Julian spent $100,000 on a fireworks show for his newly hired secretary. He even remembered to text me: [Elena, I'll give you a fireworks show on our tenth anniversary.] That was exactly what I wanted ten years ago. Back then, we were broke. After getting our marriage license, we could only afford sparklers. Now, watching the sky light up with fireworks, I scrolled back to our announcement video from ten years ago, took a screenshot, and posted it on my feed: [In the end, it all comes down to this.] Julian didn't come home that night. The next day, I had a courier deliver him a divorce agreement. Arriving with it was a letter from a slow-mail service, sent ten years ago. In the letter, Julian had handwritten: [Did I love Elena a little more today?] 1 As soon as he received the divorce agreement, Julian called me immediately: "Elena, what are you making a fuss about now? "Do you find it amusing to bring up divorce over every little thing? "You're thirty this year, not three. Can you act a little more mature?" He was furious. His tone was filled with blame. Before I could reply, a coquettish female voice came through the phone: "Mr. Vance, don't be angry. Sister probably didn't mean to argue with you. She's just getting older and might be in a bad mood. Just coax her a little and she'll be fine." Julian seemed even angrier: "Shut up." Then he yelled at me: "Elena, I'm coming back now. We'll talk this out face-to-face." 2 Right after he hung up, I received a notification for new social media posts. A girl named "Blooming Youth" posted three times in a row: [Ugh, my 'brother' actually yelled at me. His punishment is not seeing my smile for a whole week.] The accompanying picture was of Julian's CEO office. [Hehe, my 'brother' apologized. He said the woman at home was acting up again and told me to be a good girl and not to cause trouble. Fine, I forgive him.] The picture was of two cups of premium bubble tea. [My 'brother' has to go home and coax that old hag again. Older women really are so demanding. Unlike me, I only feel sorry for him.] The picture was a side profile of a pale, innocent face. She was Julian's newly hired secretary, Chloe. Three months ago, Julian desperately needed a document and sent Chloe to our house to get it. I happened to be home at the time. The young girl, barely in her twenties, wore light makeup. Her cheeks were fair and plump. Her high ponytail swayed in the breeze. She wore casual sportswear. She gave off the vibe of an innocent high school girl. After getting the document, she smiled and asked for my social media handle. Without thinking much of it, I agreed. Before leaving, she affectionately hooked her arm through mine: "Elena, what's your skincare secret? You don't look like you're pushing thirty at all. No signs of aging. "Unlike me, I'm barely twenty and I feel like I'm already getting wrinkles." She smiled brightly. Her eyes looked sincere. I put on a professional, fake smile: "It's simple. Don't say things you shouldn't, and don't do things you shouldn't." After that day, I talked to Julian about Chloe. He chuckled playfully: "What, are you jealous? "She's just a naive little girl fresh out of school. Don't worry, she's no threat to you. "Besides, HR hired her, and you know our company's processes are very transparent. "Moreover, don't you trust your husband? We fell in love at seventeen, married at twenty, and it's been almost ten years now. "No one can destroy our relationship." At that time, I looked at the earnest Julian in front of me. His youthful vows still echoed in my ears. True love conquers all. But no one ever mentioned that true love could also create those very obstacles. 3 Yesterday was the company's ninth anniversary. It was also a major milestone as the company's profits surpassed one billion dollars. As the Vice President, I should have been there. But there was a problem with a contract from a major client down south. The client had to be appeased immediately. Julian couldn't leave. And since we signed the client together and had been working with them for over five years... He only felt comfortable if I went. Although I was the Vice President, I had gradually been relinquishing my power since last year. I was preparing for pregnancy. I only participated in company affairs occasionally. I was confident about this business trip. After settling everything, I went home and crashed. I just didn't expect the company's celebration banquet last night to be so "exciting." At 10 PM, Julian called to check in: "Elena, I won't be coming home tonight. The veteran employees want to celebrate until 3 AM. You've had a hard day, get some good rest." I had complaints, but I swallowed them. It was the company's ninth anniversary, growing from a mom-and-pop shop to the leading enterprise in the city. The employees who had fought alongside us deserved to be rewarded. I simply reminded him: "No smoking, and don't drink too much. We're still trying for a baby." "Yes, ma'am!" His phone call chased away my sleepiness. The red notification dots on my social media app practically begged to be clicked. Amidst the overwhelming sea of updates, I immediately locked onto Chloe's. [He said he couldn't promise me all his love, so he promised me a sky full of fireworks instead.] The accompanying pictures were nine live photos of a hundred-thousand-dollar fireworks show. The fireworks clearly spelled out the initials "CC." I clicked on the first live photo. A deep, lingering male voice instantly turned my hands and feet to ice: "Little Chloe, has your eighteenth birthday wish come true now?" It was Julian's voice. At the same time, I received a voice message from Julian: [Elena, the company's fireworks show is beautiful tonight.] [Wait until our tenth anniversary, I'll give you a fireworks show just for you.] The exact same voice. Just lacking a bit of intimacy and indulgence. Refusing to give up, I went back to Chloe's post and clicked on the second live photo: "Brother, is this fireworks show really just for me?" Third live photo: "Yes, just for my little Chloe." Fourth live photo: "But these are clearly the company's fireworks. They're not just mine." Fifth photo: "The company's banquet didn't have fireworks planned. I custom-ordered these for you." Sixth photo: "Be a good girl. They're just benefiting from your special treat." ... Nine live photos completely shattered the illusion of my beautiful romance. I stood on the balcony. From the eighteenth floor, the entire city spread out before me. Clusters of blue and purple fireworks exploded in the sky. Chloe's updates kept coming, one after another. [Let those unspoken feelings drown in this sky full of fireworks.] ... It was as if she were mocking pathetic me. Ten years ago, I also wanted a fireworks show just for myself. 4 Back then, Julian and I had just graduated from college. He majored in software engineering, and I majored in economics. He wanted to start a tech company. And I had passed the civil service exam in my hometown. Coming from a small town, we had no backing. Everyone around us mocked him for his pipe dreams. But when he looked at me with hopeful eyes, I didn't hesitate to throw away my secure job and follow him to the big city. During our poorest year, we got our marriage license. Tears welled up in his eyes: "Elena, I'm sorry. When we're successful, whatever wedding gift you want, I'll make it up to you." At the time, I still loved romantic dramas. The male lead always confessed his love deeply under a sky full of fireworks. So, I told him: "I want a fireworks show that belongs only to Elena." That day, we played a fireworks scene from a TV show. We lit sparklers. And made a vow to be together forever. Now, the company had been running for almost ten years. The fireworks show that was once out of reach, Julian could easily throw hundreds of times. Yet he custom-ordered a hundred-thousand-dollar fireworks show for his little mistress first. Now, clicking on the video we took the day we got our marriage license... The girl holding a sparkler, smiling sweetly at the camera, looked so naive and ridiculous. So, no matter how deeply we once loved each other... This is how it all ends! I had been deceiving myself, refusing to believe the clues that had long been obvious. ... A noise came from the entryway. Julian was back. 5 His anger seemed to have subsided significantly: "Elena, let's not fight anymore, okay?" He held a pink envelope in his hand. It was the proof of love we left at a slow-mail shop in the city ten years ago. At the time, I badgered him to see what he had written in the letter. He hugged me tight and whispered in my ear: "Elena, the me ten years from now will give you the answer." The warm breath, the youthful flutter. It was a beautiful memory that made me blush every time I thought about it. He had put my contact information on that letter. This surprise from ten years ago had now become a joke. I looked at the envelope and asked, "Julian, did you love Elena a little more today?" His expression froze, and he said somewhat awkwardly, "Of course." I pressed, "Of course what?" He replied, "Of course I love Elena." I continued, "Who 'of course loves Elena'?" He looked displeased, "Elena, why are you getting more melodramatic as you get older? Julian loves Elena. Are you satisfied now?" I took the envelope from his hand and opened the yellowed letter: "Julian, ten years ago you wrote: 'Did I love Elena a little more today?'" "But ten years later, you don't love me more. Because you've transferred that love to someone else." He rubbed his temples in frustration: "Elena, we're not kids anymore. Can we stop being so dramatic? "I've told you I'll only love you in this life, and you will be my only wife." I played Chloe's live photo. Julian's deep but clear voice came from it: [Little Chloe, has your eighteenth birthday wish come true now?] [Be a good girl. They're just benefiting from your special treat.] Hearing his voice, Julian snatched the phone away: "Elena, is this fun for you? Having me followed!" Seeing that it was Chloe's post, he hurriedly explained: "That kid said she'd never seen a fireworks show. As her boss, I was just fulfilling her wish." His explanation was truly laughable. "So you custom-ordered a hundred-thousand-dollar fireworks show for her? Mr. Vance, you are truly generous. "You've read the divorce agreement, right? If there are no issues, just sign it!" Seeing my firm stance, he finally realized I was serious. He rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance, his tone filled with resignation: "Elena, stop arguing with me, okay? I have absolutely crossed no lines with Chloe. "I just think she looks a little like you did ten years ago: clumsy, silly, with a fearless drive. "This fireworks show was entirely because she casually mentioned it was her 18th birthday wish, and it reminded me that your wish at 20 was also to have a fireworks show. "That's why I agreed. Honestly, I did this for the 20-year-old you. "And I promised, on our tenth anniversary, I'll give you an even grander fireworks show." I really don't understand men. Why would compensation for a lover be given to a mistress? His lover is right here, isn't she? I didn't know how to respond to him. I could only crouch on the floor, burying my head in my arms. I tried my best to hold back my sobs. But my body wouldn't stop shaking. Julian hugged me from behind: "Elena, give me a little more trust, please? "We went from school uniforms to wedding attire. I would never betray the sincere heart you showed when you ran to me without hesitation. "Actually, I have some good news." 6 He grabbed my hand. His index finger constantly stroked my wedding ring. "Before I came back, Arthur called me and told me you're pregnant." Julian and I had been trying to get pregnant for over a year. But there had been no good news. A week ago, we went to the hospital for another checkup. The doctor was our mutual friend—Arthur. The three of us went to college together. Arthur was a groomsman at our wedding. Now, this good news was delivered by our good friend. If Chloe wasn't around, how wonderful this would be. I slowly raised my head. The tear streaks made my face look even more haggard: "Julian, what did you say?" He gently wiped away the teardrops from the corner of my eye: "Elena, we're having a baby. We're going to be parents." I let out a mocking laugh: "A baby is only willing to come to a family where the father loves the mother. Julian, do you think this baby wants to come?" He held me tightly in his arms: "Elena, what exactly do I have to do for you to believe that I love you?" I broke free from his embrace, looked up, and met his eyes: "They say, 'Where a man's money is, his love is,' right?" He seemed to see a glimmer of hope: "Elena, all my assets are in your name. What else do you have to worry about?" I sneered: "Julian, you run a company. I think you should be very clear about how marital property is divided." Perhaps out of guilt for his infidelity, or perhaps eager to prove his love so I would safely deliver his child... That very day, we signed a marital property agreement in front of a lawyer. The agreement stipulated that all real estate under our names would belong solely to me, and the other party would no longer have any rights or interests in those properties. At the same time, we notarized the agreement and registered the transfer of the real estate. A week later, I received five properties and three commercial storefronts. Along with the five million dollars in our joint account. Julian and I maintained a superficial peace. This embryo became the only bond between us. Sustaining this fractured marriage. I no longer brought up Chloe. He also seemed to forget that I had brought up divorce. Instead, he started instructing the nanny to prepare nutritious meals. Every day, he would send me flowers, bags, jewelry, and clothes in different ways. Men can be so pathetic. Half a month later, Arthur called, urging me to go in for a prenatal checkup. In the examination room, his voice was slightly hoarse: "Elena, how have you been lately?"
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