"An educated woman would never lower herself to be a mistress. So, I hope you can withdraw voluntarily." I looked up at the young woman in front of me. "Does Julian know about this meeting?" She raised an eyebrow arrogantly. "This is our mutual decision. As long as you don't go overboard, we will try to meet your demands." "Okay." I slowly curled my lips. Adults don't make choices. Everything you have... I want it all. Chapter 1 "Tell me your story first. After listening, I'll consider the divorce." The woman rested her chin on her hand, her eyes instantly softening with a romantic filter. "We met at an industry cocktail party. He is knowledgeable, witty, and taught me a lot. Although he is eight years older than me, we have no communication barriers." She paused, corners of her mouth lifting slightly. "Of course, we are compatible in every way." The air grew thin. My ears buzzed. But nearly forty years of life experience told me now was not the time to flip the table. "Didn't you just say educated women disdain interfering in other people's marriages? Yet you climbed into another woman's husband's bed so quickly?" The woman felt no shame. "He wasn't wearing a ring at the time. Besides, anyone can see your marriage doesn't nourish him. A healthy relationship should be mutual achievement, not a one-sided burden." I nodded in agreement. "So, you are very capable at work?" She straightened her back. "I'm eight years younger than you, and I'm about to be promoted to VP of Finance. By the time I reach your age, I'm confident I will become Julian's indispensable right hand." "Well said." I clapped my hands. "It seems you are the partner who resonates with him spiritually and realistically. I am old and can't keep up with his pace." The woman hid a trace of smugness. "So, you are willing to withdraw and let us be?" "Of course." "I trust Julian's taste. Finding such an excellent stepmother for my son is my son's blessing. You deserve it." "Stepmother?" The expression on her face froze instantly. "What do you mean?" I looked more confused than her. "Didn't Julian tell you we have a seven-year-old son?" "Your son, what does he have to do with me?" I scoffed lightly. "Young women are everywhere. You should understand these principles better than me. If you want to be Julian's right hand, don't consider having children. Instead of letting Julian find some unreliable slut, I'd rather it be you." I looked her up and down. "You won't understand until you are a mother. Custody is just a legal procedure. Who gets the money is the substance. I don't mind you raising my son, as long as you are willing to package your second half of life and give it to him." The smile on the woman's face stiffened instantly. Replaced by shock and fear. The next second, the waiter brought the bill. "Hello, who is paying?" I pointed to the girl opposite me. "Of course, it's her. This is my son's stepmother, the VP of Finance at a state-owned enterprise. By the way, you don't mind if I take a few cakes to go, right?" I pointed casually at the counter. The woman's face turned black as she slowly took out her phone. "Your son has nothing to do with me. I won't raise him, nor will I accept him. I will discuss custody with Julian again." With that, she grabbed her bag and stormed off. Chapter 2 Staring at her back, a sourness surged in my nose. No one knows how long I waited for this day. Two years? Three years? I can't remember. Yes, I knew about Julian's affair long ago. For the past three years, his most frequent phrase was that the company was doing poorly, asking me and our son to cut expenses. So for three years, I lived worse than a dog. But this woman, under his care, went from a monthly salary of $5,000 to an annual salary of $400,000. Once the heart tastes pleasure, it becomes greedy. She was no longer satisfied with companionship; she wanted to replace me, to stand by his side legitimately. Just now, when the sun hit her face, even her peach fuzz glowed gold. Every gesture was full of ease untouched by hardship. I'm not surprised Julian loves her. The woman in the mirror is 36. My entire youth is hidden in the fine lines of my eyes. My era has quietly ended. The next second, the alarm rang. Leo was about to finish school. At the apartment entrance, I saw Julian rushing back. "Sorry, I didn't know she would find you." I looked up, forcing back tears. "She is more honest than you. At least she knows I can't wait anymore." Julian's Adam's apple rolled, and he finally said it. "You can ask for anything. After all these years, I won't let you suffer too much." My nose soured again. So everything that woman said was true. My departure had long been gossip over their tea and dinner. "Dad! Mom!" A childish cheer came from behind. The school bus stopped, and my son rushed over. At seven, he didn't know what happened. He only knew to hug his leg and act spoiled: "Daddy, I missed you so much!" My heart was silently wrung again. For seven years, I gave him a fairy tale world. He is kind and simple, thinking all parents love each other like I pretended. How do I tell him this father already built a home outside? At night, after coaxing Leo to sleep, I walked to the living room. Julian was on the balcony making a call. His back was so familiar, yet so distant. I remember. Seven years ago in the delivery room, looking at the wrinkled little life, his hands trembled: "Joanna, I swear, I will protect you both with my life." I remember. Postpartum hair loss clogged the drain. He squatted on the floor, picking up the hair strand by strand, eyes red: "No more babies. Your hair used to be so beautiful." I remember. When Leo was two and had a febrile seizure, I was scared out of my wits, only crying on the phone. He was at a project site 300 miles away. He drove all night, appearing at the hospital in four and a half hours, hugging me tight: "Don't be afraid. I'm here." That sentence made me believe for ten years. How did we get here? "Joanna." The man opened the balcony door, bringing in a chill. "Is Leo asleep?" I nodded, pulling out the prepared divorce agreement from my bag. "Let's talk." "Ten years of marriage, two houses, two cars. I know nothing about the assets in your hands these years, so I give you two options." "One: You take Leo and the small apartment. All remaining assets go to me." "Two: I take Leo and both houses. You are responsible for paying off the remaining mortgage." Julian's brows furrowed. "You actually... don't want our son? How do you plan to explain this to him?" "Explain?" I looked at him incredulously. "Did you consider how to explain to our son when you were undressing with that woman?" He closed his eyes, jaw tight. "I don't want to fight, but neither option is fair to me. Don't forget I earned all the money in this family." I nodded and pressed play on the recording. "I'm eight years younger than you, and I'm about to be promoted to VP of Finance. By the time I reach your age, I'm confident I will become Julian's indispensable right hand." Recording ended. I looked at him. "Julian, I'm so proud of you. You found a soulmate evenly matched in power. So, what's wrong with compensating me a little more?" Yes, I was threatening him. Chapter 3 Although he is the group CEO, evidence of favoritism towards his mistress should be worth a lot. The next second, his phone rang. Julian hastily grabbed the agreement. "I'll take this to read. We'll discuss details tomorrow." "Okay. Hope you get what you wish for." That night, sleep was impossible. Custody of my son. Direction of the future. Everything was unknown. But I understood one thing: the father-son bond cannot be broken. I can protect wealth for my son, but I can't give him the future he wants. I know everyone would advise me to work hard, fight for a bright future for my son, and make the scumbag regret. But the reality is I am almost forty. My best youth was dedicated to this family. Now, one sentence from him overturned my entire decade. When the sky turned pale, Julian sent a message: "Joanna, can you get to City Hall by 9? Let's negotiate details in person." Sent at 4:58 AM. He really didn't want to wait a minute longer. I opened my swollen eyes a slit. Staring at that sentence for a long time. I replied one word: "Okay." Dealing with that Ivy League woman taught me a lesson: Except for the mother, no one truly wants custody. So from the start, I couldn't show any desire. I wanted Julian to willingly push our son back to me. When I arrived at City Hall, the two were waiting. "You're finally here." The man stood up, pulling out a chair for me habitually. "About the house... I think, the big house has nearly $2 million in mortgage left, you can't afford it. So you can have the small apartment, plus $500,000 compensation. Enough for you and Leo." He paused. "Vivian is still young. It's unfair for her to take care of Leo right away. Besides... we will have our own children." I looked at their hands tightly clasped under the table and understood instantly. He wasn't afraid of my threat. This recording couldn't directly prove embezzlement or conflict of interest. Her promotion could have countless explanations. For my son, I didn't dare make a scene at his company. So, he regained control. I took a deep breath, feigning weakness: "The big house is mine, and you pay off the mortgage. That's my bottom line." Hearing this, Julian looked troubled. "Joanna, most of my cash and bonuses are in company stock options. The industry is bad, cashing out now means losing half the value... Mom's illness two years ago took a lot of my money. I really can't do it now." "But! Leo is my heart. I promise I won't skimp on child support. Name a number, if I can do it, I will." Looking at this face I once loved deeply, now full of calculation, I laughed lightly. They looked at me confused. "What are you laughing at?" I didn't answer. Instead, I took a printed list from my bag. I looked up at the Ivy League woman. "Miss Vivian, you heard him. The way a man cries poverty to his old love might be the reality you face one day." "He says he has no money, I believe him. But as long as this joint debt exists, he and I will be bound forever." "So the only one who can solve this problem is you." The woman frowned. "Me?" Chapter 4 "Yes." I pushed the house photo and floor plan over. "Use your personal assets to buy this house. This will permanently remove the ex-wife obstacle, and you will have enough say. This is the essential difference between a career woman and a housewife." The air solidified. Julian looked like he ate shit. "What are you talking about? Why should Vivian bear this debt?" I looked at him puzzled. "Or else? Isn't that why you brought her here?" The career woman finally reacted, lips trembling slightly. "You want me to... buy the house you lived in?" "Smart!" I snapped my fingers. "Love requires sincerity, right? Six million, a friendship price. Two million down payment to release the lien, consider it redeeming your lover." I leaned back, meeting their incredulous gazes. "To be honest, I've waited for this day for a long time." Silence. Her chest heaved. But she had no choice. She is an educated woman. Completely different from a shrew like me. In their eyes, I am a yellow-faced woman with no wealth, no status, who can't even keep her husband. So what? I smiled brightly at her in the sunlight. "By the way, Julian likes to sleep in the study. Hope you can fix that bad habit." With that, I picked up my bag and left. I love love-brained women. Especially those who are educated, make money, and think they control everything. They always think their status can crush any housewife. Little do they know, the real hunter has been sitting across the table, waiting for her to bet everything. Then, smiling, takes it all. Whether she buys the house or not, I won my first move. I successfully moved her from the position of a third party enjoying the fruits to a partner. Why do men always think true love is with the mistress? Because that relationship has no mortgage pressure, no diapers, no seven-year itch. All he experiences with her is pleasure. So, here comes the problem. Want to break free completely? Put away the stock option excuse, take out 2 million real cash, and pay the debt. Want to maintain dignity? Find someone to take over this house. Unless cash hits my account, I will never sign any divorce papers. Late at night, the doorbell rang.
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