As I scrolled through the files the PI sent over, my heart pounded with one shock after another.]]


    So this whole time, Ss had been involved in such a massive business deal behind my back.[]


    And as it turned out, I wasn’t the one who had indirectly caused Reba to “lose her innocence“.]]


    I looked back at the divorce agreement Ss had just sent. The anger and grief that had been consuming me instantly vanished.]


    Sometimes, it turns out, viins appear in your life to save you, to force you to be yourself again.]


    A few of the women were still muttering curses nearby, but I didn’t even bother to look back and argue with them.[]


    simply handed all the evidence to the institute director and told him to handle it as he saw fit.]]


    I quickly went home and packed my things. Two hourster, I was on a flight to Boston to meet with my professor, before connecting to Indonesia.]]


    When Inded, I saw Reba’s social media post: Ss, on one knee, proposing to her with ny–nine roses.]


    A luxurious hotel, a magnificent gown, a towering champagne fountain, a crowd of people, fluttering streamers. It was far more extravagant than my own wedding.


    Back then, Ss and I were just two broke kids, fresh out of MIT with degrees in nuclear physics.


    Our professor officiated, and we just had a simple meal with a few ssmates.]]


    That night, in our tiny 300–square–foot apartment, Ss held me and said emotionally,


    N


    F


    “Charlotte, once I make a name for myself, I swear I’ll give you the wedding of the century. I’ll make everyone envy you, and make you the happiest woman in the world.“]]


    Six years into our marriage, Ss was famous. We lived in a huge vi. He kept his word, making me the envied Mrs. Duncan and showering me with endless affection.[]


    I thought that happiness wouldst forever. I never imagined it was all just a beautiful illusion, that one of us had already strayed from our path long ago.[]


    Once in Indonesia, I stopped dwelling on the past and immediately threw myself into the geothermal drill missile research with my colleagues.


    If this project seeded, it would provide our country with greater security, a stronger deterrent against any aggressors.]


    While I was working tirelessly, Ss wasn’t idle either.


    Reba, being “frail” and pregnant<b>, </b>naturally stopped working. She even <b>had </b>Ss hire two maids to take care of her. One to cook and clean, the other to be <b>her </b>shoppingpanion.[]


    Wielding Ss’s ck card, Reba would strut into every luxury boutique, a maid trailing behind her<b>, </b>weighed down by


    countless shopping bags.]


    Her purchases ranged from designer bags and shoes to a diamond–encrusted Cartier bracelet, an emerald feather ring, and South African pink diamond earrings.[]


    In the two weeks <b>I </b>had been gone, Reba had spent one hundred and eighty thousand dors.[]


    When a weary Ss returned homete one night, he was greeted by the sight of Reba lounging on the sofa<b>, </b>a maid kneeling on the floor to massage her legs.]


    Her spoils from the day’s shopping spree were piled high on the dining table and the sofa.]]


    Ss frowned, unable to hold back his question.


    “Reba, are you even going to use all of this?“]]


    “You’re pregnant, and your belly will be showing soon. Isn’t buying so many clothes just a waste?“]]


    Reba immediately sat up straight and stared at Ss, her eyes slowly filling with tears.]]


    “Ss, do you think I’m being too wasteful?“]


    “I grew up wearing other people’s rags. Even in college, I wore my cousins‘ hand–me–downs. Now that I have you, I thought I could finally indulge myself a little, and just buy the things I like.“]


    As she spoke, tears began to stream down her face, her shoulders shaking with sobs.


    Ss rubbed his temples, sighed, and went to pull <i>h </i>


    er into his arms.


    “Okay, okay, if you like <b>it</b><b>, </b>then buy it. That’s not what I meant.“]”


    Reba immediately threw her arms around Ss and began to wail.


    “Ss, <b>if </b>I’m doing something wrong, just tell me! Please don’t abandon me!<i>” </i>


    Ss had no choice but to patiently soothe her, reassuring her that she could buy whatever she liked, that he hadn’t meant it that way.


    For the first time, a boundless sense of emptiness and confusion washed over Ss.


    In his six years of marriage, <b>it </b>seemed he had never once worried about money. Charlotte had managed everything wlessly.]


    She never spentvishly, certainly never blew through $180,000 in two weeks. Most of her clothes were work uniforms<b>, </b>and the few formal dresses she owned were always washed, ironed, and put away after being worn.


    Instead, she was the one constantly having custom suits made for him, making sure he always looked sharp and dashing<b>.</b>[] Seeing Ss’s distracted expression, Reba slowly wrapped her arms around his neck<b>, </b>pressing her body against his.[] “Ss, the doctor said my body has healed. We could…“]


    Feeling her hand roaming over his chest, an image of Charlotte involuntarily shed <b>in </b>Ss’s mind: herrge eyes, her slightly


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    Chapter <b>6 </b>


    curledshes, her cool, pale skin that looked like fine porcin even without makeup, and especially, those full, rosy lips.


    His gaze shifted to the woman right in front of him: Reba, with her sallow skin, small eyes, the raised scar on her neck, the rough texture of her skin against his.[]


    A sudden wave of disgust washed over Ss. He grabbed Reba’s hand and pulled it away.]]


    “I just remembered, I think I left an instrument on at the institute. I need to go turn it off. You go to sleep.“]]


    With that, he pushed her clinging body away and strode out the door.


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