sixth year Ethan Pei and I were together. His assistant, Sarah, saw her chance. She urged him: “This is perfect, Ethan. Let Amelia learn what hardship is. A spoiled princess like her needs toughening up if she’s The year my family went bankrupt was the ever going to be a proper Mrs. Pei.” Ethan listened to her. Ignoring my pleas, he shipped me off overseas for three years. The first year, riots broke out where I was living. I sent him countless frantic messages, begging for help. He blocked me everywhere – phone, social media, everything. The second year, I worked my ass off, saving enough for a plane ticket home. But at the airport, Ethan’s guys intercepted me, grabbed me, and sent me right back. The third year, I married the man who saved me from… well, let's just call them insurgents. I didn't tell anyone. When the three years were finally up, Ethan himself was there at the airport to “welcome me home.” “Three years eating dirt should’ve taught even a stray dog some obedience,” he sneered, leaning against his Maybach, sunglasses hiding his eyes. “From now on, you listen to me. Your husband’s word is law. Got it?” I just lowered my eyes, silently holding up my left hand, showing him the wedding band on my ring finger. He refused to believe it. He dragged me into a private lounge, ready to tear into me. In the midst of the chaos, my husband—the Special Forces operator supposedly still on a peacekeeping deployment—burst in and decked him. “You goddamn bastard!” Caleb roared. “How many lives you got, laying hands on your Aunt Amelia?” … Stepping off the plane, I greedily inhaled the air. Three years away. I’d almost forgotten the scent of home. Honestly, if Caleb Pei’s mother hadn't taken a turn for the worse, constantly asking to see him one last time, I probably would never have set foot back in the States. But right before we were due to leave, Caleb got called away on a classified mission, so I had to come back alone first. I traveled light, just a small carry-on. Before I could even spot the driver Caleb had arranged, Ethan blocked my path. “Amelia Sutcliffe, I’m here to take you home.” He leaned against the gleaming black Maybach, sunglasses perched just so, trying to look cool and in control. But ever since my family went bankrupt three years ago, since my parents, seeing no way out, took their own lives… I haven’t had a home. I sidestepped him. “Don’t need it. I’m not here for you.” He blinked, taken aback. “What crazy talk is that? Who else do you even have in the States besides me?” A bitter, ironic smile touched my lips. Right. Even he knew I had no one else to rely on here. Yet, when my family’s world collapsed, he not only stood by and watched, he listened to his little assistant and shipped me off to some unstable, war-torn corner of the world to fend for myself. “That’s none of your business. My life has nothing to do with you anymore.” Maybe he expected three years of hardship overseas to have broken my spirit, smoothed out my edges. Instead, I felt colder, harder, more defiant than ever. Anger flared in Ethan’s eyes. “Amelia, you really haven’t learned a damn thing. Still got that same princess attitude.” “Or have you forgotten? The Sutcliffes are finished! You’re nothing now! A stray dog without a home! Who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that?” He leaned closer, his voice dropping menacingly. “Maybe three years wasn't enough? You want to go back for a few more?” Watching his mouth twist with that familiar cruelty, spitting out those callous words… the face I’d loved for six years felt utterly alien. He wasn't always like this. He was New York royalty, the Pei heir apparent. I was the LA debutante, the Sutcliffe heiress. We met in college, fell head over heels. Everyone said we were the perfect couple, destined for each other. I won’t deny it, I was spoiled rotten growing up. I had a temper. But back then, Ethan adored it. He indulged my every whim. Anything I merely glanced at twice would magically appear before me within hours. Every casual word I uttered, he seemed to carve into his memory. How could I not fall for a man like that? But everything changed after Sarah Miller became his assistant. Sarah was the classic ‘poor girl makes good,’ all wide-eyed innocence and soft-spoken sympathy, always looking at Ethan with those big, sad doe eyes. At first, I dismissed her. Just an assistant. But gradually, Ethan started getting impatient with me. He accused me of being demanding, selfish, saying I wasn't “understanding” and “considerate” like Sarah. Then, the Sutcliffe empire crumbled. My family went bankrupt. I begged Ethan for help, a lifeline, anything. He just watched, cold and detached, as everything we had slipped away. And then, on Sarah’s suggestion, he sent me away. Said it was to “smooth out my rough edges,” make me a “more suitable, dignified Mrs. Pei” for the future. But where he sent me… it was chaos. Riots, violence, instability. I stared death in the face more times than I can count. If Caleb hadn’t found me during one of his operations, pulled me out of that mess… I wouldn't be here. I would have died, over and over again. Whatever love I had left for Ethan, whatever remained of those six years, died somewhere in the dust and fear and desperation of those three years. Before coming back, I made one resolution: For the rest of my life, I was Caleb Pei's wife. I would have absolutely nothing more to do with Ethan Pei. Chapter 2 My silence only fueled Ethan’s anger. “Amelia, didn’t you hear me?” His voice rose, sharp and loud, drawing curious glances from passersby. I rolled my eyes internally. I hated people who made scenes in public. Zero class. Taking a deep breath, I forced down my rising irritation and spoke coldly, “Ethan, have you had enough? This is an airport, not your personal stage to throw a tantrum.” He acted like he hadn’t heard me. He stepped directly in front of me again, blocking my path. “Getting bold, huh? Talking back to me now? Get in the car. We’re going home, and I’m going to teach you some damn manners!” He reached out to grab my arm. I frowned, stepping back sharply. Before I could say anything else, Sarah Miller slid out of the passenger seat. She put on her concerned face, her voice soft and gentle. “Amelia, Ethan’s just worried about you. He came all this way to pick you up. It’s not safe for a woman to be out here all alone.” So sweet, so caring. As if she wasn’t the one who whispered in Ethan’s ear three years ago, suggesting he throw me to the wolves overseas. I shot her a freezing glance, then turned back to Ethan, deciding to cut through the crap. “Forget it, Ethan. I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m here to see my husband’s family.” Hearing the word “husband,” both Ethan and Sarah froze, their faces masks of stunned disbelief. Ethan gaped for a second, then burst out laughing as if I’d told the world’s funniest joke. “Husband? Amelia, you’re really something else. Still spinning tales? What husband?” He leaned in, his voice dripping with contempt. “You think anyone would actually marry you now? After what happened over there? The videos of you getting grabbed by those thugs are all over the internet back home. You think anyone decent would want you after that? Only I’m willing to overlook it, take you back, because of our history.” He gestured dismissively. “Seriously, if you’re going to lie, at least make it believable. Who else would possibly want you now?” Sarah chimed in smoothly, “He’s right, Amelia. Those videos… everyone’s seen them.” My chest tightened painfully. That first year overseas… snatched off the street by local militants during the riots. They heard I had a rich American boyfriend back home. They made those horrifying videos, sent them to Ethan, demanding a massive ransom. They threatened to sell me to… well, to the kind of places you don’t come back from. Being held captive… every second in that damp, cramped cellar was pure agony. I clung pathetically to the fantasy of Ethan, my powerful boyfriend, riding in like a white knight to save me. The reality? He ignored every desperate plea. Blocked me completely. If Caleb hadn’t stumbled upon me during one of his covert ops, rescuing me when he had no obligation to… I would have been lost, swallowed by that darkness forever. And now Ethan, even more shameless and cruel than I could have imagined, was not only broadcasting my trauma but throwing those videos in my face, using them as weapons. My face hardened instantly. “My private life is none of my ex-boyfriend’s concern,” I said, my voice clipped and cold. “My husband might get jealous.” Ethan didn’t back down; instead, he laughed even louder, more mockingly. “Husband? Still on that? Stop dreaming, Amelia. Are you starting to believe your own lies? What damn husband?” Sarah was right there, fanning the flames. “Amelia, just stop pretending. Ethan came all this way personally to get you. What more could you possibly want?” I’d been on a plane for over fifteen hours. Jet lag was hitting hard. And dealing with their relentless harassment… my patience snapped. I abruptly raised my left hand, letting the diamond on my ring finger catch the bright airport lights. “Open your damn eyes and look closely,” I stated, my voice flat but firm. “I. Am. Married.” Chapter 3 Ethan’s mocking smile froze on his face. He stared at the ring, then back at me, disbelief warring with a flicker of something else… panic? “You… you’re really married?” he stammered. “To who?” Before I could utter a word, Sarah let out a delicate little laugh, covering her mouth. “Oh, Amelia, did you take up acting while you were away? Going so far as to get props just to fool Ethan? That’s quite elaborate.” Hearing her words, the flicker of panic in Ethan’s eyes vanished. He visibly relaxed, puffing out his chest, his usual arrogance flooding back. He looked me up and down dismissively. “Still pulling the same old tricks, huh? Remember how you used to stage those fake breakups just to test me, see if I’d come running? Guess you’ve upgraded your tactics to fake marriage now.” His voice turned cruel again. “Too bad for you, you’re not the Sutcliffe heiress anymore. No parents, no power, no money… and you’re damaged goods.” He spat the words like poison. “Tell me, Amelia, besides me, who’d actually want you now?” People you were once intimate with always know exactly where to twist the knife for maximum pain. A wave of weary, hopeless absurdity washed over me. Six years of my life… utterly wasted on this piece of human garbage. There was no point talking to them. I turned, intending to just walk away and find my driver. But Ethan, enraged by my dismissal, lunged, grabbing my arm and shoving me violently. I stumbled backward, caught completely off guard, and crashed hard onto the pavement with a sickening thud. Just then, the driver Caleb had arranged, clearly wondering what was taking me so long, spotted the commotion and hurried over. Seeing me sprawled on the ground, he rushed to help me up. “Who are you people?” he demanded, his voice sharp with concern as he steadied me. “Why did you push Madam?” “Madam?” Ethan stared, the shock and disbelief stark on his face. He repeated the word, his voice trembling slightly. “Amelia… you married… him?” I froze for a second, realizing he’d mistaken the polite, middle-aged driver for my husband. A wave of exhaustion and disgust washed over me. I couldn’t even muster the energy to correct him. “It’s none of your business,” I said flatly, pulling away from the driver’s supportive hand. “I’m leaving now. Stop harassing me.” My dismissal seemed to trigger something primal, something furious in Ethan. He shoved the bewildered driver aside and lunged towards me again, his face contorted with rage, shouting, “Amelia, you really have no self-respect left at all, do you? Debasing yourself like this!” He got right in my face, spitting venom. “If your parents knew you ended up shacking up with some old geezer old enough to be your dad, they’d claw their way out of their damn graves!” Sarah instantly glided to my side, putting on a show of gentle disapproval for any onlookers. “Amelia, why are you doing this to yourself?” she murmured, loud enough for Ethan to hear. “Ethan doesn’t hold your past against you, you know. You don’t have to… degrade yourself by settling for… an old man.” Then she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper meant only for me, “You actually think a used-up whore like you deserves someone like Ethan? Maybe this old fossil is more your speed after all.” Nausea rose in my throat at her poisonous hypocrisy. I jerked my arm away from her feigned supportive touch. I barely applied any force, but she staggered backward dramatically, letting out a small cry. Before I could even process her act, Ethan surged forward, shoving me hard. I hit the ground again, the impact jarring my already bruised body. He caught Sarah, pulling her protectively into his arms. He glared down at me, his eyes blazing with fury. “Amelia, are you insane? Sarah was just trying to talk some sense into you!” He held Sarah tighter. “Fine, wallow in your own damn mess if you want to, degrade yourself! But why the hell would you attack her for trying to help?” I landed hard. My knees and palms, already scraped raw from the first fall, screamed in protest as fresh pain shot through them. The poor driver tried to step between us again, starting to say, “Sir, you misunderstand, I’m just the driver…” But Ethan just waved a dismissive hand. Instantly, two burly bodyguards materialized from near the Maybach. They grabbed the driver, efficiently stuffing something that looked like a handkerchief into his mouth, and dragged him away, ignoring his muffled struggles. The whole ugly scene was attracting a growing crowd of onlookers, whispering and pointing. Ignoring my desperate struggles and cries of protest, Ethan abruptly hoisted me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. “Still haven’t learned your lesson, have you?” he growled, starting to stride towards the airport building. “Looks like I’ll have to teach you myself this time.” Chapter 4 He carried me, struggling futilely, into a private VIP lounge near the gates and unceremoniously dumped me onto a plush sofa. My head spun from the rough handling, and my back throbbed where I’d landed. The scrapes on my knees and hands, jarred and scraped again, started to actively bleed. But Ethan didn’t care. His face was a mask of pure, uncontrolled fury. He stormed over, grabbed the front of my shirt in his fist, and hauled me violently upright, forcing me to meet his blazing eyes. He looked like he wanted to tear me apart with his bare hands. “Amelia, you’ve got some goddamn nerve!” he snarled, his face inches from mine. “I sent you away to think about what you did wrong, to reflect! And instead, you run off and marry some ancient fossil?” Sarah trailed in behind him, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue, her face a picture of wounded innocence. “Amelia,” she sniffled pitifully, “Ethan waited for you all this time… he was going to forgive everything… And you secretly married someone else behind his back? An old man? How could you do that to him?” She turned her tear-filled eyes to Ethan. “I was only trying to help her see sense, Ethan. Please don’t be angry with her because of me.” Ethan’s face was thunderous, dark with rage. “You pushed Sarah,” he stated flatly, his voice dangerously low. “Get on your knees and apologize to her. Now.” My eyes flew wide in disbelief. “Are you out of your mind, Ethan?” I shot back, incredulous. “Why the hell should I kneel to her?” My defiance seemed to push him over the edge. His grip on my shirt tightened viciously, constricting my throat. I gasped, my face flushing red as air became scarce. “Don’t push me, Amelia!” he hissed, his voice tight with fury. “Do as you’re told right now, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll let this go. Otherwise, I swear to God, you and your ancient husband are going to seriously regret crossing me!” Sarah, ever the actress, tugged lightly at Ethan’s sleeve, sniffling again. “Ethan, please, just let it go… Maybe Amelia didn’t mean to push me. I’m really okay, honestly. Besides,” she added, with a perfect imitation of meek humility, “someone like her, a former heiress… she’d never dream of apologizing to someone like me, anyway.” Ethan let out a cold, harsh snort. “Former heiress? Don’t make me laugh. The Sutcliffes are history. She’s nothing now! Just some washed-up gold-digger shacking up with an old man for his money!” And with that, he delivered a sharp, brutal kick to the back of my knee, sending me crumpling towards Sarah. My knees slammed hard onto the plush carpet. Blinding pain shot up my legs. Tears of pain and humiliation welled in my eyes, but I clenched my jaw fiercely, refusing to lower my head, refusing to give Sarah the satisfaction of seeing me bow. “You bastard, Ethan!” I choked out, my voice trembling with rage and pain. “You absolute animal! The biggest mistake, the absolute worst regret of my entire life, was ever knowing you!” He exploded. “Regret knowing me?” he roared back. “Amelia, I sent you away for your own damn good! Who the hell could stand that spoiled brat attitude of yours day in and day out?” He was practically vibrating with self-righteous fury. “I did it for us! I was waiting for you to come back, humbled, ready to be the wife I needed! I was going to marry you! And you… you betrayed me! Crawled into some other guy’s bed!” His eyes narrowed, filled with ugly suspicion. “What, does the old guy screw you better? Is that it?” Sent me to a potential death trap… ignored my pleas for help… and he claimed it was for my own good? The sheer, staggering absurdity of it choked me. “You shameless, hypocritical monster!” I spat, finding my voice again despite the pain and the tears blurring my vision. “If you wanted some spineless, obedient doormat, you should have just gone out and found one! Don’t you dare stand there and pretend you were ‘reforming’ me for my benefit!” That finally, irrevocably, pushed him over the edge. He raised his hand, palm open, ready to strike me across the face. Just as the blow was about to land, the lounge door flew open with explosive force, kicked clean off its hinges. My husband—Caleb Pei, the Special Forces operator who was supposed to be thousands of miles away—stormed into the room. He took in the scene in a nanosecond – me on my knees, Ethan looming over me with his hand raised, Sarah cowering nearby. With a roar of pure fury, Caleb crossed the room in two strides and sent Ethan sprawling to the floor with a single, devastating punch. “You goddamn bastard!” Caleb roared, standing over Ethan’s stunned form, his voice shaking with rage. “How many lives do you think you have, laying your filthy hands on your Aunt Amelia?” Ethan hit the floor hard, stars probably dancing in his vision. He slowly pushed himself up, touching his mouth, his fingers coming away stained with blood. Sarah shrieked, her face bleached white with terror, scrambling uselessly towards Ethan as if to help him up. He shoved her away roughly. “Aunt Amelia?” he repeated, dazed and confused, staring up at Caleb. “What the hell are you talking about?” Caleb sneered down at him, his expression utterly contemptuous. “What, I’ve been gone deployed for so long you don’t even recognize your own uncle anymore? Or are you just blind, Ethan?”
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