On my wife, Eleanor's, wake, I overheard her sister’s phone call. “Ellie, that fake death of yours is truly impressive. Your husband’s burying you at the cemetery, and you’re still up all night at an e-sports hotel with your little brother.” “Save a spot for me, I’ll be right there.” I froze instantly, subconsciously following them to the e-sports hotel. I watched Eleanor Stone, usually so formidable in the Stone family. Now, she was leaning against a red-haired man, smiling, enjoying him teaching her to smoke mouth-to-mouth. The moment she raised her arm, her sisters cheered. “Ellie, haven’t you washed off that temporary tattoo yet?” A sliver of white skin showed at Eleanor’s waist. On her slender lower back, black and red lettering was strikingly clear: Joshua Vance’s Exclusive. “Never. Joshua’s exclusive hand-drawn piece. I’ll never wash it off.” A chill ran down my spine, and I stumbled out of the hotel in a daze. As soon as I got home, my mother-in-law, Clara, her eyes red and swollen from crying, gripped my hand. “Adrian, Ellie had no luck. I’ve found a good girl for you from a respectable family. If she’s suitable, I’ll go with you to propose.” 1. In the private room, Eleanor spoke flatly: “Did Adrian take care of all the arrangements for my funeral?” Her sister laughed. “Everything’s handled, Ellie. Meticulous and respectful, just Adrian’s style.” “He was practically bursting with tears, yet he maintained that self-controlled, proper demeanor. Truly from a refined family!” Snap! Eleanor slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, then passed the cigarette to Joshua Vance with her mouth, her face full of indulgence. Through the swirling smoke, I saw a flicker of annoyance in Eleanor’s eyes. “That’s Adrian for you, emotionally numb, no feelings whatsoever.” “His life is a precise schedule—eating, dressing. Even in bed, he’s restrained and proper, so rigid.” “Even if I really died, he’d still faithfully keep vigil, taking care of the Stone family and my mom for me.” Her sister chuckled: “Just one marriage certificate, and he’s utterly devoted to you, Ellie, and to the Stone family. Quite a bargain.” “Who knows, maybe Adrian will even be happy about your resurrection, Ellie.” Everyone roared with laughter, a painful sting to my eardrums. The bitterness in my chest almost overflowed. It took several deep breaths to swallow back my tears. For her final dignity, I had suppressed my emotions to arrange the funeral. Every mourner praised my meticulous and respectful conduct. I had never found it difficult. For Eleanor, at home, in every aspect of life, I always maintained propriety, never letting her worry. Outside, I was Eleanor’s most capable assistant. I helped her secure the Stone family’s largest project in a decade. I always thought we were soulmates, moving forward together. But in the end, all I got was a mere "bargain." “Ellie, when you’re with me, can you stop talking about your family’s old-fashioned ways!” Joshua Vance yanked off his headphones, throwing them forcefully onto the table. “I want you to divorce him! And I want you to tattoo my name over your heart! That’s the only way it’s real love!” My heart clenched. I was suddenly terrified of Eleanor’s answer. Eleanor only hesitated for a few seconds before quickly nodding. “Okay, if Joshua says divorce, I’ll divorce. Shall we go get the tattoo now?” My entire body felt cold, and a violent headache threatened to tear me apart. For the first time in my life, I lost control, stumbling frantically out of the e-sports hotel. On the crowded streets, Eleanor’s wedding vows echoed ceaselessly in my ears. “Adrian, in the Stone family, there’s no divorce, only widowhood. I will only ever have one husband, you.” How ridiculous. The validity of Eleanor’s vow lasted barely three years. I wandered the streets, distraught, my phone buzzing. My mother-in-law’s tired voice came from the other end. “Adrian, you’ve worked hard these past few days. I’ve taken it upon myself to find you a good match. Consider bringing her home.” 2. I don't know how much time passed, but then I heard my own trembling voice. “Okay.” Hanging up the phone, I realized I had unknowingly walked to the entrance of an amusement park. This time, I bought a ticket and went in alone. As the elevator ascended, I felt as if I saw Eleanor from three years ago again. Before I met Eleanor, my life was lived meticulously, within the strict boundaries set by my parents. We were educated from childhood to be rational, to walk on a razor's edge. One step out of line was unacceptable. The most my father ever said was, “You enjoy more wealth than ordinary people, so you must shed superfluous emotions.” I wanted to rebel, but I knew I had no right. For an elite family like ours, if I became disobedient, someone could immediately replace me. I would become worthless, lose everything. And Eleanor was the first person to make me drop my mask. “Adrian, life’s too short for all this formality.” “Why not live for the moment, enjoy the present?” Eleanor took me, helping me evade the bodyguards my parents had arranged. She took me drag racing. As the wind roared past my ears, I held her tightly. That was the first time I ever broke free from the rules, letting out a wild shout. Eleanor was one of the few redemptions in my life of self-restraint and proper conduct. I loved the rebellion in her bones, her fierce capacity to love and hate. The engine suddenly roared, and I gripped the brake, my heart trembling. Eleanor’s phantom blurred for a moment. Just like her odd behavior, which I couldn’t quite grasp. Six months ago, Eleanor had changed. She would come home after I had already fallen asleep. I would wake early for work, and Eleanor would still be asleep. I subtly questioned her secretary, who only stammered that Eleanor was entertaining clients. But the strong smell of tobacco on her clothes couldn't be faked. My ingrained upbringing prevented me from making a scene; I only offered a calm reminder. “Be careful not to get food poisoning from eating out so much.” That was the first time Eleanor had smashed plates and cutlery in front of me, the splashing soup raising a row of blisters. “Adrian, aren’t you the most disciplined and proper? What is this now, jealousy? If you want to know something, then go find out.” Eleanor knew me, a fatal blow. She knew my upbringing and my restraint wouldn't allow me to track her movements, so I could only let it go. Now, I regret it. If I had intervened earlier, Eleanor and I might not have ended up like this. “Sir, is this your first time drag racing? Safety precautions…” The staff member waved, interrupting my thoughts. I came back to myself and shook my head: “I know all the safety precautions.” The staff member nodded and opened the gate. I looked at the red motorbike, walked over, and twisted the throttle. One kick, and my breathing quickened. That long-dormant heart began to beat again. As the wind roared past once more. Eleanor’s playful tone, her mocking smirk, all were swept away by the wind. The story began here. It should also end here. 3. Coming down from the ride, the tears on my face had already dried in the wind. My mother-in-law, Clara, conveniently texted me the address of the person she was introducing me to. I set the destination on my GPS. Just as I was about to leave, there was a knock on my car window. I looked up, and Joshua Vance’s face appeared unexpectedly. “Hey, old man, you know me, right? You saw everything at the e-sports hotel, didn’t you?” He forcefully smashed my car window with the baseball bat in his hand. Bang! Shards of glass flew past my eye, burning like fire. Joshua Vance grabbed my hair, yanked me out of the window, and leaned close to my ear. “I’m just here to tell you that since you heard Eleanor wants to divorce you, you should cooperate. Eleanor doesn’t like you.” “Nowadays, free love is all the rage. Eleanor hates boring men like you the most. Please, old man, step out of our love story.” I met Joshua Vance’s challenging gaze: “You call that love?” Joshua Vance’s smirk froze, his eyebrow piercing glinting even more sharply in the light. “Adrian, to see if a woman loves you, you look at whether she’s willing to spend money on you, understand, old man?” “And even if she hasn’t spent money on me, she’s given me her time. What about you? Is she willing to spend time with you, old man?” My heart skipped a beat. I stared straight at him, my voice hoarse. “You think Eleanor truly loves you? You’re just the cheapest novelty she found! Once the novelty wears off, there will be a second you, a third you…” Joshua Vance’s face instantly flushed crimson, as if I’d struck a nerve. “You’re judging me and her now?!” He dragged me directly out of the car. Rip! I felt a sudden rush of cold beneath me; my collar had been torn. He pointed his phone at me, taking pictures, his voice grating. “You think you have any right to be near Eleanor? Tell me, if I post online that an old man like you is a gold-digger, what would people think?” His strength was surprisingly immense, the skull ring on his hand leaving red marks on my face. I stumbled backward, enraged. “You’re breaking the law!” Joshua Vance sneered: “Breaking the law? Do you think I’m scared?” He smiled and made a call. “Bring everyone over! I’m in a fight at the Star Court! Come give your Eleanor’s husband a proper welcome!” I frowned, trying to grab his phone, but Joshua Vance slammed the car door shut on my hand. The intense pain in my bones made me tremble uncontrollably. I endured the crushing pressure of the car door, gritting my teeth and yelling for help. “Security! Security!” No one answered. Despair slowly permeated me. This time, I couldn’t stay calm. I frantically searched for something to defend myself with. No one was coming to my rescue; I had to rely on myself! Catching sight of a fire hydrant in the distance, I was about to struggle free from the car door when I heard a familiar yet puzzled voice. “Adrian?”
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