After the divorce, I moved out of the high-security military housing where I was obligated to fulfill my "duties" twice a month. With my settlement money and the billion dollars my dad gave me, I flew straight to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. I also updated my Instagram status: [Divorced. Single. Accepting applications from high-quality men.] The comments section exploded instantly. Elites from every circle, even other military officers, lined up to be my first boyfriend. [Scarlett, look at me! I'm first in line!] [Miss Sterling, give me a chance!] When his friends saw the divorce decree in the photo, they couldn't hold back. They called my ex-husband, General Wolf, immediately. "You divorced Scarlett Sterling? Are you crazy? I'm next in line!" "She's that gorgeous and you let her go? Are you blind?" "You know my... 'credentials.' Wolf, you're not human!" Wolf wasn't surprised. He had heard about my charm from the very first day we met. 1 I was the wildest rose in New York's elite circle. I had countless admirers, partied until dawn, and lived for spicy wings and tequila. He, on the other hand, grew up in a military family. He clawed his way up to become the youngest Major General in history. Discipline was in his marrow. His schedule was precise as a Swiss watch. His diet was strictly calculated for nutrition. He never crossed a line. Because of his career and his self-imposed celibacy, our marital intimacy was scheduled strictly for the 1st and 15th of every month. I didn't believe it. After the wedding, I used every trick in the book to make him lose control. I caused trouble. One day I threw a rave at the base entrance. The next day I took an armored vehicle for a joyride. The day after, I "borrowed" his sidearm to scare some trust fund babies who looked at me wrong. I seduced him. I wore the most revealing silk lingerie, wandering around his shooting range. I bit his earlobe while he was in high-level strategy briefings. But no matter how much chaos I caused, his chiseled face remained an unshakeable mask of seriousness. So, on the day of his major field exercise, I blew up eighteen luxury sports cars. Naturally, I was invited to the police station. He halted the exercise, leaving thousands of troops waiting, to come pick me up. His brow furrowed slightly. "It's handled. Come home." My eyes, usually full of fire, held a hint of testing. "Wolf, no matter what I do, you always have this face. Can't you just smile once?" Wolf looked down at me. "You think this is funny?" "So I caused you trouble again. Are you angry? Punish me then?" I deliberately grabbed his hand, guiding it towards my waist, my eyes full of temptation. Wolf's expression remained steady. "This is a minor issue, not worth punishment. Even if you burned the sky down, I could fix it." A suffocating frustration built in my chest. "You won't even ask why I blew up those cars?" "Those rich jerks were drag racing. They saw I was pretty and harassed me. They even touched my face. aren't you jealous?" Wolf's gaze lingered on my hand for a split second. His voice was flat. "Next time that happens, call the police directly." I bit my lip, almost crying from frustration at his stone-cold demeanor. "Wolf, you unromantic old man! Boring! Rigid! To the extreme!" Wolf answered seriously. "My profession requires it. I have to be this way." I wanted to scream! In the back of the military Humvee on the way home, I straddled his lap right in front of the driver, causing havoc. He was aroused. But just as we were about to take it further, his phone rang. I don't know what was said on the other end, but his eternal calm shattered instantly. He said, "Scarlett, emergency mission. You go home first." And he got out of the car. Suspicious, I told the driver to follow him. The car stopped in front of a quiet jazz bar called "Nightfall." A girl in a simple cotton dress was being harassed by some drunks, her face pale with fear. The next second, I saw something that made my jaw drop. Wolf, the man who always put discipline and reason first, charged forward without hesitation. He started brawling with the drunks. The ferocity in his eyes was a terrifying edge I had never seen before. The girl cried and threw herself at him, pounding her fists on his chest. "Wolf! You didn't want me anymore! Why do you care now?" Wolf didn't dodge. He let her vent, then wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against him. I saw her fists land on his shoulder, right on an old injury. He winced, but his arms didn't loosen even a fraction. He looked down at the girl in his arms. It was a look I had never seen. Pain, guilt, and a complex emotion so thick it could be cut with a knife. I don't know how long I stood in the cold night wind before I texted the best PI in the city, attaching the photo I just snapped. "Find out who she is to Wolf." By the time I returned to our soulless house on the base, the PI's file had arrived. Lily Brooks. A girl Wolf saved during a border mission, three years his junior. She was the one who pursued him, melting the iceberg through sheer persistence. With her, Wolf was finally a living, breathing human. He would drive hundreds of miles during a drill just to buy her favorite cake. For her birthday, he organized a thousand military drones to put on a light show. But when their love was at its peak, the Sterling family—a military dynasty—refused to let Wolf be with a girl of unknown background. They threatened her safety to force him into a political marriage. He compromised. That's why, on the day of our arranged meeting, he waited patiently for six hours in the tea house. That's why he said, "My fiancée doesn't need to be poised. She just needs to be herself." Turns out, the moment that made my heart flutter was all because he was forced. I felt cold all over, as if I'd been thrown into an ice cellar. I could accept his cold nature. I could slowly warm him with my passion. But I, Scarlett Sterling, the wildest rose in New York, why should I be a stepping stone for him to protect his true love? The next day, I put on my most stunning makeup. Then I drove straight to the Sterling family estate. My father saw me alone, and his face darkened. "Where's Wolf? Did you act out again and embarrass him?" I forced a cold smile. "Tell the Wolf family to expedite the paperwork. I want a divorce!" 2 The living room went dead silent. "What did you say? A man like Wolf... what could you possibly be dissatisfied with?" "If I don't teach you a lesson, you'll never know your place!" "Drag this ungrateful girl to the ancestral hall! Whip her until she says she won't divorce!" In the hall, the heavy cane landed on my back and legs with a whistling sound. Burning pain. "Say it! Are you still divorcing?" "Divorce." My voice trembled with pain, but it was clear. I don't know how many hits I took. My father was purple with rage. "Give me a reason! Wolf is a Major General at his age. How is he not good enough for you?" I looked up sharply. "Because he loves someone else! Is that enough? I am not a recycling bin for unwanted feelings!" I thought I would see shock or confusion. Instead, after a brief silence, I saw guilt. "You... knew?" In that moment, my heart froze completely. They knew all along that Wolf had a "white moonlight"—a true love. That's why they married me off, the daughter they stopped caring about years ago! A timid voice came from the stairs. "Mom, Dad, don't force Scarlett..." "Actually... I've always admired Major General Wolf. I support them separating." My sister, Sophia, looked at me, her eyes hiding a secret ambition. "...Maybe Scarlett just doesn't have what it takes to keep his heart. If it were me... maybe it would be different." Finally, my father waved his hand wearily. "Since you insist, we won't stop you. We'll go to the Wolf family to discuss the divorce." I lay in the hospital for days, treating my wounds, drifting in and out of consciousness. On the day I was discharged, I got a call from Wolf. "There's a gala at the base tonight. You need to attend." "You must come. I have something to say to you." I was silent for a few seconds, then laughed coldly. "Fine." I wanted to see what kind of noble excuses he could come up with. The gala was in the base auditorium. I wore a sapphire blue backless gown. It hugged every curve, completely out of place in the solemn atmosphere, yet blindingly beautiful. I drew every eye the moment I walked in, even the stoic officers. Wolf appeared beside me, a slight frown on his face. "You usually hate these restrictive events, and you hate heels. What's wrong today?" "I told you, with me, you can be yourself. Even if you wore pajamas and slippers, no one would dare say a word." That sentence transported me back to the tea house, to the man kneeling to change my shoes... A moment that once made my heart race now felt like pure mockery. I shrugged off the expensive suit jacket he tried to drape over me, letting it fall to the floor. "With a body like mine, why should I hide it in pajamas?" "See the way they're looking? Major General, your wife is popular." Wolf just bent down, picked up the jacket, and held it. "You sent your father to discuss the divorce?" "Is this because I left halfway through the car ride for a mission? Is this your way of expressing dissatisfaction?" I laughed out loud. "Dissatisfaction?" "Wolf, do you think the world revolves around you? Can't I just genuinely want a divorce?" Wolf looked at me calmly. Those deep eyes were sharp as a hawk's. He spoke flatly, with absolute certainty. "You won't." "You like me. You won't divorce." So he knew all along. All these years, I was the one chasing, testing boundaries! I was the one spinning uselessly in the territory he defined! He was always the calm commander, watching me crash around. Just as I was about to retort, I noticed Wolf's gaze lock onto a corner of the room. I followed his line of sight— My heart sank again! It was Lily. She was talking quietly to a gentle-looking officer, a faint smile on her face. The next second, Wolf slammed his glass down. Without a word, he dragged me out to the open-air training grounds behind the hall, pressed me against the pull-up bars, and— Without any foreplay, he pushed inside me! My eyes widened in disbelief. "You bastard! Let go! Someone could come!" Wolf seemed possessed by some emotion, gripping my waist, his movements rare and rough, voice hoarse: "Don't move. Making up for last time." It hurt. Tears welled in my eyes. Just then, a searchlight swept across the field. A figure stood not far away— It was Lily! She stared at us, face pale as a ghost, tears streaming down. Then, as if she couldn't take it, she turned and ran. Wolf didn't stop moving. He just stared at the direction she ran, his eyes full of conflict, rage, and a pain I couldn't understand. I understood everything. I shoved him away with all my strength and slapped him across the face! As I fixed my dress and walked out of the training ground, Lily blocked my path. "You're Wolf's wife? Let me introduce myself. I'm his first love, Lily Brooks." I was filled with humiliation and rage. I just wanted her gone. Lily forced a miserable smile. "For our first meeting, I want to give you a gift." 3 As soon as she finished speaking, Lily grabbed a dummy grenade from the training equipment and smashed it into my head! Thud! Pain exploded through my body, and I blacked out. When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital bed on the base. Two figures stood at the door. "Wolf, I didn't mean to. I was drunk. Seeing you guys like that... I was so sad, my mind went blank, and..." "Sad? Aren't you seeing someone they introduced to you?" "That was all for you to see." Lily sobbed. "I just wanted you to care... You have Miss Sterling. She's so dazzling, from such a good family... I was afraid you'd forgotten our past..." Wolf was silent for a moment. Then, I heard him sigh, low and almost inaudible. "No matter how dazzling she is... she's not you." Right. I was the decoration of his political marriage. Lily was the dream he couldn't let go of. He pushed open the door, his tone an unquestionable order: "Lily was drunk yesterday. She mistook you for a harasser and accidentally hurt you." "This ends here." I sneered. "Ends here? What if I say no? I'll get an injury assessment. I'll press charges. Major General, you have power, but the Sterling family isn't a pushover. Worst case, I blow this up and let public opinion decide!" Wolf frowned. "What do you want?" I pulled out my phone and made a call. Soon, a delivery guy walked in with a case of high-proof Baijiu. I pointed at the alcohol and looked at Lily. "Drink it all." Lily's face went white. "I... I can't drink..." I raised an eyebrow. "Can't drink? Then why were you drunk and crazy yesterday? Or does your 'mistaken identity' problem only happen with certain people?" Lily looked sick. She shakily picked up a bottle. Just as she was about to open it, a long hand pressed down on the bottle. Wolf looked at me expressionlessly. "I'll drink for her." "Wolf! No! You have an important mission tomorrow! And your stomach ulcers..." Lily screamed. Wolf just glanced at her. "Be good. Stand aside." Watching him drink for another woman without hesitation, in that moment, my heart died completely. The next morning, I woke up and grabbed my phone out of habit. A headline jumped out at me: [New Artist Lily Brooks' Solo Exhibition Opens Today! Deep Emotion, Tribute to Heroes, Highly Acclaimed!] Below were photos of the exhibition and close-ups of "Lily's" paintings. I sat up abruptly, tearing the wound on my leg. Those paintings... were mine! They were my private works stored in the studio at the base! Themes of frontier landscapes and abstract emotions! I tried to get out of bed in a rage, but Wolf, who had entered unnoticed, held me down. He looked at my furious face, his voice calm but heavy with pressure. "Don't cause trouble for Lily." I looked at him in disbelief. "You allowed this?" Wolf didn't deny it. "Lily prepared for this exhibition for a long time, but her works were lost in a move. The date and guests were set. She admires your style and borrowed them." "Borrowed?" Blood rushed to my head. "So you let her steal my art? Wolf, that's my soul on those canvases!" "Watch your language." Wolf frowned slightly. "It's just a few paintings. What compensation do you want? I can..." I shook with anger. "Watch my language? I have worse words! I'm going there right now to expose her! Let everyone see what this 'tribute to heroes' artist really is!" In the struggle, I lost my balance and fell down the stairs. 4 Wolf rushed down instantly, scooping me up. His voice held a tension he didn't even notice. "Where did you hit?" A nurse ran over. "General, should we call a specialist?" Wolf checked me. "No, get the base doctor." While the doctor set my bone, the pain made me gasp. Wolf silently offered his wrist to my mouth. "Bite if it hurts." Filled with rage and grievance, I bit down hard! Until I tasted iron. Wolf didn't even frown. He just watched me. The doctor finished and left some ointment. Wolf looked at the bloody teeth marks on his wrist, eyes complex. "Regret it?" I shook my head. "No. Just thinking, they say I'm a rose with thorns. Guess they're right." He took a bank card from his uniform pocket. "About the paintings, I know you're mad. take this as compensation." I looked at the card, feeling only irony. "You know? The one thing she shouldn't have touched was my art..." Just then, his orderly rushed in, looking nervous. "Report, General! Online... there's some bad press. People are saying Miss Brooks' paintings... are highly similar to Miss Sterling's previous works! It's trending. Her reputation is taking a hit!" Wolf took the tablet, scanned it, and his face darkened. He looked up at me sharply. "You did this?" I met his gaze, not backing down. I smiled coldly. "Did you read the analysis? She's stupid. Tried to copy a tiger and drew a dog." "My style, color usage, brushstrokes... anyone in the industry knows it's me." The orderly whispered, admiringly, "Actually... Miss Sterling's art has a very unique tension. Hard to imitate..." Wolf glared at him. The orderly shut up and turned to the door. Wolf handed me his phone. "Use your account. Post a statement. Say it's a misunderstanding, that Lily painted them herself." I looked at him, incredulous. "Why should I?" The orderly rushed back in. "General, Miss Brooks saw the comments. She's hysterical and fainted at the exhibition!" Wolf's face changed. "I'm going to see Lily. Post the statement." He turned and left without hesitation. My phone rang. It was my father. "The divorce is finalized. The Wolf family was very efficient." "You'll regret missing out on Wolf..." I listened expressionlessly, hung up, and blocked every "family member." I packed a small bag. Then I lit my lighter and dropped it on the dark green carpet. Divorced. This "marriage home" didn't need to exist. I left the military compound without looking back, hailed a cab, and went straight to the airport. Meanwhile, Wolf was rushing to the exhibition. He got a call from a crying Lily. "Wolf, Scarlett... she posted comparison photos! Everyone is cursing me! What do I do?" Wolf's voice was steady. "Don't be afraid. I'll look. Whatever she posted, I'll handle it." He hung up and opened Instagram. He saw my latest post. It wasn't the clarification he demanded. It was a side-by-side comparison of my originals and Lily's "works," with the caption: [@LilyBrooks Tribute to heroes? Learn to respect copyright first!] Wolf expected I wouldn't comply, but he didn't expect me to be this ruthless. He rubbed his temples, preparing to order PR to bury the story. A second call came in. His comrade-in-arms. "Wolf! How could you let a stunner like Scarlett go? If you don't want her, I'm going for it!" Wolf gripped the phone. "What do you mean?" "You don't know?" His friend was shocked. "Check her feed!" Wolf switched to his feed. The first post was mine. A photo of the open divorce decree. Another of me at the airport terminal, looking free. Caption: [Divorced. Single. Accepting applications from high-quality men.] Elites, comrades, even commanders were lining up in the comments: "Sign me up!" "Scarlett, look here!" "First in line!" "DM sent, please check!"
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "387747", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel