someone become loyal again for the person they love?” ‘Become loyal again for the person they love...’ James lowered his gaze and gave a bitter smile. Yes, Wendy would do anything for Sean. That was true love. Exhausted both physically and mentally, James had his driver take him to his seaside villa. For the next few days, he stayed there to recuperate. This villa was bought with the first pot of gold he earned back in university through investments made with his part-time income. It was truly his own. The ocean roared yet remained serene. Every time James sat by the shore, he felt a rare sense of tranquility. Watching the waves chase and play with each other before disappearing on the sand brought him a semblance of peace. It was as though the suffocating weight he had carried for so long was finally beginning to lift. In this seaside villa, James allowed himself a break from everything. But when his “holiday” ended, he turned his phone back on, only to be met with a barrage of missed calls. The majority of them were from Wendy. “James, haven’t you caused enough trouble? Where have you gone off to, leaving the company’s mess for me to clean up? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to! You’re just trying to use work to keep me from taking care of Sean, aren’t you? You’re so petty and disgusting!” As James stepped into his office, Wendy was still flooding his phone with messages. “Where the hell have you been?” When James finally walked through the door, Wendy threw a stack of documents at his feet. “The wedding is in a week! I don’t care what excuse you have, but you better drop the attitude! They’re only minor injuries, stop being so dramatic!” James remained silent. He headed straight for the sofa and sat down. When Wendy caught a glimpse of his exposed skin—bruised and marred with wounds—a flicker of guilt crossed her face. But it disappeared as quickly as it came. “You should feel lucky that Sean’s fine, that his head wasn’t injured. Otherwise, I’d divorce you without a second thought. Sean is kind-hearted and isn’t holding you accountable. But he does have one request that you need to fulfill. For our wedding, you’re going to be the officiant.” James raised his head, his voice trembling. “Wendy, you want your husband to officiate the wedding between you and your lover?” He stared at her, his gaze filled with despair and disbelief. Wendy looked puzzled. She didn’t understand why James was reacting so strangely. “It’s just a few words of blessing. Sean respects you. He holds you in high regard. Why can’t you just agree?” Hearing her words, James couldn’t hold it in any longer. He shoved her aside and ran to the bathroom, retching violently. How had he never noticed before just how disgusting Wendy truly was? Clenching his fists tightly, he slammed one into the cold mirror. Blood seeped from his knuckles as the glass cracked under the force. James stumbled back and turned around to face Wendy’s astonished gaze. “Wendy, we once shared something—call it feelings, or whatever it was. Maybe it’s all gone now, but for the sake of what we once had… please, spare me.” James let out a bitter laugh, his voice hoarse. “I won’t officiate your wedding. Consider it my plea to you.” Wendy’s expression turned unreadable. In all these years, this was the first time James had ever begged her. So humbly. So vulnerably. “Fine, forget it then.” Wendy raised her brows slightly. “James, if you had begged me like this earlier, maybe I would’ve come home more often. You owe everything you have to me. You should be worshiping me. Too bad you figured that out too late.” Listening to her smug, self-righteous words, James’s fists clenched tighter. Yes, he had figured it out too late. The shattered glass cut deeper into his hand, blood dripping steadily onto the floor. With trembling fingers, he traced a single number in his own blood on the broken mirror, “7”. Only seven days left. Chapter 8 The wedding was held at a seven-star hotel. Sean seemed to deliberately disgust James, every flower, every decoration, and even every dish was brought to James for his opinion. “Sean is very busy, and he needs to take care of his health. You should help with setting up the venue,” Wendy said matter-of-factly. “I’m busy preparing for pregnancy as well,” she added. “Yes, James, I trust you. What you like, I like too,” Sean said with a smile. “James, treat this like it’s your own wedding Nothing can go wrong.” James looked at his triumphant demeanor with an expressionless face. “Okay,” replied James. He treated the wedding as if it were his own, meticulously overseeing every detail with perfection. Soon, the day before the wedding arrived. “James, leaving the wedding arrangements to you was the right decision. I’m very satisfied,” Sean said during the rehearsal, holding Wendy’s hand as they arrived late. “Wendy, you grew up with James, and this wedding dress is so heavy... Why don’t you let James support you when you walk down the aisle later?” Sean suggested. Eric, who had been by James’s side, looked upset and couldn’t help but complain, “This isn’t right. Having the husband escort his wife down the aisle only to hand her over to the homewrecker? That’s too far!” Sean’s face darkened with anger. “You!” “Alright then.” James interrupted in a calm voice, worried that Wendy might punish his secretary. “I’ll escort her,” James added firmly. Sean’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. Dressed in the wedding gown James had personally chosen, Wendy walked toward Sean step by step with James supporting her. The wedding march echoed through the hall. With every step James took, images flashed through his mind. Scenes of light and shadow, filled with memories of him and Wendy, played like a movie. The smile on his face grew lighter and more relaxed. “Groom, I now hand the bride over to you,” James said when he reached the front, smiling at Wendy and Sean. “I wish you happiness,” he added, his smile sincere and his blessing heartfelt. Seeing the genuine smile in James’s eyes, Wendy suddenly felt an ominous premonition. “James... Are you feeling tired?” she asked, her voice slightly uneasy. Sean laughed in surprise. “James is so good at managing the company, how could something this simple tire him out? Right, James?” “I am a little tired,” James replied with a faint smile. “I won’t attend tomorrow’s ceremony.” He let out a soft chuckle. “There’s a lot of work piling up at the company. I’ll go back and continue working hard for your child’s future.” Hearing his joking tone, Wendy felt a nameless fear welling up inside her. Something didn’t feel right. She suddenly didn’t want James to leave. It was as if, once he left, they would never meet again. Sean put an arm around Wendy’s shoulder. “Honey, you must be tired,” he said gently. “I’ll help you sit down,” he continued as he guided her to a seat. Though Wendy sat down, she couldn’t stop herself from looking at James’s receding figure. “James!” Wendy called out in a panic. “You’ll wait for me at home, won’t you?” James didn’t turn around, he simply raised his hand and waved in the air. On the day of the wedding, the wedding hall was adorned with flowers. Glittering lights illuminated the venue. While Wendy woke up early to do her makeup, James’s flight to Wanera had already landed. Under the golden sunlight, Sean stood tall and confident, smiling brightly. The wedding march played as Wendy, wearing a custom wedding dress, took one step after another toward Sean. At the same time, James, dressed in a hospital gown, took one step after another into a cold operating room. “Groom, do you take this woman in front of you as your wife, in sickness and in health...” —“Begin the anesthesia.” “I do,” replied Sean. “Bride, do you take this man in front of you as your husband, in sickness and in health...” “I do,” said Wendy. —“Vitals are stable.” “Congratulations to the both of you for becoming husband and wife.” —“Anesthesia is effective, begin the surgery,” the surgeon said. A sharp scalpel sliced through the skin, and blood began to flow...