SILLAGE

No Longer Mrs. Cooley: The Architect's Return

Xiao Xiaosu

I went to the City Clerk’s office for a routine copy of my marriage license to finalize a trust fund audit. I expected a simple piece of paper, but the clerk’s pitying look told me my entire life was a lie. "The license was never finalized, Ms. Oliver. In the eyes of the state, you are single." The three-hundred-guest wedding at the Plaza and the Vogue features meant nothing. My husband, Gray Cooley, had intentionally filed the documents with a "procedural defect" so he could discard me without a legal divorce. Moments later, an iCloud invite titled "Our Little Secret" popped up on my screen. It was a photo of my best friend, Brylee, holding a positive pregnancy test at our Hamptons estate. Gray’s text to her was the final blow: "Happy anniversary, babe. This baby is the best gift. Once the trust unlocks today, we’re done with the charade." I soon discovered they were even stealing my career, reassigning my architectural masterpiece to Brylee while preparing my eviction notice. Gray's mother called me a "barren mule" in a leaked recording, mocking the infertility I suffered after saving Gray’s life in a construction accident. I wasn't a wife; I was a three-year placeholder used to secure his inheritance. How could the man I bled for treat me like a disposable prop? How could my best friend carry his child while pretending to comfort me through my darkest moments? The betrayal burned until it turned into a cold, hard stone of fury. I didn't cry. Instead, I walked into the penthouse of the Barretts, the Cooleys' most powerful rivals. I signed a marriage contract with Kane Barrett, the man the tabloids called the "Beast of Wall Street." "I want a wedding," I told his father, my voice steady and lethal. "Bigger than the one I had with Gray." If they wanted me gone, they would have to watch me become the woman who owns their world.

Modern Revenge Divorce

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Today was a very important day for Julia Gu. Her agent, Consuela Shen, had just informed her of the award she'd receive tonight!

Julia Gu just couldn't wait to share the news with Terence Chen.

However, no matter how much she tried, he still wouldn't answer. Unbothered, Julia Gu simply dialed his number again and again. On the fifth ring, he finally picked up. "What?"

His cold voice was almost unrecognizable that she had to look at her screen to check if it was him.

"Where are you?" The moment the video chat connected, Julia squinted at the screen. Just behind him was the large signage of the infamous motel in H City – Double Q.

This place was infamous for people who were looking for one-night stands or a place to entertain their cheating escapades. Adulteries happened very often here, that the hotel had its own nickname: Catching Adultery!

Coincidentally, a new movie Julia acted in was shot on Double Q, so she was very familiar with the place.

Her fingers wrapped around the phone so hard that veins popped out of her skin.

Julia restrained herself and smiled. "Mr. Chen, are you going to the motel to fix your business? I'm quite impressed."

Before she had a chance to say more, Terence Chen immediately hung up the phone.

She gritted her teeth, stomping out of her lounge. "Abby, give me the car keys."

"Julia, the party will begin in two hours and–" Abby furrowed her eyebrows, glancing from left to right.

"Did you not hear what I just said?" she demanded. Abby froze, her hands already trembling at the sight of Julia losing her temper. Consuela Shen finally approached them. She asked Abby to leave before dragging Julia to the lounge, her lips curling in irritation.

"Are you crazy? Do you see how packed this place is? Do you even know the importance of being here? Anyone can write about you. You'll be in the headlines by sundown, that's for sure if you keep acting like this!" Consuela scowled, throwing her hands up exasperatedly.

"Yeah? Well, I don't give it a shit." Julia sneered. Right now, at this very moment, her husband would be having an affair with some other bitch he probably got from a bar. She didn't care what the whole world would think of her.

"Please, Consuela. I need an hour. I need to talk to my husband," she pleaded as she grabbed her agent on the wrist. However, it had no effect on Consuela.

"Do you have any idea how much I've worked just to get you here? Even if the skies fall out, you're not allowed to go outside. Not until this event is over."

"Consuela..." Knowing that pleas wouldn't work on her agent, Julia decided to come clean. "Terence... He cheated on me. I can't be like this for the next two hours pretending as if it's not happening right now!"

"I knew it was that jerk again!" Consuela's face turned pale in rage. She wagged a finger at her. "You're a great girl, Julia, but this is getting ridiculous! The man doesn't love you. You've already been married for three years, and who else knows? Just me. Isn't it better that you call it quits now?"

"You're right." Julia smiled bitterly. "I just... I just want to talk to him."

Julia glanced at her. "I wasn't able to make up my mind in the past since I was blinded by my love for him. I mean...it has been thirteen years... If I see him with another woman, I'll give up."

"Julia." Consuela furrowed her eyebrows. "Look, I can solve any problem for you whenever, but this isn't the right time. You can't do anything stupid tonight."

"Please." Tears welled up in Julia's eyes as she begged again and again.

However, Consuela didn't budge an inch. She stood by the doorway with her arms crossed.

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