【What's so sad about it? Mr. Farley gave her a million. Knowing this woman, she'll just hand it back tomorrow.】
【Right, Mr. Farley's money is destined to belong to our sweet girl. So is the man.】
【Ugh, if I had an ex-wife sister like this, even if I couldn't keep the guy, I'd at least keep the money.】
I sat with my knees pulled to my chest and cried the whole night through.
The floating text had me pegged. I really was putting on airs, playing at some pure, noble love.
Kenneth Farley hands me money and I won't even take it.
If I hadn't seen that text, on the day of the divorce I'd probably have walked away with nothing but the clothes on my back.
By the time I'd cried until dawn, I'd finally worked it out.
Kenneth doesn't want me, so I'll just take the money like a sensible person. The moment the heroine shows up, I'll read the room and leave.
Decision made, I crawled back into the bedroom and went back to sleep.
When Kenneth got up that morning and didn't see me, he froze for a rare second.
He pushed open the bedroom door, and only when he saw the small lump in the middle of the bed did his expression ease.
At headquarters, he'd just sat down for the morning meeting when he paused, then pressed the intercom and called in his assistant.
“This is my wife's account number. Transfer her three million from my personal account.”
I slept soundly.
From the day I married Kenneth and spent every waking moment trying to please him, up to today, it was the first time I'd slept this easy.
When I woke, it was already past two in the afternoon.
Which meant I hadn't gotten up to make him breakfast, and I hadn't brought him lunch either.
I figured he didn't care.
I opened my phone, and for once there was a message from Kenneth.
【Let's put yesterday behind us.】
【I transferred you some money. Buy yourself something you like.】
I tapped the balance. Three million, even.
Thank you, Mr. Farley, for pushing my savings straight into seven figures.
I let out a bitter little laugh. If I'd gone after the money this hard sooner, maybe I'd already be set for life.
I splashed some water on my face and decided to go out for a bit.
Somehow my feet carried me back to the coffee shop downstairs.
A girl in a white dress stood there with a stack of pamphlets, handing them out to passersby under the blazing sun.
The floating text exploded at once.
【Ahhh it's our sweet girl Doris Swanson, she's so hardworking, out doing free public legal-awareness outreach even in this heat!】
【I remember she's on her period today and in awful pain, the male lead's going to run into her and take her up to the CEO's office!】
Really? So this was the girl who'd later turn Kenneth into a lovesick fool.
She was... honestly better-looking than me.
Her skin was so fair it almost glowed; even under the sun, it stayed soft and pink.
Not even the loose white dress could hide her figure.
She did look pale, though, no doubt the cramps making her miserable.
Just then, Kenneth strode out of the headquarters building.
Doris swayed, then toppled straight into his arms.
The whole screen flooded with “omg so sweet I'm obsessed”.
And just as the text said, Kenneth froze for a moment, looking at her face.
For the first time, he didn't push an outsider away. He hesitated, then bent down, lifted her sideways into his arms, and turned and walked straight back inside.
I didn't watch the rest. I closed my eyes.
I didn't need to. The leads meet, they're drawn to each other whether they like it or not, and they fall into one grand, sweeping love.
And then I, the unwanted cannon fodder, make my exit.
Some things really can't be fixed by trying harder.
My nose stung, and I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time.
In a daze I drifted into the mall next door, spotted a salon, and turned in.
The stylist smiled at me. “What can I do for you today, miss?”
I pointed at the top of my head. “This stuff. Dye it green.”
He blinked. “That color... might not be a good idea?”
“It's fine. It fits the occasion.”
The look in his eyes turned to pity.
I used to think Kenneth liked refined, ladylike women, so I'd worked myself ragged trying to dress the part.
